Welcome to Timbalaya - keeping schtum

It's been a strange ole' time keeping my mouth shut! I'm pretty good at keeping secrets, but this was really difficult because it was so exciting to be a part of, and I just wanted to scream it out loud but managed not to, somehow.

So, back in my previous post 'When You Think No One Notices' I mention how I was found by a 'company'. I can now proudly say the company is called www.timbalaya.com. The person who started all of this and owe so much gratitude is the author of 'Timbalaya: The Wishing Tree', Georgina Parfitt. She saw my work in my studio and recommended me to the team. So Georgina, if you're reading this THANK YOU xx (and to the rest of the team x)

The test illustration I had to do for them was of 'Spangle Stargazer' in his Observatory (below). I really enjoyed the process and was extremely excited with the possibilties of where it could lead. Saying that I was nervous I would wreck my chances so I had to give myself a good talking to. I realised I wanted this 'gig' and would give it my all. Fortunately they liked it and I was taken on board. I took the risk of illustrating him from the outside, as if we are gazers too, looking upon him in his tower (looking at us, looking at him, looking at us etc. etc!)

SLXL'Spangle Stargazer' plays a huge part in the Timbalaya story which is explained more on their fabulous website www.timbalaya.com and I loved creating him.

XLLS​​

Here is the selection of Spangle character ideas I gave to

Nick Farmer (my main liason from the company). I secretly hoped they liked the first on the sheet as I'd really fallen in love with his face. I guess that's the main thing about creating a character, really believing in them. And I did. To me he was alive. Spangle's face is full of wonder and that's what i like about him. His hair is parted in the middle because of the amount of times he walks under his telescopes. He wears 'full-moon' glasses to peer through his telescopes and wears 'half-moon' glasses to read. His character is rich in characteristics which helped me find him on my page.

The whole process has been amazing; from being given an illustration to put my spin on it, to creating my wonderment in the world of Timbalaya.

The team are currently at the IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando marketing their idea and fingers crossed they'll get lots of interest. Watch this space peeps.

When you think no one notices....

Back at the beginning of June I received an email regarding my working on a project that 'might just interest me'.

Forward 3 months later and I'm working on said 'project' as it did very much interest me! I can't really say much yet as I had to sign a none disclosure form but what I can say is I'm thoroughly enjoying working with this team and it's been great to get to know them in a short space of time as they've already been working on this for a while. 'Hit the ground running' springs to mind, and that I did!

So, my title brings me on to explaining the situation around being asked to do this project; there was I sitting in my corner studio space, hidden away and oblivious to the goings on in the outside world....

MLXL​​

SLXL​​

Drawing and making has been my routine and people buy what I make or commission me, a nice little stroke to the soul ego, but usually I'm tucked away forming my next whimsical illustration.

When I received the email, I actually thought it was spam or some 'round-robin get as many artists interested' kinda message. But no, it was legit. Here's where the title of this blog comes in, the email said that a colleague of his had seen my work in the studio and told him about it.

This image in particular caught their eye...

 

SLXL​​

Unbeknownst to me, cogs were whirring and discussions being had, which to little ole' me who hides away in the studio is a BIG thing! I had to do a test illustration for them, which got the go ahead and I'm now working on a really lovely project with some great people. Don't get me wrong, it's hard work, I've had to speed up, change my style slightly, use brighter colours, get used to making changes here and there and most of all really understand what the client wants.

It's challenging, scary and fun all at the same time and I'm bloody lovin' it!

I guess the moral to my story and one I remind myself constantly of, is:

'Keep working, keep creating, keep drawing, keep painting; as someday someone will notice, even if it's only oneself'.

'On Reflection' finished illustration...

Finally it's finished, I've kind of been faffing around with different versions but this one is my favourite. We need the other person to navigate the 'relationship' boat with us, but sometimes they just aren't there. This image is about our journey, however scary, and how if we shine our own light we'll come through the other side. Prints available to buy at my Ebay shop

​SLXLM

Illustration steps for 'On Reflection'

A passage of time shown within my illustration. My previous post was the birth of the concept below. Working backwards you can see how I fill out the illustration. I'm a bugger going straight for the biggest thing (the tree) but I did make sure I created a draft piece first (bottom pic) to allow me to understand where I wanted light and shade. Because this piece is for me, I've allowed myself to make changes as I've gone along, I still am! I can be a bit changeable, but that's only when I'm working on a picture for myself, for others I like to get the idea pretty much finalised and if there's some changes they shouldn't be too big. I like using pencil, but this piece is A2 and I feel like throwing all my pencils out of the window! I'll post the finished piece soon :)

SLXLM​​ MLXLS​​ MLXLS​​ MLXLS​​

"Where do the ideas for your illustrations come from?"...'On Reflection'

I get asked quite a lot, especially at the studio, where my ideas come from. This question has lead me to take a look at where 'in me' they come from, because they have to come from somewhere, right?

Sometimes I get a flash of an image, like a subliminal message on a t.v screen that lasts only a mere second (these are little buggers to bring into concept), some images come from listening to music and at times I build an image from what is currently happening in my life or something I say which evokes strong images.

Recently I wrote the line "How can one person navigate a two person boat?" My thinking behind that is when it's necessary to navigate dark unchartered emotional waters, especially in relationships, there needs to be two people at the helm. A relationship is afterall a two way thing. It's hard to steer a two person boat on your own when the other person is needed for their understanding of what they know of those dark waters.

Anyway's, this little picture popped into my head. A very Nordic almost Viking boat, with one person very much on their own having to create their own light and understanding of those dark waters to be able to navigate to safety. It's early days yet but I think it'll be done in soft dark pencil and I'm extremely excited to have a new idea for a drawing/illustration.

 

 

The Big Heart Auction - Chestnut Tree

It's a real honour to work with a charity, even if it's in a small way, just knowing that small thing could help someone in their time of need in the future.

My recent donation of an illustration to the Big Heart Auction  has over £100 bid and that makes me so happy. They get some dosh and I get the ego stroke. WIN/WIN.

So many artists donated work to this cause, it makes me proud to be one. I am a #heartist :)

 

My mask on the Sydney Opera Stage - Don Giovanni 2014

​​SMXLL

You can bang your own drum once in a while I say! So proud to see one of my masks (far left) on the stage at Sydney Opera House for their 2014 production of Don Giovanni. Bang flipping bang!

Has it been a year since I last blogged? It can't be? I guess my Easter resolution is to now write more blog stuff. So here I am today writing about my new website. I built it. Yup, I built it using Wix and it was quite easy (well sort of), apart from the SEO stuff which I'm tearing my hair out over!
I'll be bald, bald I tell you if it goes on any longer. I cried tears into my easter eggs yesterday. Anyhoozles, here's my new site. www.louiseprentice.co.uk
Hopefully this'll kick me in the pants to write new stuff. Interesting stuff and not just about doughnuts and sweets.

Random stuff on my mind.

I left it so late last night that I was too tired to write anything, so I've decided after today to blog in the morning/afternoon. Makes sense really...

Anyway, Stuff on my mind...
1. Why did the execs stop 'My Name is Earl?'
2. Wondering if my bear is ok in the studio?
3. Why do some people NEVER smile?
4. Why is the shop owner near the studio act as if he's better than everyone else?
5. Where's my ideal job?
6. Will being 40, suck?
7. Better start the baby portrait I've been asked to do.

Such a boring list. I'm glad I wasn't thinking about serial killers and ghosts like I usually do...

Here's a random picture I found in my phone...

Ok, I admit it, it was me

I must remember not to leave my Blogary until the evening, I just can't be arsed to write it. My brain is saying "leave that **** alone" but I've already missed one day, admittedly on purpose to see how I'd feel not writing this blog (bit poopy), so I must endeavour to write earlier.
Anyhoozles, I got to thinking about things I've done in the past but never admitted was me...

1. I shaved my Barbies head and not the friend I blamed it on.
2. It was me that 'passed wind' in the cereal aisle and not the guy I looked at in disgust when a couple were twitching their noses at the nasty niff.
3. The tender age of 15 I found a purse and never handed it in. I then lost my purse a week later. Karma I love you.
4. It 'twas I that had the smelly cabbage trainers on the bus and not the sports guy coming home from the gym.
5. I found the exam too hard and cheated by having some answers up my sleeve.

Maybe I'll write some more later but that was difficult!!!
So instead I'll leave a photo of the new wall going up in the studio :)

25 days to go and making a new mask

Well it's that time again. Here I am trying to find something to write about, something interesting I can read back on when I'm older. However, only silly words are coming to mind; like, bum-crack and poopy. So instead I'll leave a little photo of a mask I'm working on at the moment (I much prefer saying the word poop, than sticking an almighty amount of diddly feathers down)

Day 3 of the countdown to my 40th and happy cloud painting ala Bob Ross

"Mom. Mom. MOM!! I've painted some happy clouds. On a door. And it was snowing outside. And we ate beetroot."

loo prentice - illustration and wafflings: Goal setting, blog writing and 40th birthday

loo prentice - illustration and wafflings: Goal setting, blog writing and 40th birthday

Goal setting, blog writing and 40th birthday

Eeyoop. Over here. Can you believe it? No, neither can I. I'm writing a blog again. What's inspired me? My looming 40th birthday, which is just over 4 weeks away. Soooooo I've decided to write a blog/diary a day until my 40th d-day....I mean b-day. Ive also decided to call it a Blogary. It's a diary in a blog form, so viola, Blogary was formed. I'm sure I'm not the first to call it that anyhoozles.

I'm going to kick off with an introduction to my studio space, seems appropriate as I'm sitting here....ahem....working...

Here's some piccies...

hubble bubble, toil and computer aided colour

Well, i think it's possibly finished, finally. I didn't want to put too much colour into this image as i think it works better with the suggestion of hue. I'm waiting to hear from the client and then hopefully i can hand it over soon. I have a 2nd one to do for them and am chomping at the bit to get that going. It's all formulating inside this brain, so i need to get that down on paper. I'm pretty pleased with this image as a whole.

now to drink some tea and eat some toast to celebrate....

hubble bubble toil and pencil smudges

Just getting to the end of a commissioned piece for a friend of a friend. I've thoroughly enjoyed doing this pencil image. I pretty much had free reign apart from a few requests. I'll soon be adding colour to a scanned copy, which i'm really excited about as i can't wait to experiment with colour on this. I've still to add more to the back ground and darken some areas but i'm really happy with what i've created. Hopefully i'm getting my confidence back, finally, after a couple of years of it hiding away.

I need to note to myself, it's amazing how much smudge i can create, even when hardly touching the piece, there's always a little bit of pencil dancing around in the wrong place. I bet if i stared at it long enough there'd be a smudge forming in unwanted places!

Well, it's time to finish this up and move along to colour, i'll post here soon. Wish me luck.

Dusting off the pencil and birth of a new story

Well once again i look at the lack of entries into my blog and feel a bit cacky-poop i haven't written in a while but since the move from Exeter to Brighton, it's all been a bit hectic and unsettled. So finally i feel a lot lighter and more inclined to start blogging again. So here's a little peak at the image i am working on for a new story.

Nothing much but my sketchbook is getting full of little doodles and thumbnails. I haven't felt this good about my work in a long time.

I'm also working on 1 of 2 commissions which is very exciting as i think it's going to look good. Yup, i'm blowing my own trumpet.....parp parp parrr parp

Thank you and the Flying Egg

Just thought i'd share this image i created recently for a charity called Home-Start. I was asked to pick a month for a charity calendar and create an image with Home-Start in mind. This idea for April came very quickly to me as i'd always wanted to create a flying machine of sorts, just never thought it'd be a flying egg! As much as it is obvious that it's a flying machine, i also wanted to incorporate a weather vane, external and an internal. We all get sad some days and i wanted to express that with a bit of help we can change our internal weather-vane to something happy and that is where the rainbow comes in. It's quite a meaningful image for me as i am too aware of how life can have it's lumps and bumps, how people can come and go, how we can be served a curve-ball smack in the face. With a little nurturing, with help and a bit of love we can change how we feel.

I have recently been feeling slightly dampened with my work and creativity, but from people reaching out to me, my internal weather-vane is starting to change shape and colour. I had a lovely email from John Pollex a wonderful potter, who i'd never met or heard of before. Just giving me a bit of encouragement and making me realise a few things made me feel very warm. I also received a lovely email from Louise Mortley who helps run Home-Start with words of encouragement too. People never cease to amaze me when they share their feelings and kind words. We all need it, some more than others but i am always grateful when someone reaches out past their own selves to share their thoughts and feelings. so a big thank you to those that have. I also want to thank Cass for pushing me to show my work and give me some good advice, it's always appreciated :) and my very good friend The Garrulous Griffin, who ALWAYS has wise words to share (see his blog, it's bright and shiny and new)

Who knows what is in store for me this year, i'm not sure if i'm still working with the publisher any more but i do still love drawing and painting so will keep on keeping on.

the forecast is rain, with intervals of sunshine

Wow, it's been a while since i last posted. I did one around xmas time but it wasn't in keeping with my illustration stuff so it had to go *chop chop*.

I think I've not posted because I'd been working so hard on the book and getting stuff done for deadline. I finally sent some work to the publisher which i was really proud of and thought would make great pages. Due to some mis-communication, problems and hair pulling i was told they weren't suitable. I shan't list the negatives as it'd only refuel my thoughts I'd had about this and anyway it'd probably feel like pulling a plaster off real slow.

The negatives knocked me side-ways, upside down, all over the place and i found it difficult to pick myself back up. I'd worked so hard on these images and to find they only liked one small vignette and wanted me base the rest of my work around that was hard to stomach. I didn't pick my pencils/paintbrush up for a couple of weeks and sought advice from anywhere i could get it on how to pull through this. But at the back of my mind i thought...

*It's hard to face a bag of negatives in a positive light when you're only offered a positive in a negative reflection*


My thoughts started to spiral downwards and i became very negative. It felt like someone was stabbing me over and over again. My brain kept saying *what do i have to do to please these people*, but i was told over and over again by friends that *these people* are business people and in the end they have to make money, so my feelings aren't really a concern.

i really thought I'd got a grip of negative criticism over the years, but this made me realise i needed a new safety net for when i fell.

From all the negatives , i had to eventually find some solace in the little positive remark and the remarks from friends and strangers. But mainly, I had to realise that i am not just book illustration, that is not who i am, i am more than that. I can't rely on that external work to pad out my own psyche, i needed to reach inside and get back to me.

I can't say it's been easy, but i can say it's been a bloody weird journey! I am still not 100% but i feel better about myself and my work. Who knows where all this will go, maybe i am not destined to stay in this industry, i can't control that but i can have bloody good stab at it.

pumpy pumpy pumpkin

I've sat here for a little while trying different beginnings for this blog, when i got to 'pumpy, pumpy pumpkin,' i knew it was time to come down off the ceiling and cut out the caffeine. Finished working on adding a bit of colour on the illustration for my story i posted a little while ago. It's been an interesting journey; one of layers and layers of learning, photoshopping, chewing my nails and eating far too many cookies. But i am happy with the finished results, although i'm sure i'll try another version soon and like that one better, but for now i'll be leaving it there and get another started.

Things are still slow with the publisher, it seems that Frankfurt(er) is getting in the way of them pushing the book on any further! Damn you Frankfurt(er), i shake my cookie crumbed fist in your direction and stick my tongue out to roll off a raspberry just for you!

Right i must go and do something productive....i wonder if there's another packet of cookies that really need eating?

P.s i also wanted to add i've been doing this with flu symptoms, now do you feel sorry for me?!