Colour Collective Ladies So Far

Land and Sea – College Final Project

Here is the final (unless I decide to change it – which is ENTIRELY likely!) version of my college project. I’ve uploaded it here because it needs to be viewed nice and large to get all the detail. It’ll be printed at A2 size and the idea is that the back has a range of activities for kids to play along with on the back.

The Princess and the Guinea Pig

…and then the guinea pig LEAPT off the ledge and plummeted toward the ground…

Jungle Travel Pack

Here’s something I’ve been working on for college.

I have to create a travel pack for children and I’ve chosen to do a jungle theme. This is the inside box art and the idea is that I create an activity journal – one of the activities is to find for example, all the chameleons.

It needs to be busy and engaging so I think I’ve achieved that!Toodlepip!

New Illustrations

So after a couple of months of using my bamboo, I’m really happy with it. It’s great fun to use and really easy – here are a few illustrations I’ve popped out recently;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I post regularly on twitter, I’m @natsmillie – come say    hello!

Toodlepip for now!

Illustration Friday – Prehistoric

This weeks Illustration Friday is ‘Prehistoric’, so I doodled these two chaps;

 

I’m shockingly bad at blogging so if you want to chat or catch up with what I’m doing, follow me on twitter – @natsmillie

Toodlepip!

Tea and Biscuits – children’s illustration

Hallo!

I’ve been at it with the pencils again and come up with this;

 

Watecolour pencils and a bit of gouache. I’ve really enjoyed using this medium, it has a lovely organic, scribbly look to it which I think lends itself well to children’s illustration.

The only problem with the pencils is that the lead breaks so easily, when sharpening (which is often if I’m outlining), it usually falls apart. I have less than half a pencil left in one particular green!

Anyway, hope you like it, I shall come up with something else to paint soon!

Toodlepip!

Experiments in Children’s Illustration

Hallo!

I’ve been experimenting with different media for my illustrations. I wanted a softer, more painterly/drawn look rather than the clean, smooth, untextured finish of the gouache and watercolour paintings I’ve been doing (don’t get me wrong, watercolour is still my first love!).

I got some watercolour pencils the other day – I’ve used them before but wasn’t really sure what I was doing with them. These ones are Derwent Academy ones, so student quality rather than artists but I’ve still managed to get some nice results from them.

I start by painting the skin tones in with gouache, because I want a nice untextured look, and then I just go mad with the pencils. Sometimes washing with water and drawing on top, and sometimes just scribbling away until I get the colours and texture I want.

I’m really pleased with how they turned out and I might pick up a couple of nicer pencils in selected shades to keep me going!

Toodlepip for now!

Freak Weather Event in Scotland

Hello!

I’ve been away for ages. I know. Slap my wrist.

It’s beautiful up here in the highlands at the moment. The last two days have hit 30c! Which is a freak weather event for Scotland. It’s along the lines of cat5 tornadoes and car sized hail stones.

Part of the Smillie family unit have embarked on a trip to the Isle of Skye with the dogs so our cat has had a rare old time zooming about the house.

I have been busy designing and making new things. I’ve been doing a bit of illustrating but honestly I’m finding it hard to focus on it. I need some more direction I think.

Here’s where we’re at with the children’s illustration;

So, portfolio progressing nicely, although I could definitely do with some more pictures in there.

And then on to the exciting new ranges I’ve been working on for my shop. I’ve designed a range of lovely fresh patterns which are suitable for men or women (it’s hard to find things for men!) and produced some lovely notebooks, notelet cards and some new magnets. Take a look HERE

So, pop along and take a look at the shop and grab yourself a bargain.

My next project will be a slightly more floral feminine range of cards etc – think hydrangeas, roses, honeysuckle etc. Unless I get sidetracked, which is a distinct possibility.

Toodlepip!

Father’s Day

Hallo!

Father’s Day is fast approaching and what could be better than some magnets or badges to celebrate manliness?!

See my etsy shop here – Click me!

The end of year show for Aberdeen College’s second year Vis Comm HND students is also happening.

I’m going to help set up next week and also stick some bits in Offset57 (the excellent popup shop curated by Nicola Watson).

So if anyone is in and around Aberdeen when the exhibition is going on – Wednesday 12th – Friday 14th 10am til 9pm, you should pop in and take a look at the talented second years work. You could also pick up a tea towel or set of magnets from yours truly =)

Toodlepip!