and all that.
So valentines is almost upon us, a day which I am very indifferent to but for couples it can be a big deal. Still struggling with gift ideas that go beyond the flowers and chocolates? well look no further.
There is 25% off when you spend £20 or over in my etsy store until Friday, and I can guarantee if you are in the uk and purchase something before 12pm Wednesday it will be with you before the weekend.
So why not treat your special someone to something unique this year
Discount code 'valentine'
l
x
So having this week off work has given me a motivational boost, I've been a good little housewife and have been working out and most importantly making stuff!
Most recently this beautiful new print. I have been itching to do something typographical again for a while and my brother bought me a new 'Drawing type' book for christmas. I don't remember where I found this quote but its by E.A. Bucchianeri and I really liked it... mystery is everything!
Also exciting is that I decided to print it onto sections from some vintage maps I have collected over the years. Not only because they are gorgeous to look at but it means that every single one of the prints is completely one of a kind and I really think it adds to the quote.
I love it and hope you do too, here is the link to buy it :)
l
x
So I've been trying to venture away from all black prints but it wasn't going so well, but after continuing my tattoo themed prints I decided to have a go at illustrating a sugar skull. I have always loved them, and painted my face as one for many a halloween party but this was my first go at illustrating it. I love the intricacy and tried to get as much in as I could without making it impossible to cut out of lino. By layering a gold layer of ink underneath it not only added a bit of glitter and sparkle but added another dimension the print and brought out the details more.
This is one of my favourite things I've done for a while and it is a limited edition of only 10 so if you want to pick one up for yourself click here.
Since leaving uni I've never really figured out where I fit in. During my third year I struggled trying to place myself 'in industry' because I like to do a bit of everything. I was never certain that I wanted to work for a magazine or be a designer in a company. There was so much pressure to focus your FMP to industry folk that would want to hire you that I cracked and thought this was the be all and end all, but it really wasn't.
After graduating the last thing I wanted to do was go into full time work. Yes I looked for jobs but with no determination and no interest in them. I got part time work and decided to focus on me. On what I actually want to do. What I actually enjoy doing.
Throughout the last year I have swapped and changed artistic styles and mediums. From doing a print one day to drawing in detail with coloured pencil. The problem is I enjoy doing too much! Recently, however I have started to hone in on one skill, linoprinting.
Printing with lino has always been one of my favourite things to do since school. Yes its hard and it takes forever but I think that why I enjoy it. I did a lot more screen printing at uni which was fun and a great way to print editions but I always go back to lino. It's the way that you have to work hard and are so physically involved from beginning to end. You do all the hard work and learn from your mistakes. I've always been one to go back to basics and lino does it for me.
In the last couple of months I have set up an Etsy shop and made myself create new prints regularly, and its been going well. Sales are still slow but then it's still really exciting when someone does buy something even if it is just a postcard. It's kept me motivated and more determined to do well and by focusing on just creating linopints I have improved my skills. I'm still working it all out and my press is a bit hit and miss sometimes but I think thats the beauty of it. No two prints are the same, and I kind of prefer when they don't come out right and have a bit of texture to them, it adds to it... but maybe thats just me.
After my linoprint design being chosen for the Secret 7' project I have been wanting to develop it further and had an idea for a new print, a tattooed pin up girl in the same lined illustration. I tried it out and its probably one of my favourite prints! From this i've just begun to explore more tattoo imagery and I'm loving it and the response seems to be really good.
I feel like I'm finally beginning to find a style I like working in and can develop into a series or project and I'm really happy with my work at the minute. I'm glad I stuck it out and didn't get stuck in a job I hate, I am looking for a design related job so I can get out of retail but I can feel myself creating a name for myself as well and things are getting exciting.
L x
After not having a lot of inspiration recently I was ready to make something but had no ideas. After the sleeve cover design i had done for the Secret 7” project I wanted to try more of the simplistic style of illustrating and have an excuse to spend a day looking at traditional style tattoos again! I found a photograph of a girl in a bikini which I liked and then went from there adding to it. I started to carve whilst catching up on some Kardashian goodness and then by the end of the day had the beginnings of an edition of prints which I’m a little bit in love with.
I am definitely going to be trying out a lot more line style prints as I loved how it came out and you can get in more detail than if you were trying to carve the black lines out.
The prints are available to buy along with other bits and bobs here!
