Where have I been? Looking back through my blog, the last time I posted was in April this year. That’s seven months ago!
The only excuse I have is that a busy schedule of work, looking after our almost three year old son and completing illustration commissions has meant I’ve been neglecting my blog, and for that, I’m sorry! The longer I’ve left it, the harder it is to pick up where I left off. So I’ve taken the leap and to get back into it I’ll just give you a whistle-stop tour of what I’ve been working on since my last post.
Fasten your seatbelt (or grab a cuppa), there’s a lot to get through!
One of my first projects this year was an illustrated map of the Rideau Canal in Canada for Le Boat, a company which hires out self-drive boats on waterways around the world.
The finished piece is a fold out map which is included in their Rideau Canal guide. The map is fairly accurate in terms of scale, but I widened the river to accommodate the different attractions en route.
I’ve previously illustrated the Canal du Midi in France and the River Thames for the same company, but this map was different in that I put it all together digitally. Each element was illustrated and painted by hand, then ‘photoshopped’ into place on the map. This made it easier to make tweaks to positioning, and even remove and add elements at the request of the client.
Since I finished the map, I’ve been working on quite a few house portrait commissions which came about when I posted a few paintings I did for fun on Instagram.
I’ve worked on quite a few now, and have several more to paint as Christmas commissions.
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I finished this little house portrait commission for a friend last night – I absolutely loved doing it! #art #artist #devonartist #houseportrait #watercolour #watercolor #painting #artofinstagram #artistsofinstagram #instaartsy #commission #editorialillustration #illustrator #editorialillustrator #gift #giftideas #giftidea A post shared by Clare Willcocks (@chocolate.clare) on
I’ve also done a handful of paintings for holidaycottages.co.uk.
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Another cute cottage for @holidaycottages.co.uk! This one is adorable inside, so cosy with a wood burner and teeny steps up to the most gorgeous little bed beneath the eaves. Look it up – Olchon Bothy. . . . #editorialillustration #illustration #illustrator #devonillustrtator #devonartist #artist #artistsoninstagram #illustratorsoninstagram #watercolourpainting #artistsofinstagram #instaart #instaartsy #draweveryday #dippenandink #penandink #winsorandnewton #watercolour #watercolor #painting #commission #giftidea #christmasgiftidea A post shared by Clare Willcocks (@chocolate.clare) on
I’ve been working on some more realistic style watercolours to add to my portfolio and for an exhibition with my local art group which was held in May. I arranged the mushrooms below in a frame which is now hanging on the wall in our lounge!
I painted the poppy below for the SAA’s paint a poppy challenge for a special exhibition for the centenary celebrations. I enjoyed building up the layers and establishing the contrast between the dark background and paper-thin poppy.
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Poppy for the SAA’s #paintapoppy challenge. #saa #art #watercolour #remembrance #poppyday #wewillrememberthem #devonartist #artist #illustration #editorialillustration #editorialillustrator #instaart #instaartsy #arteveryday #artistsoninstagram #artsy #artwork #art_spotlight #artcollective #artist_features A post shared by Clare Willcocks (@chocolate.clare) on
This rainy Japanese street scene was painted for my art group’s exhibition. I was so pleased with this one that it’s also ended up on our wall! If you would be interested in a print, please let me know as I’m going to look into getting some professionally printed.
Finally I’ve been working on various art journals as a way of relaxing and enjoying the little free time I have!
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On Sunday I spent a blissful toddler-free (!!) morning wandering around the Burton Art Gallery and then sketching in the Café du Park. The Westward Ho! And Bideford Arts Society exhibition was brilliant and it was nice to get some sketching done on location for once! I also took some photos in the park and finished this spread at home. @burtonatbideford @cafeduparcbideford #usk #urbansketching #urbansketcher #journal #artjournal #journaling #arteveryday #sketcheveryday #sketchbook #myart #illustrator #editorialillustration #illustration #watercolour #penandink #lamysafari #winsorandnewton A post shared by Clare Willcocks (@chocolate.clare) on
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These lovely rusty winches (?!) are at Bucks Mills in North Devon. I drew them with dip pen and koh-i-noor ink freehand and painted with Winsor and Newton professional watercolours. #watercolor #watercolour #painting #urbansketch #urbansketching #urbansketchers #kohinoor #arteveryday #draweveryday #instaartsy #instaart #art #commissionme #illustration #devonart #devonartist #winsorandnewton @urbansketchers @winsorandnewton @kohinoor_hardtmuth A post shared by Clare Willcocks (@chocolate.clare) on
If you’d like to keep up to date with what I’m up to, you can follow my social media accounts:
YouTube (I only have a couple of videos at the moment, but hope to upload more at some point!)
WoW – you have been so busy. I really love the canal map and the little houses are amazing. I was wondering where you had been 🙂 I can’t believe that your little one is 3 !!!!! Gosh – where has the time gone ? I must be getting old 😀
Great to see you back and I am glad you have been getting plenty of work 😀 xxxx