April Showers…
…it’s raining fashion illustration!
April promised to be a busy one- and indeed it was!
Before I get into full-flow I’ll just introduce the winner of April’s new subscriber to my Newsletter list… but hang on though it’s still hush-hush as I am waiting for the winner to acknowledge their prize.
Do check your emails from me at zoe@thegleefuldabbler because it could be YOU! I choose a winner each month, from the new subscribers to my email list, and draw them as a fashion illustration.
I spent some time at the seaside on the 10th and 11th of April for the hART and Friends art exhibition at the adorable Tin Tabernacle in Hythe. I was there for the Private View on the Friday night and then all day on the Saturday. I had such a lovely time and met some wonderful people, many of whom let me draw them. Such a pleasure!
Shame I was so busy I didn’t actually get to see the sea! But I did get to finally visit my friend’s famed allotment, so that was great!
I hope they invite me back next year! To the event and the allotment :)
Contact details for hART and for everything else that I mention are coming up at the bottom of the newsletter.
My next event was a private live illustration gig for client drinks at the Bulls Head in Chislehurst. This is a great venue for events. The evening went so fast and I was delighted to illustrate as many guests as possible in just a couple of hours. The event was organised by Anna Young at Bells Accountants. It was great fun and a fantastic way for the guests to get to know each other and to remember the event afterwards.
The following evening I saw Anna again! Along with many other people that I’ve met during this last exciting year. I created a Live Illustration for Biz Comm- which meant I was drawing on a large piece of foam board in front of a crowded room at Selhurst Park, Croydon. I aimed to capture the atmosphere as well as the most important points from the keynote speakers- I had to listen very carefully as the Guest Speaker Tim Cook was talking about AI, and the second speaker, Sophia was a Humanoid Robot.
It was a fantastic evening and I was honoured to be a part of it, thanks to Jo Bennett at the Chartwell Children’s Cancer Trust for organising such a complex and superb event.
At the weekend I was in the beautiful grounds of the Coach House Café at Coombe Wood for a pop-up stall arranged by Sharmina of So Cro Art. The weather was wonderful, which helped to bring out lots of visitors and I was busy creating fashion illustration portraits and promoting all aspects of my illustration business. The pop-up market stalls run throughout the summer and I’m very tempted to do another one. I’ve already booked for the great So Cro Art Fair in November, so I hope to see you there.
I kicked off May on the 1st with a fantastic Dress Up and Draw Workshop at the Hive Design Studio in Sanderstead. I began by teaching a few basic principles of fashion illustration, which the participants picked up really quickly. Then began the main event- the dressing up! I’d hung a selection of clothes in the window, and we did not run short of willing volunteers to be models. We alternated between being artists and being models and the evening flew by.
My next Dress Up and Draw workshop is back at the Hive on June 19th, sign-up details below.
On May 3rd I was invited by Art for Life to create a live illustration during a musical recital at the Saint John the Evangelist Church in Coulsdon. This was a wonderfully moving occasion and a real privilege to be there. I drew the church and musicians and the symbolism from the music as it emerged.
The piece was “Quartet for the End of Time” composed by Olivier Messiaen in 1941 whilst he was incarcerated in a Prisoner of War camp. You might notice barbed wire, birds, the Angel of Revelation and a sundial representing the ascent of man to Heaven in my illustration, as these were important to Messiaen in the creation of the piece.
The music was played by the Florian Ensemble for Coulsdon Music and I became completely lost in the music and lost all track of time. The musicians began to play at twilight and continued until after darkness fell. The church was in total darkness apart from some fairy lights, some mood-lighting on the musicians and my little desk lamp.
The atmosphere was magical.
Yesterday I attended the Concrete Creativity Private View at the Clock Tower Café in Croydon, which was put together to celebrate 10 years of The Croydonist.
It was a packed event, and so good to see the other artists whose work has featured in this positive-vibes-news publication over the years. The exhibition runs until May 29th, so do get along to see it if you can. My work, “Know Your Alliums” is there- I created it with biro over many evenings a few years ago!
I brought along my original drawing and one of my current fashion illustrations to see how my work has evolved. I also mashed the two images together with the help of Photoshop.
Coming up for the rest of May, I am showcasing my work with Bromley Ladies Who Latte on May 8th at the Bromley Town Hall you can find more details here: Bromley Ladies Who Latte - Spring Showcase of Bromley Businesses Tickets, Friday 8 May • 10:30 AM - 1 PM | Eventbrite
I also have private events and some big news for June, but nothing I can share just yet!
Contact details for people/places I have referenced:
hART The Bull’s Head Chislehurst Bell’s Accountants The Chartwell Children’s Cancer Trust Selhurst Park Events So Cro Art Coach House Cafe Coombe Wood The Hive Design Studio- my next workshop on June 19th Art for Life Florian Ensemble The Croydonist Clock House Cafe Croydon
I am now open for Commissions as well as prints and postcards in my website shop.
Do get in touch if you are interested in my services as a Live Event Illustrator or a Live Wedding Illustrator, a Fashion Illustrator or Graphic Recorder
Stay Gleeful this month and I’ll be back soon with more news and events.
Thanks for reading,
Zoe