IF: Breezy

This week the topic for Illustration Friday is 'breezy' - a lovely word! Tiddles, being a very domestically-inclined tiger, is pegging his washing out on the line. He was a bit embarrassed about everyone seeing his smalls, but I said, 'Hey, Tiddles, everyone wears them.' (Actually, I don't wear 'y' fronts!)

Matching Jumpers!

Oh no! Tiddles and Bunny are both wearing pink and blue spotty jumpers - and Tiddles doesn't look too happy about it! I think he is the kind of Tiger who values individuality. But then, he shouldn't shop in the only jumper store in town, it's inevitable that sort of thing is going to happen.... As you have probably guessed, I have become scunnered (great word!) with cash flow projection and market analysis, so have succumbed to drawing tigers, again!

Business Plan

This doesn't look like the desk of an illustrator, does it? I am trying to write a business plan, as a Development Manager from Scotland UnLtd came to see me yesterday. I am applying for a Level 2 Award, which if I get it, will enable me to work as a 'Social Entrepreneur' with disadvantaged groups in arts-based activities. This funding would pay for my living expenses, so it would be really, really good to get it. It's quite exciting, as if you are short-listed ( on the basis of your Business Plan) you have to go and 'pitch' to a team of people - a bit like the telly programme 'Dragon's Den!' Ooh, that would be seriously scary, if I get that far, I'll have to practice loads, especially the finance bit, as I'm rubbish at that! My pencils are having a holiday for the time being, as I need to give this my best shot. Maybe they will grow a bit during their break!

What the Discerning Present is wearing this year!

Forget Prada Darlings - this is what all the best-dressed pressies will be wearing this season - Fluffville Gift-Wrap! (Well, in my dreams, they will!) Note I have not done any Santa-related stuff today, but spent all my time drawing Tigers, which was not what I was asked to do!!

I miss Tiddles!

This Christmas pudding malarkey is all very well, but I miss drawing Tiddles and Fluffville - so here he is! A quick guest appearance before I go back to over-stuffed stockings and sentimental Santa's!

Happy, er, Christmas?!

It's the most beautiful sunny day out there, but I have to be in here, drawing Christmas cards! It's very strange to be thinking about Santa's, Stockings and Snowmen when I'm also planning which seed potatoes I'll be planting soon! Here's what I've been working on - the Big Trip to the USA is in a few days, so I've tried to produce as many images as possible for the agent to show the clients. (If this doesn't work, I'll just have to become a holiday cottage cleaner!)

Bunnywrapping!

The perfect gift-wrap choice for Bunny-lovers!

It's nearly the Weekend!

I say this with some irony, as now I am not nine-to-five-ing, weekends have kinda ceased to exist. I remember how ultimately cool they were, though - especially if you had just been paid! Then there would be a trip out for a curry and maybe a film.... No regrets, though, and I have been very productive today, finishing six new pieces - some cards and some gift wrap. My back has stiffened up now, so I'm glad it's time for rest! I have also been in touch with some old friends from my teaching days through Facebook, so that is really nice, as I worked with some exceptional people. Have a great weekend everyone!

Not sure what to have for lunch?

Try a tin of Tiddles, or a can of Bunny, or Mouse! Yum, yum, delicious, especially if you're a cat!

Toys in a Basket, and still waiting....

I've been working on a few images for stationary and greetings cards this week. It's strange really, as I am still waiting for a break - I thought it was so wonderful and exciting to sign up with the agent; then there was the Spring Fair at the NEC; now the agent is going to the USA at the end of Feb .....when, oh when will someone buy some of my work? Maybe never. If i was in my 20's, would this be any easier? I find my lack of income enormously stressful, but in all honesty, worse than that is the fact I may be just not good enough to get 'proper' illustration work. Sorry to be so negative - maybe I will get one of these part-time jobs and that will ease the financial situation, at least. Meanwhile, just keep plodding on eh?! Git them pencils oot girlie an' stop whining!

Trying to do drawings less heavy and busy

Hi Everyone, on a lovely Sunday afternoon. My Art Director has asked me to do some images for the card market which are less 'busy' and 'heavy'. I think I know what she means, as the Tiddles ones do have a lot going on - they are supposed to be like that though, as I want children to really have to look at the illustrations, and hopefully get some pleasure from 'discovering' little details..... I now need to change my style, somehow, to get the images more simple. Hmmm, it's harder than it sounds, as I have always sharpened my pencils into little pointy-points and hatched within an inch of my life! Here are some examples which I've done today - any advice anyone has would be welcome - I so want my work to sell, and it would awful if it didn't because it's too fiddly-widdly. (But that's how I work, kinda fiddly!) I have tried to make things a bit more simple, but still my work, if you know what I mean. Oh well, I'm off to get some chocolate then I'll have a bash at some more (if I don't eat too much chocky haha!)

It's Time for Tiddles!

What a lovely thing for it to be time for! This is my submission for http://illustrationfriday.com/ (which is very late!) and the theme is 'Time'. It's actually pretty much a day in the life of me, except I am not furry and orange! There is my blue hand-saw and my little red truck, and I absolutely love chips but I don't eat them every day, or I would turn in to a lardon! Nor, I am ashamed to say, do I read Shakespeare for fun these days - Country Living is more my speed! I wish I had a duvet cover like Tiddles' Bunny one, it's so sweet! Meantime, in the real world (of which I am not much of a fan - I prefer Fluffville!) the Castle interview is next Tuesday, and I have two more little nice-ish jobs to apply for. My agent is branching in to editorial / advertising, so I hope with all paws crossed for a break with them soon. They also have a trip to the US at the end of this month, so maybe the nice people across the pond will licence some work ( I really hope they like mine!) I would also like to thank April http://www.uglyrabbits.blogspot.com/ for the lovely award she sent me - check out her blog, she is awesome!

Tiddles makes ( another ) cake

I got a letter yesterday saying I have been short-listed for the Castle job! Wow, I'm so pleased, I immediately went to library to get as many books on local history as I could! It would be so great to get this job, as it's for three days a week, which would leave plenty of time for illustration. Please keep your paws crossed for me! ( the interview is on February 17th) To celebrate, Tiddles has been in his kitchen, baking a cake! As you will see, he is extremely house-proud, and even washes up when he's finished!

Is it a Bird? Is it a Plane? No, it's Superbun! (Who is also good at maths!)

I am applying for a post to work as a comic strip artist with some students at a secondary school in Birmingham. The brief is to work with them to devise creative ideas to engage younger students in areas of English and Maths, where they struggle. I thought the concept of Fluffville could be ideal for this, and have produced these examples to send with my CV. Here's hoping that they like my idea, and it may get me short-listed!