Happy St. George's Day!

One from the vaults.

Zip It

For the past week, I've been experiencing something strange and foreign to me in recent times. It's been a little unsettling; I've not really known what to do with myself. Yes, I have had some Illustration-Free Time. Blummin' 'eck, has it been nice. No rest for the wicked, though, it's back to the grindstone good and proper come Monday, but this week I've been knitting a little, sewing a tad, and trying to get out in the fresh air a bit more now it finally looks like it might be spring.

Inspired by Lovely Annie saying "Gorn, give it a go", and some fabbo transistor radio-printed linen Lovely Sam gave me last year, plus online tutorials on Craftsy, I finally plucked up enough courage to make a cushion cover WITH A ZIP. This is a big deal; I've always chickened out and just gone for envelope openings in the past. But I threw caution to the wind and Just Did It. It's a little wonky at one end, but for a first go, I'm pretty happy. And it looks fab on my Enormous Chair, too:

I can also feel smug that using up the fabric is helping my "Reduce" plan for 2013; more on that soon.

MMA 2013

Back in January, I rashly decided to join in with MMA 2013, in the fanciful belief I probably wouldn't have much on end of Feb/beginning of March and would have plenty of time to devote myself to something. Ahem.

The idea behind MMA, or Mail Me Art, is that you take an envelope, create a piece of artwork using NO DIGITAL MEANS upon it, and post it off. The addition of stamps, post marks, scribbles or dents only increases the appeal of the final art as it arrives (or not, as the case may be) at its final destination.

This is my entry, Parcel (to be pronounced in dubious French accent) the dragon:

Not having access to Ctrl+Z was perhaps the hardest thing I've had to face in my recent career; I'd almost forgotten how to use real paint with a brush! I think he's come out OK, though. I do like using brown paper to draw on, it's a little less intimidating than a big, ol' blank white space, and limiting your palette is always much more fun than using every colour under the sun. And he's up there in my banner, too.

There is going to be an exhibition in London in August and a book of all the entries to follow. Can't wait to see them all in the flesh, but there is an online gallery of those received so far up here.

The Living Wall

These are like something out of Knightmare or The Brothers Grimm. Beautiful, yet just a little bit creepy, but always astounding.

See more at The Living Wall.

Fame at Last!

So now I've had a bit of a breather, it's given me a bit of objectivity to be able look back on what I've been working on over the past couple of months without screaming "NO! NO! TAKE ME AWAY FROM ALL THIS! I CAN'T DRAW ANYTHING ELSE!!!!"

One of the most exciting projects has been some development work for Egmont, in particular, their new imprint, The Red Shed. Here is the Rights Guide brochure they had printed to take to the Bologna Book Fair last month (with lovely cover art by Ben Scruton), and there is lil' ol' me in my spot within:





If you've been popping in now and again, the Red Shed stuff has been what I term "The Goo Project" and it's the Instagram photos of green, slimy crazy professors, bugs (don't EVER Google Image Search an eyelash mite - just don't. You don't want the nightmares), poo, wee, farts, brains, witches etc etc you would've seen.

I'm just finishing off a few bits and pieces of the initial work in time for the London Book Fair next week, then, hopefully, it will become a whole book. Full of farts.

More WIP

WIP

Batemans

Home of Rudyard Kipling, now run by the National Trust.

Time for a Catch Up

Hiyaz Blog, long time no see.

Well, what a crazy seven weeks or so it has been. I've pretty much been chained to my desk scribbling away, somehow managing to complete seven different projects in six weeks, as well as working at the libraries and re-decorating the living room. I'm rather lacking in Vitamin D, and I'd really like to speak to people who are not:

a) art directors
b) my husband
c) working at/visiting B&H Libraries

I'd love to give a full update now, but even thinking about it all is rather knackering, and so I think it's one that's going to have to come in stages. For now, Happy Easter!

(Urg. I still can't look at Mini Eggs without feeling queasy. It's been three years since I OD'd on them, but even now the thought of them makes me shudder. Sad, but true.)

Out with Romans and Egyptians, in with Tudors

Busy, Busy, Busy, Busy....

...arm might fall off any day now.

WIP: Hatshepsut...

...who seems to inadvertently look like Ruth Jones. Tidy.

WIP

5 Alive

A Month O'Blogging

Hurrah! A month of blogging done. Not exactly sure why I like to blog everyday through January, but there you are. It's been really hard some days to think of anything to post (hello cake photos), some days there's loads I'd like to babble on about. Yesterday you were even graced with two posts. Don't say I don't know how to spoil you, blog.

So, I didn't really think much about making any kind of New Year's Resolution at the beginning of the month and it seems a bit pointless now, especially as NYE feels about 200 years ago already, but I'm a firm believer in making a decisions/changes in your life whenever you need to and just going with it. You don't need the push of a new year to get you going, I say.

With that said, though, I do have a word that I'd like to apply to 2013, one to keep in the back of my mind when planning things out or making decisions, and that is REDUCE. I get way too stressed out if I have too many things going on at once, and it's mainly because I say yes to too much. IT IS OK TO SAY NO. THE WORLD WILL NOT END IF I DON'T DO THIS CRAFT FAIR/BLOG THIS COOL THING/GO OUT THIS WEEKEND.

I also have way too much STUFF. I've made a start already in cutting down my book collection and donating them to others, it's my wardrobe's turn next. Less STUFF around = space to breathe.

Yes, this sounds good. Manageable and useful at the same time. I'll let you know how it goes over the year!

In the meantime, check out this beautiful real time rising of the moon:



Full Moon Silhouettes from Mark Gee on Vimeo.
Full Moon Silhouettes is a real time video of the moon rising over the Mount Victoria Lookout in Wellington, New Zealand. People had gathered up there this night to get the best view possible of the moon rising. I captured the video from 2.1km away on the other side of the city. It's something that I've been wanting to photograph for a long time now, and a lot of planning and failed attempts had taken place. Finally, during moon rise on the 28th January 2013, everything fell into place and I got my footage.
The video is as it came off the memory card and there has been no manipulation whatsoever. Technically it was quite a challenge to get the final result. I shot it on a Canon ID MkIV in video mode with a Canon EF 500mm f/4L and a Canon 2x extender II, giving me the equivalent focal length of 1300mm.
Music - Tenderness by Dan Phillipson : http://premiumbeat.com/royalty_free_music/songs/tenderness
http://markg.com.au
http://facebook.com/markgphoto
http://markg.com.au/2013/01/full-moon-silhouettes/

Paperman

Introducing a groundbreaking technique that seamlessly merges computer-generated and hand-drawn animation techniques, first-time director John Kahrs takes the art of animation in a bold new direction with the Oscar®-nominated short, "Paperman."

Quite possibly the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

Teeeaaaaaa

So far, this week has been all about OD-ing on the tea. I mean, even more than usual; I am an illustrator and English, after all. I obviously need that extra push only tea leaves can bring to get me on my scribbly way. Plus, I'm coveting these new lovelies from F&M:

All images from www.fortnumandmason.com

Must organise a London trip ASAP.

Summer

Well, we could definitely do with a bit of summer round here, even just a corner:



Hubbo bought me this lovely "Summer" screenprint by Lisa Stubbs for Crimbo. Gawjus. I just need a suitably lovely frame to put it in, now. And maybe this one to go with it. And this one. Oh, and this one, too, would be lovely, ta.

This Just Blows My Mind

Read and be amazed by a bit o'history.

Push it Real Good