Free as a butterfly

This is my contribution to the annual Christmas coaster promotion run by my US agent.
This year's theme is 'Art Speaks Louder Than Words' and is in support of gay rights in Russia.

"There is a lot of controversy regarding the next Olympic Winter Games, due to take place in Sochi, Russia, especially with Russian laws regarding homosexuality.
At Anna Goodson Illustration Agency, we believe that Art Speaks Louder Than Words and we wanted to make a statement and show the world that our agency and illustrators don’t support discrimination or violence of any kind, regardless of religion, race or sexual orientation."

All the artists were asked to create an image as a protest against this discrimination and I chose to illustrate a butterfly as a symbol to show that in love, everyone is equal. 
You can see the rest of the artists images here

Mail Me Art 3

Howdy! Here's my entry for Mail Me Art 3. This little cowboy character came from a doodle in my sketchbook, it was nice to create something 'real' as although all my drawing is done by hand with pencil and paper, it only really exists as 'art' once it's scanned into the computer and coloured.
This years submissions had to be drawn directly onto an envelope as no digitally produced work was allowed and my entry is partly inspired by my rediscovery of my rubber stamping materials, it was fun to get inky fingers again!  I took part in a previous Mail Me Art project 3 years ago, which you can see here

Here he is setting off on his journey, it will be interesting to see if he arrives unscathed although he is not travelling too far at all, just up the road really to Leicestershire! I hope Royal Mail will handle him with care!
Royal Mail aren't very popular at the moment with the price rises and size restrictions coming into effect next month which will affect independent sellers on etsy and folksy.  Please take a look at Flora's blog post which makes very interesting reading and please do sign the e petition...

Women's Wit Calendar

I just received some copies of this little calendar that I worked on last year, it's small and very cute, designed with a magnetic back so you can stick it on the fridge.  I remember it well as it was the last job I worked on whilst heavily pregnant, I was so big I could hardly reach my desk!

I illustrated the outer box and some little icons to go inside. It's always nice to see the finished result, it's just a shame that the art director credited me as last years illustrator Jean Tuttle! Hey ho, these things happen!

Women are like teabags!

This is my contribution to the annual Christmas coaster promotion run by my US agent AGM.
The theme this year is politics, which is a pretty hot topic over there at the moment.
I really liked this quotation from Eleanor Roosevelt and it was a nice opportunity to feature my handdrawn type which I really enjoy.

Mug Shots

My Personaliteas design has now made it onto a mug! It's available to buy wholesale from Beast in Show, and I'm selling some in my etsy and folksy shops. 
It's adapted slightly from the tea towel, and the design wraps around the mug with a little surprise character in the bottom:

I was excited to receive them the other week and as you can see I wasn't the only one keen to take a peek inside the box.  This is Alf, who is super inquisitive when it comes to boxes!

To Dry For!

I'm excited to say that I have won this year's ToDryFor tea towel design competition! Yay!
Here's my winning entry: 'Personaliteas'.  I couldn't resist that play on words and had fun designing some fun teacup and mug characters. The design will be screen printed onto tea towels which will be for sale sometime in the Summer on ToDryFor's fab website and hopefully in a shop near you too...What's your favourite tea tipple?  I am a serious redbush tea fan, no milk or sugar and very weak, so one teabag usually lasts me all day, how thrifty is that!!

Merry Christmas!

Here's my Christmas card design for friends and family.  I thought it would be fun to draw myself, my husband and our cat as baubles on the tree.  I used a bit of artistic license as I'm not big on wearing hats and Lee's chin isn't quite that big!  Apparently I've made him look like he's in the band Devo with his red hat but that wasn't intentional!
Wishing everyone fabulous festive fun over the holidays and I'll look forward to some more blogging in 2011...

Happy Halloween

Here's my entry for AGM's annual pumpkin carving contest. My agent in the US runs this every year just for fun and I always like to try and take part.

I had fun carving him this afternoon, a rare chance to dig out my old lino tools and make a mess!  The trickiest part is trying to get a decent photo when it's alight and this is my best effort!

Take a peek here to vote for mine and lots of other fun and quirky pumpkin creations.  Have a great time this Halloween weekend:)

Featured Artist

It was a nice surprise today to see that I was featured on a lovely Australian design and inspiration blog. 
If you like your design with a dash of retro then it's definitely one to check out...  Thanks Diane for featuring my work:)

Today is also my 1st 'blogiversary'!! I've really enjoyed my first year of blogging and it's been so nice to connect with other creative people all over the
globe.  Here's to many more....

Pika Package

I'm pleased to be participating in the latest pikapackage project over at the fabulous Pikaland blog. It's a gocco themed package featuring 17 artists in total, and there's a free zine which you can download at the site with a short interview with each of the artists involved.  There are packages for sale in the shop and there's also a giveaway!
Take a peek here for a chance to win one of 2 lovely packages with lots of gocco goodies including some of my prints...

Interview

I just did a little interview over on the 'Popartrockgirlyeah' blog, you can take a peek here! Cheers Michaela for the feature:)
Hope everyone has fun this Bank Holiday, it looks like we may have the sun back!!

New Gocco Prints and Giveaway!!

Here's my latest print hot off the gocco press!  I've just been busy updating my etsy shop with new prints and I thought it would be a perfect opportunity for my first ever giveaway!  I really appreciate everyone who takes the time to check out my little corner of blogland:)

To enter please take a peek at my etsy shop and pick your favourite print.  I'd love it if you would add my shop to your faves too, if you have an etsy shop/account:)

Please leave me a little comment below to let me know you're in and which print you'd like to win!  Cheers!

I'll pick a winner out of the hat on the 1st of September...

New Gocco Prints

Here's a little peek at Miss Beehive, actually she didn't misbehave too badly and printed quite well.  She could also be called Miss Register!  I always try to achieve a slightly misregistered feel to my digital work and I've enjoyed creating a similar feel with these new prints. There is something so nice about printing work by hand and it's such a shame that Gocco have ceased production.  Now that I've got the printing bug I'm hoping supplies will be available for a little while longer...

New Gocco Prints

I've been busy gocco printing today, fun and frustration in equal measure!  Here's a sneak peek of my first new design 'Custard the Cat' hanging up on the drying rack fashioned by my handy husband.  I'm participating in the latest gocco pika package project so a few of these will be included in my contribution and the rest will go in my etsy shop.  I'm planning to print some more new designs tomorrow, watch this space.....

Ripple Project - Hope Floats

I've just contributed this image to the Ripple blog set up by illustrator Kelly Light to raise funds to help the birds and animals affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  Please take a look at the blog here.  Artists from around the world have contributed small works of art which can be purchased by donating $10 to one of 2 charities helping with the clean-up operation.

It's so terribly sad to see all the wildlife affected by this manmade disaster and I hope my contribution will raise a little for this very worthy cause.

Know your onions!

I love it when the alliums burst into life in my garden, and am always amazed by their firework like brilliance.  Here's a photo that I took last week when they were in their full glory.  Luckily even the seedheads are fantastic so when they start dying off they are just as beautiful.

I've just worked up this little drawing from my sketchbook, the little bulb vase is looking very pleased with herself for putting a such a display!
I might print this design on some cards with my gocco....

Football Heroes Gold

I've just received a copy of the book that I worked on last year, it's a great collaborative project featuring the work of 45 illustrators and portrays famous footballers from World Cup history.  
I chose to draw 2 players from the 1950's, I can't claim to know much about football or even to be a fan but it was nice to be asked to take part in such a fun project and I enjoyed the chance to draw some 'real' people!

Featured Artist

I'm featured artist this week on my US agent's website, you can read my little interview here!

Craftsville

My birdie gocco prints have just been featured on the fab new website Craftsville.  It's definitely going to become a great new port of call for lovers of all things handmade.  A big thank you to Helen for featuring my work and good luck with the new venture.

I'm busy working on new designs for prints and hope to get gocco-ing again very soon....

Pikaland

I was featured on the excellent Pikaland blog yesterday. I just stopped by to leave a comment and Amy got in touch, thanks Amy!  Thanks also go to Julie for featuring me on her blog and to Julissa for awarding my blog a 'Sunshine Award'.
I've been illustrating for a long time but only recently started my blog and it's been great to meet so many nice people out in the blogosphere!