Caracal in the Corner.

I've been really interested in Caracal's for a while now, and because they are so adorably cute, I thought I should illustrate one! If you have never heard of Caracal's, they are a type of wildcat found in Africa and some parts of Asia, and they are often known as the 'African Lynx' because of their close resemblance to the more well known big cat. I just think they are such a beautiful and interesting wildcat. In my illustration the cat is obviously inside a house, but I don't condone keeping these cats as domestic pets! It's only inside because I had the idea of a children's story, where the Caracal wanders into a house because it's an orphan and makes friends with a little girl until it is ready to be released into the wild again. I hope you like it!

C xxx

Artists who inspire me: Danny Roberts.

All artwork belongs to Danny Roberts.

I'm sure many of you will be familiar with the work of Danny Roberts, or will have at least seen it on your online travels! If you don't know about Danny, he runs the blog Igor and André which is filled with his lovely art. Danny is actually one of the first artists I found that inspired me to try fashion illustration in the first place, so I owe a lot to him! I simply love his style, and I feel that it is so easily recognisable nowadays. 
Danny started his blog as a means to track his artistic progress, and if you look through his archives you can really see how his style has grown and evolved. He also writes and illustrates books which tend to have a whimsical fairytale feel and are full of his own unique characters. I just think he's such a great and interesting artist and it's definitely worthwhile spending a couple of hours on his blog. You'll definitely be inspired. 

C xxx

My Summer Essentials

Well, it seems that we have had a few rare glimpses of sunshine over the last few days so it seemed appropriate to make this little illustration! If you've followed for a little while, you may be aware that I LOVE Juju jelly shoes. I know they might be seen as a little childish, but they are so darn cute. Anyway, it seems Juju have released a ton of new, amazing shades for this summer, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for them. Everything else in this illustration is pretty standard really - I'm sure most people love a tasty ice lollipop on a hot day! Although if you are going to the shop, be sure to bring a cornetto home for me. 

C xxx

I want a cat.

I do indeed want a cat, but sadly, I can't have one! So for now, this illustration will have to do. A version of this illustration will also be featured in a mini zine Cowbiscuits is creating - get in touch with her if you are a fellow crazy cat lady! 

C xxx

Never be afraid to experiment.

Here is my latest illustration for Karla's 'Tales of Creativity' charity project. I thought of the little tagline for this one, and I wanted to try and create a fun image which reminds us that sometimes we need to experiment to produce our best work - even if it turns out to be a little crazy or weird. I think sometimes we all fall into the trap of feeling the need to fit in with what everyone else is doing, this goes for blogging as well. It's definitely getting harder to be original these days with so many awesome and inspiring blogs around. So yes, what I'm basically trying to say is don't be afraid to do something a little different; maybe some people won't really 'get it' or like it, but it can also really help you to stand out. Karla said something very similar in a recent email, paraphrasing she said 'thinking outside the box helps to get your work noticed' and I do think that's absolutely true. 

I'm definitely not claiming to be the most original person in the world, but I do try and experiment with my art, and if you go back through my archives you will see that my style has changed so much! 

Let me know what you think! 

C xxx

Monsieur Notebook.

A little while ago, the guys from Monsieur Notebook got in touch and asked if I would like to receive a free leather notebook with my artwork engraved on the front cover. Of course, I said absolutely, and here is my finished notebook! 

I sent over a selection of illustrations, and the guys ended up choosing 'Mango Sorbet' which I was really happy about. I also adore the deep rich red cover they chose for my notebook. You can see the texture of the engraving a little better in the photo below. I'm so thrilled with my new notebook, it's amazingly unique and I can already tell I'll get a lot of use out of it. 

Just a little doodle to christen my new notebook!

When I sent over my illustrations, I had to transform them into black and white line and block drawings as you can see above. It was actually interesting to see my illustrations in black and white as colour is usually such a big part of what I do. I was incredibly happy with how this one looked though - nice, clean, and simple. 

I'm so happy that the guys asked me to take part in this - my notebook is beautiful quality and I'd recommend them to anyone. 

In addition to notebooks, Monsieur Notebook also stock sketchpads of various sizes, and they will soon be selling watercolour notebooks too! 

Take a look at their blog here for more info! 

Stockists

Inkthistle 
Pen & Paper Stationery Co
Blank Journals
Write Here!
Treasure & Relish

Prices start at around £9.25 which is incredibly reasonable for a leather notebook of such high quality. Another important thing to mention is that these notebooks are ethically sourced and hand finished in India, ensuring every employee receives a fair wage - an amazing reason to support the brand. 

Let me know what you think! 

C xxx

Gem Fatale and Roxy Cat!

I'm sure most of you all follow Gem already, and you will have seen her adorable new bob haircut - I think it looks super cute on her! I did a little portrait of Gem AGES ago, so I thought it was about time I illustrated her again. I've always loved Gem's blog, in fact, I'm fairly certain it was one of the first I ever followed. Gem is currently living the dream, and she is now a features writer at Company magazine - she has done so so well, and I loved reading her first column. 

C xxx