The Dead Issue

Good evening!

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas! This is a little update to let you know that my illustrations have been featured in Duck and Cover magazine's 'Dead' issue.
It is available to purchase from UCA, Canterbury (in Mediatech), The B&B Gallery, Folkestone or by post from Duck and Cover themselves (just email and then send a stamped , addressed envelope).
Alternatively, you can look at the pdf online by clicking here!

TTFN
xx

Creative Boom

Good morning!

With the Charity Ball over, I am now working on little projects on the run up the Christmas. I was also interviewed by the lovely Tigz for a feature post on Creative Boom. You can read it by clicking here.
Thanks very much, Tigz, it was a pleasure!

TTFN
xx

Back in Business

Good evening!

Roll up, roll up, one and all!

As promised, I am proud to present to you my new and improved website. With some clickable little features and more images to peruse (although my keen eyed blog readers will be familiar with a few!), you can mosey along now and see it for yourself!

I do hope you enjoy your next visit to www.misspearlgrey.com.

In other news, the Charity Ball is almost upon us, and I will have some more sketchbook based treats here very soon!

TTFN
xx

Site revamp

Good afternoon!

Just a little note to say that my website is currently down as it undergoes a revamp! It will be back up shortly.

TTFN
xx

Something Delicious

Good afternoon!

This is just a little something I have put together recently- I thought I ought to put up a sample from my current sketchbook! I am still working on the big charity ball artwork in amongst commission pieces and it grows ever more exciting by the week!

TTFN
xx

Busy, busy, busy!

Good evening!

I must apologise for the lack of update! I have been very busy in the studio for the last few weeks with commissions. I am working on something rather exciting at the moment, having also been invited to contribute artwork for theming a charity ball. Since the concept is Alice in Wonderland, this means I must work very closely with the illustrations of Tenniel, which makes me very happy indeed!
These are some cropped images of the various projects I have been undertaking. The black and white illustrations will be unveiled in a grand way at the ball in November, so watch this space!
TTFN
xx

Papereciation (Paper Appreciation)

Good evening!

I was having quite a slow day yesterday, pottering through some commission roughs... that was until I received a brilliant phone call from a friend of mine (Che and then later Vinesh and AnnaLisa) advising me that my playing card design for Shelter had made it onto the pages of the daily London paper, the Metro. It was featured in an article alongside the winning design.



Thankyou very much to everyone who voted! You can take a little look at the actual spread here!

TTFN
xx

Heralding Harald

Good morning!

I will be posting some new personal work very shortly, but thought it was high time I bought some attention to the illustrative talents of a dear friend of mine- introducing Harald Donoghue.



His passion for fashion is quite obvious from his beautiful studies. But he doesn't just draw ladies, oh no. I can only see his portfolio moving from strength to strength.

That's all for now, but I shall be back with work of my own doing later on!

TTFN
xx

The Letter B

Good afternoon!

I have been working once again on a little piece for a Flickr illustrative collaboration. This piece, the letter B, is my contribution to an alphabet book for children aged between three and six. I may add more to it should I have time, but can you find all of the things beginning with B? Good luck- there's a few trickier ones in there too!

I have lots of commissioned work on my to-do list at the moment, so I will try and post updates for a couple of those projects very soon. Hopefully I will eventually get round to posting updates on those long awaited narrative roughs, and perhaps even the leprechaun concept images from a little while ago!

TTFN
xx

UGG in da Club

Good morning!

This duo form part of my very last-minute entry to the Shelter House of Cards competition.



Since the brief was to design the 8 of clubs, my mind (addled with cold and flu medicine, cough cough) started working around the idea of Cavepeople- the 'original Clubbers'. So here they are, bopping away.

...I do love a good pun.



Update: Voting opens on the 22nd of August here so if you fancy voting for my design, the code is DH8O158. Merci beaucoup!

TTFN
xx

Undead Bar Staff

Good evening!

This is part of a piece I have been working on about the Undead. I will post the more as we approach publication day! Hopefully it just goes to show that Zombies come in all shapes and sizes.
I am aware of lots of little problems with it that need tweaking, but I hope you like her regardless!

TTFN
xx



...and here's one that I played about with in Photoshop (please note- I don't normally colour digitally so it's still a skill I need to develop!)

'Ave a Banana!

Good morning!

Everyone likes a cute monkey, right? I believe that the humble Baboon is commonly overlooked in terms of cuteness. Sure, it's not conventional cuteness... but as long as they aren't screeching (that sight is pretty fearsome!) I think they are pretty sweet.

TTFN
xx

Bear-iffic!

Good evening!

Wow! It has been ever such a long time (especially after a stint of somewhat prolific updating) but here is a little tidbit from a project I have started working on. I do have things to unveil to you all that I have been working on in the time I have been away, but I thought that the image of a little bear with a balloon was just right for the beginning of the week!

TTFN
xx

A little Bread & Honey...

Good evening!

I am just so excited to share more details of this with all of you, but I am afraid all I can do is offer a teaser image! Oh, and advise you to keep an eye on http://www.breadandhoneydesigns.blogspot.com! I am in the process of collaborating with a briliantly talented jewellery maker- I promise I will reveal more when we are out of the design stages and the shop is ready to be fully stocked!

TTFN
xx

Mufferlump

Good afternoon!

This is an image I created recently as part of a collaboration with a group of illustrators involved in the Waterstones competition, which I entered earlier in the year.
The story is starting to centre around a character called the Mufferlump- I say 'starting to', because each illustrator can only work from the last image provided. Each page also needs to rhyme with the one before it, so the story is unfolding unpredictably! My image is only page four, as I am at the top of the list, so it will be exciting to see where the story goes from here!

It was rather challenging drawing a character from someone else's visualisation, as the creature has very specific markings, but I would like to think I was able to inject a little of my personal style into the page.

Watch this space for narrative roughs, leprechaun faces and news of a fledgling collaborative design venture!

TTFN
xx

Leprechaun

Good morning!

He is by no means finished, but this is a work in progress shot of the wall mounted leprechaun face I have been working on. Milliput is difficult to manipulate but necessary in this instance as the piece will be living outdoors. It's quite tricky to actually define a Leprechaun as everyone has a slightly different idea about how they look! However, this is my visualisation.


TTFN
xx

Wowzers and Schnauzers

Good afternoon!

What a lovely week it has been! A little while ago, I wrote a poem for the very talented Julia Pott because she was far away from home on her birthday. Well! She kindly sent me an A3 print of one of my favourites of her images. Thankyou very much, Julia! It's going on my studio wall.





In addition to this, here is a grumpy little schnauzer from my sketchbook. His tail is supposed to be stumpy so you can't see it at the angle I have drawn. Maybe that's why he looks so cross.



TTFN
xx

Global Grey

Good afternoon!

Last week flew by with no blogging! I do apologise. I decided to create a mini test show-reel and plonk it onto Youtube. Be warned, it is quite clunky because I am familiarising myself with the software! But hopefully once I am better versed in it I should be able to produce some good work.



In other news, I have been featured on Steve Rack's 'I Like Characters' blog again. I have also been featured on Yvonne Perry's 'Writers In The Sky' blog under their list of illustrators. A big thankyou to both Steve and Yvonne! Please feel free to visit and comment on my work, if the mood strikes you.

I am currently working on a leprechaun commission (pictures to come soon!) and oodles more sketchbooking has been going on that I will share with you soon. Oh, and keep an eye on my website, as it's soon to be overhauled and revamped with lots of exciting little features and things to look at.

Phew! It's all go!

TTFN
xx

Oo, Chee-wah-wah!

Good evening!

Here is a little guy I have been working on in my sketchbook (where else?) I almost wish I had a little Chihauhau myself, except I wouldn't make him sit in my handbag. If nothing else because I would have to clean it out afterwards. I can imagine that's not too pleasant!
I hope you're enjoying these little glimpses into my project book as much as I am enjoying doing them!

TTFN
xx

A sack of Cats

Good evening!

Another sketchbook instalment for you- here is a bagful of Kitty shaped deliciousness. There are a few more in the works, not kitties this time but other anthropomorphic characters (which may or may not be clothed). I am also mapping out characters for a new story which is top secret at the moment! I will tell you, however, that it is based on an imaginative and adventurous little boy and his very bossy little sister, with illustrations inspired by my Waterstones pitch (see older blog post entitled 'Waterstones Picture This!').

For now, please enjoy my sketchy kittens.

TTFN
xx

Some Moleage

Good afternoon!

As promised, here is the little Mole that was lurking on the pages of my sketchbook. As you can see, originally I had planned to give him great big spectacles. I am still not sure whether I will. I'm not sure about his nose from the front either- I think he may need some more work! But he's right out of my doodlebook, so please do enjoy.

TTFN
xx

A Vole and a Mole (almost!)

Good evening!

After a lovely weekend I thought I would pop another character concept sketch up on the blog.
The reason for the post title is that there is a funny little Mole sitting in my sketchbook too, but he is only a pencil sketch at the moment. I will finish him off tomorrow and then present him!
This drawing was my preliminary concept for the Mole, but I really didn't think he was quite right. So the Mole was roughed out, and I can't wait to paint him so that I can introduce him properly!

TTFN
xx

True love & Gentlemen of the Road

Good evening!

Whilst reorganising my portfolio, I came across some work that had not seen the light of day for some time. They bring a smile to my face and (from what I can tell) other people's faces too, so they are now here for your viewing pleasure.

I'm currently working on some more concept sketches, so please watch this space as I'm about to finish them off!

TTFN
xx

Cats, Dogs and little green Frogs

Good afternoon!

I have been mixing up the dimensions lately, haven't I! Between 2 and 3d work I find myself a busy bee- here is a taster of some concept sketches I have been working on.

On a side note, I had decided to go and sit on the Southbank with some Peppermint Tea and sketch today, but the despicable weather has foiled my plans. However, this does mean that I am holed up in the studio. One of my puppets needs some fingers, pronto, and I am making lots of yummy little frogs to go into the shop. Snap them up quick when they get there though, I have had orders before they've even been finished!

TTFN
xx

'The Frog Princess'- Book Preview

Good afternoon!

I know it's a little delayed, but I thought I would pop a few of the spreads from my recent picture book project on the blog.
I re-scripted the text to be completely in rhyme (which makes pacing easier during storytelling with younger children). It also has a moral to the tale and an exciting twist at the end!
'The Frog Princess: A Cautionary Tale' will be available in my Etsy shop very soon!

I hope UK readers are enjoying the beautiful sunshine we are having- long may it continue, eh?

TTFN
xx

Tee-tonic

Good evening!

Just a short note to bring to the collective attention that I have a t-shirt design here, for your voting pleasure. If you like it, that is. I personally love the dancing robot that's featured in the same list. He's adorable! (And you can see what I am talking about here!)
Also, you may have noticed, I finally have something on sale in my Etsy shop! It's been a long time coming, but I have been jolly busy! There will be plenty more coming soon.

TTFN
xx

Waterstones 'Picture This!'

Good morning!

I have recently been working on a contest entry for the Waterstones 'Picture This!' competition for the chance to illustrate a new book by Julia Donaldson. I must say, it has been good experience, as it has meant that I have had to communicate visually with fewer details than I would ordinarily use in an image.
And here they are (the colours aren't as vivid as they appear in real life, unfortunately!) featuring the second incarnation of the Fairy Queen I included in my last blog post!

TTFN
xx

Cartilage Paper

Good evening!

Apologies for the obscure titling of this post- it refers to the fact that the image I am posting is something that sits between the 'bones' of paid commissions in my sketchbook. I am sure I know what I mean.
For this personal work I have produced a variety of drawings (this lady being one of my favourites) in a couple of different styles- so I am trying approaches that are new to me. My last commission required me to work quickly with loose black ink strokes. Since I ordinarily work a lot finer it was a challenge, but I must say that I really enjoyed working this way. It was a liberating experience!

TTFN
xx

Pesky Vermin!

Good afternoon!

I am now holed up in the studio working on a few commissions and projects, but thought that while I took a tea break I would give a little glimpse of my sketchbook.
For some reason I hate looking at my roughs. It always feels to me (in some small way) like they will be judged as if they are the final product. Obviously, this is not the case.
Anywho, I'll post again soon when I have emerged from under the reams of paper and pencil sharpenings.

TTFN
xx

www.ilikecharacters.com

Good morning!

Here's the scoop- today I was featured in a lovely little mention by Steve on www.ilikecharacters.com! Thanks, Steve. If you like character art, then this site is for you. Why not have a little look?

TTFN
xx

Latex faced Lady

Good evening!

Presenting... The Latex faced Baba Yaga! Gruesome, isn't she?!
Here she is being held by the suspension hook I installed in her head (nestling underneath that ghastly mane of hair!), so that she can be hung as well as used as a traditional puppet. The mouth-plate took some refiguring as the face is latex and the mouth is considerably smaller than those I have worked with previously. I also chose not to apply the protruding tooth of the smaller model version and original illustration as this would have caused difficulties with the operation of the mouth.
Something I discovered (should you ever decide to work with latex I hope this is of some use to you!) was that Stretchi paints that are specifically made for this type of material made the puppet skin awfully glossy. I wanted more of a sallow look, so mixing various types of everyday foundation and eye shadows seemed to work beautifully. Liquid foundation in 2 shades was applied first, then a creme powder, and then a plethora of eyeshadows mixed to suit.

...Now all I need to do is replenish my make-up supply!

TTFN
xx

Hooray!

Good evening!

Well, now is the time for a dose of images of the children's book and characters that I recently made! Big Baba Yaga is prepped for photographing now, so expect some pictures of her in a little while.

TTFN
xx

Baba Yaga Sneaky Peek

Good evening!

Continuing in the sneaky peeks vein, I thought I would give away just a little bit more before the main images are revealed. Here she is, Baba Yaga from initial design to book character 'sneakypeek'. They always change a bit, I have come to terms with that! I've been toiling recently, with many cups of tea (which I am not complaining about because I really like tea) and not enough shut eye... so hopefully the results will be worthwhile.

Oh, and the Baba Yaga puppet pictures will be up soon, too, so it's all very exciting!

TTFN
xx