Christmas cards 2021

 I know it's still a little early, the pumpkins aren't even carved yet, but I'm getting organised this year.  I still have a book to finish so my Christmas cards have come early.  

There are 4 new designs, each made in Procreate, and sold as a pack of 4.  You can buy them here

Last year's Christmas cards are also available as a pack of 4, or sold individually.

 

A Christmouse Gift

I've been seeing a lot of really cool painters online recently and it made me want to have a go.  This week I took a morning off from photoshop and dug out my old paintbrushes and some gouache paint, which I've never used.  Using different types of paint is a real learning curve, I'm more used to oils (although I haven't used them in 10 years), but what I did love about gouache is that it dries very quickly.  As someone who smudges everything this is a real advantage.  I also like that you can repaint areas that have gone wrong very easily, which is a must when you're new!  I didn't quite get the thin layers of paint I wanted but this was only my first go and I'll definitely play around with them some more.  The draw of painting for me is the looseness, my book work tends to be very precise and I wanted to move away from that.  All of the finishing details are in pencil because I love the texture of coloured pencils and I can control them far better than a fine brush.

It's only little.

Here are a few of the process shots.  The final image is A6 and I used Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils because I happen to have a box and they're really lovely to draw with.

Sketch and first layer of paint

More paint

That's enough paint!

Details

I seem to have an obsession with drawing mice at Christmas.  I like this one, she's pretty cute.  

Hopefully more adventures in paint will follow.

One week to go...

My next book, The Station Mouse, is publishing one week today.  That's when Maurice will begin his new job.  He's a very responsible mouse so he's got it marked on his calendar.  There's still a lot of unpacking to do, but with a whole week to go I think we can let him sleep a little longer.

#illo_advent 2017

This December I decided to take part in #illo_advent again, where you draw a different festive illustration everyday.  If you follow the hashtag on twitter you can see many different illustrators taking part.  It can become quite time-consuming so this year I decided to limit my colour palette in an effort to keep them simple and save time.  Here are this year's batch.

Here's a closer look

Week one

Week two

Week three

I gave up on day 21 as I'd just finished the artwork for a new book and as much as I wanted to complete my advent set I was eager to begin my holiday.  I did do one final image for the 25th though.  We have a Christmas day birthday in our household so I try make a card that covers both occasions.

Shop

Just a little reminder that Santa is coming and my shop is full of screen prints and Christmas cards for those, like me, who leave it to the last minute.  I will be panic buying very soon.  

My shop is here.

Happy holidays!

Book three

My third book with Andersen Press is publishing next year, but the proofs have already arrived.  I can't show much but I'm sure no-one will mind a tiny sneak peak.

Mo at work

This is Maurice (Maw-reece). He runs the lost property department of a railway station.  His office was inspired by a ticket office I saw at Boat Of Garten railway station in the Highlands, near where I live.

   Isn't it the sweetest?  And perfect for a mouse.

Here's a little close up of the title page.  As you can see, like my first two books,  it is published by those lovely people at Andersen Press.

And finally a little glance at the back cover.  With some exciting bits and bobs I've collected to make some luggage tags of my own.

You'll have to wait a little longer to see the rest.

illo_advent week one

Those busy elves on Twitter are preparing for the festive season with an illustrated advent yet again.  You can find lots of wonderful artwork at #illo_advent  Last year I only managed day one, this year I'm trying to do an illustration a day.  I'm up to date so far.  Here's week one.

December 1

December 2

December 3

December 4

December 1

So it turns out it's December already (no-one panic.)  That means that the lovely folks on twitter have started to #illo_advent again.  I won't have time for many but here's one for day one...

You may now panic.

Christmas cards are available here for those of you feeling festive and in need of cards.  

It's too soon I know, but Christmas cards!

This year's Christmas cards are ready and available to buy here  

All are printed in recycled card on the UK and are looking for good homes.

You could get your seasonal mitts on all of these:

Stocking Fillers

Meet Snug, Smirk, Slurp and Scrump, Santa's lesser known helpers. They may look like they're relaxing but due to an unforeseen stocking-filling shortage (someone forgot to order the tangerines...it was Gary) these four furry heroes have taken it upon themselves to fill the stockings themselves.

Lovebirds

Spread the love this Christmas with this lovebird wreath. These birds whistle Christmas carols all year round, come with their own stripy hats and are all house trained...except Mo, but he's pretty so we let it go.

Mouseltoe

These two lovebirds have been the talk of Santa's workshop, the will-they-won't-they couple of the season. All bets are off but no-one is safe with kissletoe about!

Mouse wreath

A mouse-infested wreath may not sound like an ideal gift but I guarantee these furry friends are the height of Christmas spirit. They knit their own hats, jingle their own bells and will only eat your cut price cheese, not the fancy stuff you reserved for guests.