Summer is on it's way!

Welllll,

It's been a while.  So rather than dwell on that I feel it's time to just get on with writing another post :D.  If you're reading this ta very much!

Today as it's getting warmer here, and we've had a run of really lovely sunny weather here in the UK (which as everyone knows is something to celebrate here), I thought I would share some work I made last year in the summer which I haven't yet revealed here.  It's also some of my favourite work.  

Last year I did a lot of markets.  It was an experimental year on that front for me, some worked, some didn't.  I still do think generally speaking the best time for markets is in the lead up to Christmas but I did do pretty well at some summer ones too. 

I made these two prints mainly for my shop, and I wanted them to work well together so if people wanted a pairing these could do the job.  Both of them have proved to be my best selling prints for sure which is great for me obviously.  I'm also hoping they show my food illustration style well as I would like to get more commissions in that area.  You're always welcome to email me sharon@sharonfarrow.com if interested.

I thought I'd share them now as they have that summer vibe (I think) I hope they resonate with you too!

I'm selling them in my etsy shop SharonFarrowArt as both A4 and A3 prints and I'm also with the stockist Deptford Does Art in London so you can find them there too.  

I am have been working away since then even if I've been very slack on here.  I'm working on some new things now which hopefully I should be able to share with you soon.

I do really appreciate you if you've stayed around to read my blog.  I do think I've been on here longer than anything else online now so it's good it's still going.

See you soonish for more updates, until then have a good one!

Sharon :)

My recent way of working

Hello,

I hope you're all having a good start to September.  Can't quite believe it's here already and as it's been a lovely summer here in the UK, I'm hoping some good weather will continue as I've loved wearing shorts pretty much everyday all the way through.  That's been a real treat for my legs and a nice change from them being cooped up.  So far it's still good so all is well.  

Today I'm sharing a new image I've recently finished.  I've been working a lot with ideas just from my imagination over the past few months which I've then made into prints or cards.  I guess it's a bit of a change for me to just create work where I feel I have complete freedom to experiment as it's all been work that will potentially go into my Etsy shop or just be created as portfolio pieces for my website.  I've mentioned before how enjoyable this has been for me and it's also meant I've allowed myself time to 'have a go' at new processes, one of which has been incorporating linocut into my work and I'm really happy with the results.  I've been combining it with my painted/penciled/stencilled areas and I love the variety of textures I can get from it alongside my regular combinations.  

This is the most recent work.

The sea creatures were created from the linocut and then I've used a combination of acrylic paint, coloured pencils and oil pastels to create the plants and shapes.  The idea stems from a combination of conversations with friends....yep! feelings, music and a desire to create a moving, swirling image with a limited palette.  

Over the past few months all of the below images have been created incorporating linocut into my work.  I really do enjoy the process and the finish it gives combined with the looser marks created by hand.  All of these illustrations are available to buy as Giclee prints over in my shop too.

I thought I'd share that little insight into the way I've been working, I hope it's been of interest!  I'm now off to get some sketching done working through some new ideas.  

I hope you're all ready for the weekend and I'll be back soon :).

New prints and an Illustration Fair

Hello,

I thought it's about time I shared something new here.  Over the last few months I've been working away creating images, just taking my time and not putting too much pressure on myself to post anything until I am ready to do so.  It has meant being more relaxed with my social media (not that I was every an avid poster really) and I feel ok with that.  I know lots of people have been doing the same thing and feeling a similar way too.  It does mean I have collected a few images together, many of which will never be seen by anyone other than me, and it's been a great time for me to experiment and really make what I fancy.  So it's been a very enjoyable time work-wise.  Some of those images have now become new items which I've put into my shop SharonFarrowArt and I want to share those with you.  

First up are some Giclee art prints.  The idea behind these illustrations was to give a positive vibe and message.  I love incorporating text into my work, and the text used in these images was inspired by music I've been listening to, things that were happening personally to me at the time, and in the general goings on of life.  I feel that the words are open enough to be interpreted in anyway that relates to you personally.  I also experimented with adding linocut areas on some of these designs.  I always have a lot of fun creating textures but lino helps me to get an even coating of colour in some areas, whilst still providing subtle texture, I like that contrast.  I had a lot of fun (and made a lot of mess, always a bonus)!

The unicorn and peacocks images are also available as small A6 cards.  I usually make square shaped cards so I thought I'd try something a bit different. 

The other new product I have is a new home card. 

Also, a couple of weekends ago I took part in the Illustrators fair at Granary Square in Kings Cross, London.  It's my second fair with them and I'm hoping to do more.  I still feel very much a fair novice but with each one I learn a little more, and it is lovely to meet people and chat about my artwork.  It's lovely to have that face to face interaction with people.  The Illustrators fair organisers have been amazing at promoting everyone and making the fair a huge success, so a big thank you goes out to them and to everyone that came along :).

All of the products shown here are available now in my Etsy shop, SharonFarrowArt.  

So that's some of what I've been up to recently.  I'm now ready to start with some new ideas which I'll share soonish :).  Have a great week!

Summer shop update

Hello,

Ohh it's been a long time since I last wrote one of these.  Sometimes I guess you just need to do what feels right at the time.  Today I feel like the time is right for a little update.  I won't go on though!

I've been working away creating new things and I've now got some new items up for sale in my Etsy shop SharonFarrowArt, so I thought I'd share those. 

First up I've got some new Giclee prints.  I've wanted to get some new designs printed up for a while and when they arrived from the printers I was delighted with how they look.  The paper has a slight texture and a lovely feel, and the colours were just as I hoped.  Two of the prints are nature themed and one is made up of a variety of vegetables.  They are all A4 (297mmx210) in size.

I also created a couple of new birthday card designs.

Both of these cards are now available to buy with free UK delivery, hooray!  

So, that's a little shop update from me.  I'm in the process of creating some new things that will hopefully become additions to the shop at some point in future.  Today it's lovely and sunny but thankfully a little cooler with a gentle breeze, which makes it much more comfortable to work :).

Have a lovely weekend!

Sharon

Etsy shop update and the start of autumn

Hello, It's Monday morning and it looks like it's going to be a nice sunny day! That always makes a good start to the week. Yesterday I uploaded some more products to my Etsy shop so I thought I'd tell you a bit about that today. I've added five new art prints including an Autumn themed print, some nature themed prints (including an owl print of course), and a fruit and vegetable print. They're printed on 400gsm silk card and are A5 in size so they could be used as a postcard or as a print for the home.

 

What do you think?  I'm so happy to finally have them up in my shop.  I've got some more items coming soon, I just need to get them all photographed and listed.

Other than that I've been getting used to now being in autumn.  The weather has definitely changed here, it's got colder and I've got my woolly socks out.  I'm looking forward to the season of cosiness.

I hope you're all keeping well.  I'll be back soon with another shop update, now it's time to drink my coffee and get on with the day :).