seasonal sprouts

Finally, after much faffing, procrastination and snowy havoc, my Christmas card has made it to the printer and only a week late! Now all I have to do is remember to write them and post them when they return...

'owl

I would be feeling more festive today, what with the snow and a roaring fire and all, if only I didn't have to come up with an idea for my Christmas card - like smartish. After spending an age lovingly painting a robin last year only to swap it in favour of something scrawled on the back of an envelope in 10 minutes, I've decided not to spend too much time on it this year. Well, that's one reason, the other being it needs to go to print on Wednesday! So far I only know sprouts may feature... post to follow I guess. Until it's done though, for the purpose of this blog I'm rehashing the above (how lazy!); the owl is a detail from an old illustration for 'At Night' (I can't believe I didn't even notice I had a thing for drawing birds until recently. Duh).

I've also got a minor alteration to do to the whistling santa illustration for my publisher (as they're using it for their Christmas card this year) and I need to write some not-too-cringy text about myself for a feature in the next issue of Juno (they're also using an illustration of mine on a card notifying all their contacts of the magazine's change of ownership - so lots of free publicity coming my way, which is very cool). But oh my gosh it is sooooo cold (I am typing this wearing fingerless mitts like an extra from A Christmas Carol).

Oh, and don't forget to leave a comment on the Monochromatic post if you want the chance to win a mounted bat print.

a trusty steed...

sugar and spice

Mmmmm, cupcakes...! New work for 2010 - artwork for greetings cards. This illustration and Slugs and Snails (below) are also available as limited edition prints.

slugs and snails

My first post of 2010, so happy new year! I'm doing some speculative greetings card work, while trying to remain true to my own style and not being too 'cutsy'. Not easy... I'm also being a bit sneaky and using these to work on a style for the growing boy...

[edit: maybe try one with added mischief!]

polka dot robin [or berry christmas!]

I'm working out a Christmas card design based on my cupboard folk art birds. I've produced homemade cards before, but this year I'd like to do something a little more elaborate in design and get them printed up. As usual though, I've left it a bit last minute! This is the rough, which going to try and produce completed artwork for this week (between pet portraits and the puppet festival design work...).