Happy New Year / Reflect

The end of 2013 looms and it is a time to reflect...or if you are me it is a time to draw and then draw some more. I've been playing about with watercolour for a change. All the best for 2014 - hope you have really worthwhile new year's resolutions like these guys!

Merry Christmas - I hope you have been good this year

I can hardly believe it is Christmas again already. I feel that I have just got over Halloween. Anyway to mark the occasion and get into the holiday spirit here is a festive karentoon!

I hope you all behaved and Santa gives you what you really want this Christmas...or I hope you had lots of fun being naughty! I'm sure it was worth it!

Merry Christmas!
Kx

illustration friday: New (year)

This week's theme is "new", so I have gone with the predictable "Happy New Year" illustration. Here is a little cartoon about the conversations we have on Hogmanay and the days that follow. It is also a warning. If someone asks you what your highlight of the year was STOP, THINK and answer CAREFULLY!

 

 

p.s. I think my highlight of the year might be a gig. Either Admiral Fallow or Mumford and Sons...or maybe it was was Hogmanay itself! Or maybe it was halloween or my birthday or visiting Rome or seeing Avenue Q or watching Kevin Bridges.......2012 was a good year when I think about it. Here's to 2013!!

p.s.p.s see more "new" illustrations at www.illustratonfriday.com

Illustration Friday : Glow

It has been far too long since I have joined in the Illustration Friday fun so I thought I would post something for the last one of 2012! This week the theme for illustration Friday is "Glow"! Here is an image from a children's book I've been working on recently. I hope you like it! To see more images on this theme go to www.illustrationfriday.com.

 

 

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN / Illustration Friday : Haunt

Halloween is my favourite time of year and to mark the occasion I have produced a new illustration. For Halloween I like to go all out with my costume. This year I dressed up as Spaceman from KISS and it was awesome. Not everyone likes to dress up, some people just like to do the BEAR minimum. Here is a simple dress up idea for grizzly and panda bears using only underwear and socks! Top last minute costume idea.....if you are a bear that is...not sure if it will be as effective for humans....

Illustration Friday : Imagination

This week's Illustration Friday theme is "imagination". When it comes to imagination you can't beat the imagination of a little girl (or her cat) when something goes bump in the night....

"What was that noise?!"

Check out www.illustrationfriday.com for more artwork depicting this theme.

Illustration Friday : Identical

It has been FAR too long since I have submitted an illustration for Illustration Friday. I've been busy prancing about Rome, watching the Olympics and complaining about the lack of sunshine in Glasgow! The theme this week was identical. I toyed with the idea of doing Jedward (no, I really did), but then thought two of them is enough in this world. It would be unfair to unleash a second set on the world so I went for this....self explanatory I hope.

Illustration Friday - SPACE

This week's illustration friday theme is....SPACE! So I went all intergalactic! This illustration was actually a submission for a brilliant mentoring scheme run by Picture Hooks. As expected the standard of entries was incredibly high. I wasn't selected, but today I got incredible feedback from the board of professional judges. I've never felt more motivated!

Hope you like my pic - love to hear your thoughts as always. If you want to see more entries for other artists jump to the illustration friday site.

Illustration Friday - Secret

It's no secret that there's a monster sleeping under her bed. As I have explained before in my blog - monsters are rubbish at hiding.

This was an idea I had a while ago, but revamped for the Illustration Friday theme of "secret". You can check out lots of talented interpretations from other illustrators here.

Illustration Friday: Faded / Diamond Jubilee

The celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee kicks off this weekend in the UK. To mark the occasion (when in Rome etc) I have illustrated what I imagine the royal corgis to be getting up to during the celebrations!

Rather than the traditional Union Jack colours, I have chosen to use faded colours on the flag. I hope this allows the flag to act as a background and to draw attention to the corgi.

I've rushed this a bit, but I'm happy with it. I've always wanted an excuse to draw Dame Edna type glasses!!

Happy Diamond Jubilee to those of you celebrating and to rest enjoy the extra day off.

Illustration Friday: Return

Return Home Kiss

This illustration was inspired by the iconic photograph taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt of V-J Day in Times Square (August 14, 1945) which featured in Life Magazine. Apparently the sailor celebrated the news by running down the street grabbing and kissing every girl in sight! Hello Sailor! This is one of my favourite photographs as it captured the moment beautifully. I have played with the pose to make it look a little less spontaneous, but to keep the romance.

Illustration Friday - Shades / Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers who love ALL their children equally no matter what - especially my own fantastic mum!!

This image was partly inspired by this week's Illustration Friday theme of shades which I took to mean sun-shades (do people still call them that??)

Illustration Friday - Capable

This week's theme is capable and who is more capable than the tortoise who defeated a hare in a race?* I was recently asked to illustrate some of the children's stories for the Kids Out World Stories project. It is a brilliant project and I have literally just finished these. I was so chuffed that it fitted in with the IF theme.

You can view it with the story here...http://www.worldstories.org.uk/stories/story/58-the-hare-and-the-tortoise

*Answer: No one!

Happy Valentine's Day - Illustration Friday - Popular

"Someone's popular today..."

and no doubt

"Someone's jealous today..."

Illustration Friday: Suspense

The Illustration Friday theme this week is SUSPENSE so I thought I'd do part of a story to leave you in SUSPENSE. Quite blatantly this story was inspired by Goldilocks/The Three Bears*. I couldn't quite remember the tale so had to look it up. Apparently the original story was about an ugly old woman, but was changed years later to a pretty girl with silver locks. These locks were later changed to golden and most recently changed to blue (by me!). Wikipedia what would I do without you!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Story_of_the_Three_Bears

*not to mention a simply brilliant bear pun

Illustration Friday : Grounded

I've been a bit stretched for time this week so sadly rushed this one a bit. Hope it looks okay and keeps in the theme of "Grounded". It's true what they say "When the cat's away...". Being grounded isn't fun...unless you're like me and love to spend hours doodling on your own with a pen and paper.

Illustration Friday - Highlight

This week's theme is "highlight". Initially I was going to draw a lamp on a ladder, but thought that was too dull. Then I remembered this story that I heard on the radio that made me laugh and it inspired me to draw this little treat. Perhaps I should pitch this as a "happy anniversary" card?

Anyway - happy hogmanay (to the scots) and happy new year (to the rest of you)! All the best for 2012.

Illustration Friday : Messenger

This is not my address (I wish it was though!). If you do want to reach me probably best to leave a comment or try my twitter account @_karenbradley

Illustration Friday - "sink"

Illustration Friday is a weekly illustration challenge. A topic is posted every Friday and then participants have all week to come up with their own interpretation. This is my FIRST EVER submission to the challenge. Check out more at http://www.illustrationfriday.com/index.php .