Sparks and Notions

It can happen at any time of the day or night. There you are, minding your own business, when suddenly it hits you! Inspiration strikes and your mind is flooded with images and ideas and without thinking you grab your sketchbook and your hand tries desperately to keep pace with your mind. This is how it often works for me. I always make sure to have sketchbooks and little notebooks with me no matter where I go, because those little lightning bugs of inspiration can zap without warning at any moment.

I love every stage of the illustration process, but I especially love the research and concept sketch stage. It can often be a wonderful excuse to learn about a new subject. I can spend hours pouring through books and exploring new websites while developing an idea. Folklore, history, biology, fairy tales and even google images and Pinterest are all valuable research tools for me.

Here are a few peeks at some rough scratchings and scribbles I've been working on for a new piece.

Mermaid Monday

Transition

Rainy Days

It's another grey rainy day here in Nottingham. Luckily I don't mind one bit! As a tried and true Oregonian I am most at home when the skies are leaden and pouring down rain. On the whole I find that the winters here in England are actually milder than they are back home, which is a pleasant surprise. On these days I love to curl up by the window and have a nice warm cup of tea and do a bit of reading in the mornings and then get to sketching.

Back to work!

Phew! I made it through the holidays relatively unscathed. Lots of visiting, travelling and shopping, but now I am back at home and keeping my nose in the sketchbook. Here's a couple new sketches for a children's book.

I hope everyone had a safe and lovely holiday!

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. 

Last Of The Unicorns

 

Here they are, the last of the unicorn sketches from the unicorn name generator. I hope everyone has been pleased with their sketches. I'm pleased that I had plenty of excuses to sit around sketching unicorns!