Is it October already?!

It's been a while since I blogged! in fact it was May! oops! Unfortunately I haven't been on a desert Island sunning myself & drinking cocktails out of coconuts all this time!.. Nooo, I have been very busy designing & getting my little keyring business off the ground.

Back in June & July I was working on Assignments for Lilla Roger's Boot Camp but did't get chance to blog about it so here we go..

Editorial Ilustration for a Magazine 'I don't like to meditate'

We were asked to pick up on key words, descriptions from the piece & illustrate a full page.
To get warmed up I did some doodles of some strange looking people...as you do!

My First Idea - I thought this was very much me trying to get into meditation!

This was my final idea, with all the distractions shown in her big hair!

Canvas Artwork 'With a nautical theme'

I love drawing glam women with big hair so thought I would incorporate the Nautical theme, adding a ship, octopus, whale & making her hair the swirling waves! Of course I had to add nautical accessories, like an anchor & 'hello sailor' Tattoo!

This showing a close up & in situation on a wall.

I wanted to see what the design looked like on a t'shirt

I also used the Tattoo as a t'shirt print which works well!

Hello May!

Over the last 2 months I have been very busy with all sorts of design work and even set up a little sideline business selling personalised and novelty keyrings!
HMG Keyrings go check my shop out and say hello on Twitter and Facebook..
stores.ebay.co.uk/HMG-Keyrings

https://twitter.com/hmgdesign14

https://www.facebook.com/hmgkeyrings14?ref=hl

We all had the month of April off from Lilla Rogers' Assignment Bootcamp course and I wanted to keep my creative juices flowing so created 3 t'shirt designs for the Ohh Deer Competition which was fun! http://ohhdeer.com/  I decided to go for funky hairdo's as my subject. I used to love drawing fashion models with funky hair styles and I have had a few printed onto canvas over the years which look fab!
Out of the 3, the Mohawk design was the most popular and actually my fave too! I even bought a vest and cant wait for the weather to get warmer so I can wear it!

This Month we are back to work on our Assignments and can't wait to find out Lilla has in store for us!

I love peacock feathers at the moment so thought they would look fab as a Mohawk!

The Mullet is back! I went a bit 80's on this one, but thought I'd keep the peacock feather theme!

I went full on Peacock head dress for this one!

Jelly & Ice Cream

After a fantastic 3 weeks on holiday in Vietnam I have finally eased my way back into work mode..sort of..! It hasn't been easy, but to help me get motivated again I got up to speed with my March Assignment for the Lilla Rogers' Bootcamp.

The subject this month is Jelly Moulds! I struggled abit with this one & was panicking that I was so far behind I wouldn't get anything done before the deadline on Sunday! My doodles weren't going very well & I kept thinking of the cocktail I would have normally had in my hand around this time and had to snap out of it!... I did actually take my sketch book away with me with all good intentions of working on my Jelly ideas but between exploring, snorkling & sunbathing I had to have a cold beer (then maybe another).. which then meant I needed a nap! ...so I thought it best to catch up when I got home..

Anyway finally feeling abit more motivated,  I decided to draw my ideas straight onto the computer. When I think of jelly I think of Ice Cream which then makes me think of summer time..lazy days laying on the beach... after bringing myself kicking & screaming out of my daydream once again, I finally get on with the matter in hand! so.... bright yummy colours is the direction I want to go in so this was my focus (until I started thinking about where I want to go on holiday next year)..

It took a while, but I finally got into it & started enjoying my design... I could have done with a bit more time to look at other colour variations but I was happy with my end result. I worked up my design onto Kitchen Textiles & here we are... my final submission...hope you like it ..Im off for 'sex on the beach'..(in my dreams ha!) More like a hot chocolate & a warm cardy its freeeezing!x

This is my final submission showing co-ordinating patterns

I wanted to see my design on Kitchen Accessories & show that it can be mixed 

& matched with co-ordinating patterns for Tea Towels. 

The Gallery goes live on Tuesday 25th March 

go check it out by clicking on the Lilla Rogers Studio School link . 

You can see all the wonderful work from February's Assignment too by clicking the link below!

http://bootcamp.lillarogers.com/bootcamp-feb-2014-gallery/

Lilla Rogers Bootcamp 1st Assignment

It's nearly deadline day for our first assignment which was studying, sketching cuckoo clocks, then fitting our design ideas to a phone cover. I started the assignment looking at the different kinds of cuckoo clocks from the traditional type to the more contemporary, wacky shaped ones! I homed in on the pretty elements of which there are so many you can play around with! As I happily doodled away, I found myself concerntrating more on the pattern element of cuckoo clocks rather than the shape of the clock & started building my own pattern using flowers, birds & butterflies.

It's been great seeing everyones developments on Facebook, there is so much talent out there & the support everyone is giving each other along the way is overwhelming! Im so happy to be a part of it all!

I would like to share my own developments with you..from doodle to finished piece & also show you how I developed my patterns further.. I have enjoyed this assignment so much & cant wait for the next one!

First doodles using my favourite pink feathery pen with disco ball

I scanned in my doodles and then started to work them up in Illustrator

I decided not to design a conventional cuckoo clock shape

I liked the idea of a Tattoo syle clock

This is the colour pallette I wanted to use & it was great to see they were one of the pallettes recommended by Lilla in her surprise feature! I love these colours together & I always have to have a splash of my favourite colour pink in the mix!

This is the first layout I tried on a phone cover. I had to re-arrange my design to fit, but I think it works!

I wanted to develop this pattern further...Im enjoying this!

I wanted to look at another option & I quite like the tattoo style of this one

I thought this design would look great on a t'shirt too!

I think the birdies work as great co-ordinate patterns with pastels or bright backgrounds.

I hope you enjoyed sharing my journey so far... even though it is nearing the end of this assignment I want to carry on developing my designs further & see where it leads..more exciting things to come, watch this space!x

The Bootcamp Gallery will be unveiled Tuesday 25th February go check it out

( you can access it by clicking on the Lilla Rogers Studio School Icon on  the side of my page)

Lilla Rogers Assignment Bootcamp

So it's week 6 of my Freelance life & alongside my jobs, I've enrolled on Lilla Rogers Assignment Bootcamp which is very exciting! It runs over the next 6 months & each Month starts with a mini assignment to get us warmed up for the main one in the middle of the Month. Our 1st mini assignment is Cuckoo Clocks!

To be honest they have never interested me & some of them are quite hideous! but, as I started gathering my reference together I found out that there are so many variations, from the very traditional type that we all think of when we think of cuckoo clocks, to contemporary, decorative interpretations.

So, I started doodling with my favourite pink biro pen :0) .. I homed in on the pretty elements, the flowers, patterns, birds, pine cones & the clock faces. I didn't want to copy, I wanted to create my own interpretation. As you can see from my doodles, they've developed as I've got into it! I must admit, I'm really enjoying it & finding it hard to tear myself away! Im getting worried that the ink in my fluffy pen will soon run out & I wont find another one like it!......hehe... Seriously, it's so nice not to be staring at the computer screen for a change!  I'm looking forward to the main assignment which will be released soon & encorporates all the elements we've been working on.

I'ts February!

Well I have waved goodbye to January & hello to a new month & new challenges!..

It's week 5 of my Freelance life & last week knocked my confidence abit...A job fell through, that could have been a great opportunity for me & I've had 3 rejections from Agents and the other 2 Agencies haven't responded to my emials so Im thinking the worst :-(
Ok, I didn't expect great things to happen straight away, but It's hard to get back up, dust yourself off and carry on....but, I love what I do & thats what keeps me going!

When I feel rubbish I find that doodling in my sketch book relaxes me, so thats what I did & I created some animal characters which I think look quite fun!
I'm not going to show you my doodles because they are rubbish(in my opinion, I know, but your still not seeing them) .., but I will show you a couple of the drawings I finished in Illustrator which I hope you like! :0)

I thought it would be a nice idea to do a giveaway on my Myla-May Facebook page and the winner can pick which character they would like on an A4 print. Maybe it would make a nice gift for Valentines Day or just to keep!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Myla-May/431997050206549


Since I have been going it alone, I have been looking at developing my own identity with a hope that one day I will be out there in the marketplace. Like many Designers out there trying to make their mark, I want to be recognised for my style of work, at the moment, I'm feeling abit insecure about my style... I'm asking myself lots of questions...am I different enough to make a difference? do I stick with the style I work in at the moment? do I try and develop a completely new style? do I use a different medium? Being an artist I am always searching for that new idea, experimenting and creating, and thats what I love, But is it enough, will I ever find my comfort zone, will I ever find my niche?....

Anyway, I thought I needed to boost my confidence and find something to focus on & channel my creativity - I have found the perfect solution!

The very inpirational Lilla Rogers is holding an Assignment Bootcamp over the next 6 months so I decided to sign up! It starts today with a mini challenge just to get us warmed up, we are drawing 'Cuckoo Clocks' a great subject to get started because there are so many interesting elements!
It's a great opportunity to network with the other class mates & there will be a gallery to showcase all our ideas!
I would like to share my journey with you and post my sketches & ideas, It will be intresting to see how I go about each assignment and whether it will help me come to a decision about my current style!

Watch this space!x


http://lillarogers.com/

Hello Monday!

Well this is the 4th week of Freelancing and still enjoying working from home! I thought the hardest part for me would be getting out of bed in the morning, but I suprised myself! I haven't given myself a lie in (yet) Ok I get up abit later than when I went out to work, but I have made sure I get out of my PJ's slap on some make up and start every morning at 9am..start as you mean to go on I say!

So, over the past 3 weeks Ive been putting myself about abit (so to speak) I've sent off emails to 5 Illustration Agencies and 2 companies with potential Freelance opportunities. I've been working on some packaging design aswell as developing my own ideas.

I have also joined Society6 and created a little shop!

Last August I posted about my butterfly designs that I wasn't sure what to do with, so after shelving the idea for a few months I went back to it & turned the design into a repeat pattern and put it into 3 colourways which I must say I was very please with!
I decided I would like to see the pattern on products. I knew about Society6 through Social Media and followed some of the Designers on there.
It's an American website that allows Designers all around the world to create their own shops and upload their Artwork to all the products available. Society6 print to order and the Designer gets a percentage of the sales. It's only a small percentage, but it's a great tool for getting yourself noticed, seeing your designs on different products and it doesnt cost anything! I've got 2 patterns on there so far, but I would also like to add some of my Myla-May designs which I think could be fun! Go and have look, I hope you like what I have done so far :0)x


http://society6.com/HlneMarieGilmour

Butterfly Cushions in 3 colourways, also available on Canvas, Framed Prints, Phone Cases, Laptop Covers, Mugs, Clocks, Cushions, Tote Bags & Stationery

2 weeks in the Freelance World..

Well, It's been 2 weeks working from home as a Freelancer! Its hard work getting myself out there and I've still got a long way to go, but I'm enjoying the challenge.
I would like to share my journey with you and snippets of what I've been up to..

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been working on an exciting new project with a Multi-Cultural Greeting card company. I have designed a collection for boys and girls which I am very excited about! I cant show you anything just yet, but watch this space! ...

I have also been producing patterns for a company in Manchester. They sell designs all around the world to customers in the wallcoverings, bedding, textiles and gift industry.
I created 30 patterns to start off with ,for their office in New York and they have just been shown at Printsource so fingers crossed they got a positive response!

I enjoyed ceating these patterns because the subject matter is endless because customers buy for all Seasons & Genres.

An American trend that is very much over here now is the woodland theme! Trees, cute little foxes, squirrals and bears so of course I had to do some woodland patterns...

It's 2014!

Happy New Year everyone!

One of my New Years Resolutions is to keep my blog up to date! I will try my very best to keep to it!
I hope everyone is settling into 2014. I have started the New Year as a Freelance Designer and although I'm only 3 days into it, I'm enjoying it so far!
As some of you know, I have worked in the Industry for 15 years (omg is it that long!) in that time I have worked in different areas of the business, designing for Kids Back to School products, Christmas Cards & Crackers, Electrical Goods, Food Packaging, Homewares, Textiles & Giftwrapping. Experience in these different areas has taught me to adapt and grow as a Designer. I decided about 6 months ago that I was ready to go it alone. I had built up quite alot of contacts over the years and I felt that my experience and confidence in my work would pull me through. I thought a great time to start my new venture would be January 2014, New Year, New start! So here I am and I'm already busy on a couple of projects, I have an appointments booked so it is a positive start !

Alongside working on my various Design projects, I really want to develop my pretty pink Character 'Myla-May' I have lots of ideas for her so watch this space!

Wishing you All the best for 2014, let's hope for a happy, healthy & prosporous one!xx