Black and White

I finally got hold of one of my favourite statement pieces this week, Leather trousers! (not real leather) but just as lovely. I wanted to wear them with just a simple plain white t-shirt. I also borrowed my mums long black duster coat to wear over the top, the combination of textures works really well together, however i'm not too keen on the A-line shape of the coat, (hence the lack of full length photographs)  The bird skull ring is from ASOS and the rest of the rings are from H&M. 

A few years ago I decided to try and make the whole illustration thing a way for me to make money, it was an enormously scary decision and I was so nervous about really trying to do this as a living. I saw Company Magazinehad an illustration competition and decided to enter, I didn't win but the art director really liked my work and wanted to commission me for my first published fashion illustration, I soon found out how passionate they were about new talent, art and fashion. They took a chance on me and made people take me seriously. if anyone comments on my work it's because they've seen it in company. I'm sad to hear they're going but I wanted to thank them for letting me be in the magazine over 14 times with my drawings. You're going to be missed.

CoCo Chanel Perfume Illustration 7/20

7/20 We're getting somewhere now! It's so refreshing to add something to my portfolio on a regular basis, Also creating new content is really helping with time keeping, creativity and so much more. Don't get me wrong, it can be a massive struggle when juggling other tasks and have other commitments, but the rise in social media and interest has really been lovely. I've been eager to draw this legendary perfume bottle for a while now, and doing this challenge has given me a great excuse to do so, i'm also building up a much stronger beauty portfolio which I've been wanting to do for a while. I may have a break from the beauty products in the next few days and focus on food which is another avenue i'm eager to pursue, delicate cakes, biscuits and cocktails might feature in the next few illustrations. What do you think? are there any suggestions for things you'd like me to draw?
I also have some exciting news to share in the next day or so, i'm bursting not being able to tell anyone!

 This print is available HERE for £10

 6/20
 apologies for missing a day, I think all this use of colour gave me a migraine ;) I wanted to draw some lovely pink and purple hair this time, inspired by Katy perry and her love of colourful hair this piece was created with her in mind. It took me the longest amount of time to create this illustration, and i completely underestimated how i'd have to balance my time, especially whilst working on other commissions at the same time. However, I love that it came out so well and the response on Instagram has been really encouraging

Watercolour Lips

5/20 My newest illustration, created with a mixture of digital and traditional techniques. This was a really challenging piece, I couldn't quite get the teeth right, and It took a lot of tweaking before I was comfortable to release it, I was really glad it only took around 4.5 hours to complete though! What do you think of this? are you liking the new colours i'm using in my work? 

Sheer Lingerie Print 4/20

4/20 As a fashion illustrator I am obsessed with some of the new trends emerging, one of them being lace bras, with thin straps, sheer detailing and beautiful colouring, they really make lingerie interesting again. I was pretty bored of the standard balconette and other shapes, so i've really taken to this. I've been wanting to draw these for a while now, and having the opportunity to create new illustrations every day has made me made quick decisions and actually take more chances. I've recently set up a society 6 page for international orders, so if you're outside of the UK you can now order my new prints HERE. If you're in the UK then grab a bargain,

Every image from this Illustration series are £10 each. 

Day 2! So, uncomfortably and unwillingly I was encouraged to use more colour in my work, Usually this doesn't go well for me, which is why I'm never too eager about it. However I chose to use some watercolour washes in my work this time and decided to use them in a different way, adding other hues and colours, making them look a bit more interesting and less flat, surprisingly it worked, I increased the saturation through photoshop to make them pop a little more with some curves, which seemed to give a really warm bright look to the finished piece. I was concerned that working on a new illustration every day would harm the quality of my work, I had the idea that rushing my designs would mean I would sacrifice the detail that I love to put in, But i didn't allow myself to do that, I worked extra hard and made sure I was creating content that I was proud to release, when it comes down to it I'd always chose quality over quantity, It's also made me make decisions quicker, which is where I think i was going wrong before when experimenting with colour, I'd over-think the process too much and never let it grow enough to enjoy the finished product. I've seen that coming out of my gothy comfort zone has really blown away some cobwebs and let the creativity flow again. Make sure you check back tomorrow for a new Illustration. Day 3 is going to be a little different.
 big Thank-you to Elliot for making me try colour again.

 This print, along with the shoe print from yesterday is now available HERE for £10 

Congratulations Olivia Palermo

My favourite lady in fashion Olivia has gotten married in a wonderfully quiet ceremony to her partner of 6 years, Johannes. I've always loved Olivia's style, she's always been able to pul off the most gorgeous outfits in an effortless way. something i've always been envious of, She really reminds me of Audrey Hepburn in some of her outfit choices. If you've been on Olivia's website you can see some of the official photographs released by her, in the most beautiful tule skirt with floral detailing, and a round neck jumper with three quarter length sleeves, A lot of people has expressed their concerns with her wedding dress, but I adore it, it's simple, stylish and a little different, She also chose to wear blue Manolo's as her "something blue" which is a really unique touch. As soon as i saw the photos I had to draw it,  I used little flecks of glitter and fresh flowers as props to add on top of my drawing, the photos had such a fresh natural look I wanted to add to that and use the glitter as textured confetti, I love drawing 2 dimensionally on photoshop but lately I've loved adding extra 3d props to make the illustration a little more interesting,

You can see the lovely article about Oliva's dress here, Photograph reference taken by Johannes Huebl

What do you think of Olivia's dress and my illustration?

I added a small floral circle

I played with some glitter to make some confetti

Want a personalised wedding Illustration? I charge £100 for any size up to A3 printed and posted. You can purchase it HERE

ENTER "SUMMERWEDDING" AT THE CHECKOUT FOR 10% OFF

Company Magazine July

Hello! My new illustrations for company magazine have just been released in their July Issue, it's about amazing festival make-up, featuring my illustrations, I worked so hard on these and wanted to make sure all the colours were bright, and popped.  I loved this project, lately I've felt that my work has taken a big leap and i've definitely made a conscious effort to spend a lot more time to get that extra detail in, At the time it's hard to see the difference but comparing it to old work makes me feel a lot better!

Do you see a difference in my work? I've uploaded a high-res Gif of the new illustrations so you can see some details, i based the different looks over one eye so you can really see the affect different shapes and colours have on an eye. My favourite is the orange and purple look, the colours are so punchy! 

Company Magazine Illustrations March 2013

Woo! It's been a crazy month of work for me, I've done loads, and they're all being released at once, these were drawn very late last year (drawn the same time as the Paris Issue work) These are my favourite drawings so far, They seem so delicate and really represent spring (drew lots of little flowers)

We went through a few outfit changes, added various accessories, removed things and worked out what looked better, I'm really pleased with the final result, I roughly drew out the placement of the products for them to be replaced with the photographs, 

Any thoughts on the drawings?

Company Magazine Illustrations Part 2

Le Flick! The second Illustration commission for Company's Paris Issue!

I'm so excited to show you these lovely eye makeup catwalk looks, all taken from the biggest shows on Paris Fashion week. My favourite is the Alexis Mabille, it's just so elegant and a style that really suits anyone, not to mention it's created the trend which we're seeing on everyone lately.

They're all different eyes, I created them all black and white at first but along side the colourful chanel look, it appeared realyl stange, so some colour was needed to balance it all out,  I kept the hues of the eye colour quite similar as i wanted the black pencil marks to really be the focus, i rarely draw with such dark heavy strokes, but I wanted the eyes to be in the same focus as the make-up and not look like an afterthought, Anyway, I hope you get to read this issue and see it in the flesh for your-self

 Natalie xx

Company Magazine Paris Issue Part 1

Bonjour! I was so excited when i heard Company magazine were planning a Paris issue for their February Magazine, and I HAD to get involved, i was absolutely thrilled when I was asked to create an illustration of a perfume bottle with a french scene involved. I added lots of bokeh lights and made it very dreamy with the use of pastel colours, pinks and creams. It was a joy to make, lots of hard work and refinements but I hope everyone is pleased with the outcome!

A little close-up of the french bicycle I drew. I added hints of gold glitter to pop against the muted hues.

And how it looks in the magazine! I was really pleased it turned out so well and I love the graphic design along side it! The paris issue came at such an amazing time, I was already wanting to go to Paris, I want to sit and draw all the little cafes and go shopping. Hey, a Cliche is a cliche for a reason, right?

est-ce que vous aimez?

And how it looks in the magazine! I was really pleased it turned out so well and I love the graphic design along side it! The paris issue came at such an amazing time, I was already wanting to go to Paris, I want to sit and draw all the little cafes and go shopping. Hey, a Cliche is a cliche for a reason, right?  ;)

I'm deinfietly going to plan a trip now, and with all the company tips in the magazine I can't wait!

 Anyway, thoughts on the illustration would be greatly appreciated.

Natalie x

Fashion illustration new working in progress

So we're fast approaching the NEW YEAR!
so i thought i'd show you what i'm up to and the plans for 2014, I've already finished a few Illustrations which will be in magazines early next year! which is mad to think i've already completed work which will be shown in the new year. (for two of my favourite magazines) I'll post them when the magazines are out! :D

This particular piece is in it's very early stages is drawn from some reference images that were taken by a friend of mine of a lovely model called Amy, She was great to photograph and gave me some amazing photos to draw from and play around with, I brought some roses on set so i could draw them and then visually build them all around to how I wanted, etc.
 This particular piece is only for my own illustration portfolio, but it's nice to do something for myself and explore some new ideas, techniques i'm working with.

If you can see the detail in the lips and eyes you can tell how pain staking it was to create all the little grooves and shadows, it's a difficult territory to be in, as I still wanted to retain the Illustration quality and not make it too realistic.

 Now! This lady is Laila Daho  you may recognise her from youtube! she does some awesome vidoes on make-up lifestyle etc, i'm working on a banner for her youtube, and this is a very early stage of the work! 

Christmas Cards

Well, It's December, Already! Where has this year gone?
 We all had goals and ambitions for the year, mine was to gain more exposure within the Illustration word.
set up a shop! (DONE)
 and, I think, to explore my artistic style a bit more.

I do think i've achieved a little of it, i'm never 100% happy with my work, but i'm ok with that, personally i don't think i'll improve if i'm content (I think i've said that a lot)

I've made some really girly Illustrative christmas cards, they're luxurious, pretty and delicate, and are perfect to send to those friends who love Fashion and all the stereotypical girly things I adore too ;)
I wanted to experiment with the pink and gold colour palette, I think it works really well as a christmassy Card to go along with presents or as a gift card, After xmas I will be selling these as Happy Birthday Cards too!

They're £5 for a pack of 5! or £1.50 each
The pack can be a mixture of the two designs or of one only.
It's up to you, but be quick, They're selling out :)
You can buy them HERE

Company magazine illustrations

Woah, nothing wedding related Natalie? That is a shock!

 Considering most of my followers are more likely to be interested in my illustration work, i think i should probably post about it, I'm currently sat on a bed eating American candy, flicking through Company and wondering what to write..

I couldn't find a paper copy of Company today so I bought it on my Ipad which i've never done before, I'm now hooked! i love having a magazine when traveling, but having them all digitally saves me loads of space and i can indulge without feeling too guilty, (they're loads cheaper if you want to buy a years subscription)
However working in printing I do enjoy flicking through pages and.. at the risk of sounding like a loser I do love having a hard copy now and again,  plus my Grandma always wants a version, bless her

I was asked by Company to illustrate three ladies who are quite influential in the music industry, i really enjoyed the project and tried to incorporate things that were mentioned in the article that related to each girl.

One of my favourite illustrations was for Sarah, she mentioned how making a good impression was vital, making cups of tea for the right people is something everyone has to do! I drew a few cute little cupcakes and pots of tea to link in with the interview.
I can relate to the tea making, however as a non tea drinker please be aware if you want a drink from me I've had bad feedback ;) I'm more of a Hot chocolate girl,

Perry from little mix was another little illustration featured within the larger one of Anya (Syco A&R)
 I loved using watercolours in this and partially shading her hair, i'm going to explore this style a bit more i think..


I've also got an Illustration in the #Readitandtweet section, I'm looking for a nice new book to get addicted to as i've just finished the Hobbit, What are you reading?

Anyway, what do you think? I'd love to know if you liked the feature, for anyone looking to get into the music industry it's really worth a read, networking is they key
#GirlPower

FASHION WEEK

I haven't had much time to really sit down and draw what i want, so i've only managed three illustrations so far, one each from NYFW, LFW and Milan FW, so i took the opportunity to have a little experiment with my work, each one looking a bit different, leaning toward a water colour style though.
firstly,

New York: Ralph Lauren
 I tried to make this a bit different and have a hand drawn- not too neat feel to it, I added some highlights to the gloves and tried to make the face and arms have a pencil sketched look.

Ralph Lauren 2013 A/W NYFW

Next i drew an outfit from one of my favorite collections of LFW, which was TOPSHOP Unique, i drew their cleopatra show last year but i'm excited to do a proper illustration with the military vibe they've obtained now. This is one of the images i've drawn, i plan to illustrate a few more and arrange them all together. 

TOPSHOP UNIQUE 2013 A/W LFW

Keeping with my Watercolour theme i wanted to make this look quick and washed out, i'm not entirely satisfied with the outcome, but i do like the polaroid edges, once this is placed with the other topshop illustrations i think it'll work better, at the moment i don't think it's as striking as it could be (maybe a little dull) but as i said this is a small part of a bigger Piece.

GUCCI 2013 A/W MFW

This is, again (like the topshop illustration above) a small part of a bigger art piece. Gucci's collection blew me away, completely dark, alluring and beautiful it was a collection i saw straight away and knew i had to draw! Milan and Paris are the weeks i'm most excited about as my favorite designers are showing, everything is always immaculate and precise. This is a backstage shot i drew, As the collection is dark with mainly blacks and deep colours i didn't want this piece to be on a white background like the majority of my works, i think working on black makes drawings stand out instantly, every highlight is noticed and equally there isn't much opportunity to hide your mistakes.

A very early Work in Progress shot of the above illustration. 

I couldn't resist having a go at drawing this, I love drawing hair... 

My TOPSHOP piece from last year, egyptian inspired. I've fallen out of love with this and now want to redeem myself with a better topshop illustration to do their new collection justice. But this is the style in which i plan to compile the rest of the work. 

GIVENCHY 2012 S/S

Another example of how i  want to arrange my new pieces. 

So, who are you most excited about seeing/illustrating in Fashion week? 

I'm looking out for;

MILAN

Prada

Moschino

Versace

Dolce and Gabanna

Cavalli

PARIS

Dries Van Noten

Gareth Pugh

Balenciaga

Balmain

Nina Ricci

Lanvin

Viktor and Rolf

Vivienne Westwood

Celine

Kenzo

GIVENCHY (eeeek)

too many more to list!

take care x x