New branding

I've been playing about with the Bowerbird branding, it's all very work in progress, but here's how it looks over on my main blog. As you can see, I've applied the same design to this blog too. Be sure to keep up to date with my island adventures at Bowerbirdwords.blogspot.com

This blog (Bowerbird-illustration) will remain inactive while I'm abroad.

Sketchbook: Grand Cayman

Here's a sketch that I did earlier today, then I played about with the colour after in Photoshop which is sketchy to say the least, but it's definitely better with something more on top.

So, I've not posted to here for a little while and that's because I've been a little busy leaving the country! For this coming year, I'm seeing what the Cayman Islands have to offer, well that's the plan at least. Expect island illustrations and observations, and for more Caribbean goings on, check out my other blog:

www.bowerbirdwords.blogspot.com

Food air miles are hard to swallow

Here's a piece of hard hitting and crisply designed messaging from Kingston graduate James Reynolds. I'd previously admired James' boarded up work but in the same week that the inaugural M&S Plan A newsletter is launched. This is a message close to my heart.

Speaking of which, be sure to sign up to receive more Digit designed (and Bowerbird written) Plan A goodness in your inbox.

Bowerbird featured in Anorak magazine

I have a full page illustration in this season's Anorak magazine. If you don't know it, it's simply the most fabulous children's magazine, touted as 'The happy mag for kids', it really is so jolly happy, it's a quarterly and cheap as chips at £3.50 because it's packed full of stories, games and fun.

If you know a little person 4-7, you and they are missing out if you've not discovered Anorak.

Follow them on Twitter, it will make you happy too.

Painting process

It's been a while since I did some painting, but I was set Valentine's as a deadline. I really enjoyed the process, always hard to know when to stop, I think I prefer some of the work in progress images.

Spatial Awareness

I couldn't post these before now, as they were for a pitch for a certain airline, but it's been and gone now sadly, despite some frankly sky-high thinking and epic efforts from the Digit team.
So may I present a few characters I was playing around with that should have graced the kid's section. What skyscape isn't complete with Laika, a few friendly aliens or a space hopper?

Tweet seat

Oh how I'd like to perch myself here! Wrap it up, sold to the Bowerbird with a smile on her face. Via Ffffound.

5minute doodles

5minute doodles, take a wind-up key for inspiration and what it could become, a whale's tail, a penguin's face, opera glasses or a music-stand base. Just an exercise to loosen me up, it's been such a long time since I drawn for fun.

National Bird Day

Shame on me, I'm a Bowerbird and I didn't celebrate National Bird Day last Monday. I was sat at my desk in my 'studio' last night searching for a muse and I think I may have found it in the form of the National Holidays website, there are infinite amounts of useless holidays we should be celebrating. So this could become a regular post, I did a few in advance last night, excuse the dates/holidays I've missed so far, but there are some brilliant ones on the horizon.

Regent Bowerbird

Today I was educated in the way of the bowerbird by sculptor, artist, and all round creative type Jane Gillings, who sent me this Regent Bowerbird. It was Jane who made this beauty that I posted about a few days ago.

" We have quite a few native Australian bowerbirds, the blue one is the Satin bowerbird,
the black and yellow (above) is the Regent bb. I like the Satin because it collects blue things and regularly appears in my dreams"

I wish Satin bowerbirds appeared in my dreams, I'd better get cracking on the cheese before bed.

Thank you very much to Jane, I look forwad to seeing more of her birds, as she's exhibiting in November.

Caw, clack, gobble and hoot

Ever wanted to know how to describe sounds better?

Have a little look at Written Sound, an aid to imitative or onomatopoeic words, I've highlighted (Bower) bird words for you here. Thanks to Chris for the link.

Image Credits: Bowerbird, 'Bird speak'

Work in progress

It's been such a long time since I painted that I decided to paint for an hour as a challenge, I prefer the work in progress to the more finished piece, but thought I'd share. It's not the closest likeness, a little caricature, but has definitely given me the painting bug again.

Green Park doodles

I drew these a few weeks ago in Green Park and would like to make some collage pieces from them, so I'm putting them here to share, but also prompt me into action.

Bowerbird

I saw this and couldn't resist posting it.
Found on This Bower My Prison, I think they're a hoarder/sculptor, nice Bowerbird!