Picture This! Exhibition!

Helen Stephen's beautiful work welcoming us!
Sorry about my reflection in the picture.
I LOVE THE DRAGON...Kazuno Kohara.

Helen Stephen's beautiful work.
A is for Anteater by Katie Viggers.
I'm in love with the jellyfish that she illustrated. No photo unfortunatley.
Beautiful spreads by Kazuno Kohara!
Mine (Bear) and Grace's
(Duck bottom) exquisite corpse.

James put the crocodile in the UK! Ha!
Not part of the Picture this!
Exhibition but really beautiful.

I forgot to check who the artist

was! I was too excited to stop

and look at names!

I'm turning into the Hulk!!!
(Inside the scarily large lift).
Very blurry, sneaky photo of Kevin Waldron's work.

Sneaky photo of the lovely Katie Cleminson's work.

I recently read on Helen Stephen's blog that her work (and other amazing illustrators work) was being exhibited at the Picture This! Exhibition! As soon as I heard about it I had to go! I adore children's books and illustration and aspire to become a Children's book illustrator. I thought it would also give me some inspiration as i've been feeling a bit rubbish about my work.

It didn't take long to get there, but the gallery itself was a bit confusing. Once we found the gallery I went all jelly legged from excitement and started snapping up some pictures of the beautiful work - without flash as i'm respectful - but the lady working there told me not to take any more as it was not allowed...but I had to prove I had seen gorgeous work...I wanted to be able to look back at the photos and feel excited and inspired! If the lady saw this blog she probably wouldn't be very happy.

(..if any of the artists' whose work I have published on this blog are not happy with the fact I took the photos then I will gladly take the photos down as I respect my fellow artist.)

I had so much fun though! It was fantastic to look through rough sketches and character designs. It was so inspiring and made me excited to be an illusthttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifrator. It also reassured the fact that I want to be a Children's Book Illustrator...I hope to have my work exhibited alongside such amazing artists one day.

I'm sorry if you found this boring...I had a lot to say! I also bought a couple of books and postcards:

Books: There Are Cats in this Book by Viviane Scwarz and Little Wizard by Kazuno Kohara.

Such Characters.

Here are a few character designs of Holly the Hippo and Charlie the Chimp. I tried to make a "Mike the Monkey" but I couldn't choose between the vast amount of different monkey species...so Charlie will have to do for now.
The last illustration is a quick drawing of the friends all together: (From Left to Righ:) Steve Sloth, Holly Hippo, Lionel Lion, Charlie Chimp and Terry Toucan. It's not my best drawing but I thought it was a fun way of loosening up for the beginning of my new sketchbook.

Voting has Started.

Please follow the link and vote for my entry for the Florence and the Machine Album cover competition. It would mean a lot to me if you spread the word :) Thankyou!

Dog Dreams animation.

I created an animation many a moon ago. For some reason, Blogger wont let me upload it so here is a link to it on youtube:

Dog Dreams animation.

Hope you all like it.

I may create another one soon!

I love getting post.

I have been sent some wonderful things in the post as of late! I was sent a wonderful ice cream dunny from Supachute , A fantastic postcard from Leslie A. Wood , and the amazing pieces I recieved in an Art Swap with Audrey Malo and Anne-Marie Jones (who is an utter genius)!!!

I love getting things in the post! I'd love a pen pal to send letters to and recieve letters from! (Let me know if you're interested!)

Florence and the Machine Entry.

This is my piece for the Florence and the Machine album art competition illustrating the song: Only If For A Night. I could of done more to it but i've been swamped with work and such...though I am trying my best to stick with my first idea when designing a character/a layout etc otherwise I overink it.

Please support me and my work:

http://www.talenthouse.com/emmacollins

Thankyou!!!

Sweet Treats.

I went shopping today...
I bought a Gruffalo pen!...
...it has a beautiful fox on it!
And I got a Gruffalo/mouse pencil with a snake on it!
I bought this doe/deer ornament
in the topshop sale! I love it!
Here are a few illustrations I have done for my new story. I'm starting to love Lionel! What do you think? How do you think he could be improved?

Oh, my! Art Swap!

Today I recieved Audrey Malo's piece from our art swap! Isn't it beautiful! If you would like to take part in an art swap with me, then please let me know! and if you would like to see the piece I send to Audrey then please look here!

Happy New Year!

A few of my hi-lights of 2011. In no particular order.

I got new tattoos, I entered competitions and won a few, I went to London and got to see a Dodo skelleton (I adore dodos), I graduated, I have find a new "style" I like to work in and i've got new additions to the family: Lizzy and Alan. I also volunteered, had two jobs, been poor, felt rich, enjoyed coffee,been to festivals.

I hope you all have a very happy 2012!!!

The Art Swap.

I know i'm being naughty in showing this before Audrey recieves it...but I don't think she follows my blog (yet hehe) so I don't think she'll see it. Even if she does it's not the end of the world! We both illustrated the theme " Winter". My definition of winter is sharing a hot drink with a good friend on a cold day.

Please let me know what you think.

I think i'll create more pieces like this...animals doing human things (anthropomorphism). I love it!

Inspiration from Christmas Gifts!

My wonderful pop up version of Guess How Much I love You
by Sam McBratney and Illustrated by Anita Jeram
One of my favourite illustrations from Otto the Book Bear by Katie Cleminson.

A beautiful little illustration in Oliver Jeffers' newest book Stuck.

It's Christmas!!!

I suprised James with a stocking full of treats!

These are some of the lovely gifts I recieved! Lots of wonderful books and sweet treats! I'm very lucky!

Christmas tree, Oh christmas tree!



My accidental pompous Christmas face!

Due to being busy with my two jobs i'd not felt very christmassy. This made me feel sad as I love christmas and always get into the holiday spirit! I had a long day yesterday but when I got home I was met with mince pies, home made sausage rolls and clean bedding. James and I watched the Nightmare Before Christmas and some TV programmes including a Morcambe and Wise Christmas special!

I woke up feeling very festive and excited as I had hidden a stocking for my loved one. It's been a lovely day filled with family, presents, food and good tv and crackers! Looking foward to the big meal!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Christmas present.

Many apologies for the terrible photo. I cannot be bothered to use my tempermental scanner right now. I'm too tired! But here is a little character illustration I have made for my Mum of her Mum and Dad. That is a little photo of the beautiful couple. I'm going to find a nice frame to put it in. Hope she likes it!!!

My shelf and corner of Inspiration.

My wonderful necklace by the talented Marta Dlugolecka!
I have a bucket of dinosaurs thanks to Hayley! I love it :D
Part of my rock collection.

My beautiful shelf and wall with art by: Oliver Jeffers, Camille Rose Garcia, Emma Carlisle and Hannah Wallace!

If I wish Hard Enough...

I'd love it if in the new year I can get my new story drawn up beautifully and sent off to publishers...i've been very fortunate in friends and their advice and it would be down to their kind words and inspiring positivity if I get published.
I would LOVE to get published. To see my book in print. To see smiling children and parents read it. I've always loved children's books and I can remember being tucked up in bed and demanding to have the BFG read to me. I remember also drawing from Quentin Blakes' illustrations and drawing up my own stories as a child. I want this more than anything...though a house would be nice too :p and a proper studio...i'm waffling now.

I've finally put the decorations up. Got work pretty much all week.
Hoping to get presents bought this week too. Can't wait!
The bird decoration I won from the Landbaby at the bluecoat.


Pretty foil trees!

Christmas cards and dangly snowman.

Decoration my Mum lovingly made :)

I also went to a meal with some of my favourite people and we exchanged Secret Santa gifts! Here are the beauties!




It was nice to relax and eat and talk rubbish whilst giving and reciving gitfts! Grace got me an awesome book called, " The Creative License" and two jars of flavoured coffee...chocolate caramel and vanilla...i'm a little mad for the vanilla one and sing: " COFFEE coffee COFFEE coffee!" when i'm on my break at work.

Lionel??

Lionel with colour.

I'm driving myself mad.
Character design usually does this to me...it's hard to know when to stop...to know when i'm finally happy with a design, as i'll love a design and change my mind about it the next day. I'll keep on drawing and see how it goes.
I do quite lie this little guys face though.

Sneak Peek.

I'm currently doing an art swap with the amazing Audrey Malo.
This is just a snippet of a rough of the image I have created for her in the theme of " Winter ".

(I will add an attachment to her blog at somepoint...just want to make sure she doesn't see this yet! :) )

Lionel.

This is Lionel the Lion.
Hand drawn and digitally coloured.
This is one of the character designs I really like...he's on his way to being a winner! What do you think?

Mr. Sloth.

I've been very busy with jobs and such. I'm tired but I made sure to do a few drawings when I got home. HERE is a little character i'm currently working on. His name is Steve. He's very happy to meet you!

Monkeying around...

This is my drawing of a Golden snub nosed monkey. They're beautiful and creepy at the same time...and they tend to look pretty sad.

I scanned my picture in in an "illustration mode" and it came out like this! How fun!

I would like to create something with a little more substance as I keep drawing animals just because I love them. Maybe i'll create some playing cards/snap cards or a poster for a zoo...any suggestions???

Also if you would like to do an art swap with me please leave a comment!