Workshops for 2014

Happy New Year! I will be running some day courses for Cardiff Open Art School this Spring. If you’re interested in having a go at bookbinding, collage, letterpress, illustration and lino printing then please do sign up!

The details for each course are here – book soon as places are limited.

More workshops will be added soon – including family activities at Humble by Nature – so stay tuned for updates.

I also have a new website where I’ll be posting new finished portfolio work from now on. It is: www.sarahedmondsillustration.com
I’ll still be updating this blog though with news, workshops, projects, work in progress, as well as posting frequently on the Facebook Page, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

I’m now fully freelancing as an illustrator, which is very exciting, having left my lovely work at Literature Wales behind to develop and grow as a creative business. It’s really exciting – and I’m looking forward to exploring Brighton, my new home town.

Some illustrations from recent sketchbookery

Hello there. It’s about time I added some drawings here, as I’ve mostly been working in a sketchbook recently, drawing out some ideas and playing with my new white pen. So below are an assortment of birds (I think my favourite is Leonard, wearing a Steve Zissou inspired seafaring hat), and a tree bearing pencils, not plums. Our plum tree hasn’t produced a single one this year. Hoping that the blackberries do better.

Anyway, here they are!

Also, whilst in London last week I ventured into Covent Garden and spent some time in Neal’s Yard. A treasure of a place squeezed between two streets. A feast of good things – remedies, pastries, tea – and bright colours, so let me share this photo with you:

 

Do follow me on Pinterest, by the way. I’m putting most of my links to inspiring artwork and pictures on here, now. From creatures to bicycles and pattern design to Scandinavia, it’s good to see these images alongside each other.

Last but not least, I’ve recently taught a couple of classes as part of the Cardiff Open Art School’s Summer programme. I’ll be doing some more workshops in the Autumn (including festive lino-cut and letterpress, Book binding and Make Your Own Advent Calendar) and will post the dates/details up here shortly.

Here’s a photo of one of the pieces produced in the Letterpress class: we experimenting with not inking up the text and instead just pressing it, to create this lovely embossed effect. The theme of the day was first lines of books, and this one is a classic!

Have a marvellous week…

 

 

Workshops, recipes and things to do

I’ve added some new dates and classes to the WORKSHOPS page – so please do have a look and let me know if  you’re interested in taking one! I’m hoping that following the madness of May, June will give me some more time to make my own work and develop some ideas that are but scribbles on paper-scraps at present.

The Hand Drawn Recipes Blog is bang up to date, with recipes for Fish Pie and Chocolate Brownies available for your delight and delectation. Both are tried, tested and delicious!!

Click on the sample page of the pie recipe below to visit the site.

Here are some things in the pipeline / to do! If you see me perhaps give me a gentle prod and see if I’ve finished anything!?

Here goes…

• Finish designing Elanor’s Wedding Invites (to be posted up here once complete)
• Go into production with the Verb Garden Project (all of the parts are printed now, just need to start assembling them). They will be on sale in the SHO Gallery from late summer. As well as more new work.
• Illustrate a character for Word-up letterpress piece
• Continue working on Dark things / light things lotus binding (coming soon!).
• Plan workshops in more depth for the SHO Gallery
• Subscribe to Uppercase Magazine – and possibly be tempted by their book bundle.
• Plant out Butternut Squashes into the freshly compost-strewn earth.
• Take the plunge and get a smartphone? (converted by the possibility of a diabetes app! and of course a working phone)
• Write and make a recipe and send to Alex. Any ideas?
• Find a new book to read. Any recommendations?

One thing I have just finished is reading Kafka On The Shore. Well worth a read if you get hold of a copy. I may even leave mine somewhere, wrapped in brown paper ready for a new owner. I’ll let you know.

I keep starting things and not finishing them.