Plans for the future!

In the hope of convincing myself that I’m a real illustrator-in-training, recently I’ve been looking into printing some cards and possibly setting up my own little etsy shop.

There, now that I’ve told you, I’m going to have to do it!I’ve spent the last week sketching, painting, inking, photographing and tweaking a few designs, so hopefully I’ll have 11 cards ready to go when I open up.

I’d like to say it’s been seamless so far, but I won't lie to you… the sketching and painting has been the easiest part!Yesterday I tried to print some test cards, only for the blue and pink inks to run out 4 cards in - not ideal! It turns out that four leaf clovers look both ill and unlucky without the blue...

Here is a little preview of said gradually-less-blue mock ups, I’d like to say the blurriness of the photo is to add intrigue, but actually I had to rush the photo before the cat could jump on them!

So today, I braved the outside world for the first time in 4 days, (does that make me sound terribly lazy?) on a voyage to speak with a local printers to see what my options are for getting a lovely professional finish.I arrived to see that although they are indeed open Mon to Sat, just below these opening times it states ‘Closed Wednesday’. I wish I had spotted that a little sooner. What a waste of eyeliner and outside clothes!

So it looks like another journey into the wild for me tomorrow - I will not give up!If any of you are unfamiliar with etsy, its a website where you can buy lots of things from artwork and knitwear to jewellery and homeware. Each seller has it’s own page, a bit like it’s own shop window.My lovely friend Flo has an etsy page selling her bright, colourful and quirky cards and prints and she also has a Facebook page with more of her wonderful artwork which you should definitely check out!My first purchase from etsy was an amazing Audrey Hepburn print which is on my wall along with some of my favourite paintings. It’s by an artist called Ileana Hunter, who it turns out is based near Norwich, her beautiful portrait sketches are well worth a look.

So that’s a little update on how I’m spending my days at the moment. Elsewhere in the house, I managed to catch Midna making this face while enjoying some dreamies yesterday, I hope you have something in your life that gives you this much joy!

x