Emily Catherine Illustration: EEE YER BLOGGER. February Leap Year Blog!

Hello all! Leaping out of February like a mento out of a coke bottle! 

Like an idiot moth, dusty wings flapping against tungsten brightness, I have a lot to pack in, so I've had to slightly edit my February journey!

February 12th saw the exciting Launch of the Anti Gallery (TAG) and it was a corker. It was packed out, smooth running and completely successful for the incredible Saziso Phiri and Chiara Dellerba who have created TAG. Tim Onga did A BREATHTAKING piece on the wall LIVE in Rough Trade, it really was epic. Simeon Hartwig from Bantum Clothing and Ned Wilson (Whimsy Woods) helped me try (like a virgin) Screen printing for the very first time which I am now completely in love with and want to do all the time. The indomitable Erwin Blok from Dizzy Ink's Mimeograph workshop was there as well as Craig and Ben from Dizzy repping for the School of Print campaign they have going ( https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cobdenplace/schoolofprint?utm_source=FB&utm_medium=bst&utm_campaign=logo48hrs%25 ).

I was sad that I didn't get to meet everyone exhibiting however, the art was formidable quality and TAG proved that night what TAG is all about: adopting a space and making it a gallery showcasing art and artists who you may never have seen before. Brilliant.

Particularly lovely meeting Whimsy Woods' Ned; a thoroughly brilliant and lovely chap who is beyond talented. Ned is doing some Live Art at Mimm Secret Sessions no.6 (https://www.ticketbox.co.uk/Client/?guid=b77df0e3-a678-4f1b-8d6a-e8106f825b39 ) on the 4th March. There are tickets left so don't miss out. Mimm always curate the best things in Nottingham, I'm very sad I cannot be there.

On the 16th February saw the very first Nottingham Etsy Seller Seminar Session no.1. on product photography at Rough Trade with the frightfully capable, talented and engaging Daniel Hughes. The evening was a total success, very interesting and jam packed! Daniel busted some myths and taught us some new stuff. It was extra wonderful to see the goddess and fellow hand-drawn illustrator Deborah Panesar there. She's beautiful, talented and lovely- check out her amazing new website with fascinating blog here: www.deborahpanesar.com

The calm before the storm....

A captive audience!

I had the pleasure of working on a private commission for talented dancer and daughter-of-the-year, Elle Nancy Church, who wanted me to draw her mother's favourite photograph of the two of them for her birthday. Elle presented her mum, Gina, with the portrait on her birthday and took her reaction shots to it! I love that! I love it when customers document the whole thing. For me, it's a total and real honour to be part of people's memories in this way.

The original photograph I was working from and my illustration....

The finished illustration....

Elle's mum, Gina, opening her birthday present....

Happy Gina and my illustration! Happy Birthday Gina!

Talking of being part of people's lives as an illustrator, my very first Tattoo commission was inked this month! The talented musician, Nottingham dweller, and, thoroughly lovely chap Jake Buckley contacted me about some naive script writing for his forearm. The Ron Sexsmith album, Forever Endeavour is his favourite and he wanted my script to say that. I designed it and he then took it to Bodycraft Nottingham and the uber talented Electric Butterfly Teza to execute it. The result is beautiful and really meaningful for Jake. It feels WILD for me to have something from my hand on someone's arm! Jake was a wonderful customer and we think we might design something a bit more challenging in the future! Exciting!

Jake's Tattoo!

I had a marvellous weekend in London with the happy chappy and stalwart supporter of real Hip Hop, DJ LoK, where he helped me fullfil a dream and (pretend to) DJ to a crowded and jovial crowd in Camden. I was initially dubious about standing in the box but was instantly reassured by this familiar sticker:

I ONLY DRINK EARL GREY THIS IS A SIGN!!!

It looks like he's doing all the work... but clearly it I who is in charge...

If you haven't heard of DJ LoK and you love Hip Hop you should certainly follow him on Soundcloud, Mixcloud, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. He does a fortnightly podcast of the freshest new releases of UK Hip Hop and is about to release two remixes on Polar Bears Can Dance on Ambiel Records. Stay Tuned pop pickers!

Back to Notts and I was greeted with a huge amount of work. Not only have I turned my hand to digital illustration for a big project for Diversity Marketing ( www.diversitymarketing.co.uk ) ...

Cheeky little caterpillar for Diversity

 ...but I have also been very busy doing secret private commissions, which I can't show you. BORING. I however, have been laboriously working away on a children's scholastic book for Colourstrings International, some Illustrations for Fanclub's 1st Birthday, International Womens' Week and Mud Press.

Mud Press are currently looking for submissions for their new Zine and Anthology on the theme of WOMAN ( www.mudpress.co.uk/submissions/ )

One of my submissions to Mud's Illustrator Zine and in celebration of International Women's Day, is this feminist psychedelia piece in a series which I'm working on. This piece is called REFLECTION and in addition to NO it is my own personal comment on the various practices of women. Here's the full process:

Sketching....

Tightening...

Tonal in, writing on....

Close Up....

Watercolouring....

Orange begins....

Getting There.....

Finished!

To be excited about March is an understatement.

Why?

Oh, only because Hip Hop legend Pharoahe Monch is playing and I have tickets.... no biggy.

But Emily, Pharoahe Monch will be busy and loud and scary and you hate that?

Yes... but I have to go and see this legend and furthermore this triple threat VVV (Cappo, Vandal Savage and Juga-Naut) plus legend DJ Dan Rattomatic are supporting said legend, and they are incredible.

But ... Emily.... you'll get trampled on and they won't serve tea?

It's okay... I'm going to do whatever Simon tells me to do.

Show some support love and our unique Nottingham welcome to Mr.Monch and respect to Gangsta Wraps for organising the event. You can read this excellent review in the best magazine in the world here: http://www.leftlion.co.uk/articles.cfm/title/pharoahe-monch---the-monarch-without-the-a-r-/id/8045

Also, if you are about tonight and want to do something actually wholesome, morally upright and good for your soul, I strongly suggest popping down to Nottingham Trent Unviersity's Newton Court and partaking in a charity auction in aid of Little John's House. Here's more about the charity here: http://www.littlejohnshouse.co.uk/home. I was asked to donate some of my prints in aid of the cause: 

Paris, my friend who is raising money for this charity, is going to Romania to work in the home in August. He is doing such a lot for this charity. Not least manning this exceptionally neat stall full of treats for you:

HAPPENING NOW!

You can donate to Paris here: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=iliadmusic&pageUrl=4

Lastly, here is an awful uninvited gentleman caller. As I reclined on the sofa for a bit of First Dates and Gogglebox catch up, he decided to run towards my face. So I trapped him in a glass bubble and introduced him to skydiving as a new hobby. Bleddy cheek, the bogger...

You remind me of the babe,

What Babe?

Oh, not a babe.... with the power...

A rude sprinting spider and uninvited guest is what you remind me of....

Oh.

Yeah, take a leap, rudeboy.

PEACE AND BLESSINGS! BLOGGING OFF X