Budgie Battle

Karys (my best chum and one third of atto) got a new budgie to keep Smuggler (the blue one) happy. So far they're not getting along. This is what we imagine is happening when she's at work...

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Hopefully the budgie love will flow soon.

Crescent Arts Auction

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I was recently asked to take in an art auction alongside other local artists to raise funds for the Crescents Arts Centre. A place where I spent a lot of time learning how to draw. A bunch of art chums and I used to hop on the train after school, go to Botanic, eat cheesey chips in Maggie May's and then head to the Crescent for our life drawing classes. Fun times. Although bizarrely this seems to be frowned upon now.
I jumped at the chance to be a part of the Crescent's refurbishment. Until I got the sweats about the fact that this was an auction and there was a fair chance that my painting could be a complete flop alongside other proper artists. Yeeek!

I was so nervous during the bidding. Sweaty palms and everything. Thankfully my wee painting did well, and it raised a good few handy pounds for the mighty Crescent. I was so relieved. It was a big pride thing I know and I'm glad I made it with dignity intact and even a few proud pats on the back. Phew!

This was the official blurb btw "The painting tells a story about a melancholy character who is followed by a rain cloud. Despite the flourish of life he leaves in his wake, he can only see the desert in front of him"

Mrs Yohanis

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My sis-in-law Judith teaches a primary 2 class and I love helping her make her classroom look spangly and fun. This is her door plaque. Apparently the kids have trouble pronouncing her name so she often gets called Missus Your Highness which i love.

Evan & Petra's Big Day Out

During the summer I got a commission from a lovely lady called Janine Walker. She asked me for something to celebrate the 1st birthday of her son, Evan. I love jobs like this. She gave me free rein to do as I please. What trust! I decided on a triptych that would tell a simple story of a day of discovery with Evan as the star and their dog Petra as his sidekick. This is the sketch I showed to Janine to explain the idea.
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She loved the idea so I went ahead and started creating. I wanted to do something more physical and textural than I usually do. Most of my work is finished off on screen and I wanted Evan to have something that was a bit more than a flat image so he could see how it was made. These are the bits and pieces I painted, found, cut-out, stuck together ...

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The Prof


prof2.jpgAlistair, a university lecturer on innovation within engineering, approached me to create a character to describe his approach - a kind of mini-brand for himself. He wanted something that could be used on his business cards, powerpoints etc. that was a bit more fun than the usual university logo. These were the ones that didn't make the cut ...
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Hairy

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Some illustration work for Cleland McKnight, a local image consultancy that we're doing some brand work for. Visit www.clelandmcknight.com to check them out. I'm redrawing all their diagram type people which is interesting. I'm so used to drawing out of proportion and making stuff cute but this has tested me (in a good way).

Happy Trees

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I hate buying wedding presents. A spatula is not an exciting wedding present. I am forever pre-destined to buy the wrong brand of slow cooker. So when it came to Finn & Lora's wedding (my lovely Edinburgh chums), I painted a picture of happy trees on a linen tablecloth instead of buying them a whisk they probably already own. It's a bit wrinkly but it looked better in the frame.

Judith and Jamie are married :D

Judith (my fave wee sis-in-law) and Jamie (now my official big bro-in-law) are married. Happy times :)
This is the decoration I did for the church. Bajillions of hand cut butterflies pinned to the blackout curtain. I think it looked great. judithjamie.jpg
Here's the happy couple ...
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