The Piano Room

In preparation for a lovely Arts & Crafts event taking place in London in October (more about that later!), I’ve been going through some of my old illustration pieces.
This one was originally black and white, drawn on very textured recycled paper. Just for fun, I decided to colour it whilst trying to maintain some of the original texture.

I was quite happy with the result, I must admit. I don’t usually revisit old illustrations or rework them, but this time, I was glad I did it! I didn’t think the colours would work so it was a nice surprise.

I created this illustration years ago, while I was reading The Great Gatsby. I was inspired by Daisy Buchanan, one of the main characters, though looking back now, I think the style of this illustration is more Jane Austen than Fitzgerald. Check out the original drawing here.

I’ll make a couple of tests to see if this piece works as an Art Print. If it does, I will produce a limited number for my Etsy shop and advertise here so, watch this space! :0)

Lots of love,

 

Mummyhood after Adland

I LOVE doing illustrations for personal blogs and small online businesses. From the early days of Wardrobe Mistress a few years ago, to So Many Lovely Things recently, and quite a few interesting projects in between, it will always be one of my favourite things to do! It’s fun and the result is immediate: after you deliver the artwork, you’ll see it live a few days later, probably sooner. In a few hours, perhaps! – This is definitely one of the benefits of being an illustrator nowadays: instant reward.

Anyway, this is the header I illustrated for From E to ABC.

For those who don’t know, “E” refers to e: A Novel, by Matt Beaumont, about the everyday life of an advertising agency.

Like me, the blogger, Mrs W used to work in advertising. In fact, we started our careers together as graduates in the same agency in London! I quickly realised that she was bright (exceedingly so!) and hilarious, so we became very good friends.

Her blog is about her journey from the Ad world to motherhood, and she tells it like it is, in her very own brilliant way.

Judging by this header, you can tell that I am going through an objects phase, right? Anyone who knows me or my work, knows that I love drawing girls. (Girls, girls, girls, always girls!) I still do, of course, but I am trying a couple of different things at the moment. Mainly objects and patterns. I’ll post them here very soon!

Read From E to ABC: Mummyhood after Adland here.

Lots of love

 

Maystagram

Oh my God, is it June already? I can’t believe it. Slow down, 2014! You’re making me dizzy!

May was a beautiful month.

♥ The ground looked like this:

♥ I saw the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibition at the Barbican Centre in London.

Yes, this was one of the corsets he designed for Madonna’s Express Yourself performance (Blonde Ambition Tour , 1990). You know… when she used to be cool. – Watch here.

♥ I visited Chatsworth in Derbyshire. Or Pemberley for the Jane Austen fans out there. It was GORGEOUS, as I knew it would be. Mr. Darcy has exceedingly good taste. :0)

♥ And I did lots and lots of illustrations. I worked on a number of private commissions and I am currently working on my second children’s book. More about that soon, I promise.

So long, May! So long, Spring. It was a pleasure.

Hello, June. Hello summer. Please come on in. Make yourself at home…

♥♥♥

 

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?

This is the latest illustration I was commissioned to create, for the bedroom of a baby girl.

The baby’s name is Maria, so I kept thinking about Mary Lennox from The Secret Garden, one of my favourite characters in children’s literature. She has a bit of a temper and a mind of her own, but she is also imaginative and has a kind heart. The end of the book is gorgeous so I thought that Mary and the garden were the perfect inspiration for this drawing.

I hope baby Maria likes her illustration! :0)

♥♥♥

The tea lover

This little lady is on her way to Portugal to go in the bedroom of gorgeous baby girl, Emily.

Emily was born in Lisbon but she is half Brazilian, half British, so I decided that TEA would be the perfect inspiration for this piece. Lots and lots of it!

She is a slightly quieter, more civilized version of the Mad Hatter, I think. His well-behaved, but still quite eccentric, niece! – Or something like that.

I hope baby Emily likes her as much as I enjoyed creating her. :0)

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In addition to this, I am working on a second commission piece this week, for yet another baby girl! What is going on, people? SO MANY girls coming into the world this year! (I absolutely love it.) Keep an eye on instagram for some behind the scene pics. Here: @joanafaria.

♥♥♥