Radio 4, Sketching, Coffee, Day Off.

I'm sat freeeeezing in my tiny art room despite the little portable radiator which is on full. I have BBC Radio 4 chatting at me, which I find quite good in the background whilst I'm sketching. I am also way 
over caffeinated. The news people keep banging on about the fact that we're still waiting for Spring...well my daffs have started appearing and I spotted some lambs the other day...and I was born in April and it snowed on my actual birthday (sorry folks). Some Sun would be great however, and I'm tired of the icy roads!

I have a new commission to draw a dog called Harvey. He is the cutest beast and I've also had the pleasure of meeting him a few times, which is good as I now know what sort of personality he has, which helps when sketching. Here's a little snapshot of some very rough initial sketches. The finished drawing will be much, much bigger.

I've also been doing a little fashion illustration. As you can probably tell, I've got a new phone, which means I can't stop taking photos with it...obviously!

So, yeah, I keep taking pictures of trees and stuff.

These pretty much capture the weather/vibe round here at the moment!

I particularly like this one. Might make it into a Horror Movie poster.

You can now find me on Instagram. If you want.

xxx

Simon Snaize Album

So happy to finally have a copy of this album. I must have done the artwork a year or so ago. It's a lovely record and if you get chance to have a listen, then do!

Porcelain Pens

I recently bought some Porcelain pens. I've wanted to have a go at this craft for ages. I got the white mugs really cheap as well.

I just started with the two colours for now as the pens are approx £4 each & sometimes the simpler the colour & design the better, especially if you're a beginner like me.

Here are the results. It was really easy and if I made a mistake it wiped off quite well.

I like the cute folksy design. It matches my kitchen.

I can see me doing this a lot now.

Helena

Vienna

Better later than never. Last Autumn I visited Vienna, Austria for the first time. I fell in love with the place. I could happily live there. So much to see and do. So much inspiration. So many galleries and cafe bars and culture. Here are a few random images from our trip.

Graffiti on a bridge over the Danube 

 

Art in one of the many cafe's in the city

Zip wire fun

The Art History Museum

Beethovens Grave

Some amazing and spooky gravestones

Loved the trams

Prater, Vienna

View from a window of the Belvedere 

Pretty Autumn Leaves

Amazing Cakes

The Design Museum

Chair Designs

At The Zoo

Furniture Design: A History

Design Museum Shop

Amazing Street Art

Colourful Flower Shops

I saw so many beautiful paintings and Illustrations. Lots by one of my favorites, Gustav Klimt. I saw 'The Kiss' among many, but one that really stuck with me as being very different in the flesh is this image:

In the History of Art museum I discovered the wonderful art of Pieter Bruegel. One image I'm drawn to in particular is this one: 'Hunters In The Snow'

I also visited the house of Friedensreich Regentag Dunkelbunt Hundertwasser, an Austrian Artist. 

His work is so colourful and uplifting. I found it had a great atmosphere in the house. So many floors of fun paintings. The floors are all uneven as well adding to that fun house element.

So, Vienna in a word: LOVE

xxx