#illo52weeks - week 5: flower

Week 5: FLOWER I
Watercolour on paper.

Week 5: FLOWER II
Graphite pencil on paper.

Week 5: FLOWER III
Ink on paper. Inspired by Chinese papercuts, for which I have quite the obsession! Happy New Year of the Horse!

Week 5: FLOWER IV
Watercolour on paper.
I really need to start taping my paper down! The cockling is awful.

Week 6: FLOWER V
Coloured pencil on watercolour paper.
First time at this medium. Time-consuming but LOVED it. Had no idea pencil could be layered like this.

Week 5: FLOWER VI.
Coloured pencil on watercolour paper.
Magnolia and bud.
This is my last flower! (for now). I have absolutely loved the theme this week.

#illo52weeks

#illo52weeks - week 4: selfie

This week's theme is SELFIE and it caused a lot of angst in the Challenge community! And I know why--it's hard enough to put your artwork out there, without having to put yourself out there, too!

But I'm very excited to see what everyone's come up with. I'm sure there'll be loads of interpretive creations. You can see them all on the 52-Week Illustration Challenge Facebook Group.

The above image was created in Adobe Illustrator CS3 and I have to admit, I'm totally addicted to this way of creating. I'm even dreaming about it!

Below are some more SELFIES I've done this week. I shall keep practicing!

#illo52weeks

Week 4: SELFIE II. Watercolour and ink on paper. I didn't mind the inking but am not in love with the colour rendition.

Week 4: SELFIE III. Me as Miroslav Sasek book character. Adobe Illustrator.

Week 4: SELFIE IV. Me as an Isabel Minhós Martins book character. Adobe Illustrator.

Week 4: SELFIE V. Me as an Alain Grée book character. Water colour and graphite pencil on paper.

#illo52weeks - week 3: caravan

I have quite the obsession with caravans, so was really excited about this week's theme. Nonetheless, it still took me two gos to create something I liked. Will probably try another one this week.

Watercolour and ink on paper.

#illo52weeks

And two more today--both watercolour and ink on paper. I do like caravans.

For more info on how to join the challenge, click the logo!

 

#illo52weeks - week 2: kids

We're just nearing the end of Week Two in the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, and this week's theme has been KIDS. I put this off for nearly six days, I was just terrified! People are so hard to do and it really unnerved me.

So, I bit the bullet and sat down to think about what I could do. I used watercolour and ink on paper and just tried out the style I love best - simple, light and whimsical. Even though I know it could be a lot better, I really do like it. I can't believe I'm even saying that.

I thought it might be fun to share the draft illo I did before creating the final. Below you'll see my meanderings and I really like the original but I think the final looks more kid-like. I really wanted to give the girl black hair for the final, but chickened out!

Once complete, I was inspired to try a differing style that I absolutely love--retro-inspired block colour. This was just a play-around--I don't have a tablet yet so can't trace it to Illustrator and flood it with the digital block-colour it needs. I also think watercolour was a bad choice--I should have used acryclic.

Anyway, it is what it is, and it was loads of fun (so that's the main thing).

I love that so many people have joined in this challenge and are not only sharing their gorgeous images, but their techniques and advice. It's so very special. If you want to join in, just click here for more info or head to the 52-Week Illustration Challenge Facebook group to see all those amazing images.

You could also share your work by twitter and on instagram (both my handles are @TaniaMcCartney). Make sure you hashtag #illo52weeks. Would love to see what you can do!

illo challenge gone bananas - I mean, eggs

Well. Who'd have thought it. The 52-Week Illustration Challenge I started a week ago {expecting maybe three people to join in on) has gone a little bananas. Yesterday I set up a facebook group and it already has almost 210 members.

And wait till you see the astonishing artworks!

We have people from all walks of life joining in, differing ages, techniques and experience, and from all around the world. I am absolutely LOVING this and am so moved and overwhelmed at the response--there is clearly a major need for creative expression out there.

Here are just some of the amazing illustrations {Week One theme: eggs} that have been posted so far. I hope you can join us! Week Two has already commenced, and the theme is KIDS. Learn more about the challenge here.

Yvonne Mes

 Sharon McGuinness

Laura Allen-Andrews

 Sheryl Gwyther

 Dee White

Gabrielle Wang

Tina Snerling

 Gwynneth McGinley

Mitch Vane

Jeffery Doherty

#illo52weeks - week 1: eggs

Week one - eggs.

I painted this with watercolours during our Christmas holiday to the Gold Coast. I haven't touched watercolours for years, so it was challenging and I would have liked to redo it, but I thought I'd share my first attempt.

I can't even tell you how utterly relaxing it was to paint this! I loved every minute.

Like to get creative? Join in my 52-week illustration challenge! Just hashtag #illo52weeks! You don't need to be an artist to join in. See the full challenge list right here.

The 52-Week Illustration Challenge - 2014

Head to www.facebook.com/groups/418616991575037 to post your creations!

And see the new Challenge Blog right here.

Most people know me as an author, a writer, a word-lover, a font-fanatic. But I have a deep dark secret--I also love to draw. I'm particularly obsessed with graphic design and picture books, and I harbour a secret dream of one day {perhaps!} being able to illustrate my own book.

Big dreams!

I know I'm not an accomplished artist but I do love to sketch, I do love to dip my toes in watercolour and I simply adore flooding .AI cells with colour.

In 2014, I plan to take some drawing lessons to help hone this latent desire, and as part of my attempt to saturate myself with as much artistic presence as possible {read: brute force!}, I'm setting myself a 52-week illustrating challenge.

Won't you join me? Professional or no, there is something truly wonderful about creating works of art. They don't have to be complicated or even mindblowing. They just have to be yours. When it comes to art, there is no such thing as right or wrong. Free yourself and get creative ... I would love you to come along for the ride, and maybe even face your fears {just like me}.

Be sure to let me know what you've done. I'll be sharing mine right here {gulp!}--and don't be shy--wait till you see my efforts!!

Are you up for it?

Use hashtag #illo52weeks and post your illos on Instagram and Twitter (make sure you tag me! @taniamccartney) or the 52-Week Illustration Challenge Facebook group. You could even leave a comment here so I can come to your blog and see what you've done!

the 52-week illustration challenge, week by week

The following themes apply each week, with start day and month listed alongside.

Images for each themes can't be posted until the start date--always a Wednesday

You're more than welcome to play catch up on past themes, right through the year.

Be sure to state the WEEK and THEME with each and every image you post.

1. eggs 1/1

2. kids 8/1

3. caravan 15/1

4. selfie 22/1

5. flower 29/1

6. machinery 5/2

7. watercolour 12/2

8. cross-hatching 19/2

9. tree 26/2

10. pattern 5/3

11. architecture 12/3

12. numbers 19/3

13. water 26/3

14. simplicity 2/4

15. detail 9/4

16. book cover 16/4

17. horse 23/4

18. celestial body 30/4

19. fish 7/5

20. colour 14/5

21. boxes 21/5

22. eyes 28/5

23. feast 4/6

24. octopus 11/6

25. dots 18/6

26. clouds 25/6

27. snow 2/7

28. feather 9/7

29. plane 16/7

30. sydney 23/7

31. lines 30/7

32. psychedelic 6/8

33. toy 13/8

34. butterfly 20/8

35. paris 27/8

36. house 3/9

37. balloons 10/9

38. giraffe 17/9

39. words 24/9

40. abstract 1/10

41. black and white 8/10

42. under the sea 15/10

43. bird 22/10

44. yarn 29/10

45. leaves 5/11

46. circus 12/11

47. new york 19/11

48. fox 26/11

49. sunshine 3/12

50. christmas 10/12

51. silhouette 17/12

52. fireworks 24/12

BONUS ROUND for 31 December: sweet