Mourne Mountains

A few weeks ago my friend and I went for a little saunter around the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland. It was a cloudy day (what's new) but was a really pleasant walk up to Bloody Bridge and then along the sea. Afterwards we went for a coffee and cake in Olive Bizarre, a tiny vintage cafe in Newcastle. I wish I had taken photos of the inside but I was too distracted by my cake at this stage!

                                                    Happy Sunday everyone!

A Little Opulent Magazine

I've recently become part of the creative team for a new online magazine called 'A Little Opulent'. I'm illustrating all kinds of things such as beauty products and food (examples below). The magazine itself has numerous sections ranging from Art, Home and Living and Style, to Beauty, Culture and Entertainment, and Lifestyle. It features beautiful photos, yummy recipes and interesting articles; I would highly recommend grabbing a cup of tea (and maybe a cheeky biscuit) and having a  browse here 

Cut and Paste

One of my favourite things to do (after I've poured myself a cup of tea of course) is delve into a huge pile of magazines armed with a pair of scissors and a glue stick. So many images catch my eye and serve as inspiration for creating collages such as the two below.

My favourite collage/montage at the moment artist is Nazario Graziano; his pieces are bright and bold, with a 3D feel to them. They are pretty amazing, check out his work here. 

Lazy Sunday

Yesterday afternoon I joined my parents for a walk along a cycle path about ten minutes from our home. It was overcast but thankfully the clouds stayed away long enough for me to take one or two photos... check out the cutest little baby ducks with their watchful mother and directly below, the most effective de-stresser you can get your hands on!

My song of the week is Seinabo Sey - Younger, remixed by the amazing Kygo.

Lava Cake

I don't usually post cookery things on my blog, but this evening I was very proud as I was - well I hope I was - successful at one of my first gluten-free baking efforts. The recipe combines the most divine ingredients (spongey cake, dark chocolate and raspberries and cream) and as it was my mum's birthday, I decided to give it a whirl. It was super easy (find the recipe here) and looked impressive with the raspberry oozing out of the freshly baked cake.

                   YUMMY GET IN MY TUMMY!

                 

Forestia

My blog seems to be turning very photography based at the moment, I think I have found a new love for it and film! Anyway, here are a few snaps of my Belgian Easter... hope everyone is having a great weekend! I will leave you with an music artist who is huge in Belgium at the moment, his name is Stromae and he makes awesome songs such as this: Ave Cesaria

Bonjour Belgium!

This Easter I was back working in Belgium for two short but sweet weeks. I had a brilliant time and got to take some photos which will appear on my blog shortly.
In the meantime, here are some images I have drawn from reference photos I took on my journey back home; one is my sister looking out of her train window, my feet on the platform of a tiny station we passed through on our way to the airport and some Belgian cows grazing (which reminded me of the highland coo's in Scotland).

Spring

A few weeks ago, myself and some friends decided to visit our local Botanic Gardens in Dundee. And we were so glad we did! Not only did we get in free as students, but we got to see some beautiful flowers, exotic plants and great ancient trees. I got some snaps of our little trip which I think are suitable for the season we are in now... when the flowers are beginning to unfurl and bloom, and light is starting to cast its much missed rays across the ground.

Island of Chill

This is where I would rather be right now... where are you summer?!!

Imagine

For my most recent university project, I made a title sequence for the 2012 Polish film 'Imagine', directed by Andrzej Jakimowski. It was a really interesting film (a little slow moving but not necessarily in a negative sense) giving insight into the lives of the blind and how they use their senses or taste, touch, smell and hearing to find their way about everyday life.

Enjoy the titles!

By the Sea

Some photos from our summer house by the coast which we visited at Christmas and the ferry journey I took back to Scotland with my sister. We always have such mixed feelings when we leave, excited to get back to university, but sad to say goodbye to family and friends (oh, and food) in Northern Ireland.

African Patterns

Time flies, it's printing Thursday again! Today I was creating some tribal patterns, simple but (hopefully) effective. As well as this, I was updating my new website/online portfolio, which can be found by clicking on the 'WEBSITE' link just to the right of this post. It's exciting to now have a website as well as a blog!

Sparrow

Tweet tweet! I should really be doing my module work for uni this afternoon, but instead I procrastinated by creating this little fellow using pen and watercolour. Oh well, this is what I like to label 'productive procrastination'! 

Time for Tea!

What is my ultimate 'art fuel'? TEA!

On Thursday I had some time off my my busy course module, so I decided to brush up on my screen printing skills! I printed a very simple drawing of a teacup and only used two colours per print but I'm starting to get the hang of the process again after only doing it once before some time ago.
Watch out for lots more prints coming this way as I begin to get the hang of it again!

N.B. Commissioned prints for yourself or gifts for others are always more than welcome.

                 

Moustache Magazine and WAIFFACE

I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by Moustache Magazine as well as WAIFFACE, find them both here:

                                                   Moustache Magazine

                                                         WAIFFACE