New projects in my portfolio

I've just updated my website with two new projects, a logo design for ToucanBOX and a set of very cute puzzle designs for Storlann. 

New Pocket Mountains jackets

The postie delivered a lovely package this morning, some new jackets from publisher Pocket Mountains. Here's Loch Ness, Mull and the new German edition of Skye! Can anyone spot Nessie?

Under the Sea

I had some time to myself yesterday and decided to do one of my doodles. This one turned out pretty cute, I may even have to get it printed and send it out...

Tea Party

Today I'm trying to cut down the colours in the prints I did for Eteaket, as they're going to be put on mugs by the lovely people at McLaggan Smith. I've just finished altering this one and I actually like it more than the original. It just goes to show, sometimes less really is more!

An Audience

Crowd-scenes are one of those things that sometimes slowly drive me crazy. You have to be in the right mood to draw all of those faces and keep enough variation in colour and features. I've just managed to fill an entire circus arena, so here's a snapshot to celebrate!

Twit Twoo!

Here's a little something I sketched up earlier in the week. For those of you off to Bologna next week - I hope it all goes well! 

Busy, busy, busy!

I seem to be forever apologising for not having posted here as frequently as I normally do, so I won't apologise again. I'm working hard on a commission that's heading for Bologna next week - so time is of the essence! Here's a sneaky peek of one of my favourite characters so far...

George & the Dragon

Here's a little sketch I'm hoping to get the time to colour up at some point...

Miaow!

Today's little doodle.

Yeehah!

Here's a sneak preview of something I'm working on for a client...

Something a little different...

Excuse the quality of the photo, it's from my phone as my camera seems to have gone astray. Last week I went along to a ceramics workshop with my lovely fellow illustrator Holly Surplice, and this is the end result! I thought I'd be a bit stuck without my beloved Mac to draw on, but found a technique that I really enjoy. I really recommend having a go, it's always lovely to find another way to use your drawing skills!

ToucanBox

I've not been on here much recently as I'm working on a very labour-intensive project at the mo. I'll share it with you once I've made the deadline! Until then, here's a lovely logo I was commissioned to create a few weeks ago by Authentic Style. You can see it in place here.

A Little Bit of Lettering

I drew this a few weeks back and just stumbled across it in my files. It's a first attempt using a new brush in Photoshop to create some nice hand lettered type. It has more texture than my normal brush and I'm quite excited by the result!

An Ornithological Valentine

A Happy Valentine's Day for tomorrow folks. I hope you all get what you've been wanting, and from the person you've been wanting it from!

VG Jewellery

I'm possibly over-excited about this, but someone recently sent me a little kit for making my own jewellery and I made this little necklace today during my coffee break. I was going to give it to someone, but I love it so much I'm going to keep it for myself and order some more blanks to fill! 

Digital Pencil Roughs

I've always had a slight aversion to showing my actual 'rough' sketches to clients, but after admiring Holly Surplice's digital roughs I was determined to add this skill to my list. I've also had quite a few requests recently from clients asking if I can provide this service, and now I can! After a bit of experimentation I found a brush that works for me and I'm actually really excited by my sketches on-screen.

Booksniffer

The fabulous Booksniffer has included my bookshelves in her lovely selection of illustrator's bookshelves. She also has an excellent blog here with some great picture book reviews. Essential reading!

Updated Website

I've updated my website at http://www.vickigausden.co.uk. Take a wee peek if you have a spare second, I've expanded my portfolio to include more examples of projects and finished work.

The Year of the Dragon

I've just drawn this little guy for the entry page to my website and I thought I'd share him with you.

Hippo New Year!

New Year's resolutions anyone?! I'm back in my studio and officially holding a pen in my hand. Hello 2012.

Feeling Festive?

Here's a little Christmas spirit for you!

Today's Doodle

A Surprised Bunny

Here's one of yesterday's drawings. I've not got much done today, I blame the crazy weather...

Stuck in my Head

Sometimes I get a song trapped in my brain for an entire day, and occasionally for an entire week if I'm really unlucky. Today I have a saying stuck on repeat in my mind. I thought I'd exorcise the demon by putting it down on paper. Let's see if it works...

Latin Bears

This popped into my head last night and I scribbled myself a little note to draw it up today if I had the time. I'm particularly fond of the polar bear. Might be a character here!

As happy as a pig with a cocktail...

I've been a bit quiet recently as I crack on with a couple of projects that I can't mention here at the mo (mostly as they're still in progress!). I'm also working on developing my characters, this little guy is Perry the Pig...

How is it November already?!

Today I've been drawing this little illustration to freshen up the entry page of my website. I was aiming for being not overly Christmassy, just vaguely festive! Hope it hits the mark.

The Shadow on the Stairs

Look what landed on my desk this morning! Some very smart-looking copies of the book jacket I was commissioned to illustrate by the lovely folks over at Barrington Stoke. If you want a copy of the real thing, they're up on Amazon at the mo.

Castle Melamine Coasters

I was asked the other day about these,  I drew some lovely illos of sheep for Castle Melamine a few years ago and you can now buy them on Amazon.  

I can See the Weekend from Here!

Have a good one everybody...

Eteaket Prints

My exhibition at Eteaket is now up on the wall and last Wednesday we had a lovely opening night with tea cocktails. My thanks to everyone who came along, it was a great success and I've had so much interest for prints that I've had to order extra paper stock! Eteaket are selling prints from their website , so check it out if you're searching for something a little different to give this Christmas.

Whizz...Bang!

Have a safe Bonfire Night folks and don't forget to check for hedgehogs before lighting any bonfires!

24 Hours to go

Tomorrow evening I'll be hammering nails into walls in Eteaket and getting my exhibition into a presentable shape. Today I'm still drawing and printing work. Later I'll be framing like a mad thing. I am not a last minute person, I just found some inspiration today and decided to continue creating. The illo above is of a White Hart and he's my second-to-last piece. One more to do! On Wednesday I'll be saying hello to those of you who are in the area/have the time to pop by for my opening night!

Hello Friday!

It's been a busy week but I wanted to share this illo with you. I'm currently working on one of my own stories and this is one of my characters!

Eteaket Exhibition

I've been working on some new lettering-based pieces for an exhibition I'm doing next month in Eteaket up in Edinburgh. If you haven't been it's a lovely place with a fantastic selection of teas and cakes (hello). I'll post more info about what I'm up to once I've got things framed and printed!

More babies...

I've decided I need more practise at sketching little ones, so I set myself a challenge for today's doodle to draw another baby. 

Din-dins!

This could be either of my dogs, they're both little hoover-beasties!

Seventy-three days until Christmas!

I'm officially starting the countdown as I purchased my first Christmas gift last week. And so it begins.

New Samples

Here are some more traditional fairy tale characters. Puss in Boots is a favourite of mine and the Fairy Godmother just popped into my head one day and needed putting down on paper!

Viewpoint Illo

I think this might just be one of my favourites! The latest effort from me for the lovely folks over at Top Sante Magazine.

Viewpoint Illustration

My latest lettering piece for Top Sante Magazine.

A Wee Dougie!

Today's doodle. It's lovely and warm over here at the moment, almost freakishly warm actually. Both cat and dog seem puzzled by the sudden change in temperature, can't say I'm not slightly confused myself!

Culzean Estate Map

Earlier this year I had an exciting commission from the National Trust to draw a new estate map for Culzean Castle. Last week I was in the area and thought I'd drop by to see it in situ. And here it is...

And something tasty...