Cardboard Kids

#colour_collective

Now on Tumblr

Happy September!

I'm currently working on building my own website, portfolio pieces and working on three different projects right now, so very busy.

I'm going to try and keep up with daily illustrations again, and will be posting on twitter and now tumblr! Follow me here: http://natasharimmington.tumblr.com/

Not sure how tumblr works yet, so apologies if I'm a bit slow with it!

Mid-Summer Update

Hello Bloggers! It's been a while.

I've had a very very busy last few months, and the rest of the year looks set to be ten times as busy! If my graphics tablet pen welds to my hands I won't be surprised. At the moment I'm finishing off a commission, while working on my project with Bloomsbury- and sorting out the rest of the year illustration wise. Fair to say, I've a packed few months ahead.

In good news, I've had 'The Garden' with Orion Books published, and a some small illustrations with Usborne printed up and on their way. Had a brilliant project with Igloo Books too, which I can not wait to see the final prints of. (I even draw some human characters!!)

Updates will be slow while I'm building a website for myself,getting a store-front sorted and hopefully upgrading to a new PC and Graphics Tablet. I've had my current laptop around six years now, and my graphics tablet even longer. It's doing well, but I'm starting to feel left behind and limited with what I can do. Being able to run Photoshop would be nice.

If you want to keep updated, keep an eye on my twitter; @n_rimmington




Until next time!...

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

Bowling!

I've been drawing a fair bit recently, as I've had a little spare time...now to keep up-to-date on here! I think these characters will be used for some further illustrations.

I'm a very friendly Lion...

A quick illustration of 'The Herbs' Parsley the Lion. Still trying out styles.
A little more French looking than usual. If I have time I'll try to animate him on Flash

Piggy in the sweetshop

Finally...an experiment I like enough to upload!

I'd love to do a story set in a sweet shop because sweets are so much fun to draw, but I'm not sure anyone would publish it given the whole 'sweets are bad for you'.
Unless it was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory...with pigs.

George's Dragon Concept

Since last blog I've been working on commissions, but I've also had time to work on some personal illustrations. I've been playing around with the idea of my own picture book based on DRAGONS. Well, a large red dragon. I'm still working through concepts and styles, but this is my initial idea. I've got lots of sketching and writing to do before returning to character designs, but hopefully will be able to work towards this!



_{close up: kid due to change}


For once I've got a back log of work to upload on here! So here's a late Tapir for Animal Sunday, done the other week...



AND I'm also going to be returning to 'Scaredy Squirrel and The Haunted House' concept from last year (which you may remember a thumbnail of). More Updates soon!!

First illustrations of the year..

I beat my own deadline! I'm currently working on a commission that involves a racing turtle, but I loved drawing them so much I wanted to draw some in the 'clean digital style'. I'm still not brave enough with the contrasts, so hoping to get better as the year goes along.
In the meantime I'm working on a concept for my own picture book. Out of nowhere it came to me, and now I'm determined to do it!

I've also worked on a quick picture for #colour_collective by @PennyNevilleLee, and this weeks colour was Ultramarine! So I might try and keep this style up for each week. Feeling really on top of illustration right now, so hopefully I can keep it this way!

2015

It's been so long I've forgotten how to use blogger! Happy New Year to you all, and a big thank to anyone who still reads my posts. Last year was a rather good year for me, I had a lot more commissions and have worked on some great projects. It's my aim this year to produce a lot LOT more work, really improve my portfolio and plan my time better. Yes, it's a cliche but if I plan things out a little better, I'll have time to do portfolio/experiment illustrations rather than working flat out on other stuff.

I have lots of plans for illustrations including:

* 'ZOO ANIMAL SUNDAY!' -where every sunday I draw an animal from Edinburgh Zoo. The only question is which animal to start with.

* Work on a new portfolio illustration each week

*And mid-year set up a website/online store for myself!



That's do-able right? Which means you'll now get a blog update every week!
Next blog post: 19th Jan

I'm BACK! Updates, News & Illustration Plans...

After a long time of not using Blogger...I'm back!
The past few months have been crazy and wonderful at the same time. I've just put the finishing touches to a rather big project, and working my way through several smaller ones. I've been so busy there's been no time for personal illustrations and coloured doodles...but hopefully all that's about to change, and you should be seeing a LOT more art from here onwards. (I know I said that last time, but this time it's true!)

****NEWS****
I'm very pleased to announce that I am working on a new picture book with the brilliant Bloomsbury Publishing! My agents have done the most terrific job of getting this deal,and I'm very excited to be working with them on such a great text. It's top secret for now guys! And no- it's not fox related!
**************************

I've been mixing up my illustration style a little, so you won't be seeing pure digital art, but a mix of pencil and digital, like as seen above. I'm hoping to keep practicing the fully digital style, but my next few projects (and previous) are filled with the pencilly-textureyness. I have plenty of ideas to work on when I get time....so here are a few:

> The Haunted House
A 'new style' illustration, set at night! I rarely do night time pieces because of the whole lighting issues,but I really want to do a darker piece that mixes a cute fun character with a creepy tone. I'm thinking a squirrel, a bust of Pallas,and over the top wallpaper.

>The Balcony Everytime I walk to work I see a balcony thats filled with flowers...and I've really wanted to draw it. My travelling sketchbook has a few doodles of it. I've already started on this piece, so it'll probably be done by the end of the month!

>Badger Books I love Mr. Badger. I've not drawn him in forever, and want to draw some more of him. I've also never ventured into fiction book covers and typography. So this little project will be an experiment to create 2-3 book covers, centered around the Adventures of Badger. If they go well, I'll also try my hand at dip-pen 'interior' illustrations...something I've not done since University.

>The Bake-Off Originally I wanted to have this done for the start of The Great British Bake Off...but have had no time. A full colour illustration, with plenty of depth, texture and messy splat marks everywhere. Maybe a cat character...we'll see. Again, another something I've really wanted to do-- and will be an improvement on previous baking related illustrations.

There's several other ideas I have...but I'm aware of how much time I have and how many projects there is.
Hoping to bring more news and illustrations to you soon. Huge thanks to all my new watchers and existing ones...hoping to do a twitter/blogger give-away in the future too, so keep your eyes peeled.

Moonbunnies and more....

Time seems to be going so fast right now, I've barely has chance to catch up with everything. I'm working on my new goat-related book, and have just finished designing the main character, and I must say he's looking rather awesome.Can not wait to colour it! In the meantime, I've been doodling out some other ideas, including MOONBUNNIES!! There's a lot that needs altering with the piece, like the characters re-drawing better; but I'm hoping in my spare time to put together a few DPS's. So expect more rabbity-goodness in the future.

But don't worry, I haven't completely changed styles! The all-digital style is certainly still around...

The Tiger who came to tea!

Feature and Updates

_{A mole wearing a party hat!}

I've started work on my next picture book, and all is going well so far- I don't want to say much about it...but expect more goats! It's due to be published later this year, so more news on that in a few months time. In the meantime I'll be updating here with doodles (like Mr. Mole) every other day or so. And hopefully working on a few samples. And cards.
Recently been featured on Questioning Creatives; check it out here: http://www.questioningcreatives.com/natasha-rimmington/

Happy St. Patricks Day!

The Little Green Monster dressed up for the occasion. I think the beard oddly suits him

Little Red Hen Sample

I've been meaning to update my blog for ages, but I've been very busy. Currently working my way through as many new samples for my portfolio as possible; whilst trying to speed up. I know at Uni a final piece took me around 2 weeks-but this piece took me 2 days. So I'm certainly getting better. A lot of my scenes are super busy, so here's a more simple one based on the classic tale of The Little Red Hen.
Next..Moon-bunnies!

Experiments continued...

I used the flowers from last experiment, along with many others to create a new experimental piece. I've had this piece done for a while, and has been sat on my desktop waiting to be uploaded. It's growing on me...slowly.
I've also been working on new ideas for my 'sketchy style' but colouring proved trickier than expected. I really need to get going on some new samples for my portfolio; so hopefully I'll be able to sketch a few out tomorrow. I'm currently working on a commission involving bears; but more news on that when it's completed...

Frog Prince

After realizing that I always draw fluffy and fuzzy characters, I decided to draw a frog. I almost put a tail on him, because I'm so used to my characters having them! (I think frogs would look better with tails). As tomorrow is International Book Giving Day I thought I'd draw him reading,with his gifted books next to him. Next post will (hopefully) be an update on 'The Wolf and the Seven Kids', and other stuff I've been working on.
Someone commission me to draw more frogs please?!

Experiments.

I'm working on a new style...
Expect a new sample in the next few days!

Wild Scottish Haggis!

Almost forgot to blog this Tuesday! I'm currently working on a new sample and vignette, which will be finished shortly. All I can say for now is that it involves ducks. In the meantime, here's a Wild Scottish Haggis. If your on Twitter follow @HelloBroccoli, for Saturday Scribbles- a weekly illustration event; like illustration Friday...but a Saturday! Hopefully I'll have time to submit something this week, seeing as the theme is Chinese New Year! http://thenewbroccoliblog.wordpress.com/saturday-scribbles/

Twitter and Beavers

After my last illustration of the biking beavers, I found that Scotland has it's own Scottish Beaver Trial; in which it aims to bring Beavers back to the countryside. I don't believe I've ever seen the creature in real life, so in the summer I might have to take a trip over to Argyll and find them! The Trial works hard to restore the habitats of Beavers as well as educating the public on them, which I think is brilliant. The trial recently won a Conservation Award, which is why he's wearing a medal. (Hopefully one day we'll have the Scottish Bear Trial!)
http://www.scottishbeavers.org.uk/

In other news, I have a twitter account! So follow me there at: https://twitter.com/n_rimmington