Autumn in July

Its been so unbearably hot here recently, that I've little motivation to do anything constructive after work. There are wilting tired old trees near my flat with dry orangey brown leaves and freakishly early big spiky conkers on others. On my way to the studio, the flat Bedfordshire landscape looks pale. Everything looks like its given up because its just too darn hot and dry.
At work I'm going to start to figure out a convincing way to get a watercolour look because the watercolour brushes in Painter are a tad weird. I suppose I could just use real watercolours and scan the images in and tweak them digitally, but I feel like the challenge and I enjoy making my own brushes anyway. Actually, I'm bloody rubbish with a real paintbrush, it goes so well until the last moment, then I accidentally splodge the page with some stupid colour or spill my dirty water over my work. I've also had suicidal insects get stuck to my page and I end up trying to scratch them off, but I'm always left with a brown smear.

Jesus!

When my niece got baptised a few weeks ago, it was the first time I had been to a church for years and years. Still not sure why my sister decided to christen Sienna, perhaps she is more religious than she lets on.
Anyway, my point is, the stations of the cross are unbelievable! The images are so powerful and kind of scarey. Poor Jesus! I'm not really that religious myself, but I do like him, I like drawing him too ( I've drawn him before). He's a hippy for starters, maybe the first, and his hair and beard combination is pretty fashionable at the moment too, don't you think? Why do all the cool boys have long hair and beards? It's because of Jesus, what a trend setter!

Illustration Friday: Skyline

I think I could have worked on the sky a bit more, but I went swimming today and I didn't eat well, so my head is throbbing, my body aches and Lost has just started so I've kind of rushed it at the end. What a naughty girl. I like it though, so I'll come back and finish it properly one day.

A zombiegirl

Well! It has been brought to my attention recently that I am starting to slip into a world of cute! I blame this on my Nintendo upbringing... Super Mario and Mushroom Land have a lot to answer for. Anyways, I hope this satisfies the horror-lovers out there. If not, I'm sorry, I did my best!

At work I am working on some traditional floral greeting cards. I find painting flowers all day quite tranquil actually!
(Now where are my woolen slippers and knitting patterns?)

Bedford Italians

Apparantly there are 14,000 people of Italian origin living in Bedfordfordshire (that's why we have no stinkin' Starbucks because they'd get laughed out by our superior family-run authentic coffee shops) and if Italy win the world cup on Sunday they are all going to be down the Embankment waving flags out of their cars, tooting their horns and banging drums in celebration. Its great fun at the river when Italy win an important game and its been a Bedford tradition for many years. When we won the semis against Germany I was at the river with my pa and bro and half of the extended family along with many other Bedford Italians getting excited about being in the final!

The little Italian kids go nuts chanting and whistling and a lot of families go for the atmosphere and community spirit. There are some real characters too... Like the fiat500 with the salami and Italian bread taped to the bonnet of the car, the chap with the green white and red wig and matching frock and various others dressed for the occasion, draped in flags and azzuri blue. Its England's little Italy, I guess. And there's never any trouble because its family friendly, no pissed-up meat-heads getting aggressive, even though the police are present just in case. You can even get an ice-cream! Lord knows what the residents who live by the river must think.. Hey-ho, its only once every 4 years!

Anyway, it'll be great if we win because I don't remember 1982, and there's bound to be an amazing celebration if we beat the French! Perhaps I should change my name to Signora Bogg?

Too Hot!

Feeling rather delicate today after more summer party antics. England lost the football in the cruelest way as always, but I don't mind that much because due to my Italian heritage there is still a chance of world cup glory, at least for my family. And the Bedford mob haven't smashed up half the High Street either, so well done for loosing graciously, you goons.
The red hot blazing sun is not to my taste, it makes me grumpy and my back is uncomfortable and sticky. I've been playing around, adding a few new bits to my website and sticking my feet in washing-up bowls filled with cold water.

Wolf People: Stamp

Here is the stamp in action on the CD sleeve. I'm quite pleased with the results too! I'm also working on some nice splattery effects in painter. You can see my latest efforts here.

Startastory

Here is my submission for Startastory's "Layer by Layer". Its a collaborative web site where everyone chips in to make little cool narratives and pictures. In Layer By Layer each page is illustrated and written by someone different, and each image in the story is drawn on the layer above the previous one, so you'll have to go to the Startastory website to see my picture in context! And I encourage everyone to have a go because its jolly good fun.

And if you click here, you can see my submission for yourshout, another project from startastory.

Illustration Friday: Dance

I drew her about a month ago when I first started developing my bogg-style girlies. I like her wild green hair and the dreamy look on her face.

Wolf People

This is my first stamp design that will go on the cover for the new Wolf People release. Isn't that exciting? They are a great psychedelic garage band based in London and bedfordshire. Its available to buy at the Liverpool based Sea records

I'm quite fond of Jojo. He's the 1920s Russian wolf man circus freak who I based the design on. Thank you Jojo. You look like a wookie, but you're so sweet.

Jack's birthday

Is today! Here is the card I made for him. As it's coincidently our portraits I thought I could sneak it in the illustration Friday submission too. Crafty work huh?

Mazestock

Mazestock isn't a festival really. Its Jack's birthday party! We're all looking forward to camping out with a bonfire and barbecue and a lot of booze amongst a proper hedge maze! The weather looks good for the weekend and we have chums from the capital coming over to see what a field looks like (as they've probably forgotten).

The Hoo Hill maze is in sleepy Shefford in Bedfordshire and we all love it!!

Off work sick

...Because my right hand is in Pain City. I'm writing with my left hand whilst my other is bandaged up to my elbow. I've got to rest it until nursey can take a look at it. I think I've messed up a tendon in my hand from working too long without a break. Stupid tablet... I can't even hold a pencil without a shooting pain going up my right arm. I'm so bored and there's so much I wanted to work on over the weekend too. I tried doing some sudoku puzzles to pass the time, but the numbers look weird like a toddler's scribble because my inferior left hand is totally rubbish and now countdown is on and Des will probably bore me into a little sleepy.

Bank Holiday Antics

Here's a piccie I've finally got round to finishing. I like fuzzy critters. Today is Bank Holiday Monday, so no work for me. We went for coffee and cake at one of Bedford's family-run Italian cafes (hmm yum) and then walked to the marina to fly our kite which has been gathering dust and spiders since November. It was excellent kite weather. Then a quick walk around the marina with a outdoor pint at the finish. Got drenched in the rain, but it was worth the effort. Feeling quite drained now though. Jack is cooking up chick pea curry for dinner then we'll polish off the wine in the fridge. Ah... Today is a good day

Cake

Here's one I didn't make earlier. It's fresh today.

Mucking About

Alex Noriega is a genius. When I stumbled across his blog his work made my jaw drop. Its quirky and brightly coloured with lots of crazy business happening all over the page. Type of thing you can look at for ages and get lost in. Check it out here.
With another birthday looming, and Mr. Noriega's work floating around inside my eyelids, I thought I'd try out some of his techniques digitally using Painter. The results aren't that great but I reckon with some tweaking they could look rather nice as a lovely new afro for a Bogg girl.

Lovepics

Contest entry for Lovepics postcard competition. Well... I love picnics, so it seems like a good idea to me.

Present for Kathy

This is a hand-made envelope I've sewn for Kathy who is my boyfriend's grandmother. She's taking us out for some posh nosh tomorrow, so I thought it'd be nice to make her something so she knew I appreciated the thought. Because she's blind I tried to make it as tactile as possible. Its made of felt and ribbon and buttons and glitter and sequins and little bead bits The idea has gone a bit pear-shaped because I wanted to put a Braille message inside it for her, but when I got the transcript back from L-Mail I couldn't believe how huge the letter was! I had only written one paragraph! I can't fold it up and force the paper inside the envelope in case it becomes unreadable, so I'll have to think of something else to put inside it! The Braille looks so amazing though. I can't believe all those dots form legible sentences. They look so delicate on the page and it really impresses me.

Aeris Presley

Here's a logo I've done for Aeris Presley. In the next few days he'll have a little site through channel4.com/music and Steve Lamac has played his demo on BBC radio 6. His music sounds like Graham Coxon, but with more punk and humour. I suspect this is due to Aeris being 10 years younger than greying old Coxy. But its good stuff! And look! I didn't draw a fluffy rabbit this time!

(Apologies for any Illustration Friday folk, I submitted the wrong link so you'll have to scroll down a tad to see my doodle)

Illustration Friday

Illustration Friday... Angels and Devils being the topic. Little miss Blondie did have blue eyes but it made her look too cold. And that kid has a licorice lollipop. Man, that stuff tastes evil.