July, Summer Sun and Fun

It's been a busy month and I find myself in July already.

Chickpea turned 5 last month so it got a bit crazy with organising birthday parties (yes, more than one) and baking cakes! 

Chickpea had requested a mermaid cake which had me stumped for a while but the final idea turned out okay:

And we were pirates (and there were mermaids too) for the day of her class party. Hurrah! Everyone had a good time.

I've been updating my website with new artwork and artwork that is more in keeping with the same style. Have a look here:

http://www.terismyth.com

Also after lots of people asking I've printed some of my illustrations and I am selling them as A3 prints and greeting cards in my Etsy shop here:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/PlayfulStories

Here's a peek at a few of the items that are currently available:

I've been doing some sketching too. I had to sit at an airport for a little while and it's fascinating watching all the people wandering about. Here's something from my sketchbook:

I've also been sketching while watching TV:

I loved Mr Norrell and Mr Strange! 

Amazing Spiderman 2

From The TV series Penny Dreadful.

Also some other sketches:

Ninja Nana

And without her disguise 

All is till very busy here and I'm also counting down to the school holidays as well!

Thanks for reading my blog,

Teri

Family Pirate Portrait

A while ago I said I'd been working on a family portrait and it was all hush-hush as it was a surprise birthday present. 

The portrait was to include lots of different things that they enjoyed doing together, places that meant something special to them, as well as pirates, farms and princesses.

The family are happy for me to share their portrait and here it is.

I was so pleased at the reaction it received. It's always good when the reaction is so happy!

Thank you to the Malloys. It was fun working on this project with them.

Thanks for stopping by,

Teri

Bear's Party

In my last post I mentioned and showed some working process for a picture I started. I've finished that picture (Bear's Party) and thought I'd put the final on here and put all those pictures together.

I use traditional methods of working and my preferred is pen and ink. I also use some pencils to add detail.

Here's how the picture developed: 

First this piece began as a sketch in my sketchbook

Which made it onto layout paper with different elements over three sheets. Then onto the lightbox to create one picture

As I said in my last post I do like a good colour swatch!

On to colouring in!

Detail of leaves - an oak tree

A silver birch and the oak again. This process of painting each leaf did take a long time but I was pleased with the outcome.

The final dry, flattened and scanned piece

I'm hoping to put some prints of this in my shop soon!

Thanks for stopping by,

Teri

Badger, Badger, Badger... No mushroom

I've been busy completing a commission for a family portrait which has been lots of fun. I will be able to share it soon once it's been given as a present!

It was lovely to hand over the finished work as the person who commissioned it was over the moon. Always a good feeling! 

I'm currently working on some prints for my shop but in the meantime here's some sketches and sneak peaks!

I may have been watching the Brothers Grimm film again. I do love it!

I shall be working on a pirate picture once I finish the current piece.

These littl firey chaps turned up in my sketchbook. As did a few squirrels!

A cheeky fairy

This piece came about while watching the Brothers Grimm. The pose of the bear was inspired by one of the character in the film.

 

I liked the sketch so much I've decided to make it into a larger piece and here it is on my lightbox.

I do like a good colour swatch!

Here's a peak at the inked up bear:

Here's a peak at the badger!

After drawing the badger I was reminded of the Badger, Badger, Badger, Mushroom song (by Weebl - I'm sure you can find it on YouTube as I did) which I then showed to Chickpea who thinks it's hilarious. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Teri