beach culture for SHOP TIL YOU DROP

I had the suuuuuper fun job of working with Shop 'Til You Drop
on a series of paper doll-esque illustrations for a beach tribes story inspired by
the style of 5 gorgeous celebs;
Erin Wasson, Kim Kardashian, Nicole Richie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Katy Perry.
Each of these ladies has such an individual style that is celebrated here.
Which tribe do you belong in?
I think i'm somewhere in between Nicole and Gwynnie.


You can find these ladies and their outfits
(10 whole pages of girls and clothes to cut out!)
in the November issue of Shop 'Til You Drop
with the stunning Rosie Huntington-Whitely on the cover.
Have to say this issue is really gearing me up for my sunny beach holiday;
so much Summery goodness inside.


Hope you like!
x

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style stalking for INSTYLE UK

I had the privilege of working again with InStyle UK for their
November issue on this piece by fashion features editor Victoria Moss on
the occasional style cross-overs that occur in the offices of a fashion magazine.
It's inevitable that we will bump into a friend or colleague sporting
almost the same outfit, but it's how our individual style changes an item
that is the focus of Victoria's article.


This particular piece focuses on THAT pleated midi-skirt that is now
showing itself on Aussie shores, and has been a staple in the wardrobes
of a lot of British women over the last Summer.


I had so much fun working on this. I myself have a few pleated/midi skirts
sitting in my wardrobe waiting for the sun to come out so that they may too!
It's currently raining where I am so it's kind of odd to be writing about
any form of Summer trend.
But I'm off on a sunny beach holiday next week
so will be bringing those babies out to play!


InStyle UK's November issue is on sale now with the beeeeeautiful
Rosamund Pike on the cover.
(Have had a slight girl crush on her ever since I saw Pride & Prejudice!)


Happy Monday everyone - I hope you all had a great weekend!
x

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in BLOOM

Pencil, watercolour & digital colouring.


A little personal piece I've been working on this week.
(With the beautiful Fei Fei and roses from my room as inspiration!)
I've been having alot of fun playing around with collage lately -
as you may have noticed from my last few personal illustration posts.
I think it'll be here to stay for a little while.
I think it adds a little something extra to the basic illustration.
What do you think?


I still need to post the film posters that have been inspiring this change!


Happy Friday everyone - enjoy your weekends!
X

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in BLOOM

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LIBRA

Quick post of my newest illo for Girlfriend's Girlstrology:
The lovely Libra.
As the exam period is fast approaching we went for a school-themed
take on the star of scales.
After all, life itself can be a balancing act, so to all of the Librans out there,
whether you're at school or elsewhere, I hope you have a happy birthday
and manage to juggle a little bit of fun with your more pressing duties!


The October issue of Girlfriend is on sale today,
with the Queen B herself, Leighton Meester, on the cover.
For a peek inside the issue, as well as other fun bits and pieces
visit their website here: www.girlfriend.com.au
x

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LIBRA

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midnight in PARIS

Pencil & Digital Colouring


I've been admiring alot of vintage film poster artwork lately during various
movie marathons (mainly involving musicals and kids films from the 80s!)
I kind of miss the whimsy and creativity that came with the illustrated posters.
That kind of collaged aesthetic that pulled out various elements and characters.
I may post my favourites sometime this week as there are many!
But needless to say they have inspired me.


I've been working away on this illustration of Woody Allen's new film
for the last month or so in between jobs and whatnot.
I think mainly to pass the time before it's finally released here in Aus in October.
(I feel like i've been waiting foreverrrrrrrr)
But also it's hard for me to pass up a chance to draw Miss Marion.
I mean, what can be more amazing than the golden age of Paris in the 20s
as seen through the eyes of Woody Allen?
Not to mention it stars Owen Wilson and the M-Bomb Cotillard.


Click play below to view the trailer:





I hope you all had a good weekend!
x

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lions, crustaceans & virgins OH MY

Eeek i've been a bit lax in posting my Girlfriend Girlstrology starsigns lately!
So here we go in a Wizard-like bombardment.
Virgo, Leo and Cancer!
Happy Birthday to all of you, past, present and future.
I promise to be more on the ball.
Virgo is currently on newsstands now in the September issue of Girlfriend.

I also wanted to post this little snippet above from July's Letter from the Editor.
Girlfriend editor, Sarah Cornish, was diagnosed with Cancer last year,
and has decided to leave the magazine to focus on getting well.
I was saddened to read her final letter, but also so touched to have been mentioned.
I want to wish her the very best, along with all of the positive energy I can muster.
I hope you can send her the same :)



X

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new WORK

I recently completed some new personal works which will be available
exlusively at Signed + Numbered gallery in Melbourne from next week.


I really love working on these little series'.
I used to draw alot of animals and wild little things with my ladies
but since I started working commercially it's been mainly portraits
and fashion pieces.
So it's so fun to take some time out to draw the stranger little ideas
that pop into my head sometimes! :)


I also thought I would take the opportunity to post some more
'progress' shots as another thing I get asked about alot is how much of my work
is digital and how much is hand drawn.
As you can see here, it is pretty much all hand drawn or painted, but each element
is scanned into the computer and, if i'm creating background or patterns,
I then play around with things digitally.
(Pencil is always hand-drawn.)


This:


Becomes this:

Which becomes this:

I find that there's a little more freedom to experiment this way.
If you don't like something you can delete it and you haven't ruined
your original drawing!


Hopefully these pics give a little bit more of an insight into how I work,
without giving away too many of my secrets ;)


The Swan Queen and Jungle Queen are available
in both A4 and A3 sizes, in editions of 15, exclusively at
Signed + Numbered
Shop 4/155 Greville St,
Prahran, Melbourne.
- or online at -
www.signedandnumbered.com.au


x

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D&G

I had this pic saved in a folder marked 'To Draw' for like a year!
I finally got around to sketching it over the weekend.
It's nice to work on some random fashion pieces again!
I love the graphic aspect of these two outfits.
The black and white is perfect for me, and the bows are such a cute touch.
Natasha and Maryna also happen to be two of my fave models.


I've added in some progress shots as I sometimes get asked how big I draw.
As you can see I draw SMALL! Always A3 or A4.
I find I lose perspective when I try to draw on a large scale.
I have so much admiration for those who can!
It's an eye thing. Some of us have an eye for up close detail and others are
amazing at standing back and creating brilliant and huge works of art.
I'd actually LOVE to do a massive piece one day, but so far every attempt
has failed dismally.
You can also see from the little pencil scribbles, how many different pencils I use.
Lots of light, lots of dark!


Anyway! I have added this little sketch to my Etsy shop.
I accidently splashed this so there's a tiny mark on the left hand side,
but it will be hidden by a matte board once it's framed :)
Also, just a reminder that there is still 20% off EVERYTHING until WED!
Enter the code WINTER2011 upon checkout to apply discount.
To view click here:
www.birdyandme.etsy.com


X

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winter SALE

I've been doing a little bit of experimenting over the last couple of weeks.
I wasn't sure whether to post them all or not, I might later on.
But in the meantime i've added a couple of the original illustrations to my shop.
I don't do this very much as I usually scan the drawn elements of my work
separately and create the final artworks as digital finals, however these are different.
So if you've ever wanted an original then here you go!
Rose of the Wild is probably my fave - I might re-work her down the line.
I'm also planning on doing a series of Audrey illustrations.
Eliza is the first of three. Will post more on those soon!


At any rate - they are now in my shop.
And seeing as it's the end of the financial year and all I decided
to have a Winter sale and take 20% OFF everything!
So if you would like to buy a print or original head to
birdyandme.etsy.com
and enter the code WINTER2011 upon checkout to apply the discount.


I hope you've all had a good week.
x

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abbey lee ILLUSTRATED FOR PORTMANS

I was so lucky to be asked again to illustrate for Portmans' window displays.
They are always so much fun to work on, but this time I was especially excited
as the current face of Portmans is, of course, the gooooorgeous Abbey Lee Kershaw!
Dying.


So while the gang have been busy shooting Abbey Lee in LA for the next
campaign, the windows currently feature my illustrations of her
in the start of the late August/early Spring line.


I hope you guys like.
It was so much fun to do!


Happy Wednesday Hump-Day!
X


P.S HUGE thanks to the lovely Bec Winnel for taking these snaps
of the Melbourne Central store for me.
I used Instagram filters on them btw!

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blink BEAUTY

Sometimes when you work on commercial illustrations,
it takes so long for the final product to come out (whatever form that might be)
that you completely forget about it!
I worked on this illustration back in March,
but only just thought to check the website and there it was looking at me :)


This illo was for a beauty parlour called Blink in the US,
and I loved working on it so much.
I was given a really open brief and just a few stylistic notes to work to.
The client wanted a really classic illustration, almost Audrey Hepburn-esque,
that would still look contemporary and fresh to appeal to their client base.
My thought was to go for a really clean, vintage beauty look.
Full, shaped, eyebrows, well defined eyes and a strong lip.
And of course, no one can resist a large bushel of pink and red posies!


I really hope you like it, it's definitely a recent fave.


If you happen to be reading this from Minnesota -
then go visit Brook and Christina
at Blink for some pampering! :)


Enjoy the weekend everyone x

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GIRLSTROLOGY

Taurus & Gemini
for Girlfriend Magazine May, June 2011


I'm a little bit late in posting these as I worked on them before I went away
so that I didn't have too much catching up to do when I got back!
But here are Miss Taurus and Miss Gemini,
the latest illustrations for Girlfriend mag's Girlstrology page.
I think Gemini is my fave of them all so far.
Clearly I love anything with feathers so maybe it goes without saying? :)


I know this post is a bit unusual compared to how I usually do it.
I've been trying to think of slightly different ways to post my work
(which is what I LOVE doing on here of course)
that might deter the not-so-respectful from doing the wrong thing with it.
I've had a bit of trouble with image theft lately, as have alot of others.


BUT - i'm finding photos might be a super fun way
to post new work on here! (Like the above I took on Instagram.)
I'm totally addicted to Instagram at the moment - an iPhone app
that i'm not sure exists elsewhere or not???
But if you have an iPhone I highly reccomend you look it up.
It's just so much fun! And so many awesome people to follow.
My username is birdyandme if anyone is interested!


X


P.S Happy Birthday to all the Taurus' and Geminis!

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couture REVIVAL

One of the jobs I worked on earlier this year that I was most excited about
was a series of illustrations for UK magazine The Hub.
I got to illustrate several of my absolute favourite collections,
including Chanel S/S 10, Alexander McQueen S/S 11 and
THAT pearl encrusted Givenchy that Natasha Poly wore
in the S/S 11 collection.






I have to say, this was one of my favourite jobs ever - purely because
I got to draw something that I love so much.
It's literally mixing business with pleasure!
Not to mention the fact that this issue of The Hub is pretty damn amazing.
It features one of my FAVOURITE illustrators of all time,
David Downton (who also did the cover illustration),
Christian Louboutin, Anna Dello Russo, David Bowie, Miuccia Prada.
Marc Jacobs, and more illustration work from Cecilia Carlstedt
(another of my all time faves!)


To view a behind-the-scenes vid from The Hub's 'Renaissance' shoot
click here - it's too beautiful to miss.




I hope you're enjoying the long weekend.
I'm sorry for being so quiet around here lately.
Things have been a bit hectic since I got back from my trip.
But lots to share over the coming weeks and months!
x

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