Alstroemeria + Crescent Moon

I often take photos of flowers to use as illustration references, especially if I really like the shape the flowers create together. My camera roll is just full of photos taken of floral sprigs that I’ve singled out of bouquets, and even more photos of botanicals that I’ve taken while visiting garden centres! The alstroemeria in this illustration was referenced from a sprig that my mum got in a bouquet; I visited when we were not in lockdown of course; so the opportunity to collect reference photos can arise at anytime!

I partnered the alstroemeria with a scribbly crescent moon and I just really like how the moon cups the flowers! It reminds me to include more occult/tarot references in my work since I enjoy the symbolism so much. I often like to think about my illustrations and which tarot card the energy resembles, I’m most familiar with the Rider Waite Smith system but I recently picked up my first Thoth deck which is brimming with symbolism. I’m enjoying learning about the various tarot systems and how each can widen my tarot vocabulary.

If this illustration had to represent a card I think it could potentially represent The Moon, but I think it could better fit the archetype of The High Priestess!

What card do you think it could fit best?

Brighter Times

Happy New Year everyone! I know things haven’t been great lately, but I’m really hoping that some brighter times will be coming to all of us soon.

I’m feeling cautiously optimistic for this year and quite inspired to dig deep into my creative practice to see what comes out of it. I don’t quite have the mental capacity to sink loads of time into a single illustration right now so I’ve been focusing on creating sketches made with wobbly and expressive lines, and I’ve been enjoying it immensely! I have a lot of respect for photorealism and I have enjoyed creating work that’s as accurate as I can manage, but right now I am besotted with this naive and wonky aesthetic.

I’m particularly pleased with this collection of Cosmos and Emperor Moth sketches. I just think they’re really charming!

I’ve also enjoyed taking my sketches and putting them into this digital sketchbook. I have a history of using physical and digital art journals but I haven’t done this in quite a while, it feels nice to play around with a kind of art journal again. I’ve also noticed that I’m beginning to take an interest in collage again which means I will most likely be experimenting and combining that with art journaling again soon.

It’s interesting to me that my enthusiasm for art journaling and collage seems to be cyclical, I normally fancy experimenting with these mediums during the winter and spring months, though I’m not sure why that is! Do any of you have cyclical art interests? Perhaps art journaling just makes me feel cosy, which is a feeling I constantly want to be in during the colder part of the year haha!

Seasonal Influences

I’m not sure if this happens with other artists but lately I have noticed that the seasons have a large impact upon my work. You can see this most clearly in my subject choices since I tend to draw plants in bloom when they are flowering or heavy with fruit, but I’ve also noticed it’s effect on me with the colours I feel drawn to use.

For example, last summer I was using lots of bright colours but when autumn rolled around I felt a strong pull towards more rusty tones. This winter has been a period of rest for me as well as most of the plant and wildlife, and now that we’re almost on the cusp on spring, I can feel myself being charmed by the colour of blossoms. Sweet pinks are very much in my heart right now and they are just starting to creep into my work, which I find thoroughly pleasing.

I’m really interested in whether you have noticed a similar seasonal pull in your work and in what form it takes. Let me know below!