The Art Of Silliness

Hello ! So whats new ? Well i have signed up for something totally random "The Art Of Silliness" Carla Sonheim online drawing exercise class that runs over 21 days.

Carla says Our goal: to get you to just PLAY, just 10 minutes a day, with pen and paper, thoughts and images. (You will be surprised how a shot of silliness like this will positively inform the other goings-on in your day, including your regular artwork.)

http://carlasonheim.wordpress.com/2011/09/01/silly-1-redux-registration-is-open/http://carlasonheim.wordpress.com/2011/09/01/silly-1-redux-registration-is-open/

I really felt that i needed to get a new perspective on the way i draw and free myself up to new possibilities.

I am on day three and it really is fun, plus great to see how other people respond to the worksheets

Here is a link to my first worksheet 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/heidi_m_mcdonald/6196081294/in/photostream

I have also been drawing loads in my favoured Moleskine Sketch books, i am still working on little Nore for a range of paper goods, it has been a few months but i am so easily distracted, however the postcards, Greeting cards, note books, stickers and i think book plates are all coming along. i thought i would share a few on the designs on here and see what you all think...will post soon.

The Amazing Owl giveaway ;D winner will be announced Monday as well as the runner up so do pop back in then...as it could be you !!

Heidi x

Cats In Scarves

Autumn Is here ! The Nights are drawing in and its time to get out the the winter woolly's.

I thought i would share a few pages of my sketch book, inspired by Autumn and as always Cats.

It had been a while since i actually got down to drawing, i had not realised how much  i had missed doing this, above where my sketch ideas for my cat Nora taking a fancy to my scarf

I drew her and then thought i would try making a pattern from the drawing, using my fabulous new Promarkers

I had studied Textile Design at Art School, so i should know a thing of two about repeat pattern, however i was useless as it seemed to involve some sort of working out with numbers...and grids and anything that seemed to be about math stuff i ran from...but here i am trying a pattern

This is what i came up with, i have loads more ideas swirling round, for this design and also i was thinking i really need to get some postcards and greeting cards drawn up as well as a few more paper goods ( i just love paper things, stickers, notebooks, sticky notes, bookmarks ) 

I will get round to doing some Dogs too, i realised i am showing bias herE and i don't want a lots of dogs in the park telling me off for not including them. :d

Are you loving Autumn ? are you planning on knitting a scarf for you pet ?

Love to hear from you

Heidi XX

Sunshine Street

Can you imagine my Delight, when inspirational illustrator and animator Tanya from http://trickytanya.blogspot.com/ animated Little Nore for the start of the Comic Strip "Sunshine Street "
I love it and feel privileged that she was able to do this for Little Nore and me :D

So it is with HUGE thanks to Tanya for her talent and hard work in making this little animation, you will see this each time a Comic Strip comes out. Do pop over to see her work, have a read of her blog and be inspired.

It is good to be back working with Little Nore, i admit to being a little too wrapped up in Etsy since starting there in June, and feel my original focus has been sidetracked. My aim is to build Little Nore the character and her friends and i think " Sunshine Street" is a good place to see her hopefully grow some more. As a character i plan to bring out little plushies of her and her friends, they will be handmade collectables available in my Etsy store http://www.etsy.com/people/LittleNore  sometime in the future . My other thoughts was also to have badges, and postcards. Is there something you would like to see created from the character of Little Nore ? if so do let me know, i always like to hear from you.

I hope that you like this animation as much as i do.

Hello to new people and old on here and hope you all have a lovely weekend

Lots Love and Sunshine

Heidi M xx

Little Acorns

Well Hello ! How are you ? I write to you a year older !!! I had my Birthday last week and celebrated with lots of new art goodies.

I was given the most fabulous presents and cards and felt very special, helped me ignore that i am another year older. I was given these pens which are fabulous, they make the colour in my work much more vibrant...take a look...what do you think ?

I plan to experiment a lot with these new pens, always good to try new mediums.

So news from me is..."Sunshine Street"..whats that ? well its a new comic strip from Little Nore that i plan to bring out here on my blog. I am really excited by this

It will be a happy little cartoon that you can see and read only here hopefully every two weeks to start.

I will keep you posted on details.

 Autumn is here,  think it is one of my favourite times of year. Crunchy leaves on the forest floor, time for scarves and woolly socks,  and if you look closely you may see Acorns !!

Little cutie Acorns ! this is what i have been working on late;y, influenced by the change in season i drew some one of a kind acorn brooches

http://www.etsy.com/listing/81619678/acorn-brooch-wearable-art-pin?ref=pr_shop

these little brooches want pinning to good owners ! :D

Hope that you are filled with creativity..grab that sketch book and be inspired by the change in season.

Love to hear from you as always

Heidi M xxx