and a Happy New Year

Hatch Illustration Friday

Jesus and Mary

Not a very traditional Holy card, but cute!

Ickle Babies

No I'm not getting broody, I'm to old for all that, It's Grandchildren next for me, not yet though I hope. I just love drawing babies.

Bizzy Lizzy

Well Lizzy has been bizzy, she's been ill but still managed to pass her driving test.

New Humour Designs

I hope they put a little smile on your face.
I'm going to an Ann Summers Party tonight with all the girls, that should put a little smile on my face.

Christmas is coming

Here are a couple of Christmas designs, One very photoshoped and one not so much, which one do you prefer?

New Commission

I thought I would post my latest commision a 3 Fold Christmas Daughter Design with a little step by step start to finish. These are the 5 tracing ideas I sent and No 2 was chosen to go to Artwork.



These are the 3 Artworks that make up the 3 Fold Design.

and this is the finish Design folded.

Tigerprint Competition

I've entered the Tigerprint competition again, I sent in 5 entries but this was my favourite.

I went to see Jane McDonald in concert on Sunday night (don't laugh) she was really really good. This weekend I am going to see Shirley Bassey in concert in London, YES SHIRLEY BASSEY! how cool! I told my 10 year old daughter that she is the biggest and best singing diva in the world and she replied "No she isn't Mylie Cyrus is".

Something to think about...

Washington , DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007 The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money, but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

Findings:
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the Metro Station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and people's priorities. The questions raised: "In a common place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?"

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made....

How many other things are we missing?

Elephant

Sneak peak

I was invited down to London to visit The Art Group in July regarding doing some Greeting card designs for WHSmiths. Here is a sneak peak at 4 of the 12 designs I did. I couldn't go all the way down to London without doing a bit of shopping so I took my mum and we had a lovely day out.

Can anyone help?

Hi everone. Just a quick question. I've been approached to do some quite simple kids illustrations for a Colouring Book just Black and White. I've never done anything like this before. Does anyone know roughly what the going rate is for 1 illustratration, considering they want 32?

Tigerprint

This is my entry for this months Tigerprint competition. The topic is Best of British. There is nothing better than the British countryside, and what better way of seeing it than in a caravan well apart from the weather. Sunshine in the summer would be nice.

Patterns

The trouble with me is I don't have a signature style. With some styles you can tell straight away who the artist is.
I want a signature style!!!

Stamps

Here are a couple of stamps I did for a lovely lady in Australia, they are now available to buy, check out her new website here www.annabellestamps.com

New Christmas Designs

Here are a few new Christmas designs, I apologize for the Snowman design it's a little bit rude, I must of been in a naughty mood when I designed that one! LOL

63 Designs

WOW! 63 Designs all printed. I received samples but I can't send them to anyone 'cos they are in Dutch!

Aways loved to draw

It was my Birthday at the weekend and my Dad made me this Birthday Card from a little drawing I did when I was about 10 years old. Inside the card he put these Newspaper cuttings that he found from round about the same time when I used to win the Chorley Guardian colouring competition, I used to win nearly every week 'cos I was very good at not going over the lines, lol.

Random Designs

Wot can I say? Random Designs!

Tiger Print Competition

A couple of Christmas pattern designs for the Tigerprint competition. The first idea i got from my bedroom wall i recently decorated with a patchwork of wallpaper. It's a lot cheaper using lots of 10" square samples but I think the effect is Brill!

Christmas time

Can you believe it the sun has only just started shining and it's time to start designing Christmas cards. By the time Christmas comes I'm usually fed up with it (not really).

Happy Dad Day

Happy Fathers Day to my Dad, who is definitely my hero!

Baby Designs

I love designing Baby cards, so I've really enjoyed this months Tigerprint competition. Tigerprint are very very clever because they get lots and lots of artists submitting ideas for greeting cards without actually having to employ any of them. Genius!

Thanks Sara

Another entry for the Tigerprint competition, the caption came thanks to Sara from sara's art* house after she left a comment on my blog, Thanks Sara

Another entry

Here is another entry for the Tigerprint competition.

Busy Busy Busy

Here is my first entry for the Tigerprint competition. As I'm quite busy at the moment I remembered this design that I did it a few months ago, luckily it fits the brief. If I get time I'll try and do a couple more.

Lucky me

I did these two designs for the Original Poster Company which sold really well, since then I have been commissioned to do a few more captions for them which also sold really well. Now lucky for me they have now just commissioned me to design a full range of 63 designs for there Dutch market. In the time of the credit crunch I feel so so Lucky.

First Holy Communion

I had to share these photographs that a friend gave me recently. I've always known that my little Daughter Casey has a fun personality. These photo's of her First Holy Communion just confirm the fact. She's such a comic!