Swans

Seven Swans

Swan Song

For me swans have always been strongly associated with fairy tales. Swan princesses, fairy maidens disguised as swans and brothers cursed to live as swans filled the pages of the books I loved growing up. Before I moved to England three years ago I had little opportunity to see swans in the feathered flesh. One of the many things I adore about living here is being able to have fairy tale encounters every day. I can step down a wooded path to a quiet park and spend hours watching and sketching the local swans. These creatures are a perfect mix of beauty and danger, which of course makes them ideal for fairy tales and folklore. 

Moving Madness!

This is one of those times when life just conspires to get as complicated as possible. Moving from one city to another is always a pain, but add in the heartache of the internet provider people not showing up to activate your new internet is just the worst. Going almost two whole weeks without internet nearly destroyed me (first world problems, I know, but when your livelihood depends on it things get pretty bleak). Thankfully, I am once more online and sane...well mostly. And now I can start posting again. Hooray!

I thought I'd start by posting a new illustration I've made. Enjoy!

I am a great lover of fairy tales and I never tire of reading them and depicting them in my illustrations. One thing I've noticed that most of them have in common is that they contain animal characters. Whether they be good or evil or are simply witnesses to the main action, animals appear time and again in fairy tales from all over the world. I wanted to focus this series of illustrations on those animal characters. This first one, Cinderella, is packed full with them. In one version of the tale it is a dove and not a fairy godmother that helps our heroine get to the ball, and of course, we all know and love the little mice characters as well. 

Soft

My illustration for this week's illustrationfriday.com word of inspiration: Soft. What's softer (and cuter!) than a pile of puppies, kittens, baby bunnies, chicks and ducklings?

Easter at Kedleston Hall

A new illustration in honour of Easter!

                          A beautiful sunny start to Easter Sunday here in Nottingham!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend! My husband and I spent the day wandering the grounds of Kedleston Hall. The weather was pleasant, though the ground was pretty muddy (thank goodness for wellies!). We strolled along the hills surrounded by playful lambs, shy pheasants, and noisy geese. A nice quiet way to spend the day.

Fate

"We gallop through our lives like circus performers balancing on two speeding side-by-side horses---one foot is on the horse called "fate," the other on the horse called"free will." And the question you have to to ask every day is---which horse is which?"

I've been meaning to read Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert for some time now. I have an obsession with travel books. I finally managed to get a hold of a copy and have enjoyed it very much. This particular quote about fate and free will being wild horses really appealed to me and I just had to illustrate it. 

So here is the fate horse galloping away. Expect free will soon. 

Bat Blooms

Sometimes you just need a bat illustration.

Spirit

Daily Sketches 22 &23

Frolicking Fox enjoying some of the wonderful things about autumn. Pumpkins and falling leaves in bright earth tone shades.

That's right boys and girls, grab your broomstick, your book of spells and keep the virgin away from the black flame candle! It's one of the best treats of the season: Hocus Pocus! I have grown up with this movie and I watch it every Halloween. No matter how old I get I still curl up under a nice warm blanket, with candles and some hot tea and enjoy this holiday favourite every Hallow's Eve. So, of course, I had to make a little tribute illustration for the occasion. And since we can't have Winnie be all on her own without her sisters, you can rest assured there will be a couple more of these little sketches following soon.

Daily Sketches: Three Birds

Three new daily sketches. I have a plan for these little birdies, but for now they are content to remain as quick studies.

I also got a lovely surprise in the mail over the weekend. My very best friend sent me a wonderful gift! It is the cutest little woodland critter daily planner that I have ever seen. I am a bit of a planner junkie and I can't wait to use it!

Daily Sketch Roundup

 

I've been a bit behind in getting the daily sketches posted this week. I took the weekend off work to have an adventure with my husband in Cornwall and have been playing catch up since we got back. Most of these sketches were made on the trip while we were at Dartmoor which I think might be my favourite place I've seen so far. 

Warm and Woolly Critters

A gentle reminder from all our warm and woolly forest friends to stay warm and safe this winter!