Fiona Meakin Designs - Draw With Fi

copyright, Fiona Meakin 2008-2011 This week the topic for Illustration Friday is Perennial. All images are copyright Fiona Meakin 2008-2011, please do not use or replicate without my permission.

Above: Purses by Lu Above: Monkey and Bear by Fi Last weekend we attended ARC Community Gallery's annual summer fair. It was fantastic despite the rain. Visitors could view the new exhibition 'Sketches of Summer,' whilst getting a chance to meet some of the artists, shop, eat wonderful cupcakes and to top it all off screen print their names onto tote bags with Annette from Hullabalooo Creative . Lucy's new purses went down a storm (she used beautiful vintage prints from Laura Ashley - glasses cases coming soon!) and I introduced the lovely people of Reddish to my new designs and makes. Above you can see Monkey and Bear. They are made from funky Ikea fabric - I upcycled a sheet that I have never quite found a use for. Ta Da! Toys! www.fiandme.co.uk Visit my portfolio at www.cargocollective.com/fionameakinillustrations All images are copyright Fiona Meakin 2008-2011, please do not use or replicate without my permission.

Above image: Stole by Nina Fuhrer (Origin exhibition 2011) Above image: SOPHIE WOODROW ceramics (Origin Exhibtion 2011) Origin contemporary craft fair will take place at Old Spitalfields Market from 22 -28 September 2011. Works are 'Made not Manufactured.' Origin offers a rare opportunity to see and buy a diverse range of high quality, original craft from over 200 makers in one convenient location. Disciplines range from ceramics, furniture, metalwork and glass, to fashion accessories, jewellery and knitwear. I receive the Origin newsletter and their recent letter talks about 'Characterful Craft' which, as a character designer, is right up my street! There is loads of beautiful, eye catching work - especially Bristol based ceramicist SOPHIE WOODROW . Her delicate porcelain hybrid animals are not to be missed. You can see more work at http://www.sophiewoodrow.co.uk/ or visit the Origin site http://originuk.org/exhibitor/sophie-woodrow Also check out NINA FÜHRER's

Commissions are welcome! Visit my portfolio at: www.cargocollective.com/fionameakinillustrations All images are copyright Fiona Meakin 2008-2011, please do not use or replicate without my permission.

Hello! If you are new to my blog then WELCOME! I have decided that it is time to begin to really start getting my work 'out there' into the world of publishing so please join me on my travels... There are many altruistic illustrators and crafts people on the internet who provide information on how to get started and succeed in this area. One in particular is illustrator Holli Conger http://www.holliconger.com/ . Thank you to Holli for her inspiration website and blog! In 2004 she began a monthly log on how to become an illustrator, which provides plenty of tips on the right way to go about it. I found it by literally typing 'becoming an illustrator' into Google. http://www.becominganillustrator.com/ I really recommend a look if you are interested. This is where I found out about the much loved 'Illustration Friday' site too! http://www.illustrationfriday.com/

Over the past year or so, I have taught myself how to use Photoshop and Illustrator and thought it would be interesting for people to see how different effects can be achieved using the same character in the two different programmes. I count myself lucky also, as I have the HUGE advantage of living with a graphics expert who I can call upon if I'm stuck. I never need to know hugely complicated methods as I mostly like to use software to fill in backgrounds and create textures. I tend to leave the original illustration as it is - unless, for example, there is a mark on it (my scanner has become damaged and I often need to airbrush out a few marks). If you are ever stuck when navigating your way around either programmes, I recommend typing your problem into a search engine. For example I lost the Live Bucket tool when I started using Illustrator CS5 and found the answer in the adobe forum http://www.forums.adobe.com The picture below uses Illustrator for a sleek, crisp effect. Illust