Amelia's Magazine Illustration - Little May

Here is an illustration that I did last month for Amelia's magazine and her interview with Australian trio Little May. I was really inspired by one of their older music videos 'Hide'... with truly beautiful images of bonfires in forests.

Amelia, of Amelia's Magazine, is also currently running a kickstarter campaign, to fund a wonderful golden book, titled 'That Which We Do Not Understand'. Her campaign can be found here, and it really does look to be a fantastic publication, full of amazing work from illustrators and writers from across the world. Do pledge if you can! 

#TWWDNU

27, Haringey Shed

I've just finished working on designing and realising '27' a new play for Haringey Shed, a modern day re-telling of Lord of the Flies at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre.

Production Photos by Tracey Anderson

 The story begins with a group of children and young people finding themselves mysteriously shipwrecked on an island. Running parallel to the original story of Lord of the Flies, suspicion and anger begins to rise amongst the many children thrust together, and tensions rise. The Makepeace family, who arrived on the island before the rest of the group are inspired by Nelson Mandela's 27 years on Robben Island, and leave clues around the island to help to bring the group together in peace.

1:25 Model of the Design

Costume Designs

Glastonbury Emerging Talent

About 2 weeks ago, I suddenly became very excited about Glastonbury 2014. I found myself reminiscing about last year, when I went to the festival for the very first time, and painted bins for a ticket (blog post here). It had to be one of the best experiences I'd had, meeting so many wonderful people, having the chance to have the fields of Glastonbury as my back garden for 3 weeks, and playing (admittedly a minor) part in the making of the festival.Which was of course, incredible fun.

And then, a few days later Amelia put a call out for illustrators for her shortlist of Glastonbury's Emerging Talent Contest for Amelia's Magazine. I just had to give it a go! 

I illustrated for Alev Lenz, and I loved being introduced to her music, which is incidentally wonderful to draw to. Amelia's shortlisted artists can be seen at her blog post here. Also showcased is George Boomsma and Arthur Rigby & The Baskervylles.

Now more than ever, I am extremely excited for June to arrive, as I head off to paint bins once more!  I really hope I get to see Alev perfom at Glastonbury, but fingers crossed to all involved in the Emerging Talent Contest.

(West Holts field, bins painted by Winnie, myself, and Anna)

http://www.ameliasmagazine.com/music/glastonbury-festivals-2014-emerging-talent-competition-my-top-three-acts/2014/03/05/ 

Dustin Tebbutt

Hello! This time last week I was trying to get my illustration finished for Amelia's Magazine. Since it's gone online, I've been rather busy researching for a new project, so have just found the time to update my blog now.... with the illustration!

Dustin Tebbutt is a singer songwriter who relocated to Sweden, intrigued about Scandinavia, and music scene to be found there. I found the music really great to draw to, and was somewhat influenced by the grey, wintry weather we've been having at the moment... 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjkxwdIKRzc

Have a read of the article here, and check out Claudine O'Sullivan's great portrait of him too!

Ziad Ghanem

Today, my first illustration for Amelia's Magazine has gone online. Included within an interview with Ziad Ghanem, it has many photographs of his fabulously sumptuous and opulent S/S14 collection, inspired by Queen Victoria, as well as many other illustrative interpretations.

Have a read of it here... http://www.ameliasmagazine.com/fashion/interview-fashion-designer-ziad-ghanem-introduces-new-ss-2014-couture-collection-hell-o/2014/01/14/

Elephants and Sailing Boats

Christmas Crafting Part 2 - Elephants and Sailing Boats

APPLIQUE

Christmas Card Crafting Factory part 1

And, now, Christmas is over! I've pulled it out to its full length, yet again, but truly it is no more. Decorations are well and truly packed away. However, I'll take the chance instead to show some of the things that have left my Christmas crafting factory over the past few weeks.

My biggest commission this time was a set of Christmas cards; all handmade and 175 in number. All ended up to be completely individual from the next! Inspired by Christmassy brass bands, I managed to incorporate some of the family's drawings as well!

 

To be continued...

On Shining Wings Model

So I must admit, I've been reminiscing a little recently about uni life in Nottingham. I really did have such fun, and find myself thinking, 'this time last year I was...'. Last night I found myself looking back on the Christmas play that I designed for Oldham Theatre Workshop (@OTWOldham) last year, for which my planning started a year ago exactly! I never did manage to get some pictures of the model I made for the show up on here, so... here we go! It's not the best angle, so for that, I apologise. However, I remember being really impressed that the space looked so much like the model that I made! 

(I know that it should, it was just my first major realisation of this fact) It dawned on me that it really is possible to conjure up something in your head, work it through in scale form, and then make it in real life.

Ah well, enough ramblings from me on the joy of tiny things!

Songs and Dances of Death at the Forest

Last Saturday I witnessed the official opening of the newly refurbished Forest Recreation Ground in Nottingham. I went along to see a sneak preview of 'The Showmen' photography exhibition by David Severn (http://davidsevern.foliosites.co.uk/projects/with-the-sun-on-your-back-and-a-few-bob-in-your-pocket/) which will be shown in the Pavilion during the Goose Fair in October, but it got me thinking about my speculative Opera Project that I'd done for my degree. I realised I never updated more some of the developments that I'd made, and maybe it was time to do so.

Here are some of my collaged storyboards, showing the bonfire on Forest Fields, as the audience and opera company inhabit the field.

Now I'm not sure I'm quite up to putting on large scale, site specific operas just yet, but seeing the Forest's newly rejuvenated spaces did get me wondering... Maybe a big, procession like community event could be something I get my head around next?

On Shining Wings - Early costume sketches

With my costume designs, I created a grey, and dreary impression of working class life, first in the Late Victorian times, and then, in 1913. With the whole cast in this monotone scheme, it gave a real impression of black and white photographs.

Master and Margarita costume designs

Costume Designs for cast of Master and Margarita.

Master and Margarita storyboard

Site specific, speculative project, designing for 'Master and Margarita' in the Park Estate Tunnel, Nottingham. Collage storyboard images.

Life Drawings

Life Drawings form my second year at university.

Continuous Line Drawings

Continuous line drawings from around Nottingham.

 Then further developed in Photoshop...

And more drawings