Matthew and I went to the Norwich School of Art & Design Degree Exhibition the other day. I was really impressed with ALL of the work and haven't seen design work that good for quite a while. Unfortunately it is finished now so I can't have another look around but I picked up a few promotional cards whilst I was there- one of them was even on a napkin!

I personally thought the illustration work was really strong- with two or three people standing out in particular. The graphics work was excellent- I especially thought it was very personal which can be quite unusual for graphics as there is not often much scope for creative individuality. I think that's why I love illustration so much- you don't have to try and reproduce what's 'cool' at the time if you know what I mean.

Anyway, it was very inspiring to see work produced by people who are obviously eager to impress!

I have included some examples of the postcards to share with other people!

Holly x

Hello,

I have been reading a book called TOTAL CONFIDENCE (you may laugh) and I thought I would share with you some of the exercises...I have noticed how a lot of people in the creative industry suffer from a niggly feeling called 'Self Doubt'..I am one of those people and am in the process of trying to do something about it:

'...Imagine you had someone living in your home with you who continually pointed out everything that was wrong with you and your life in a really annoying tone of voice. How long would it take for you to want to kick that person out of your house and out of your life? Well, your mind is the one place where you have complete dominion. And if the voice living in your head isn't supporting you, it's time to replace it with one that does. Because like it or not, the results you are getting in your life have everything to do with what that voice keeps telling you....

Read through the exercise before you do it for the first time:

1. Locate the internal voice. Just ask yourself 'Where is my internal voice?' and point to the location where you hear the words.

2. Now I would like you to imagine how your voice sounds if it is totally confident. Is it louder or softer than usual? Is it clearer and easier to hear? Stronger or weaker? Do you speak faster or more slowly?

However your voice sounds when you are really positive and confident, put that voice in the same location where you old internal voice was located.

3. Take a few moments to think of some of the negative suggestions you have habitually given yourself in the past, things like:

'I'm not very confident'
'I am terrible at giving presentations'
'I will never find someone to fall in love with me'

4. For each statement, come up with its positive opposite:

'I'm a naturally confident person'
'I give excellent presentations'
'I am extremely loveable'

5. Finally, I want you to repeat the new, positive suggestion to yourself in your new confident internal voice.


EASY! Try it...works a treat!..But you have to keep practicing though x

I Love cooking so I thought I'd share this recipe with you. It's really cheap to make and also healthy...plus, you get to make lots of mess and get your hands dirty!

Enjoy...yum yum xx

YAY!

I've just found I got a grade A for both of my UNI projects...well done me!

Holly :-) :-) :-)

PS. I heard today is the happiest day of the year...now I know it must be true!

Hello,

Have had a bit of an idea for my portfolio and something that could lead to more work. Basically, after much pondering and worrying about what to draw I have finally managed to come up with an idea that I am actually really enjoying. I have decided to design a wedding stationary pack (invites etc) based on traditional wedding flowers but in a much more contemporary style. I can see exactly what I want to do in my head so am now in the process of practicing my watercolour skills.

I want to go for something quite loose and bright preferably on a brown card. For now though here are a couple of images I have just painted which are not very good but at least it's a start. I can see already how I need to improve the next ones and I am quite excited about this project.

Although, I am finding it quite hard to manage my time now I am not at work. It's very easy to spend ALL day in the library (like today-oops) or potter about. Perhaps I should set myself a task each morning and reward myself at the end of each day (preferably with a gin and tonic!). I'm hoping I will eventually settle into a routine I am happy with.

Holly :-)

Hello

It is still sinking in that I am not at my old job anymore- I keep forgetting that I don't have to go back..strange!

Anyway, I was struggling a bit with what to do now that I am trying to sort my portfolio out. So, I have gone back to just sketching out things that I like to do for example - figure/fashion illustration.

The image here is just a quick 10 minute rough of an figure I wan't to develop further. I have used two different colour pencils to sketch out the line and shadow. I always try and keep my roughs as loose as possible so that I don't restrict myself to early on in the image and I can always go back into it and draw over it or add details.

I will probably re-draw the image next with pencil for the shadow and ink for the outline. I am then thinking I can work into it with watercolour to finish my second rough.

I think it's a good idea to use unusual colours (such as the purple and brown above) when drafting as you are not afraid of 'getting it wrong'. I often use colour pencil a lot more bodly and loosely than I do with a standard pencil!!

Plus I have some good news- Matthew's sister wants to buy one of my prints from my website! I was actually in shock when I found out- what a strange feeling someone might actually wan't to hang something of mine on their wall!

Holly xx

For the first time since January Matthew and me actually had a weekend off! Well actually, I did work on Saturday at the shop (my new part-time job) but apart from that I had lots of lie in's and sleep...hurrah! On Sunday we wen't for a walk to a huge, beautiful graveyard which is just down the road from where we live.

It may sound like a random place to go on your day off but it's more like secret garden than a graveyard. It's been there since around 1819 (I think) and all the grave's there are really overgrown and FULL of wildlife which is unusual down my road!!! I believe they do regular walks around the area for people who interested in the rare nature and plants around there. It's not creepy at all and I found it by accident one day.

Anyway, I have taken some photos and may do some sketches from them a bit later on or incorporate them into another project. xx

Hello!

Iv'e finally managed to finish my Uni work. I wasn't able to take pictures of one of the projects (the hanging installation) but have got some for the Egon Schiele project. This image is my final A1 poster design. The girl was drawn with indian ink and watercolour and the rest of the poster was made in photoshop. The labels on the girl read: promotes gred, self loathing and feelings of indadequacy...Lorna let me use her words from the AOI forum when a few of us had a discussion about advertising in general. (thanks!)

I also managed to create some stickers/flyers/badges and clothing to give a general idea of how this campaign could be further taken forward if it were to be used 'in the real world'. I wanted the campaign to work with members of the general public so that they could almost become a part of the campaign ie. wear the badge etc. I would have like to have done more on this but ran out of time and did what I could in 3 days..without dying of exhaustion. Plus Matthew, if you are reading this: Couldn't have done it without you!

Anyway, now I am really looking forward to starting something new for my portfolio. Will keep you updated!

Holly xx