ZOOEY MAGAZINE

A little while ago, Zooey Magazine did a call out on Twitter for illustrators to feature in their Nov/Dec 2012 issue. I responded immediately not wanting to pass up the chance to have my work published. 

Zooey Magazine is a US print publication for modern young women. Zooey regularly features articles on popular culture, fashion, art, crafts, and inspirational women. Cover stars include Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars, Forgetting Sarah Marshall), Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory) and Anna Paquin (True Blood).

Nikki Reed was the cover girl for the November/December 2012 issue that I was featured in, and I used a photograph of her as inspiration for my illustration.

I wanted to create something special for this feature so I decided to illustrate a magical forest scene, very detailed and colourful. 

It was such a thrill when the issue finally came out online and today, I received the printed copy in the mail. Super exciting!!

If you'd like to read the article, go here. I'd love to know what you think! :) x

JANE LANE

"Hola. Me llamo Jane Lane, student, artist, committed young person. My mission: to create broad, sweeping works that comment insightfully on the human condition. Or watch TV, whichever's easiest."

I'll be honest, I never watched Daria when I was a kid in the 90s. I think it might've been a bit mature for me at that time. I was more into cartoons like Thundercats, Power Rangers and TMNT - pure animated action!

Recently, I've caught a few rerun episodes of Daria on MTV and I find the cynical, sarcastic exchanges between Daria and her best friend Jane Lane very amusing. I don't think I had such a jaded outlook on the world when I was a teenager.

What I love about this show especially is how everything is sooo 90s. From the angsty rock theme tune to the grungy style of its main characters, it's a blast from the not so distant past.

Jane Lane is definitely the edgier of the two in terms of style with her razor sharp jet black haircut, cartilage piercings and grungy clothing.

I really enjoyed interpreting Jane's look through my own illustration style. 

PALOMA

Paloma Faith is one of my favourite singers. Along with her incredible voice, she's also got a distinctive sense of style to match. I saw her perform with Cee Lo Green at the Brit Awards 2011 (I went for my birthday!) and I was totally blown away. Fantastic performer!

Paloma recently posted a snap of her at a recent concert on her Facebook page. It was a beautiful photo and it gave me the inspiration I needed to start a new illustration. From there it just flowed. I'm really happy with the final artwork.

Hopefully Paloma will see it and love it! One can dream :)

UPDATE: It seems dreams do come true! Yesterday I got such a great surprise! Paloma Faith saw my illustration and posted it on her Facebook page! How amazing is that?! See it here: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151069113855970&set=a.199382680969.132454.72691320969&type=1&theater :D x

MYSTICAL ONE

It's quite funny how opportunities come about sometimes. You can spend so much time searching in vain and then one just comes to you with no effort at all on your part.

About a year ago I did some work experience at a fashion show/expo and made some contacts with the people I worked with. One day, quite out of the blue, I was asked by one of those same contacts to create some illustrations for a new publication she was working on called RE:CALL magazine.

RE:CALL is a bi-annual publication which showcases the latest in fashion, music, art, culture and lifestyle.

I created a series of 4 illustrations entitled "Mystical One" which drew inspiration from 70s fashion and the Romani traveller style of dress.

See article with these illustrations and brief info about me here.

REISS ILLUSTRATED

I've decided that from this year on, I will take advantage of as many illustration opportunities that come my way. This is definitely a challenge for me as I work full time and usually have very little free time to do personal work but it's something I have to push if I want to be successful.

The piece above is one that I entered in an illustration competition that Reiss recently held on their Facebook page. It wasn't a winner unfortunately but I'm still glad I entered it. There's no possibility of winning if you never try right?

AURORA

My favourite genre of music is definitely chill out/ambient music. It just makes me feel so relaxed and clears out all the chaos going on in my mind. I've been listening to a lot of Samantha James' music recently and it's so soft, beautiful and romantic. Two songs in particular, "Free" and "Amber Sky", I was listening to nonstop when creating 'Aurora' and that romantic mood is definitely reflected this piece.

Samantha James - Free

Samantha James- Amber Sky

SILHOUETTE OF DREAMS



Pink, girly, romantic! I really enjoyed drawing this, the big, bouncy curls were especially fun :)