Paula's Place

2012-02-01T09:28:00.000-08:00

Life Drawing

I haven't been to evening life drawing sessions in a long time! So thought I'd get back to it again, as it's very good for training the eye and getting to know the human figure. Also thought I'd try using a pen, being more confident with my lines. Here are a couple from the first session last week:

(10mins)

(5mins)

2012-01-30T10:46:00.000-08:00

Whoop! My book, 'Scary Mary', is available for pre-order on amazon!

Released on 1st March
ISBN-10: 1589251105
ISBN-13: 978-1589251106

2012-01-25T09:20:00.000-08:00

Hello! It's been a while since my last visit here, I hope everyone had happy new year celebrations. I'm looking forward to what 2012 has in store.

Lately I have been thinking and developing some stories, some fresh ones and some which have been lurking in the dusty cobwebbed corners of my head.. I brought them out for an airing over the winter holidays, and am feeling excited about them again. So I'm sketching storyboards and characters for possible future picture books :)

Meanwhile, I am collaborating with the fabulous animator, Lizzie Wakefield, on an illustrated animation to enter in a competition together. I can't wait to see my pictures brought to life!

Here's a peek at a couple of 'still' scenes from our animation:

2011-12-20T11:05:00.000-08:00

Happy Yuletide!

Here's my front door, looking festive, wearing the wreath I made at Eastside Roots community garden in Bristol :)

2011-11-14T06:31:00.000-08:00

I have some original artwork and prints for sale in my Etsy shop, I will post items all over the world, take a look!

Paula Bowles on Etsy

2011-11-11T08:19:00.000-08:00

Doggies!

Meet Noa, the dog who lives at my local (and tiny!) spanish tapas/live music bar El Rincon

She's come to the park with me to do some modelling, allowing me to sketch and photograph her as inspiration for a new picture book character... watch this space!

2011-11-09T11:33:00.000-08:00

Just for a giggle...

Here's a photo from a halloween party I went to - that's me in the middle with the red flower, with 4 friends. It was a jolly good fun night!

Also, find me on facebook!

2011-11-08T07:46:00.000-08:00

Interviewed!

I was recently interviewed by Tiger Tales, the U.S publisher of my first two picture books.

Check it out on their blog, click here

2011-10-31T11:05:00.000-07:00

Another jolly time was had at the weekend, drawing on the walls of Bristol's Foyles bookshop, with Brillustration: the Brill-est illustrator group in town:

The Big Draw at Foyles

Thanks to June Goulding for the photos and slideshow!

2011-10-28T06:24:00.000-07:00

What Goes Up... completed!

I have completed the last of the artwork for 'What Goes up' (written and illustrated by me)! Just waiting for feedback now from the publisher Tiger Tales. They've been great throughout the process of making the book, have thoroughly enjoyed myself! Martin the Dragon has had a ball too, and may have another story up his sleeve too...

2011-10-13T05:48:00.000-07:00

My book 'Scary Mary' is at the Frankfurt Bookfair this week, with Tiger Tales! If you look closely, you can just about see it on the top shelf of the left panel...

Good luck at the bookfair, Tiger Tales, I hope it goes well :)

2011-10-10T10:15:00.000-07:00

Brillustration @ Blackwells Bookshop, Bristol, UK

I am part of the Bristol illustration group, aka 'Brillustration'. We took over Blackwells Bookshop at the weekend and illustrated 'live' in their window for the day, as well as around the shop and made badges with the kids :) Here are some photos...

(There's me on the right, drawing around a book I illustrated called 'I Spy Something Wonderful', released this year by Random House Children's Books. And here's a little of what I drew...

And here are some of the other lovely illustrators busy scribbling away..

And there we all are! There's me, 3rd from the right :)

Here's a slideshow of more photos from June Goulding:

Kizoa slideshow: Brillustration Big Draw 2011 - Slideshow

Well done everybody who took part, and thankyou Lauren Tobia and Mark Sperring for organising, and thankyou to Blackwells for letting us invade for the day!

2011-09-30T09:56:00.000-07:00

Big Draw - Blackwells, Park Street, Bristol

I will be at Blackwells bookshop on Park Street with the 'Brillustration' group on Saturday 8th October! We will be 'live drawing' in the window and will have our books (3 for 2!) on sale.
More info HERE!

2011-09-26T07:29:00.000-07:00

Work in progress..

Hello hello! Not been here for a while, busy with all the usual bits and bobs that make up life, but am back in drawy painty land again..

Here's a page from 'What Goes Up', a bit of work in progress.. trying things out. Loving working on my own story with Tiger Tales, and looking forward to working with the editor on a 'sequel' to Scary Mary! Watch this space.. :)

In other news, I'm enjoying the beginning of Autumn, the leaves are changing, the air is cooler, and am wanting to get up to the woods to collect sweet chestnuts to roast :)

2011-08-29T14:54:00.000-07:00

I have a Folksy Shop! The bare bones at the moment, but will be adding all sorts of work on there for sale. Original drawings, paintings, prints, cards and micro-pocket-stories :)

www.folksy.com/shops/paulabowlesillustration

2011-08-18T07:31:00.000-07:00

I made a poster for Folk Radio UK :

They are a super internet radio station playing folk 24hours a day! They have organised their first gig in London on 25th august, should be a good'un.

2011-07-20T08:36:00.000-07:00

Here's the work in progress, front and back cover for my story - 'What Goes Up', being published with Tiger Tales, New York.

I love the font and the arrows on the spine :)

2011-07-20T07:36:00.000-07:00

A friend recently gave me a Moleskine sketchbook, and we went out drawing together outside a local cafe. Here are a some of the results!

(yes the central girl is posing next to a gorilla..(statue!)

2011-07-13T06:41:00.000-07:00

Here's my little robot, all finished!

Fingers crossed he finds a home with a publisher soon :)

2011-06-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

Here are some little robots I'm pitching to an author at the moment..

Fingers crossed it goes ahead!

2011-06-17T09:18:00.000-07:00

I've re-designed my website!

I like changing and updating my website, keeps it fresh! Though it takes a while to do and involves me re-learning dreamweaver and ftp thingamajigs... so I don't do it very often!

Would be greatful if people could take a look and let me know if there's any glitches/problems with links.

www.paulabowles.co.uk

Ta!

Paula

2011-06-15T04:17:00.000-07:00

A couple of roughs for What Goes Up, scanned in and emailed to Tiger Tales now...

And here are some photos from the weekend in my home city of Bristol - it was the St Werburghs City Farm Fair. You'd think these photos are from a rural/suburban part of Bristol, but it's a mere 10 minute bike ride to the bustling city centre!

I spent the day here with my boyfriend, here we are dancing the Lindy-folk! Dancing lindyhop to a ceilidh folk band.. we improvised :)

Photo's taken by the lovely Lizzie Rees :)

2011-06-14T10:23:00.000-07:00

Blackcurrent muffins..

Blackcurrants are in season here in Bristol - these are freshly picked from my boyfriends allotment.. and turned into muffins! :) yumyumyum..

Oh, and in the background you can see some of my plants - tomatoes, runner beans, kale, blueberries, pear tree, herbs.. :)

2011-06-08T08:44:00.000-07:00

And so work has begun on my second story with Tiger Tales - 'What Goes Up', about a dragon named Martin who wants to fly -

but what goes up..

..must come down..

..right?

Well, you'll have to wait and see!

The story has been in my sketchbook for a few years, so it is very nice to be getting it 'out there' finally! It feels like I'm starting to de-clutter my head of ideas and doodles at last! It's quite a relief to be getting it all down into a coherent picture book, once it's all done I can let go of it and start developing and sorting out the next bit of clutter!

2011-06-07T15:29:00.000-07:00

Southbank Arts Trail at my house, photos!

Stained glass by Debbie Hutchinson

Prints by Louise Cunningham

My artwork!

Paper toys by Creative Skidoo

Cakes by my mum!

Acoustic sessions in the evening - Kano Inoue

Snails

Glowglobes

Acoustic Garden sessions, sunday afternoon - Sarah Joy

Andy Nowak

Pindrop Band

..and a good old fashioned traditional ceilidh dance, in the road! To end the weekend on a high :)

Led by caller Joe Medler

2011-05-11T08:57:00.000-07:00

Southbank Arts Trail!

I am opening my house for Bristol's Southbank Arts Trail, on 21st and 22nd May. It's the second time I've taken part and am really looking forward to it! I have 5 friends exhibiting with me in my house, as well as an evening of acoustic music on the sat night and also on sunday afternoon.

I made a poster for the musicians:

And the arts trail info can be found here:
www.sba.co.uk

2011-05-09T15:02:00.000-07:00

A mischievous red squirrel for someone special...

2011-04-13T09:29:00.000-07:00

Baby Commissions

A friend asked me to paint a giraffe to frame as a gift for her sister's new baby, so here he is!

It was nice painting an image to go on a wall. Made me think, if any one else out there would like a personalised painting by me, get in touch!

paula.bowles@gmail.com

2011-03-22T10:49:00.000-07:00

Some sketches from 'St Nicholas' Market' in Bristol, while waiting for a friend...

I think I'll start turning up early to things just so I can stand and sketch for a while!

2011-03-21T04:05:00.000-07:00

I go to a swing dancing night (lindyhop) every week, and decided to take my sketchbook along last week. It was great fun, a good challenge too! Here are a fe wof the results... some people shapes emerging from scribbles...

Took my sketchbook out to a cafe with a friend yesterday too, decided to break out of my pencil comfort zone, and tried using a pen.. some of the results!

2011-03-16T05:06:00.000-07:00

Scary Mary is complete!

She's a very grumpy hen, prone to throwing a few tantrums...

But I managed to tame her for just enough time to get the story completed..

And now I've let her go, she's currently running rampage around the offices of Tiger Tales, near New York...

...I hope they don't mind!

It's been a good fun book to work on with Tiger Tales.

2011-03-07T08:04:00.000-08:00

Spring is springing!

Blossom on the damson tree on the corner of my local park, will be picking the fruits in august!

Recently I received my copies of the books I illustrated with John Crawford (Vocal Minority), here they are on a chair in the sunshine:

They are the first 3 stories, printed in a lovely board book style. Currently working on the next 2 stories in the series, I think they look just great!

2011-02-24T03:24:00.000-08:00

Scary Mary is coming to life.....

The first colour spread for my book 'Scary Mary' is completed with Tiger Tales, here's a sneak peek! Now to bring the rest to life...

2011-02-15T04:59:00.000-08:00

Painting's finally completed for author John Crawford's book 'Animal Mixtures'.....

Here are a few sneak previews

2011-02-08T12:13:00.000-08:00

Darkstuff from the Crypt

I helped a friend out with the poster for their new production recently: 'Darkstuff from the Crypt' 6 monologues from the crypt of St Paul's church in Bristol - ghostly tales! It's a walkabout 'promenade' theatre production, a guide meets us at the top and takes us down into the chilly depths of the crypt... nearly sold out, just a few tickets left for thursday!

2011-02-04T04:37:00.000-08:00

It seems everything really does happen at the same time!

Yesterday (3rd feb) was the publishing day of 'I Spy Something Wonderful', the picture book I illustrated written by David Conway, published by Random House (Red Fox). It's about a family of deer who go for a walk in the meadow playing a game of I Spy.....I finished working on the book nearly 2 years ago, so finally the wait is over!

It's available from a variety of different places, take a *look!*

Also, yesterday was the private view of the exhibition I am taking part in in London - Falmouth Illustration: The Retrospective. I studied illustration at Falmouth College of Arts, graduated nearly 6 years ago, and our course leader has organized this exhibition for all past illustration graduates.

I am exhibiting the sequence of little tiger putting on his pyjama's from 'Time for Bed, Tiger', written by Hannah Wilson, published by Templar:

It's on at The Illustration Cupboard, London till 12th February. Then we hope to take it New York!

2011-02-02T06:33:00.000-08:00

In my studio...

...you will find lots of pictures on the walls,

...a pile of paints and pencils...

...and a heap of paper!

And here's a sneak preview of a couple of work-in-progress pages from Scary Mary:

..and one of favourite sketches of Mary :)

2011-01-14T08:26:00.000-08:00

Scary Mary is on the go!

I'm very excited, and feeling very strange, for the first time I am working on one of my own stories with a publisher! It's about a hen called Scary Mary...

My agent visited New York in November last year, and found a publisher who like my story, and now it's go go go as I have drawn the first set of roughs and cover ideas. The publisher is Tiger Tales and they seem very very lovely!

2010-11-30T03:08:00.000-08:00

Apologies for the lack of posting.. am glad to say, due to being so busy!

I'm excited to have been working with the Dutch greetings card company Quire who produce beautiful cards and stationary. The lovely and talented illustrator Louise Cunningham very kindly introduced me and things seem to be going well. Here is a sneak preview of what I have been painting...

I am working on a range of cards with Quire, everything from birthdays, weddings, exam passing, bereavement, to xmas cards.

Also still working with the talented author John Crawford on a series of children's books and illustrating the upcoming website! Watch this space..

And I have, of course, been thinking, doodling and dreaming up new stories of my own.. as well as becoming absorbed by the piano in our front room, making cakes and pies, picking the last of the medlars in the woods (with my own Mr Medler too..) and then making medlar cheese (photos to follow!) Ceilidh dancing, lindyhopping, guitar playing and laughing around the dining table.

Loving the last full moon, ahwoooo!

And, my peppers have finally turned red! (while it's snowing outside...)

And here's an apropriate snowy song from the lovely Kate Stables (This is the Kit) 'Birchwood Beaker'

...only Odin knows....

2010-11-03T10:08:00.000-07:00

Just throwing some paint around a bit... fun!

2010-10-29T02:38:00.000-07:00

There be dragons!

2010-09-27T09:44:00.000-07:00

As the Autumn equinox just passed, in good celtic spirit, it's time to celebrate our harvest!

From my garden I finally picked the many many green tomatoes,

Some of which found their way into jars in the form of chutney!

And on to my plate with lunch...

And some of the apples have been turned into muffins!

2010-09-15T08:10:00.000-07:00

Some Chickens..

2010-09-08T08:03:00.000-07:00

Black and white diary...

I really want to learn the Charleston Lindyhop (Swing dancing) I love the music, and the dance looks amazing! Hopefully will able to join a class soon, in the meantime, not sure if they are the right dance moves, but here are some impressions I've been drawing to music..

Lindy hop Showdown!

2010-09-06T08:58:00.000-07:00

Black and white diary.... sofa chatting with a friend:

Not quite keeping up a daily drawing, but here's something from last week. Chatting with a friend on the sofa in our front room. Don't know why I chose an ariel view, but it's something different!

2010-09-02T04:36:00.000-07:00

Black and white diary.. Day 5: Sharing an icecream and a chat with a friend

I realised I'm a day behind on things, so here is yesterdays.. Day 6: On my bycle riding through Clifton searching for fruit trees....

(This is my imaginary bicycle.. what I wish my bicycle was!)

2010-09-01T06:45:00.000-07:00

Black and white diary.. Day 4: Playing guitar

2010-08-31T05:34:00.000-07:00

Black and white diary, Day 3: taking a big parcel to the postoffice in the pouring rain..

2010-08-26T10:54:00.000-07:00

I heard about this through Jon Davis, so to spread the word, here's some info...

PLR (public lending rights) allows an author/illustrator a small earning from each lending of their work from a public library (6p per lend). The government want to drastically cut this funding.

There are but a few JKRowling's, Stephanie Meyer's, and Quentin Blakes. Many of us, if not most of us struggle to make ends meet and every penny makes a difference. Please, please show your support of PLR funding by signing this petition .

2010-08-26T10:34:00.000-07:00

Black and white

I would like to branch into black and white pen line drawings for young fiction 7 - 9 year olds. Sooo, I need to work on that portfolio.. here are some trials!

I was trying to think of what to draw/what the characters should be doing, and my friend suggested drawing a diary of what I do each day (this does mean I have to do something interesting every day now!) But here are the first pages of the diary..

Picking apples in our local woods

And making blackberry and apple jam!

2010-08-11T10:42:00.000-07:00

A modern Cinderella sample sketch for a possible new book, fingers crossed!

2010-08-03T10:30:00.000-07:00

Something a little bit different...

2010-07-28T15:14:00.000-07:00

Eddie King's Unforgettable Tour of the Forgotten

A friend of mine has collaborated with 6 other play-writes in Bristol to produce a show called 'Eddie King's Unforgettable Tour of the Forgotten', and I illustrated the promotional material... good fun exercising a bit of my 'dark side'!

It's on betweem mon 2nd - thurs 5th August, at Bristol's Tobacco Factory and Brewery theatres.

2010-06-29T02:45:00.000-07:00

Some more deserts!

Knickerbocker glory

Strawberry Cheesecake..

..yum!

2010-06-17T04:59:00.000-07:00

Down on the farm...

...you will find some pretty pictures!

Displayed at the Windmill Hill City Farm in Bristol, all work for sale, go take a look! Thanks to the very lovely and friendly staff there, the farm is so welcoming.

2010-06-15T07:41:00.000-07:00

Strawberry Milkshake!

Mint choc chip...

Apple pie and custard!

2010-06-10T08:48:00.001-07:00

Micecream...

2010-06-04T09:46:00.000-07:00

random doodle of the day...

2010-06-01T05:19:00.000-07:00

Some more cupcakes.....

2010-05-28T09:05:00.000-07:00

Mm mmm, Cupcake!

I am donating a mouse and cupcakes to a charity auction being held at Bristol's Paintworks in July, more details to come!

2010-05-19T14:03:00.000-07:00

Look, I have a new friend :)

It's my first guitar and it's beautiful! I got it a few days ago, and it now seems to have taken up residence beside me in my studio :) I love it so much!

2010-05-14T11:28:00.000-07:00

Southbank Arts Trail, Bristol, 2010

I share my house with 4 other very creative and talented people, and last weekend was our 'Arts Trail' weekend, when we opened our house and studio and invited in the whole world and his dog! Above is a pic of my studio before... and below is a studio of during!

I was designated 'chief orgainiser/music promoter' in my house, and I've been looking forward to this weekend for months! I shared my studio with my Japanese housemates beautiful work:

And we had my other housemates print studio in our front room, our kitchen turned into a Japanese/English cafe (with plenty of tea and cakes, many made my clever mum!) And upstairs was a magical wonderland of Music Under the Stars, where we invited our talented musician friends to play 2 gigs on the Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. I even made a poster with fellow illustrator Dave Bain, who also hosted music and art at his house:

The biggest bedroom in the house was filled with over 30 people even backing up the stair-well to the attic....

The Pindrop Band

The last 3 bands feat. my talented housemate Jacob Morrison on guitar, banjo and ukulele.

And Henry Dingle (I didn't manage to get a photo of Henry, because I was busy swept up looking after the art!).

It was a huge success, and (without sounding boastful!) people keep telling me how wonderful it was! I feel so proud to have brought together something which made so many people happy. It had such a busy, warm, happy atmosphere. Myself and my housemates were exhausted after the weekend, only just beginning to recover enough to tidy up and get the house make to normal! But it was worth every effort, and I can't wait to do it all again!

2010-05-04T04:52:00.000-07:00

Southbank Arts Trail

We will have an open studio as part of the Southbank Arts Trail this weekend! I will be exhibiting originals, drawings, doodles, work in progress, prints, cards and books. Plus resident artists Rachael and Kano with Textiles and Japanese art. And Bristols Snap Studio exhibiting and screen printing in the garden. And Japanese/english cafe, tea and cakes cakes cakes. PLUS music by many of our talented friends on saturday night and sunday afternoon including:
Lonely Tourist
Jerry Afraid
Rozi Plain
Evening Chorus

Sam Marais
Henry Dingle
Pindrop Band

So exciting, and so much to do in preparation! If you're around in Bristol, drop by and say hello :)

2010-04-29T06:19:00.000-07:00

2010-04-28T16:10:00.000-07:00

Just wallpapering a few more sketches in my spare time!

I tried changing the colour of the line in some. Good fun! A quick and easy way to put colour and pattern in my sketches :)

2010-04-27T01:06:00.000-07:00

I had a day out in London yesterday - met the lovely Hannah at Plum Pudding illustration for dinner. Made a tour of guitar shops, bookshops and the Rob Ryan exhibition during the daytime. A perfect day out!

I did a few sketches on the tube and in the stations... here are some, they're quite wobbly....

Sorry for lack of posts at the moment, quite caught up in things at the mo... sudden farmyard stories that urgently need picutres! And preparing for the Bristol Southbank 'Arts Trail' - less than 2 weeks away - where our house will be turned into a gallery, and our garden a music stage all day and evening, I can't wait :)