Serco project sneak peek

london - illustration trip

The first stop was the V&A, one of my favourite places to visit in London as there is always so much to see. A quick dash round, meant I could see some of the permanent exhibits (above) taking photos and sketching things that caught my eye from these slightly spooky puppets, to an Edward Bawden biscuit tin, to a 2nd century goose pendant and a bejewelled Iranian dagger. There was also time to explore some of the current shows - The Memory Palace which was great because you got to see how different artists approached various elements of the same narrative; and Tomorrow-Elmgreen & Dragset which really made me think. I had never seen a visual interpretation of a narrative quite like this.

And of course it is not just the exhibits that can give you something to think about, this chap above would make a great character with his individual approach to clothing and facial hair!

The next stop was Somerset House. The photo below is from an exhibition about using neglected space in London. It was underneath the central square and the juxtaposition of modern exhibits, industrial elements and historical features (tombs) was visually interesting.

We also popped into the AOI Illustration Awards show while we were at Somerset House. The show was a perfect mix of accessible and inspirational.

An important part of the "London Fix"- traffic! and I love the juxtaposition of old and new. I took this photo as it contained elements that I could use for the Serco project.

A great day that ended with a beautiful sunset as we left the city.

finn ted

getting the kids to help

I am constantly amazed by the care free creativity of my little darlings, and it turns out I am not the only one. Have a read of this lovely article if you have a few minutes to spare.

clifford show poster

poster final 2013, a photo by only lucy on Flickr.

The last few weeks (months) have been mostly about my day job, but I have done the odd creative project. This is the poster and booklet cover I did for the local village show.

ed kluz and st judes

Ed Kluz, as I think I have said before is a favourite of mine, likewise St Judes. Here the two happily combine, click on the picture above to watch a film about Ed Kluz and how he works.

dolan geiman

Dolan Geiman is a prolific artist, producing a huge selection of mixed media work. The images above and below are two of my favourite, but there are plenty more to see on his site, it is really worth a look.

the rustbelt almanac

I'd love to find someone creative to work with, to bounce ideas off etc. and I really admire people who have a dream and go for it. So if you feel the same, check out The Rustbelt Almanac a story about two guys, with a dream, promoting and celebrating creative people based in the US rustbelt.

working on another random quote

IMG_3889, a photo by only lucy on Flickr.

Thought you might like to see some of the sketches before I work on the digital version. The back story is of two girls discussing what girl number 1 had heard a boy say about girl number 2. Said boy, girl number 2 had her eye on but she said to girl number 1, "Basically 'I'm freaky', What on earth does he mean by that?" And so the conversation continued as to whether or not the boy's opinion of girl number 2 meant they might have a future together or was there no hope for them. Sad stuff.
Anyway, I was around this time looking at tattoos and trying to determine what makes something say  "Tattoo!" - colour, line width etc. So I got thinking about alternative tattoos inspired by the above snippet of conversation.

random quote

hand and ring 3, a photo by only lucy on Flickr.

Do you ever hear things that you are particularly grateful that you know the context of what is being said? This was one of those times! (Although now I can't remember if it was "Look at my fly ring!" or "Check out my fly ring!")
My favourite moment from today I will struggle to put into a picture was when someone did an impression of a pig pushing through an electric fence.....random, I know!

BABE 2013

(Image from BABE press pack)

I went on a lovely road trip yesterday to the Arnofini in Bristol to see this years BABE. It is a really great day out, loads to see and I was really happy to meet up (by chance) with several friends and aquaintances. Nice to feel part of the real world for a change! Definitely go if you have a chance.

follow the white bunny

from here

I have a very talented friend, Gaynor who makes the most beautiful cupcake pictures and hot water bottle covers, and has inspired me to take get out my embarrassingly extensive fabric and thread collection and DO something. We meet up quite often, Gaynor and I and Sharon, another very talented friend, and usually I take some lino to cut or print while Gaynor sits and sews. The trouble is we talk so much, that I very rarely get as much done as I would like. So last time we met I took some embroidery threads and am now I am in the middle of a small embroidery project (I'll post a picture once it is finished).
I have found that I am tending to notice and be inspired by embroidery projects at the moment, like this lovely picture above. If you would like to see what else I have been looking at, check out my stitch board on Pinterest.

easter cards

IMG_3778, a photo by only lucy on Flickr.

Sorry about the terrible photo, I borrowed my little one's ipod. I just wanted to show you some of the Easter cards I made for friends and family.

new painting

New painting, a photo by only lucy on Flickr.

This is a picture that I did to brighten up the downstair cloakroom, it is inspired by all the lovely zigzags and chevrons that are about at the moment, also the black and gold. The room is almost finished now, just the grouting in here still to do.
The adjoining room is the utility with some fantastic old shelves which I am guessing are probably as old as the house (it was built in the 1930s). I'll post a pic when they are tidy!

emily payne art

It is always nice to come across something that is new to you and that you find inspiring. Especially when it is something you wouldn't have thought to look for. I came across the Emily vis this post on Apartment Therapy. Happily for everyone Emily has a blog you can follow.

pinwheels 2012

laura keintzler

from the portfolio of Laura Kientzler

I came across an illustrator who is new to me, who's work I was really taken by. She is a newly graduated French illustrator who you can find out more about here.