The Tale of Big Foot Bess

I have been waking up this week truly bright, early and ready for very full days. The sun has been decisively out and though the hills are hazy, the meadows remain crisp, clear and already sprouting with sun-bathers. It is a precarious position in Scotland to have your moods dependant on the weather but even though I do feel I'm getting better with that I must admit I've been in a pretty ridiculous state of mind. Cheerful, productive, romantic... Spring-time really makes me gush like a disney movie.
Yesterday I volunteered with a friend at the nursery school here. We dug out worms from the compost and rescued slugs for the children to play with. It was sweet them putting their tiny hands out to cradle these huge,green slugs! And of course, it was the perfect type of day to help in a garden.
This week's Illustration Friday is for the word Legendary. So above is my tall-tale poster, written and of course illustrated by yours truly. I hope you can read it okay (click the image to view large on page). It's a story of a little baby with mighty, strong feet who's temper tantrum creates a mountain range.
On the topic, my friend said something this week: He said, " I really think that legends came as answers to children's questions."
Lovely.
Let's hope these clear days last. x

Cycloptic Myopia

Good morning! Here is the brand new piece for Hungry, Hungry Ghost's new E.P., Cycloptic Myopia. It shall be released on 12 May and I believe will be a digital release accompanying the full-length album, Sleeping English, of which I also did the artwork. All information on these and the band can be found here.
Also, the piece, in larger format can be found here, on my main site. I recently made some changes so do have a look.
There! Morning promotion!
I have the morning off so am taking a slow breakfast and moseying around before I head out into the rain. But I do love days like these, when the weather doesn't get to me, when the rain really is just rain. I like it really, because it reminds me that I really live here and that Edinburgh is just what it should be.
Enjoy! x

Intricately One

Yesterday was great! The day went sweetly, had a really fun yoga class, got off work early and ran errands with my darling. And in the end, it was crisp and clear despite a rainy night and morning. Edinburgh is lovely in the fog and rain but there's really something special and regal when the sun finally comes out. Some weekends are better than others and I'm really excited about this one. I'm feeling productive and bright, relaxed, responsible. I finished the illustration for Hungry,Hungry Ghost's digital release E.P. and I'll put it up on my site when it's released.
Randan Discotheque is playing at the Wee Red Bar (ECA) tonight and I'll certainly be there. I really like watching them play and the songs are great, especially the heartbreak ones. Heartbreak ones are always my favourites.
Above is my Illustration Friday for this week, right on time. The word is Intricate.

Eye-Eye Captain!

This is a bit late but was my IF Submission for last week, which I believe was Breezy. Pretty simple.
I've had another crazy week, full of sick days and long hours with the children. But I left many of them with a conquering feeling. There is a rich satisfaction in taking care of someone and keeping your calm too. It's like letting go of yourself and becoming a sort of servant, but subtle. Though I must admit that it wasn't quite so dramatic for the most part- a week of long hours watching cartoons and making toast isn't any cause for alarm. And as always, my job as a nanny remains a treat. I didn't expect my job apart from Illustration being so satisfying- a sort of double calling.
The day is done now and I can hear that soothing sound of cars on a wet road. It was a grey, heavy day which, inconveneintly, usually put me in a super drowsy, stuffed-up mood. So the dark outside and the comfort of the lamplight in my tiny, granny flat is doing me real good.
I've been productive tonight and may have finished up an illustration for Hungry,Hungry Ghost's new E.P. titled, Cycloptic Myopia. I won't give the final work away but below is a picture of some of the prep-work. I spent my whole Saturday morning drawing eyes, over and over and over. I will, ofcourse, post the result as soon as it's released.
Splendid! x

Baby Instinct

It's been a full and hectic past couple weeks and I'm happy to have the day to sit down and take care of my to-dos. It's been sick-days plus school holidays so as a nanny, I've been working over-time. It's incredible the changes these kids go through on a daily basis. Emotional levels always adjusting and bouncing of their sisters, for better or for worse. It'd funny how much I can relate to the little one's tantrums. That's why this week I used the above drawing for Instinct on Illustration Friday. It's all about emotional instincts, out-of-body temper tantrums and needs beyond reason. Of course then with serious patience and support, the back lash is sweetness itself!
I am starting work on cover illustrations for an upcoming EP by Hungry, Hungry Ghost (do have a look and listen!) I'm really excited about the project and mostly making myself sit down to work. This weekend should lend lots of time for that, with many laps at the pool and my sunday yoga class in between. So yes, health and progress all the way this weekend! I think that's my serious backlash for a weekend spent whiling aways the hours for a good friends birthday.
While this winter has certainly not been my darkest, it really churned up my heart to see early spring buds popping up everywhere. And while I still had on a coat, I only had a tee-shirt under that... I wait with baited breath for summer, I really do!

Climbing

Well this first image is my IF submission for the week of course. This week's theme is Climbing. And here is the little one I'm in charge of climbing up the monkey puzzle tree. See, every day we pass the neighbors monkey puzzle tree and talk about the different monkeys in it and what they are doing. She's got the most monkeys, as they have new babies almost every week, usually pink or purple. Mine is white with reddish brown stripes.
Anyway, this week was sweet and full. On Monday, my friend and I went to Glasgow to see Of Montreal. I'll post a video on my youtube page and a link on here soon, but it wouldn't load fast enough just now.
I'll write more this weekend, I'm heading out for a bit soon as today is technically my Friday.
x

Cower and Pale

So I had a lovely evening over at my friend and collaborator, Sandra DeMatos' flat. She lives in a really great shared boarding with a roman statue to greet you at the door and great big Edinburgh ceilings. An ninety year old man lives under neath and a busy family up the spiraling staircase... you can hear the girl singing loudly as she comes home through the front door. Very weird, a treasure! We drew some and started planning the logistics and feel of our upcoming project. The idea is a cross-section of a house with all the rooms occupied by different aspects of fear and thinking/feeling. The above is just a little sketch called Cower and Pale... which doubles as my IF Submission- the word this week is Pale.
My eager plans for the next years are slowly inching their way together and I feel, these past few days, a real growing state of excitement mixed with contentment. A sort of confidence, I suppose, or hope.
I'll post more soon, I reckon. Truly look forward to this weekend.
xx