Painting my Narrowboat: 3) Inking & Flowers
I started off this week by inking the whale, and adding some freehand flowers around the windows. I’m intending to cover the majority of the space in flowers/patterns and keep it all as lineart.
Category: Illustration
Painting my Narrowboat: 2) A whale
I added the first whale to the design today in the late sunshine ☀️
I love whales, they’re such peaceful sentinel creatures 🐋🐳 Follow the journey with my hashtag #illustrateArcticRose 🦄 👌🏽 ☺️
Neil Gaiman retweeted me!
I went to see Neil Gaiman talking about his new book Nose Mythologies at the Southbank centre. He was a wonderful speaker and it was amazing to listen to him read a story from his book aloud.
I got to the Southbank about an hour early, so sat in their cafe and thought I’d draw a picture of Neil. I really like his face and thought he’d make a lovely character study.
Simon Sinek Portrait
I surprised Simon Sinek with his portrait at his talk in London. I had done the drawing the week before while re-reading his book Start with Why, and when the talk was advertised, I thought, I’M ON IT.
Painting my Narrowboat: 1) the basecoat
I’ve been working on a new project of late- painting my home; a narrow boat called the Arctic Rose.
My Pussy Riot poster is a ‘third party intellectual property infringment’
So I woke up this morning to find that my Pussy Riot print in my Society 6 shop has been taken down from my Society 6 account has infringed a third party’s intellectual property. This is highly interesting, as it would go against all that Pussy Riot believe in. I first drew the poster and offered it for free around the internet for it to be used during Pussy riot’s imprisonment in 2012. I now have it in my shop as a print. You can read the email from Society 6 below:
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof analysis
I’m currently working on my series of Tennessee Williams alternative book covers. As I was plotting out the imagery for the cover of ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’, I’ve ended up putting Paul Newman, my favourite and a classic Brick, front and centre. As I sat there looking at my scanned drawing it occurred to me that normally it’s Elizabeth Taylor, or Maggie, that’s front stage on the book cover. (I’d argue that this is partly because she’s a woman, and her partly dressed body sells theatre & film tickets, and books.) Also, we assume Maggie is the cat- she herself says she feels like a cat on a hot tin roof, and her victory is staying on as long as she can. […]
New design- Vintage Flower fabric
This is a new fabric design that I drew and painted by hand with watercolours. I was going for a vintage flower pattern- as I adore Liberty Prints and Laura Ashley fabric.
Rheam in Art Deco style
Inspired by Mucha museum I visited in Praha.
Sketchbook
I’m a natural sketcher and I work best fast and loose. I always feel like I lose the feeling of the piece if I trace a neater version.
Although I get a real buzz from polished finished pieces, I often feel prouder of my loose pencil scribbles.
I’ll upload what I’m currently working on in here, along with older work from the archives.
Fabric & Pattern design
Here are a selection of original patterns I’ve created. Quite often, they start as original artwork or sketching, that I then convert into a pattern. Many of these are available as fabrics at my spoonflower store. I also use the fabrics in my own textile products.
Trystan Officer Portrait (Digital Painting)
Trystan’s Officer portrait, done on Corel Painter, over the top of a scanned pen drawing.
British Art Galleries Series (digital Illustration)
British Art Galleries Series. Digital Illustration. These are also sold as fabric that you can order from my Spoonflower store here.
‘Make Hirstory’ Time Travellers Series (digital Illustration)
I designed these characters to go with my ‘Make Hirstory’ scarf collection. The collection was based around the idea of time travelling and making your own history. The characters all identify as genderqueer; some are crossdressers, some vary their gender presentation, some identify as both or neither genders and present as either/or/neither gender. I couldn’t Read more about ‘Make Hirstory’ Time Travellers Series (digital Illustration)[…]
How to wear a silk scarf: Bowtie
The Make Hirstory scarf & pocket square collection is due on the 25th November. How about wearing the new ‘Time Travellers’ scarf as a big bowtie?
‘Birds’ Illustrated Series (Copic marker on paper)
‘Birds’- Original Series (FRAMED)
I created this series to celebrate male femininity. I feel that there is nothing shameful about crossdressing. I feel that everyone has a right to be and project whatever makes them feel beautiful.
I believe that femininity isn’t gender exclusive, and a man can express femininity and be ornate, while still being a man. Expressing femine aspects does not de-masculinise men, and shouldn’t be seen as a threat.
Free Pussy Riot (Poster)
Free Pussy Riot poster, please download, share and use as you like.
HMRC
This is my old desk at the HMRC. I did this in MS paint.
Trystan (Character Design)
Trystan is a character I’ve had for 10 years and I obsessively draw. I doubt I will ever perfect his design, and to be honest, I really enjoy developing him, and dressing him and styling him in whatever art styles or fashions I’m into at the time. Trystan is the protagonist of my gay sci-fi Read more about Trystan (Character Design)[…]
Piper
Piper is a character from an upcoming novel by author Nicole Fleming. Much of the design was dictated by Nicole’s descriptions within the text, then rendered by me into an illustration. Piper is a mermaid without the traditional fins you normally see. I wanted to show her at home in the water, and wearing jewellery Read more about Piper[…]
Kensal Green Cemetery Mugs
I recently designed some bone china mugs to raise funds to help start the restoration process of the Anglican Chapel at Kensal Green Cemetery, London. This is an official quote by the Friends Of Kensal Green; “These special edition bone china mugs will shortly go on sale through The Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery. The Read more about Kensal Green Cemetery Mugs[…]
The Great Gala Darling
“Whenever you feel like criticizing any one… just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby. I’ve been reading a lot of controversy surrounding Gala Darling of late. Personally, I love her attitude on life and her fashion blogging. I love Read more about The Great Gala Darling[…]