Scarlet Butterflies

Steampunk Clocks

2012-01-29T02:08:00.000-08:00

I've just discovered the wonderfully dark, mechanical, curiosities of the clock maker Eric Freitas.... absolutely beautiful!

Totally Inspiring... Lemony Snickets

2012-01-14T16:34:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd chill out this afternoon, snuggle up on the sofa and watch a movie. I decided to watch, my recently purchased, Lemony Snicket's - A series of Unfortunate Events. Great film, great costume and set design. However I couldn't help but watch the opening credits over and over.... an amazing, inspiring and original piece of animation.

Take a look http://www.watchthetitles.com/articles/0019-Lemony_Snicket_s_A_Series_of_Unfortunate_Events

Paper Puppets...Love These

2012-01-13T08:44:00.000-08:00

Daydream Theatre

2012-01-07T17:01:00.000-08:00

The design is complete and the construction begins tomorrow...

Doll Outfit Ideas...

2012-01-05T14:04:00.000-08:00

A Fanciful Twist...

2012-01-05T13:50:00.000-08:00

Loving these collages by A Fanciful Twist...

The Daydream Theatre

2011-12-30T12:32:00.000-08:00

Tonight I'm working on the set to stage the suicide daydreams. I'm being very influenced by the following images... my sketchbook is filling up and I plan to have the set finalised by the end of the weekend.

Steampunk....

2011-12-22T14:56:00.000-08:00

I have fallen in love... with Steampunk

Set Ideas...

2011-12-11T04:58:00.000-08:00

For the daydream sets I'm working on 2D collages... and I'm being inspired by the work of Colette Bream who makes these cute little cushions and sells them on Etsy... but displays them as little stories.

I love this idea for clouds... this will work when we view the girl in real time... I must think of a name for her, I can't just keep calling her the girl!

Doll Ideas

2011-12-11T04:51:00.000-08:00

So I'm thinking when we are viewing the girl in real time, she is a 3D doll, but when she is daydreaming the view of herself is a 2D articulated illustration like the doll/puppet below. Also to highlight the fact she is daydreaming the illustrations will be desaturated.

I love these...

The Princess and The Pea

2011-11-29T01:13:00.000-08:00

I love this story so much and years ago of bought the most beautifully illustrated version of it. The version by the talented Lauren Child, whose other works include Pippi Longstocking, Goldilocks, Charlie and Lola and Clarice Bean, I love the details that has gone into building these miniature sets and the paper cutout dolls.

Check out Lauren's website too... It's beautiful... I especially love the 'about' page even thought it's not even finished... http://www.milkmonitor.com

Device Reconstructed

2011-11-28T04:39:00.000-08:00

A wonderful book has been brought to my attention... Device Reconstructed. The book is full of various artists and their inspirational sculptures. These are some of my favourites... the book is now on my Christmas wish list!

Olivier Pauwels

Viktor Koen

Tom Haney

Stephane Halleux

Inspiration Morning...

2011-11-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

On Sunday I decided instead of a lazy morning in bed, I'd get up and make the most of the beautiful (and slightly spooky) morning mist. So I took my push bike and cycled around Woburn deer park with my camera. These are my favourite shots...

More Inspirational Work

2011-11-20T12:48:00.000-08:00

The work of the talented photographer Phillip Toledano from his Hope & Fear series. Check out the rest of his work at www.mrtoledano.com

I'm Not Alone...

2011-11-18T15:10:00.000-08:00

I stumbled across the amazing work of Margaux Lange whilst looking on Pintrest (great website) and it would appear that I'm not the only one chopping up Barbie!! Her jewellery is amazing I have totally fallen in love with it... go check out her work at www.margauxlange.com

Dismembering Barbie...

2011-11-18T11:18:00.000-08:00

I decided to try two different approaches to building the doll. Both have wire frames but I made one with limbs from a Barbie doll and the other I built on the wire frame with air drying clay. I felt quite disturbed as I chopped Barbie up with a hack saw!!

Jessica Joslin...

2011-11-18T03:20:00.000-08:00

The wonderful inspirational work of sculpture artist Jessica Joslin who will be part of the Wild Life exhibition held at the Stolen Space gallery from 2nd - 23rd Dec. Absolutely love her work, reminds me a little of Svankmajer's bone animals.

Doll Ideas...

2011-11-18T03:16:00.000-08:00

One of the reasons I was having trouble getting started was the doll I had in mind to illustrate the story was too stiff to animate... when I realised that if I made a doll myself with fully bending limbs, the ideas really started to flow. These two dolls were great inspiration for my dolls design.

Visual Inspiration...

2011-11-17T12:34:00.000-08:00

These are some of the visuals that I found to be very inspiring when coming up with the ideas for some of the scenes in the story.

The Story Begins...

2011-11-17T12:14:00.000-08:00

My first entry into my new blog. I wrote the rough outline to the Scarlet Butterflies whilst on the train coming home from London back in Feb 2009. I've always wanted to illustrate it but never felt ready....I'm ready now. I'm at the very early stages, these are the first of my sketchbook entries...