My Little Town Design

6 Months Later...

2011-10-11T22:30:00.000+01:00

I can't believe our little princess Lola is already 6months old. She's getting bigger and bigger every day exploring the world. Soon she'll be on her own little feet but until then I will enjoy every moment showing her around :)

Ashlie Chavez

2011-09-15T22:39:00.000+01:00

After a full day of entertaining my baby daughter I discovered these collages created by artist Ashlie Chavez.

I hope you enjoy her fairy landscapes as much as me.

Little Baby's Nursery

2011-03-10T11:07:00.001Z

The new nursery for our little baby looks lovely...

Once my husband helped me putting up the illustrative dinosaur wallpaper we added two new wardrobes, a very unusual crib with teddy mobile and other accessories like our old beanbag with cute little bernard and her newly given pig and owl money box.

I also managed to persuade my husband to get a changing table which I believe is the most useful and supportive nursery piece.

Little Bump

2011-03-01T22:04:00.010Z

I'm very excited to share the news...

Soon my husband and I will be joined by our first little baby. We are absolutely delighted and can't wait to hold the little one in our arms.

We still have to add some finishing touches to the baby's nursery. I'll promise to post some pictures as soon as it is finished.

Tim Burton

2011-02-21T19:47:00.000Z

... a little animation treat.

Chloe Inkpen

2011-01-08T09:35:00.000Z

With Zoe and Beans my dear artschool friend Chloë published her first children's book in collaboration with Mick Inkpen. She's a really talented illustrator who won the MacMillan Prize in 2008 with her early drawings.

I think her illustrations are absolutely heartwarming, full of character and life!

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

2010-11-10T21:48:00.005Z

I've been asked by gobooks.com (Taiwan) to illustrate Richard Bach's Bestseller Novel (1970) about a passionate seagull boy called Jonathan Livingston. They are translating the story into Chinese and liked the idea of using drawings rather then photographs to illustrate.

Wedding Invites

2010-10-18T22:02:00.003+01:00

Time is just passing me by!!!

Here is a little insight into what I've been doing over the past few weeks:

some fun wedding stationary for a lovely friend of mine.

Aviary Exhibition

2010-08-06T20:32:00.011+01:00

I'm absolutely delighted to be included in this small group show at the Glasgow Print Studio. It shows a few of my urban bird drawings as well as my Winter Crow and Darling Hen (new) etching.

*Sorry, still need to get a good picture of my Darling Hen print.

Taketori

2010-07-30T20:49:00.001+01:00

During my last year at Glasgow School of Art I based one of my projects on a friends creative writing about a Japanese Man travelling in search of a place where Golden trees could grow.

Another very talented artist spend a lot of time making this animation once the writing was turned into a folk song.

*update: To find out more about this singer/songwiter - poet/storyteller project visit Haunted Bird.

Mr Fox Proof

2010-07-15T21:32:00.005+01:00

Just refined my last proof a little and am quite pleased with the outcome.

Now it just needs a little more tweaking within the details...

and I should be ready to edition this one.

* Just got approached to participate in a small group exhibition with a bird theme. So this plate will need to stay on hold for a little.

Work in Progress

2010-06-29T21:52:00.002+01:00

Just started etching into another steel plate.

Legend of a Suicide

2010-06-12T18:58:00.006+01:00

David Vann's book is a story of a father & his teenage son who decide to use a deserted island along the west coast of Alaska to find their roots in the wilderness. Unfortunately their romanticised view of rudamentary life very quickly turns out to be much more challenging then expected.

A brilliant read!

Glasgow Print Studio

2010-06-03T23:49:00.000+01:00

50/50 Member's Show

3rd-27th June 2010

Print Studio Gallery, 103 Trongate, Glasgow

A fantastic showcase!

Cheeky Squirrel

2010-06-01T22:36:00.010+01:00

I have finally finished working on this particular print. It has taken me weeks and weeks for the last finishing touches! I think it looks absolutely fabulous now that I have worked a little bit more into the fur texture and added a little bit more colour to the tree.

I am so excited it's all done.

Also...

YOU ARE VERY MUCH INVITED to come along to the Glasgow Print Studio where you can have a look at the Cheeky Squirrel editioned print.

It will be shown first time as part of the 50/50 Show Opening:

Thursday, 3rd June 6-9pm

Print Studio Gallery, 103 Trongate, Glasgow

It will be a great show with a variety of artists showing off their new work.

A Day of Sketching

2010-04-24T22:27:00.002+01:00

I am happy to be able to do location sketches again. The wind is still really cold but at least it is sunny and people are able to enjoy their little walks in the fresh air.

Awakening Spring

2010-04-11T20:20:00.025+01:00

It's so nice...

to see my little garden starting to come back to life again.

After a long period of rain it

started to snow again last week! Great for those who were off on skiing holidays but otherwise

not so very nice.

And this week -

who would have thought that a heatwave

was going to visit us next...

but it did!

I absolutely relished in it -

spending most of my time in my

little front garden.

Tunnock's 120th Anniversary

2010-03-28T20:57:00.008+01:00

Tumbling Teacake I

Tumbling Teacake II

An exhibition of Glasgow Print Studio member's in response to Tunnock's Anniversary. The Scottish family bakers produce a classic British sweet which is a shortbread biscuit covered with a small dome of soft airy marshmallow like cream and covered with a layer of delicious cocolate.

Please come along to the Opening.

Thursday 1st April, 6-9pm

103 Trongate, Glasgow

The Hearing Trumpet

2010-03-19T13:43:00.000Z

Surrealist painter/writer Leonora Carrington tells a very different tale of living in a spanish old-folks home. Her heroine Marion and her best friend Camilla, both over 90 years of age, are not the only eccentric ladies in this social commentary which contorts into a surrealist fantasy tale.

A stranger tale than I was expecting I wholeheartedly recommend this truly wonderful book. Written in the most beautiful prose The Hearing Trumpet is not only heartwarming but also absolutely hilarious.

Glasgow Print Studio

2010-02-09T21:25:00.006Z

I'm working on a new edition of prints.

It only needs a little more work to get all the small details just right.

PS: My previous print of the Winter Crow has almost sold out.

There is only two more prints left for sale and I'm absolutely thrilled!!!

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King

2010-01-27T13:38:00.013Z

Today I came across a few images of illustrator Dagmar Bercova who illustrated my largest & thickest childhood book The Grimm's Fairytales.

It brightened up my gloomy winter day!

I love her delightful charming way of illustrating small scenes with such detail in line and texture even more thrilling when she sparsely adds bold splashes of colour.

Unfortunately it shows (again) that I still have to learn a lot more...

Merry Christmas x

2009-12-20T23:16:00.000Z

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year...

I'll be back in January 2010 x

The Horse Wisperer

2009-12-02T21:50:00.000Z

I've just noticed that I have been neglecting my book recommendations recently... sorry.

I'm in the middle of reading The Horse Wisperer by Nicholas Evans... It's an absolutely captivating story starting with a vividly described road accident within the first few pages.

I never saw the movie starring Robert Redford but reading the book... I'm not surprised that the film was such a big success at the time.

Graphic Design Commission

2009-11-30T21:36:00.000Z

Hi. I've just finished designing a CD cover for Iain Morrison.

The CD should be available some time in January 2010...

but its worthwile checking out his myspace site.

Winter Crow at RSA Annual Exhibition

2009-11-15T18:20:00.003Z

My 'Winter Crow' can now be seen in Edinburgh at the Mount as part of the RSA Annual Exhibition. I'm absolutely thrilled my work was chosen to be shown at such an established art venue.

Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit

2009-10-16T22:08:00.012+01:00

Wow...

Just finished an amazing read!!! It's Jeanette Winterson's first book - Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit first published in 1985.

It is a fascinating diary of a daughter's struggle to find her own independent identity.

Difficult to start with the author eventually found her own poetic voice...

and her emerging self.

LOGO Design

2009-10-14T19:41:00.017+01:00

My local Jewellery Designer Lucy used to have a little studio inside an art/craft giftshop along the road. Now she has her own absolutely beautiful and stylish shop with an adorable girl's touch!!!

A few weeks ago she asked me to design a logo for the front of her new business card.

Beatrice Alemagna

2009-09-24T18:26:00.002+01:00

Just discovered the very talented Italian Illustrator Beatrice Alemagna who lives and works in Paris. She is an absolute star and I love her work very much!!!

Look out for her new book "Un Lion a Paris" ...unfortunately it is only available in French at this moment.

Clemence Coquet

2009-09-16T20:04:00.008+01:00

Today I've spent a wonderful afternoon with my very talented friend Clemence Coquet. She is originally from Paris but lives and works in Glasgow as freelance Designer and Illustrator.

I absolutely love her designs - especially her screenprints which are now available to purchase from her Etsy store. [update Jan12: She is taking some time off work but hopefully she'll be back soon.]

I'm still preparing my own Shop but it's not long till its Grand Opening next month. Please come and visit :)

Glasgow's Pigeons

2009-09-04T23:39:00.006+01:00

Just been doodling a little bit today...

Glasgow Skyline

2009-09-03T14:34:00.007+01:00

Two versions of an illustration project for an alternative Glasgow Guide.

Competition for LP Cover

2009-08-22T11:58:00.012+01:00

Hello. I'm just back from the post office were I send off some competition work for the creative gallery.

The aim was to design an 12x12" LP cover for The Magic Numbers new album. I turned it into a one-day project and am quite pleased with the result.

*i'll post a better quality image asap

Now I'm off to Belfast for a few days to visit the city for the first time and attend my friends wedding...

Daytrip to the Scottish Highlands

2009-08-08T19:57:00.003+01:00

Yes, it is the end of summer on the Scottish West Coast and I am trying to make the most of it!!!

Recently my friend and I spontanously decided to visit Glencoe instead of hanging out in Glasgow's Kelvingrove Park. We left Glasgow just after lunch and headed for a 3h drive to Glencoe. It was all worth it. We had a great road-trip and absolutely stunning views.

*all photos shot from inside my friend's car

(I appologise for the bad quality but you have to admit... beautiful, isn't it?)

Cardwell Bay

2009-08-04T18:38:00.002+01:00

All afternoon I was sitting on the old pier of Gourock - Cardwell Bay - enjoying the sun, the water, the jingling sound of sailing boats and the yells of excited wee boys when they managed to land another fish.

I'm Smitten

2009-07-31T17:06:00.027+01:00

Just found...

this lovely print today.

By Ashley Alexander artist of

www.imSmitten.com

Recently I've spend alot of time

in my flat - doing a delayed but

urgently needed spring clean!!!

For little breaks I either did some gardening or...

looked at other peoples work.

I'm all exited about doing a little bit of drawing and doodling myself now. I look forward to sharing some of my work with you next week.

Have a nice weekend.

The Ladies of Grace Adieu

2009-07-26T18:35:00.001+01:00

I've finished reading The Ladies of Grace Adieu by Susanna Clarke. I liked it... but it wasn't the best dark fairy tale book i have ever read. One of her stories very much reminded me of Grimm's fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin. I used to have two LP's with Grimm's fairy tales and as a todler I loved to sit for hours on a Sunday with big headphones on my head listening to Little Red Ridinghood, The Frog King, Mother Hulda, Rapuntzel, The Woolf & The Seven Young Kids, Hans in Luck, Sleeping Beauty, etc. I also had a very big and heavy book with all their other stories but...

I have to admit that once I was able to read I prefered my other fairy tales much better. My absolute favourite was Princess Fantagiro.

Home Sweet Home

2009-07-20T12:56:00.001+01:00

I'm back from Finland!

My old Canon Powershot broke (for the second time) so I had to part. My new Canon Powershot arrived today. I'm still trying to get used to it. The weather outside is horrible, so I'm just clicking away inside. A great opportunity to give you a small tour of my home...

I've been putting on three loads of washing. Some of it is still drying on my kitching pulley.

Got these little birdies from a shop in Edinburgh. I really love the French country style!!!

I love books!!!

I'm in Finland

2009-07-06T20:46:00.003+01:00

It's fairly cold near the arctic circle but... beautiful!

Happy Holidays

2009-06-28T19:17:00.006+01:00

My little Nephew...
sleeping like a little angel.

Degreeshow2009

2009-06-13T22:03:00.010+01:00

Many thanks to everyone who has been visiting the Show.

Wallpaper

2009-05-27T21:14:00.008+01:00

I have just finished printing my wallpaper design -

it's 3m long!!!

Birds in Town

2009-04-29T20:04:00.003+01:00

I'm currently spending most of my time on a new project: drawing the little chirpy buddies as well as the rudly screaming little creatures I can find on my way to Artschool and my little town on the West Coast of Scotland.

I'm planning to turn those little doodles into a wallpaper design which will be part of my Degreeshow in two month time. Not long to go now...

Last Sneak Peak of my ArtistBook

2009-04-13T23:12:00.006+01:00

I have finished etching the final two pages of TAKETORI - The Japanese Treeplanter.

But it is not time for celebration just yet... I'm still to print and bind all those pages into a beautiful limited edition artist book.

PS: I'm currently considering publishing a digitally printed version of TAKETORI. It would be really helpful if you could leave a comment should you be interested in purchasing one of those copies. Thanks. (Unfortunately I will only be able to get a shop opened after August2009. Sorry. I do apologise for the delay.)

images will follow x

Another Sneak Preview

2009-03-30T22:10:00.008+01:00

I'm very happy to announce... the next two pages of The Japanese Treeplanter are printed! The story is an extract from the creative writing collection Weather Journal by poet Daibhidh Martin.

All the illustrations for the book are finished but I still have to print the final two pages. It should take much longer until I finally get to turn all those six pages into a lovely little book.

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Purple Hibiscus

2009-03-16T09:43:00.001Z

It's time again for Bookclub. I haven't had the chance to read anything for a while but this month I'm deeply moved by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's book Purple Hibiscus. It is written with such sensitivity, warmth and forgiveness that makes the main character's story an outstanding diary of an adolescent Nigerian girl growing up with a harshly religious father terrorising peaceful family life.

My little Bunny

2009-03-14T23:41:00.003Z

The spring sunshine made me take a stroll through our Bunny Park.

My Little Nephew

2009-02-22T22:54:00.006Z

So cute...

This is my little nephew Jonas who finally left my little sister's tummy this evening.

This is him washed, fed and...

sleeping peacefully after a very exhausting day.

Penguins by Helen Fay

2009-02-17T23:32:00.002Z

While I'm still working on my plates I thought I introduce you to Helen Fay, a fabulous printmaker who I admire very much.

I felt very privileged to work alongside her in the Glasgow Print Studio where she still visits from time to time.

A Little Sneak Preview

2009-02-06T21:25:00.008Z

I've almost finished my first two pages of the Isle of Lewis: Weather Journal (written by Daibhidh Martin....) - just waiting to add a tiny touch of colour.

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

But firstly...

I have to go to Berlin to see my younger sister Jo (+ brother-in-law) and to welcome my little Nephew into the world.

Edward Bawden (1903-1989)

2009-01-22T23:41:00.007Z

Today I thought I share my love for my personal etching hero with you: Edward Bawden (1903-1989). He is an amazing traditional illustrator! The things I like the most about his work is the detail, the composition and his choice of colour which just captures a time and place with such extraordinary sensitivity, talent and skill.

Final Lewis Sketches

2009-01-20T23:28:00.000Z

Since I have to start using all those sketches at some point I decided that those would be my last sketches for this project...

So hold your breath for the actual etching project based on all those silly doodles :)

The Cleft by Doris Lessing

2009-01-17T00:11:00.006Z

I just finished reading an amazing book! It's Doris Lessing's The Cleft.

It is a fairytale of the very first humans: females... who loved lying on the beach as they emerged out of the water like little mermaids whose fishtail separated into two legs. The story shows a lot of cruelty against the very first emerging males yet rather then heralding feminism it is describing the very essence of human beings - their shyness and their curiosity.

It's the most romantic and at the same time most captivating story I have read in a long time!

Back to Work

2009-01-12T23:35:00.002Z

Another few drawings for my Isle of Lewis Project...

Merry Christmas x

2008-12-23T21:12:00.013Z

My lovely husband on our Christmas night out... lol

Wishing all my readers a fantastic Christmas & New Year with family and friends.

...and I'll hope to see you all back after my one-week January break in Wales.

With love, Nora x

Berlin at Advent

2008-12-21T15:00:00.003Z

We had an amazing time in Berlin. Simon and I started with a relaxing day in the Spa near the Berlin Ku'damm followed by a big family dinner at the local bar/restaurant. We also had some time to visit a couple of Christmas Markets near the Alexanderplatz and to hang out in a pub which was a transformed swimmingpool together with my cousin.

Though the best was to see my middle sister who is heavily pregnant and with the most gorgeous glow on her face... and to feel my soon to be nephew kicking and boxing inside her - much to her annoyance lol

It was the most wonderful christmas present of all!!!

An early Christmas Present

2008-12-15T11:37:00.003Z

My lovely husband surprised me with a short trip to Berlin to see my family. I have to say... I didn't have a clue - none at all!

New Book to Read: Mr Pip

2008-12-09T23:43:00.006Z

Just had another Bookclub meeting this evening. We all went out for a nice Christmas Dinner Party to treat ourselves. We had an amazing time together with the most fabulous and hilarious women chat.

I'm looking forward to our January read:

Mr Pip by Lloyd Jones.

I had the book in my shelf for some time but never got round to actually reading it. Now is the chance!

Mr Lewis

2008-12-08T23:39:00.003Z

Just thinking about the main character of a creative writing piece based on the Isle of Lewis. This is one of the drawings I did today. What do you think?

Isle of Lewis (Two)

2008-12-04T22:18:00.005Z

Some more drawings :)

Isle of Lewis (One)

2008-12-02T21:04:00.002Z

I finally managed to sit down and make some drawings to represent the landscape of the Isle of Lewis. Trying to get a few more drawings done this week...

No Blogging :(

2008-11-24T10:11:00.000Z

I'm sorry, got to take some time off... I won't be posting any blogs this week as I got a lot of project work to get on with. At the weekend I will reward myself by going on a pub-crawl with some of my friends from the restaurant I work in at the weekends. Look out for the bunch of cowboys :D

See you soon x

Sketching Seagulls

2008-11-20T22:14:00.002Z

I've been hooked! Sketching Seagulls all day :D

I should really stop drawing birds and get on with developing "location sketches" of the Ilsle of Lewis for this big project I'm working on but...

I just can't help it lol

Lovely Boats of the River Clyde

2008-11-18T19:43:00.006Z

I'm still feeling quite weak and tired for no real reason! I was fine this weekend, working a lot at a local bar/restaurant close to a sailing boat/yacht harbour on the west coast of Scotland but come Monday...

I was no use at all!

While I'm still not feeling to great I do enjoy doodling in my sketchbook. There is loads of boats around where I live and I'm just totally fascinated by their odd shape.

Feeling a Little Better

2008-11-14T12:53:00.008Z

Sorry for abandoning you this week by staying cuddled up in my duvet all week. Wasn't doing too well since Monday as I think I caught the flu that is typical for this time of year. No worries though as I'm feeling better this morning - even though I'm still a little weak.

There is a lovely blog by very talented, enthusiastic and romantic illustrator student, Lizzy Steward, which really cheered me up today. Recently she wrote about Stuart Kolakovic - a fabulous illustrator. I find his screenprints so very inspiring... Thanks Lizzy :)

I Love Cranes!

2008-11-07T22:11:00.010Z

Thought I share my love for cranes with you today. Hope you enjoy my wee crane drawings :)

Christmas Decoration

2008-11-06T21:12:00.005Z

I know it's far to early to be worried about christmas tree decoration but I have started making some lovely red baubles and some golden stars. Hopefully I'll be able to sell some at the artschool's ChristmasShop but if not...

I'll keep them all to myself :)

* sorry, haven't got pictures sorted yet... follow asap

Sleepy Simon

2008-11-05T10:02:00.005Z

Just finished the final A3 print (hard ground etching) of my "Sleepy Simon" series. Even though I think I will need to work on the prints a lot more - it is a little milestone to have the rough sketches finished.

* Sorry I haven't got any pictures yet... will follow asap.

Not feeling too great :(

2008-11-03T19:34:00.004Z

Haven't been doing much today as I'm not feeling too great and find it quite difficult to concentrate with my very sore head.

So I thought I show you some drawings I came across recently by Brighton based artist Katty McMurray. I just love and adore her location sketches! Hope you enjoy those prints as much as I do.

That's me off for today. Just running myself a nice hot aroma&beauty bath with candlelight :)

My Friend's Exhibition in Falkirk

2008-11-01T10:02:00.009Z

It's my friend's first exhibition as a freelance illustrator/printmaker opening today. Her work is amazing!!! Unfortunately I can't be there to join her celebration because I have to work and earn some money today. If you are near Falkirk you should check out Silje E Aure's work at Winter Warmth at the Park Gallery - it's a fantastic exhibition of modern printmaking.

www.siljeaure.com

Knitting & Crochet

2008-10-31T11:26:00.012Z

I just met for lunch with my friend Clemence, an amazing illustrator and passionate knitter. It put me into the mood of researching some knitting blogs.

Looking through almost eighty blogs this morning... I have found some great blogs to follow.

Alice Bell - SlippedStitch

Ysolda

Katie Lee - GoodHooking

Lin - LeafgreenHandmade

Etching Workshop

2008-10-29T22:58:00.006Z

I'm currently refreshing/expanding my etching skills at the fine-art department. I was very fortunate to join 2nd year fine art students in their etching induction.

This Crow is the outcome of three days hard labour!!! I'm going to continue working on the print adding a hint of colour and enhancing the strength of blackness. But... so far so good.

Godparents

2008-10-26T23:56:00.009Z

My weekend was amazing! On Sunday Simon: my knight in shining armour :) and I officially became godparents of little lady Eona. It was a very small and personal ceremony with close family members and friend only... in someone's living room. We had a wonderful day and are so very proud and full of gratefulness to have been given the task to accompany our friends precious little daughter throughout her life with love, care and many faithful prayers to God.

It is such an honour. Many thanks to our dear friends Iain & Jo x

Study Trip to Holy Island & Newcastle

2008-10-24T09:24:00.020+01:00

Just back from a great time at the east coast - a wonderful escape from the rain and studio pressure :)

It was lovely to be out in the fresh air for the most time of our trip. Holy Island is such a nice place - and though the wind was very strong, there was a caressing warmth and gentleness about it.

On our way home we stopped in Newcastle to see some exhibitions at the BALTIC.

Steve McQueen's Pursuit installation was mind blowing - the effect of having a mirrored room covered in complete darkness with distant and blurry light dots flashing as a reflection from an oversized double sided screen placed in the middle of the room.

Next week I'm planning to go and see his debut feature film Hunger at the GFT in Glasgow. I'm really looking forward to it!

I also loved Yoshitomo Nara's exhibition. I've seen his work before (even got a wee A5 notebook with one of his images as the front cover) but the exhibition was so tactile - it is definitely worth visiting!

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

2008-10-21T22:40:00.019+01:00

Today was my monthly bookclub meeting.

I'm struggling to finish the books in time but...

I love the challenge! :D

One of my recent discoveries was

The Road by Cormac McCarthy.

I would have never picked up the book but thanks to Emma who recommended the book it is now in my favourite list.

Planting a Shrub instead of going to Artschool

2008-10-20T18:14:00.012+01:00

Because Simon - my lovely husband - had the morning off I decided to get some groceries together from our local Little shop. Both of us have been very busy the last couple of weeks and we really needed some food in our fridge&freezer!

I came home with loads of groceries and...

two forsythia shrubs.

I have been looking for this shrub for a while but no luck. The twigs of this shrub are a very common easter decoration in Germany and carries a lot of lovely childhood memories. So I'm really pleased to have finally found one for the corner of my own little front garden.

Once the shopping was done I left Simon to unpack.

I headed for the trainstation to go to Glasgow Artschool.

I had to renew my zonecard - Scotrails travel ticket - for another year so I first stopped at the ticket office. I never left there until 1.30h later!!! There was a technical problem with getting my money transfered and it ended up pending in my account. It was too late to travel to Glasgow now!!!

So I went home and cheered myself up by planting my little forsythia shrubs. I really look forward to April when the golden yellow pedals lighten up my garden for Easter.

Swirling Seagulls

2008-10-16T22:41:00.002+01:00

My next project is to respond to a small piece of creative writing starting with:

"Two seagulls were struggeling against the swirling (...) wind"

So I went back to the Kelvingrove Museum to exercise drawing seagulls - it's so much easier to draw stuffed seagulls then trying to catch the real ones outside my window!

Drawing Crows

2008-10-15T20:21:00.005+01:00

Today I went to the famous Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow to look at the Wild Animals Section and got hooked. I thought this little crow was a real star among all the other mammals and birds.

Hans Christian Anderson - Death&theMother

2008-10-14T19:01:00.005+01:00

This is a very sad and moving black and white animation by Ruth Lingford. Her work reminds me on some of the drawings by german artist Käthe Kollwitz. I hope you enjoy watching it as much as I did.

Death and the Mother (1998) by Ruth Lingford

Charles Bukowsky - The Man with the Beautiful Eyes

2008-10-13T22:14:00.013+01:00

I don't know why, but recently I watched a lot of animation from the British Animation Awards. I really love this one a Charles Bukowski poem illustrated by Johnny Hannah - a fabulous illustrator!

The Man with the Beautiful Eyes (1999)

Persepolis (french amimation)

2008-10-09T21:11:00.010+01:00

Another movie. I finally got the chance to watch Persepolis (2007). It is about growing up in between the two opposite extremes of eastern and western culture. It really deserves the 2007 Cannes Film Festival award! It's definitely a must see!!!

The quality of animation is unbelieveble and the story totally moving. My favourite character is the grandmother - she reminds me so much of my own. I miss her a lot. She has been a great support in my interest in fashion, theatre, art, books and film. She's always best company when I'm in Berlin.

The Duchess with Keira Knightley

2008-10-08T20:37:00.006+01:00

Just fancied an evening at the pictures. My friend Sam(antha) joined me and together we saw The Duchess with Keira Knightley. A great chick flick which I enjoyed with a lovely glass of red wine in Glasgow's (independent) Film Theatre.

My recommendation: wait till it comes out on DVD put on your pj's and have a great girls' night-in with plenty of wine in stock!!!

I'm back at Artschool

2008-10-06T19:54:00.006+01:00

Today I managed to get out of bed at 7.30 and I'm so proud of myself having managed to get the fast train! I don't really mind commuting every day. I'm used to it from growing up in Berlin where the closest city centre is about 30min by tram. Most evenings on the train I either spend watching people sleeping or... falling asleep myself.

2008-10-03T23:25:00.005+01:00

It has been a lovely autumn day with lovely colours, fresh air and a gentle sunshine tickling my nose. I really enjoyed walking through Kelvingrove Park today... Still it's a little sad to see the summer gone.

In reflection I'm posting some summer sketches I drew while hanging out in our lovely little green space next to Artschool.

My Knight in Shining Armor

2008-10-02T21:12:00.007+01:00

Just while I'm still feeling a little romantic, a lovely card design for my Valentine Competition. Although I didn't win I'm still quite fond of my little Knight.

Happy Anniversary x

2008-10-01T18:26:00.005+01:00

On the 1st October 3 years ago, Simon and I got married. We are celebrating today with a small dinner together with some of my best friends... but on Friday is our big romantic day where we go to the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow to watch a lovely play.

Funeral

2008-09-30T10:37:00.005+01:00

I'm trying very hard to hold my tears.

Today I will be at a funeral of a 19-year-old from the local area. It is a real tragedy for family and friends.

Happiness

2008-09-29T22:47:00.003+01:00

I feel happy today. It is a local holiday so Artschool is shut and I got a day off. It was a nice morning and my friend came up from Glasgow to have a lovely day together. So I didn't even mind the downpour of the afternoon.

Birdwatching Phil

A set of binoculars is required to fetch

the little birds.

In my own neighbourhood

I watch them all day -

every day

until the sun disappears for the moon.

Bathing Anna

I float in the depth of the ocean.

I listen to the echo

of my heartbeat

underneath the bubbles

of my own wee bathtub.

What amazing hiding place!

Airplane Joe

The sudden gust of light wind

makes me feel dizzy.

No longer bound to natural ground

I imagine I fly,

spinning around the universe

of my own wee room.

My Garden

2008-09-28T23:10:00.004+01:00

Since the weather has been surprisingly sunny for the past few days I spend all my spare time in the garden this weekend! I cut dead branches on my tiny shrubbery, picked my four cox-apples from my tiny tree, weeded a bit, turned soil and dug out a massive big stone... rock!!!

I'm feeling proud of myself looking after my little garden but... I still don't have any idea what to do with this big rock that I just removed with such eagerness :( Hope I have a good idea soon!

Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

2008-09-25T21:42:00.002+01:00

This project was part of a group project - every illustration student got a snippet of George Bush's well known Iraq Speech to interpret. We had a few days to come up with a short animation. The main issue was time pressure!!! But I am quite pleased with the experiment lol

For some reason I'm unable to get the Quicktime Movie working - I'll try to get it fixed asap!

Scottish Childhood Stories

2008-09-24T10:45:00.002+01:00

Todays project is based on Life in a Scotch Sitting Room by Ivor Cutler.

It was a 2-day project I really enjoyed.

Recent work of mine

2008-09-22T20:14:00.002+01:00

It is my first week back at artschool and I'm a bit nervous. For a little encouragement I have been flicking through some of my older stuff and thought to share some of it with you this week.

During this first project I was interested in the beauty of shape and delicacy of dry pressed wildflowers. After hours in the darkroom I think those black&white monograms are quite rewarding!

Fundraiser for Indonesia

2008-09-21T09:45:00.016+01:00

My friend Jen is going to visit an orphanage in Indonesia. My husband volunteered raising some money by washing cars but... then she also asked me - with her puppydog eyes - if I could paint some children's faces. I could not refuse...

It was a great event! I had such fun turning faces into flowers, butterflies, dogs, tigers, pirates and warlords!!!

Something dear

2008-09-18T23:48:00.011+01:00

I'm not long back from Berlin where I spend ten days visiting childhood friends and family. One afternoon my precious gran took me out for a stroll along the river Spree to the Nikoleiviertel - (a place of the original Old Berlin) where I found this treasure. A lovely print of an ink pen drawing of a cute little deer. I fell in love with it instantly and had to take it home with me.