There are just so many good burlesque performers hailing from the UK. Missy Malone, Anna Fur Laxis and Miss Miranda to name a few, travel the whole world to perform their tassel twirling, shimmy shaking magic. Here’s my ode to all my UK girlies, thank you for the inspiration! From top to bottom: Missy Malone, Scarlett Daggers, Anna Fur Laxis, Lady Wildflower and Cece Sinclair. I’m sure there’s many more drawings to come.
It’s been a while.
Insta just kinda took over. Give me a follow if you like sketches in ink, cheeky pinup girls and the occasional snapshot of goats.
I’m now back in action again on here. There is just so much to show you, watch this space.
So this is what’s been happening on Instagram recently:
And Ellie from the math rock band Signals like my drawing of her, then reposted it and followed me too!
“Enjoy the process” – Gwen Stefani (No Doubt)
“You there, underling! Fetch me something to drink. At once.”
When a little boy puts on a knight’s costume, he becomes a knight. Those dragons really happen and the day needs saving. The earth’s future depends on it! It’s serious business.
One of my favourite games was dressing up too. When I slipped into that pink, sparkly dress and put on the plastic tiara, the gates to the kingdom far, far away really did open. They needed me to be queen! And I ruled them hard, really hard.
Today’s India ink and watercolour illustration has been done for Illustration Friday and the topic is… imagination!
“Tall” is a subject close to my heart. Not only am I 6 ft. myself, but I hail from a city teeming with women in platform heels. So for last week’s Illustration Friday I did two quick pictures. One of me being extremely tall, obviously. And one of the women of Leeds. A city in the Northern part of England for those that don’t know.
Illustration in acrylics for Illustration Friday, subject: tall!
It really is quite a sight. On Friday night the women go all out. Killer heels, fake tans, tight fitting mini dresses and they get drunk… really drunk. Some lose their shoes and fall over, some are even sick in the street. The main problem with these heels is that they actually make women look quite scary and overpowering. Towering out over all the boys, these groups of drunk, shrieking girls aren’t exactly the best representatives for femininity. But hey, here speaks a pale faced girl who hardly goes out and spends her days hunched over a drawing on a Saturday night.
Children’s art style illustration in pen and pastels of me at work feeling extremely tall. Oh and mum, if you’re reading this… I don’t smoke, it just looked good for the picture!
Ramona Flowers in India ink and watercolour. Can’t help but thinking this portrait doesn’t do her justice. She’s so pretty!
Rainy bank holidays are not much fun in Leeds. So I re-watched Scott Pilgrim to repair my crappy mood. I still think this is such an amazing and original film, even after having seen it 10+ times. So here’s Ramona. With her hair changing obsession, she kinda reminds me of myself when I was young.
Regency costume lady painted in acrylics on a book page torn from Jane Austen’s “Emma”. Some would call this “wasting”, I call it “enjoying a book, but not in a reading kind of way”.
It was cleaning day today. Stuff needed dusting. Especially the piles and piles books my boyfriend owns. Came across this tatty copy of “Emma” by Jane Austen. I was about to throw it away, but then it hit me. How’s about painting a cute regency lady? With the hat, the floaty dress and the flowers. On a book page.
After having painted a couple of beautiful people from the Southern states, I now did some New Yorkers. There are some lovely faces on Humans of New York and especially these two ladies caught my eye. This website is hilarious by the way and the captions had me in stitches.
“Picnics inspire me”
“People try to buy it off my head”
Click the links to see the originals of Flower Girl and Awesome Hat Granny.
So we went from Oregon, Louisiana and Kanas to NYC. Where shall we go next?
A colleague passed on a link to a website with hundreds of images of beautiful people. Earth’s World features Americans visiting country fairs and other events, like Cinco de Mayo and this sultry lady. Check out the original here.
This type of style is called “Chola”, I believe. She replaced her shaved eyebrows with super high, slightly angry looking drawn on ones. Why did she think this was a good idea? Anyway, I find her beautiful no matter what and a face like this is a real treat to draw. There is a kind of sadness there which I find fascinating. Not long ago, I did another Hispanic girl.
Hillbilly or a kickass cowboy? Doesn’t matter. Lots and lots of character there. Find the original here.
Both in Indian ink and watercolour. Even contemplating making more. My super cool boss Ian Bowden had been at it as well, doing this “Homeless or awesome pirate?” guy. Warning! Clicking this link will have you fall off your chair. Content is extremely GOOD!
“I don’t paint dreams or nightmares. I paint my own reality” – Frida Kahlo
Today was surreal. An August afternoon, one moment beaming with bright sunlight, the next thunderstorms and lightning. While shoppers were hiding in the bus shelter opposite my flat and the rain came pouring down my windows, I was sat snugly at my desk drawing Frida. The perfect inspiration for a perfect Sunday afternoon in.
Done in Indian ink and watercolour.
