Christmas Wreath Making !

Went foraging with my wicker bike basket and gardening gloves.

Bought ribbon.

Sat on the floor, surrounded by pine needles and berries. And chocolate.

My illustration portfolio:  http://obrotheridge.co.uk

The Big Draw's Christmas Card 2012

The Big Draw's Christmas Card 2012 - OBrotheridge Illustration

Caption inside reads:
"Sharpen your pencils for a creative New Year"

My illustration portfolio: http://obrotheridge.co.uk

Art Auction - Science Museum!

I have a new job - Running Silent Auctions at charity fundraiser's. Last night I had dinner under a giant old aeroplane and hung (out with) Dali, Chagall, Picasso and the gang.

Last night was in aid of Hedge Funds Care, my Gallery is the Broad Gallery.

My illustration portfolio: http://obrotheridge.co.uk

Dark Christmas Tales

Dark Christmas Tales by James Dwyer - Illustration by Olivia Brotheridge

I knew from the title that I HAD to illustrate this book !

I wanted to give 3D illustration another go for this project -(click to see last year's) 

Reference photo, sketched over with tablet and start of model making

After agreeing the sketches with my client, I started with fairy lights, cameras, paper cutting, drawing, scanning, blue tacking and talcum powder snow... 

As well as the book cover, I was asked to produce two small grayscale illustrations for two other stories inside. The papercut style pulls it all together. 

Revolution - Illustrated by Olivia Brotheridge

A Dog is for Life - Illustrated by Olivia Brotheridge

A few bits that didn't make 'the cut' - but I like:

My illustration portfolio: http://obrotheridge.co.uk

A Question of Taste? Varoom 19 launch event

Three very inspiring creative industry leaders discuss a question of taste at the Association of Illustrators launch for Varoom 19 ...

The best bits:

Tara Doogans 

Art Director and Illustrator

• " Illustration should be honest, authentic and make the viewer feel something! It should surprise and delight. Beauty and technical ability are not enough to interest me, it needs heart and soul.

• Curiosity and observation are a natural remedy for creative block.

• GIFs are great - they tell a story in seconds. People have short attention spans. They are hypnotic too. 

• Let your personality shine through your work. "

Michael Salu 

Artistic Director of Granta Magazine

• " Illustrate the Concept not the Content of the text. The illustrator should expand the narrative, draw what is between the lines of text.

• A good Art Director taps into the way an illustrator works, don't try to change their creative process.

• A good illustration should generate discourse.

• The genre of horror takes something you think you understand and changes it, it is mysterious and compelling.

• Brands want to buy into the personality of the artists, they are therefore becoming less restrictive. "

Ben Jennings 

Political Cartoonist

• " Cartoons can be used to knock people down a peg or two when they make mistakes at the top, it would be in 'poor taste' to kick someone when they are down. 

• Apart from distinguishing features, cartoonists can adapt physical characteristics to reflect personality.

• Sometimes if a cartoon is viewed as too outrageous by one client, another (perhaps with different political views) may choose to run it. 

• If you allow an Art Director to make too many amendments  they can dilute the point you are trying to make and ruin the illustration. "

If you don't know these guys - give them a google - they are all brilliant.

My illustration portfolio: http://obrotheridge.co.uk

Paper Jukebox 2012 Exhibition # 2: KENTISH TOWN

My illustration portfolio: obrotheridge.co.uk

'TIME' by Paper Jukebox for Fringe Arts Bath

Paper Jukebox are in preparation for Fringe Arts Bath
Our theme: TIME

O lente, lente, currite noctis equi!
O, run slowly, slowly, horses of the night!

My illustration portfolio: obrotheridge.co.uk

Boat Magazine #3: LONDON

Here is my "London Scenes" Map in Boat Magazine's London issue. Boat is a gorgeous publication which explores diverse cities with essays, photos, and illustrations. Cover to cover, it is fascinating and beautiful.

Rave reviews here..

Londonist ~ It's Nice That 

For sale online or in these shops...

Look at it...  so pretty on the shelves! 

My illustration portfolio: obrotheridge.co.uk

"Come Draw With Me!"

One little photo to sum up my Mothers Day Card Making workshop at Spitalfields Market 

in connection with The Campaign For Drawing. Feedback was good. I loved the cards. 

My illustration portfolio: obrotheridge.co.uk

Dove Illustration Lino Print

I am part way through a lino, commissioned for a wedding, it will go on the Order of Service, as well as printed in large format to hang in the church. The original print will also be framed in the newlyweds' house. Awww!

My illustration portfolio: obrotheridge.co.uk

Moving House

I did this little illustration for a moving house card.

My illustration portfolio: obrotheridge.co.uk

Workshop

Following in my own Mother's footsteps, I'll be leading a workshop this Saturday 17 March.

Do you love your mum? - Hand made is best!

My illustration portfolio: obrotheridge.co.uk

London Scenes

Boat Magazine's LONDON edition will hit the shelves at the end of April.

I don't even know if I am in it!

You can find out more about Boat here: http://www.boat-mag.com/sample-page/

My illustration portfolio: obrotheridge.co.uk

Postmodern

I managed to catch the V&A Postmodernism exhibition on one of its last few days - It was huge - and left me feeling a little confused as to whether I liked the things I saw. Some of the patterns gave me a headache - and yet found their way into my sketchbook!

So I parred down some of the pattern work, pulled the shapes apart and coloured them just a plain, calm black and white (to start) -

I've been playing about with a peony idea and brought the two together.

My illustration portfolio: obrotheridge.co.uk

The Big Draw!

From August through to November 2011, I was Assistant Co-ordinator @ The Campaign for Drawing. 
Our big event was The Big Draw's national launch- 

Quentin Blake made a big entrance 

I was also managed to get my friends involved - Jonny Wright built a giant pencil for Quentin's grand entrance

- and almost all of Paper Jukebox got involved, assisting the artists in their workshops 

Here we are, looking COOL in our matching tees!

French illustrator Herve Tullet, teaching his class 'Doodle Cook'

My illustration portfolio: obrotheridge.co.uk

A4 teacup prints

I have printed a very small 'series' of these, all in different colours / shades of blue. 

My illustration portfolio: obrotheridge.co.uk

A piece of Bournemouth

I'm not sure if it is possible to re-capture the shapes, textures (and smell! :s) of this barnacle covered muscle but I have tried my damnedest! 

My illustration portfolio: obrotheridge.co.uk

Texture From the Scarred Tree

My illustration portfolio: obrotheridge.co.uk

Scenes from the allotment

My illustration portfolio: obrotheridge.co.uk

Live Printmaking @ The Big Collab

Paper Jukebox took over a corner of the Sherbert Lounge for The Big Collab on May Day 2011, 
We exhibited our work as well as creating new work in front of crowds of punters!

Four and a half hours later, with a massive pile of stencils, this is my final piece.