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Ugh I know, I know - I thought I'd be back to regular weekly blogging again during this break but clearly this hasn't happened! However, this doesn't mean that I haven't been busy!

I have been working on some personal illustrations over these past two to three weeks, which I have featured below and can also be seen under my Portfolio page.

Paeonia Lagoon

Iris

Intergalactica

Instagram Updates

1. Cameo the Label lily palm print top - I am in love with this.
2. Drawing Gia Carangi, my model inspo.
3. Floral illustrations.
4. Warming myself up with homemade pumpkin soup and breakfast tea.
5. Is my floral obsession obvious?!
6. Progress of a recently completed illustration.

This month I have been drawing my inspiration from musical sources, such as FKA Twigs and Lana Del Rey. Style-wise, I have been interested in the juxtaposition of bright metallic and nude, blush and muted grey shades. I'm wishing the warm weather would return soon so I can enjoy sleeping by the pool and basking in the summer sunshine. I need more Vit. D!

Until next time! x

Auras

Another Saturday, another week gone by. Next week will be Week 5 of my semester, I honestly can't quite get my head around that fact. It seems like I've only just started by really I've been working away for weeks now! I feel I have a better grip on my time management this year though, after last years debacles which I do not want to return to! But procrastination still gets the better of me sometimes!

This week I have been designing ideas for a poster that focuses on the topic of peace. Since this is also a poster that is to be designed with the intention of being exhibited by the client as a celebration of their 25 years in operation, I'e decided to take the approach that focuses on their legacy and input into the community by creating an illustration of their key figure - Graham F. Smith. The little sketch I've done as a starting point is below.

Here's my week:

1. Beginning a sketch of a beautiful photo of a model whose name I do not know, but she has the loveliest freckles ever!
2. Progress + milky cups of tea, a typical afternoon of yours truly.
3. Finally decided to get my mitts on this little book with some birthday money I had stashed. I think it doesn't even need introducing, the cover is already so iconic I think! Anyways, I've had a brief flick through it and so far I am excited to read it.

For my inspiration this week, I've really been digging simple palettes of black and white with a dash of bright or neon colour thrown into the mix. I used to love constant colour, but right now I've just been looking at more tailored and simple approaches to my personal style. I'm still obsessed with photographic prints, mirror prints and florals, don't think i'm ever going to get over them - they are the only statement item you'll need when you're wearing them. Green is also not a colour I'm greatly fond of, but recently I've been loving a nice palette of fresh green hues to get me dreaming of tropical rainforests and exploring jungles.

Until next time! x

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Ephemeral

Hello all! I recently finished a new illustration which I have been meaning to finish for the longest time, but uni has just gotten in the way of everything. But in this one week I have had free from uni, I have managed to accomplish more for myself then the 13-14 weeks of constant stress I've had. I just really needed this week, although it isn't all that long of a time, it is long enough for me to recover and get ready for next week, where I'll be starting my 3 week intensive packaging course.
Anyway, this is the finished illustration.


Stevie Nicks

Seeing as I have had the time, I have also begun another portrait which is of Boudicca, who is one of my la femme heroes. I have been waiting for ages to find the time to actually start this portrait. I think I will not have it finished by the end of the week, but I will definitely finish it during the mid-year break. I become really invested in my illustrations, as I take the time to research the subject matter and become interested in the history and other factors surrounding the topic I've decided to illustrate around. It is just in its first early stages but I hope I will be able to translate the final image I have in my mind onto the paper.



That is all for now, I shall leave you all with a song I have been coveting at the moment by one of my all-time favourites, Marina and the Diamonds.
♡♡♡

Marina + the Diamonds - Bubblegum Bitch

Withered Roses

Hi all,

Firstly, sorry about the very delayed post, but I've had a hectic week.

I completed an illustration for an article over the weekend - the article was focused on violence against women, so I decided to take a different approach to the situation. The thorn vines are the constraints, the feeling of suffocation and fear and all other negative emotions that come from violence. The wilting flowers are reflective of the feelings of hopelessness, exhaustion, depression and loss of livelihood that can result from abusive behavior. It's a pretty intense topic, but it's a topic that I think most women feel strongly about and is something that is always brought up in the media.

I used pencils, watercolours and felt tip pens to create the illustration. The rest was edited and finalised in Photoshop.

University has been incredibly stressful, and it is only the first week back! But seeing as I am in the third and last year of my degree, I feel this is obviously necessary. But still, the costs involved with printing and other supplies this year will - I fear - be massive, but I'm going to try and scrape where I can and go with the lowest cost options. Also the fees seem significantly higher this year, which is no good either. :( Overall, this year will be the most focused on costliness. I only wish the uni could provide supplies within the HECS fees, it would make life much easier! But since I've made a promise to myself not to buy any clothes that aren't a necessity and only to buy things I need like food and supplies, I should be fine. :)

I really love the New Zealand label Lonely Heart's Autumn/Winter 2012 Lookbook. I love the contrast between the muted earthy shades and then the sudden bright "pops" of blue and red and yellow which break up the flow. Here are some of my favourites from the collection.

Photography & Styling: Karen Inderbitzen-Waller
Lighting & Digital: Avril Planqueel
Model: Olivia O’Driscoll
Makeup: Chay Roberts
Hair: Jason Chong Li

That's all for a little while, I will leave you with some Fleetwood Mac. ♥

Fleetwood Mac - Dreams

Drawing at the Museum