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.
Inspiration & Processes
Saturday Queerfish making
I’ve gathered new materials and I’m making Queerfish again.
I’ve always loved this project, and I’m planning to create a new installation piece incorporating the sculptures and writing work. I visualise the Queerfish hung around the walls and ceiling, surrounded by drawings of the project and ocean sounds. I’d also love to have the short story printed on the wall, or maybe read out while people are looking at the sculptures.
Learning to Crochet
It’s Saturday night and I’m learning to crochet with Crocheting for Dummies. I’m designing more Queerfish, and I’m going to be integrating some crochet techniques- perfect for tendrils, tentacles and other dangly bits!
A Scanner Lifestyle
My work desk
I love to see people’s work spaces, I love seeing what they surround themselves with when they work. Mine doesn’t always (ever?) stay neat, but during a rare tidy up I thought I’d document where I work. The desk came from a skip in London and I added some Ikea legs to it, painted it green and decoupaged it with a pile of Japanese male fashion magazines.
My cats also keep me company- the black fluffy one is Severus and the tabby is Luna 🙂
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.
That is my backbone (cross stitch)
I turned a sketch into a cross stitch. This is based on a short story from my book, Teeth of a Lock.
Doll making – Dublin from ‘Bearology’
This is my first attempt at dollmaking! I decided to make Dublin, from Bearology. I didn’t use a pattern, I just drew the limbs and head by hand onto the fabric then cut the pieces out. I think she looks beautiful, imperfections and all. As a designer it’s amazing to see your character in 3D! I’d make definite changes to her in the future- I didn’t capture her lovely round face shape as well as I’d have liked, and I’m going to make her limbs much plumper.
I made her a Hudson bay blanket dress like she wears in the book. Dublin is homeless; she lives in the airport and then travels for the rest of the book. She doesn’t have any money so she just makes do with what she finds to wear. I’d like to do more outfits for her based on items left behind at the airport during her life there. She especially likes her Hudson bay blanket because it’s while and soft like polar bear fur and it makes her feel closer to her bear family.
