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 :)

Cards, prints and Monday sun

Hello,

The start of another (so far, sunny) week.  It is always nice when Monday begins with sunshine.
I hope everyone is keeping well.  Today I'm going to share a couple of recent things I've done.  The first is I've added some products to my Etsy shop.  There is now a range of cards (birthday, thank you, any occasion,) and prints on a variety of themes.  There's nature, London and wildlife.  Here's a little selection :-

Last week I also was very kindly featured on the Feast Norfolk Magazine website.  They did a little interview about me, my work and of course food! 

I'm guzzling down coffee as I write this, keeping it brief.  I hope you're all having a good start to the week and I'll be back soonish with more of my goings on. 

Waitrose food illustrations

Hello,

I know it's been an age since I last wrote a post, but I think we all know the world is a bit of strange place at the moment so I had a bit of a gap.  I'm going to try to get back on posting more regularly from now on though, let's see how it goes!
I'm not going to gabble on for too long.  I have been working away on a few different projects since I was last here and the one I'm going to share today is some illustrations I did for Waitrose food magazine.  They were for the Everyday Food section of an illustrated special and it was the the July edition which is out now.

Here are the actual spreads:-

It was great to work on this as it was a lovely big juicy commission, and it kept my mind active as we were right in the middle of the lockdown.  Also at the time it was really warm and sunny, that's definitely all disappeared at the moment.  

Ok, I'm going to leave it there today.  I will be back with more soon.  I hope if you're reading this that you're staying safe and remaining positive.  I know that can be extremely tough some days.  Please take care and be kind to yourselves xx

Under the sea

Hello,

I hope you're having a good week.  Today I'm sharing another sea-themed work (I think I really need a coastal visit!).  I had a very specific colour palette in mind when I started this and I'm really happy with how it turned out.  Drawing all the creatures for this was such fun and I hope it conveys as sense of the movement of the sea.  

Below is one of my work in progress sketches.

Also I picked up a copy of Uppercase Magazine which features an illustration of mine.  The illustration was for a They Draw and Cook challenge.  The theme was 'Food Geometry' so I created a food pattern.  I was delighted when it was one of the entries picked to appear in the magazine.  

Ok that's it for now, keep warm!

My 100 Day Project

Hello,

For the last three months or so I took part in the 100 day project over on Instagram.  It was something I had been considering for a while but as it was a big commitment I wanted it to be something that would really benefit me, and keep me enthused until the end, 100 days is a long time after all!  In the end I decided to do '100 days in my sketchbook'.  I do have sketchbooks, but to be honest a lot of them are more full of notes and general mess and not something that I consider to be a nicer looking sketchbook (you know what I mean).  I thought this project may help me get down some ideas on any subjects that I wanted to pursue, (I did have several in mind), I also hoped I may get some work that I considered half decent out of it, and some potential future work ideas.
I'll be honest it did take me a few days to get into the swing of things, relax a bit and go with the flow.  Some of the work I was not happy with, but I posted anyway, as that is all part of a challenge, right?  Some I was pretty chuffed with, and some are ideas that I'm going to come back to and make work from.  On a personal note it has also become a visual diary of a time in my life which was something else I hoped for.  When I look at the images I remember where I was, what I was listening too/watching, thinking and feeling at that time.  So for me it's a good personal record.
I'll share some of my favourites over a few posts starting with the earliest.  I hope you enjoy!  Did you take part (or are you taking part) in the project?  How did you find it?

I've been spending the time since finishing scanning and cleaning up the work.  I still have a few to finish.  I've also got plans for some of it and I'll share that when they're finished.  

Have a lovely week and I'll be back soon :).

It's picnic time!

Hello,

As it's summer I thought I'd share some picnic/summery food illustrations I've worked on.  The first is a submission for They Draw and Cook for the theme of a Birthday Bash.  I choose a picnic as I think that's a lovely way to celebrate.  My birthday is in winter, but I can always celebrate other peoples :).

A couple of close ups.

Here are some sketchbook illustrations on a similar theme.  I have been taking part in the 100 Day Project as a way to increase sketchbook work (seen on my Instagram).  I have to say I've found it pretty beneficial.  If time is tight I've created some quicker drawings and it's been a great way to test things out and make a visual note of potential future work I would like to make.  

I hope you've had/are having a good Monday!  It's always a bit of a busy day.  Have a great week and I'll be back soon :).

Food, patterns and my sketchbook

Hello,

I thought I'd post some work I completed a while back for Ambrosia Magazine.  The theme was well known puddings from the UK.  The Magazine is out now.

I've also been posting daily on Instagram for the 100 day project.  I selected working in my sketchbook as my project, as that is something I would like to do more regularly.  Some of the work I've completed in there is now going on to become other things.  So far I've made stickers from some illustrations and it is a handy place to store ideas for things I'm planning to do later on, even if they are just seeds of ideas at the moment.  I've become particularly fond of making patterns and I have plans for those.  It's become quite a nice record of the previous 60+ days and I've definitely found I've benefitted from it so far.  Here's a little selection, more to come!

I hope you have a great week ahead and I'll be back soon!

Food illustrations for Women's Health

Hello,

I've had a bit of a break from here, unintentionally so, but now hopefully I'll be back a little more regularly.  It's been a busy few weeks and I spent the Easter break away in the countryside which was very very nice and needed!
Today I'm sharing the illustrations I completed for the May edition of Women's Health UK. I've worked with them several times now and I always really enjoy the commissions.  This was another set of food illustrations.  Here are some of my favourite originals.

This is the finished article

I do really enjoy drawing food so if you need any food illustrations why not give me a bell (shameless plug) sharon@sharonfarrow.com :).  I hope you have a lovely rest of the week whatever you're up to.  Now it's coffee and back to work!