Jessie Lilac Blog

After I did the chameleon post I was asked by Linda how I got my watercolours so bright. Well I'll tell you. It's all down to using Schmincke watercolour paints which I discovered funnily enough, by other bloggers writing about them about a year ago and mentioning how lovely they are to use. As you may have noticed I love colour, so the juicier the better I say! I came across this book yesterday while browsing for an inspiring art magazine. It's the 3 x 3 Illustration Annual filled with many top illustrators working today. I even saw a couple of names from Blogland that I know! I like what it says on the back: "Illustration looks as different as artists themselves. Everyone considers themselves a photographer: anyone can take a picture. Few can draw or paint one. And draughtsmanship isn't enough. The true illustrator is a visual problem-solver par excellence with a unique perspective on the world, a personal vision translated in ink and paint. As original as ...

I've finished the magazine illustration for an article about bikers. I've never drawn a bike like this before so I hope the die-hard bikers will forgive any flaws!

I'm working on an illustration to accompany an article for a biker's maagazine. Here's a sneeky preview showing my rough sketch.

Instincts Some get it right... Some get it wrong... and some are a slave to them.

April has given me this award! I was honoured to be chosen to list 7 things I love in a previous post . For this award I shall tell you of 7 more. 1. Music of course, it feeds your soul. Last night we were lucky enough to go to a concert of a musician called Chango Spasiuk an Argentine chamamé musician and accordion player. The accordion isn't my first choice to listen to but let me tell you I'm converted after listening to every emotion possible squeezed from this instrument. 2. Holding a new born baby. I've had my fair share of this so I can't complain! 3. The beauty of a sunset, whatever season. The winter brings the drama in the sky and the summer sunset is accompanied by the golden light. 4. Lovely smells such as the smell of coffee, or cooking spices, or herbs. I have an unusually keen sense of smell, which has got stronger as I get older...hormones to blame?? It's not always a pleasant asset! 5. Children's picture books. I've had the perfect excuse...

Oooooo I'm been away from here for a while haven't I? The schools have been off for a week for half term so my painting grinds to an (almost!) halt. I have however, found a few minutes to draw a little penguin for my penguin mad daughter. We went for walks in the woods. I've also been thinking about chameleons and how they can change colour. This one is done with a purple biro but I can feel the need for some watercolour splashing coming on! I'm off for an overdue dose of paint and I'll be back soon with the results.

I did this painting a few days ago and (as you might have noticed already!) used it for a new profile picture. I had in my mind a blue coat with a furry collar and the rest of the picture kind of followed. Sometimes you just have to go with what's on your mind don't you?! H a p p y V a l e n t i n e s t o e v e r y o n e ! - hope your day is filled with L O V E

Here's my painting to illustration a magazine article about someone's true experience at a customs office. It's been accepted and although I don't have a publishing date yet, when I do, I'll let you know!

We've all felt like this but we can choose what we do about it. Sometimes being stuck feels worse than actually taking the plunge doesn't it? I'm working on some spot illustrations for a magazine, subject matter I'm not familiar with drawing, but the hard bit was starting, now that I have, I'll keep on going and show you when I'm done!

For some reason I've always had a morbid fascination with taxidermy. However, I quite like the idea of this fox still being alive!

watercolour sketch It was a lovely long weekend because the schools were closed thursday and friday. We enjoyed a walk in the woods with two daughters, remembering the days when we'd have to carry muddy children most of the way!

I'm knitting myself a cardigan at the moment, maybe that's why I had knitting on my mind when I did this week's Illustration Friday topic 'Flawed'. I drop more stitches than ever before recently as these new energy saving lightbulbs are so dim and I only ever do my knitting in the evenings. My holes don't get as big as this though, and anyway, she seems quite oblivious to them! This is the original quick sketch but I thought she looked so miserable, I ended up changing the expression to one of contentment. ...except now, I think she looks evil! (see top picture)

I was surprised and delighted today to discover Julia from East of the Sun West of the Moon has given me an award. Thankyou so much Julia! Her paintings are beautiful and never fail to inspire, so go and pay her a visit if you haven't yet seen her work. I shall now list 7 things I love as part of the acceptance of this award. 1. My family, which includes my six lovely children and gorgeous granddaughter. 2. The sea, I go there as often as I can to feed my soul. 3. The moon and stars, a never-ending wonder. 4. Enormous trees, they are magical. 5. Colour! 6. Paris, I've only visited once which was last year but I was smitten. 7. Inspirations to my art, which are: blogs, films and stop-frame animation,runny watercolour paint, dip pen and drippy ink,mermaids,pebbles,wrought ironwork,wool, fabric,old stone cottages,spirals,patchwork,rainbows,gothic architecture,little sketch books,Cornwall,comfortable settees with loads of cushions,chocolate sweety wrappers,fluffy cats,old bookshel...

We seem to be the only place in the UK that doesn't have snow this morning. It's very cold though so I'm sure it'll catch us in the end! This picture is a doodle in my sketchbook, I love colour but sometimes it's satisfying to enjoy the patterns of black and white.