New year - New beginnings (blog-wise)

On my list of New Years resolutions I've decided to make a big deal of blogging this year by giving this blog a facelift, lots of new and more interesting posts following far more of my hobbies and passions and hopefully getting a lot more lovely followers.
So from now on expect to see...

• More illustration, not just set projects from uni but the general wanderings of my imagination. And loads of posts on other illustrators, designers, artists, crafts people and maybe a few bands to help inspire the rest of the world :) 
• Fashion and beauty - a big love of mine, I love to mix vintage, high street and a sprinkling of DIY pieces. So expect outfit posts, DIY tutorials and updates of my current favourite looks and trends (oh and loads of bargain buys!)
• Student life - There seems to be a lack of blogs on general student life, so I'm hoping to pull together loads of info and articles as well as my own experiences on uni life and money saving.

Aside from keeping my blog undated and interesting, I have a couple of other new years resolutions I'm planning on pursuing this year, the progress of which I will update occasionally on here too

• Read more - I'm aiming to read 2 books a month, I have 6 ready and waiting for me already but I'm more than happy to take some more suggestions.
• Draw more, a LOT more - concidering I'm doing an illustration course I don't seem to draw as much as I would like, so I'm hoping to draw a little everyday outside of my project work, like a diary kind of thing, to keep my imagination fresh.
• Get fit and healthy, inside and out- I joined the gym at the start of uni and surprisingly really enjoy it and I've always eaten reasonable healthy but it's something I want to start taking a little more seriously now to be the best version of me I can be (as cheesy as that sounds) 
• Start looking into ways of making money through my art work and the skills I'm learning at uni.
• Enjoy being at uni! make the most of all the opportunities I'm being given on this course.

That'll do for now, I look forward to becoming a blogging sensations in the coming months... (lol)

Annabella xo

Inspiration - Current thinking

Definitely need more colour in my work, it's all looking rather dark.

Uni Life - Inspiration is needed...

Sometimes I get a little bit of a creative block, especially recently after being put into a new environment and having to find my feet with a new way of working. Finding this list on Pikaland was a real help, I plan on working my way through the list in the not so distant future!

the list is free to download from here, it's such a great help to have a list of ideas written by somebody else as there are so many things I would never have thought to draw!

Pikaland is also a great blog to follow for all kinds of Illustration related treats; new artists, industry tips and inspiration.

I have my copy printed above my kettle for the times I get flustered, tea and some inspiration. 

And my cute Alice doodles, to remind me I'm not that bad.

Happy drawing :)

Uni Life - A little home sick, surprise parcel from home

Even though I've only been back in Swansea a couple of days after a lovely birthday weekend at home, I'm feeling incredibly homesick, but waking up to a surprise parcel from home with a couple of treats in definitely made me feel better! Grandma's homemade jam and some other yummy food, Christmas decorations, a Banksy book and a pair of cute Bambi pants. Oh and a little note from my brother, he can be cute sometimes.

Now on with tidying my room and doing uni work, keeping myself busy :)

The Peculiar World Of Fakery Project - 3d final piece

The Peculiar World of Fakery Project- Judy Garland

Judy Garland - I photoshopped a photo of Judy Garland from the Wizard of Oz, enlarged her eyes
and added a rainbow effect to her pupils to represent the way she became quickly disillusioned and controlled
by fame, drugs and Hollywood.

The Peculiar World of Fakery Project- Marilyn Monroe

It could be said that Marilyn Monroe was just a 1950s actress, but to millions of people around the world, she embodied the role of the glamorous sex symbol. Her image has become one of the most famous Hollywood icons of the twentieth century. Marilyn Monroe is known the world over, and people love her not just for her beauty, but also for her tragic story.

charcoal on painted background with fine liner and collage details
I covered her eyes to represent the secrets in Monroe's life and the sense
of mystery surrounding her and also because Monroe spent her entire life 'acting'
and only the closest people to her knew her true personality.