The end.

my new site

So, it’s a new beginning…

Um, or possibly the end, if you’re reading this on blogger… In which case you should really head over to the shiny new site right away! :)

It has been a long while since I’ve written a post, for reasons I can’t really pin down if I’m honest!

What have I been doing all this time? It seems like a lot, but also, I guess not very much. I’ve visited Italy and Barcelona while, counter-intuitively, becoming slowly obsessed with all things Nordic. Fallen for Eames design, sheepskin throws, fairy lights. Cultivated friendships, moved furniture, walked a marathon, lost and gained cats, been a mum, watched a LOT of zombies… and finally finished the Morse book!

Anyway, as of now, that will be the new blog. Hope to tempt some of you over there!

fish in dish

Easing myself back into the blogosphere with a quick illo of a cat, with a fish, in a dish.

Ceramica

Such a long time since I posted! But just back from a fabulous trip to Umbria and wanted to share these.

loose moose

big cheese

The very last full page for Morsie, which is, ironically, the first illustration in the book... Now that I see it, I think it needs bigger cheese, but other than it's almost done...

I forgot to post the second last illustration (which is the last illustration in the book). It's the only one taken from a photograph of the actual, real life Morse (who does actually exist, and who did actually sleep with a ted - modelled here by Brian, my son's bear... Go Brian).

more Morse

Almost done with Morse, the book goes to print this month and most of the illustrations are already with the publisher... Just a couple more to go, phew.

fat cat

Fat cat sketched out, grumpy, and beginning to be painted...

the spirit of Christmas

Some blatant product placement for the festive season, after all isn't naked commercialism what Christmas is all about?! I'm kidding... I think...

The last of my previous years' Crimbo cards in the wine shop - now the discerning booze buyers of stoney can get their last minute alcoholic presents AND a card without having to go to two different shops... I am here to help! Happy Christmas!!!

ghosting

To lighten (not really) the mood since my last rant, here's a happy Halloween post. Inspired by my beer label design and a last minute costume panic, it's me being a non-castle-specific green lady (there's one in every castle in Scotland, which does make it harder to believe in them). Or rather, this is what a green lady might look like if she were freezing, on her third night out in a row and fuelled entirely by vodka and red bull. I'm not sure the pale face paint and ghostly black shadows under the eyes were strictly necessary - I may have looked like that underneath too...

Anyway, the castle I'm drunkenly haunting in the pic is Muchalls, where some fab friends hosted an excellent Halloween party last weekend, but if I had to pick a specific green lady I'd be the Dunnottar one (she haunts the brewery...).

Happy Halloween.

free for all

I normally just ignore requests asking to use my artwork for free (but they’ll credit my work? Really?!? Like I'd seriously let them use it without a credit?!).

But, as it seems to be happening more and more, I thought I’d go to the effort of actually posting about it and, hopefully, it will save me getting irritated with future requests. The text below is a shortened mash up of a fabulous post from Craigs List in the US on why it’s ridiculous to ask an artist to work for free. Enjoy.

“To those who are seeking artists, let me ask you; How many people do you know, personally, with the talent and skill to perform the services you need? A dozen? Five? One? None?

In this country [US], there are almost twice as many neurosurgeons as there are professional illustrators. There are eleven times as many certified mechanics. There are SEVENTY times as many people in the IT field.

So, given that they are less rare, and therefore less in demand, would it make sense to ask your mechanic to work on your car for free? Would you look him in the eye, with a straight face, and tell him that his compensation would be the ability to have his work shown to others as you drive down the street?

Would you seriously even CONSIDER offering your web hosting service the chance to have people see their work, by viewing your website, as their payment for hosting you?

If you answered yes to the above, you’re obviously insane. If you answered no, then kudos to you for living in the real world.

But then tell me, why would you think it is okay to live out the same, delusional, ridiculous fantasy when seeking someone whose abilities are even less in supply than these folks?

Graphic artists, illustrators, painters, etc., are skilled tradesmen. As such, to consider them as, or deal with them as, anything less than professionals fully deserving of your respect is both insulting and a bad reflection on you as a sane, reasonable person. In short, it makes you look like a twit.

A few things you need to know:

It is not a great opportunity  for an artist to have his work seen on your car/zine/website/bedroom wall, etc. It IS a great opportunity for YOU to have their work there

The chance to have their name on something that is going to be seen by other people, whether it’s one or one million, is NOT a valid enticement. Neither is the right to add that work to their portfolio. They get to do those things ANYWAY, after being paid as they should. It’s not compensation. It’s their right, and it’s a given.

For those who are looking for someone to work for free - please wake up and join the real world. The only thing you’re accomplishing is to insult those with the skills you need.”

So, just to be absolutely clear, it doesn’t matter how lovely you think my artwork is, or how amazing it would be to use it for whatever it is you want to use it for. If you want to use it, please respect me enough to pay for it. That way I get to pay my bills AND create more fabulous artwork for you to use, right?

hand of history

After two years of badgering everyone I've met (and now known as a 'militant' yes at work!), the indy ref is on us! Feeling hugely optimistic now and, although it's 50/50 and nothing's certain, I'm so excited, the next two nights will be sleepless for sure. The pic is J's badge (he's gone from no to firm yes... I haven't had the heart yet to tell him he's too young to vote... He will be coming with me to the polling station though!).

Read this earlier today http://derekbateman.co.uk/2014/09/17/its-time/

and it makes me want to cry! Sharing here Facebook stylee for anyone who has a vote tomorrow. Go for it Scotland!

back to work

The first finished Morse illustration and, oh, the joys of not having a scanner big enough to take the double page spreads! Much joining and Photoshop colour correcting later... and I notice even posting here, that a LOT more is required. Pff!

Somehow though, it feels like progress has been made - one down, six to go (although two more are almost complete).

so long summer

It's been a fab one though! Can't believe it's almost over. There have been gypsy caravans (minus horses)...

But also, horses (of varying sizes)...

Still, the darker nights mean more time to finish Morse and for blogging; I've totally been slacking over the summer.

Next excitement? The indy ref. No prizes for guessing which way I'll be voting...

my mother said, I never should...

...play with the gypsies in the wood! One of my favourite rhymes when I was little (along with the amazing illustration that accompanied it in the nursery rhyme book I had. If I find it, I will post it). So how fabulous is it that this beautiful caravan will be our holiday home this summer?! And it's a buy one, get one free kinda deal - it comes with the other caravan below! (And a fire pit, and morning croissants and fresh eggs for breakfast. I can't wait!).

Edit: mucho thanks to Victoria for posting the link to the illustration below, along with lots more. I haven't seen it for years! Thank you so much for sharing it!

all things considered...

...I'm not sure I'd eat at this hotel! I seem to have been carried away by the garbage theme...

best laid plans

Of mice and cats...

I'm now in amongst the Morse illustrations proper - it's a production line of stretched paper on drawing boards, but now that the roughs are all done and the final illustrations are settled on, I'm enjoying the process of paint on paper in an almost therapeutic way! This is the first of the three double page spreads and is almost finished (Morse's stint as a magician goes slightly wrong!).

hedgehogs!

x2. On my driveway at 1.30am... I wasn't expecting that!

black

My first mutt portrait for absolutely ages, and he's a black one... I feel like that painter character from the fast show (black, black, black!) and my hands look like I've been mining coal. Almost done though! Much more fun to do when I'm only doing the odd one now and again, rather than the four or five a month I used to do. And he has a cool name - Satchmo.

Edit: done, now just to mount it and off it goes... Then all hands back to the Morse book!

cat chaos

And so it begins! After months of thumbnails, roughs, translations and numerous lattes with Gracie, the Morse book is finally starting to take shape! It's really rather fun (oh, and the top hat is a nod to Mr mistoffeelees).

happy feet

Me and my happy feet setting out on the 26 mile Kiltwalk on Sunday. The feet were definitely not so happy by the end (my alternative, and less positive, post title was going to be 'shredded feet'!). I'm the waving person in the white tshirt on the right - was slightly concerned the footprints on my tshirt would end up being real ones, if I collapsed en route! Did it though, my feet are in recovery, and my pedometer mannie is super happy once more. The work team have raised over £10k for Scottish children's charities and I've definitely caught the walking bug after all the training. Go us!!! My only regret is that I didn't get any pics of the fabulous scenery we passed on the way (I was scared if I stopped, I'd never get going again!). Now that it's over, expect more illustration posts....