Happy Halloween!

Patterns

The last few months I've been working on a lot of patterns, here are some of the most recent ones.
I think I will turn some of them into greeting cards and posters.

I'm still waiting for some paperwork to finally open my etsy shop and be a freelance illustrator.
I can't wait!

Sura and Verdi

Yesterday, I finally took the time to paint my wonderful wolf-dog, Sura. If you follow me on instagram, you might already know her little face - as I take many many pictures of her!

I often get asked about her breed, so if you're interested, Sura's a Northern Inuit (mix of husky, german shepherd and malamute). 

Yesterday was also my mum's birthday (joyeux anniversaire maman!!) and as a little gift, I painted a portrait of her kitten Verdi.

Photo by my sister Lisa

Donuts, cats, pineapples and cakes

I've been quite busy these past two weeks, painting almost every day, preparing a few patterns to hopefully turn into tote bags, t-shirts, 

wrapping paper, notebooks, etc... for the summer! As always, funding these ideas will be a struggle (if you have any suggestions on where to get illustrations printed I would really appreciate the help) but I'm looking forward to it!

If I was to start an etsy shop, what kind of products would you like to see?

Oishii

Japanese spring sweets, hanami dango and sakura mochi

Anything from Japan is a source of inspiration for my illustrations - especially food. 

I love that every season has dedicated specialities, even Hanami (cherry blossom viewing) has its own dango sweet. 

Sakura mochi (also eaten during cherry blossom season but mainly for Hinamatsuri - Girls' day) differs by region, I choose to illustrate the Kansai version.

For this pattern, I painted some of my favourite characters in the shape of Onigiri (rice balls).

It did take me a loooong time to colour each grain of rice but these were really fun to illustrate!

Totoro, hello kitty and rilakkuma onigiri

Food illustrations

Valentine's day treats

Ingredients for Osechi, Japanese new year's meal

Strawberry and chocolate donuts

Project with Venture Farm Cat Sanctuary

Richard, the kitten 

A few weeks ago, Jim and I decided to work together on a project with the Venture Farm Cat Sanctuary, very near from where we live 

(only 15 minutes away with our bikes). 

We saw on their facebook a call for donations and thought that we could use photography and illustration to help them. Carol, the owner, 

and her team of volunteers are doing such an amazing job there, our goal is to raise awareness about the sanctuary and hopefully funds too. 

And if some kitties can get adopted, even better.

Here are the two portraits I've started with:

If you're not already familiar with Jim's work, he's a documentary photographer, creator of Small Town Inertia.

Photograph by Jim Mortram

Carol taking a phone call about taking a new F.I.V cat. “We view cats with F.I.V. as a priority and we want to increase public awareness 

and understanding of this condition with a view to increasing the re-homing percentage of these animals.”

Geraldine, my little favourite

Marbles

The sanctuary also takes care of peacocks, sheeps, geese...

Marmalade

New illustrations!

Chocolate cake

FINALLY, I've managed to scan my illustrations! You can't imagine how impatient I am to go back to work,
a few projects await me and it's going to be amazing to work again.
(Some people have asked me about pet portraits and I'm happy to say I'll be
taking commissions very soon.)

Daruma doll and maneki neko

Tabby cats

Some new illustrations

I haven't updated my blog in a long time (I must admit I forgot I had one), but I've been busy painting.
Here are a few new illustrations - only photos as I've still got to find a scanner.