Charity Christmas Stall

(Tom Egan's & Rachael Ansell's Christmas Stall)

Rachael: Fabric Artist, Designer, Illustrator and Early Years Teacher.
Visit: www.paintparrot.co.uk

We presented a variety of cupcakes, ginger breads. drawings, paintings and fabric decorations and greeting cards. meeting a greeting the public face to face can be developing for your work in some cases, Rachael Ansell was so successful I think she may be addicted to this. I advise anyone who is creative with fabric, paints or what ever material, to try this. Be wary of your pricing, its only pocket money at these gigs. 

The stall was based in the Villa Marina, Main Hall, Douglas Isle of Man.

'The Big Draw - Family Library Workshop'

(Artwork, Rachael Ansell) (Editing, Tom Egan & Rachael Ansell)

The cartoon workshop with me and Rachael Ansell, we really enjoyed working with children from 6 -10 year old's, all very talented. All the children behaved and listened very well to my step-by-steps to creating cartoons characters, 3D Figures Drawing exercises, Body Language and creating their personal cartoon character with plenty of personality and colour thrown in.

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We are looking forward to doing more workshops at the 'Family Library' in Illustration and Animation in the New Year, Keep a look out on the 'Family Library' website or visit my blog for further detail.

'Click' on: ''The Big Draw - Family Library Workshop'(above)

Commissions!

Black Cat & Irish Flute & Elizabethan Siamese Cats

The drawings above are becoming quite popular from the exhibitions in Laxey. I have been asked to do a number of private commissions of their own pets or favorite animals, in this case - Cats. Wearing costumes and other items specified by the costumer, I think it's different level to pet portraits, which I also enjoy. But this does give me more freedom with the designs, throwing humour and personality into the characters.

If you are interested in having your very own drawing, call or send me a message with your own specifications and I will be happy to help.

There's Christmas on the horizon?!

EXHIBITION @ THE 'HODGSON LOOM GALLERY'

Recently received the invitations, take a look. Once again I will have 10 watercolour pieces to exhibit, along with a collection of some familiar animal drawings from the 'Draw Away Exhibition' available on the print stands.

Joint Exhibit: Classic Literature Characters

~ Exhibition Starts: 8th - 29th September 2012 ~

I'm currently working on a collection of Illustrations for a joint exhibition in a different context, alongside two other Manx Artists. As my work speaks out as Character Designs and Illustrations, I have remained within this context for the Fine Art Gallery down Laxey, called the 'Hodgson Loom Gallery'. I have concentrating on a subject which is dear to me, Children's Books and Classic Fairytales during the 19th & 20th Century. There will be a total 10 Illustrations in watercolour, with a rough dimension of A5 for the Inlay and with an A3 Mount / Frame for each one.

'Red Riding Hood'

'Pinokio'

'Peter & The Wolf'

'Return of the White Serpent', by David Leesley

Truly was an enjoyable commission for me, speaking with David about his journey to the South Pacific, he trusted in me very openly with the front cover to his book. It can be challenging with private commissions and has always been successful at the end of the day, but David was very understanding and fascinating to work with. One of my most reflective projects so far which I will always remember. It has led me to understand a little more about myself and my abilities and reflective on my own personal life experience.

Front Cover & Concpets; Concepts

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Back Cover

(Left) Chieftain, (Right) David Leesley

The 'Draw Away' Exhibition

The 'Draw Away' Exhibition was to promote those who are going off to study in September. The gallery held 140 mounted drawings, all local Artist, Illustrators and Students. We managed to sell 40 of them in the Preview Night alone and pieces are still flying off the wall over the past couple of weeks, literally! It was tricky when we all came to hanging the display as it was held all of them together with pins and blue-tack, with a few pictures falling off the wall, but nothing too damaged. All together it was a great experience and something you don't see very often, quite like a huge storyboard of different concepts and styles. I managed to do 20 Pictures and have sold a few, well enough to cover my costs.. so i'm happy! The four drawings above give you an impression of what I did. I have already been asked to commission a drawing like these for someone. Exhibitions also can be a great little ego-boost, getting to know new people and listening to comments about you work, a lot of happy customers so far. I managed to sell the first one, called: 'Cpt. Gullane' to a local Artist, which is another one of my characters. As I put that red sticker on, then the whole room exploded into people buying. This is an exhibition that I would certainly like to do again in future.