Twelve Dancing Princesses

A month or so ago I recieved these wonderful commisions from the Ukraine in the post. I asked Daria Hlazatova  to render me some pieces based on The Twelve Dancing Princesses. I had a small hardbook ladybird copy of the fairytale and used to stare at the illustrations for hours as a little girl, it fascinated me no end. The rug scattered with 12 pairs of worn and ruined slippers, the magical woods and branches of gold, silver. The twelve different dresses, the beautiful boats which the princesses travelled in to the ball. I haven't seen the book for years now, but they are etched into my memory. As all good illustrations should be. They make a mark on children and I think the visual power of them are very underestimated. I think they sometimes are remembered more so than the stories, and shape an individuals taste and vision, and sparks their imagination. I think it would be a good thing for adult books to have more illustrated plates in them. Especially considering how expensive they are, and with these awful Kindles taking away how precious a book is. Your book is a little friend for the time you are reading them.

 Anyway. I have finally gotten these beauties framed and mounted and up on my walls. Daria captured the story for me beautifully. I think this artist needs to be snapped up by a publisher as soon as possible because there is something fascinating in her work that is sometimes lacking in the more minimal, cutesy art work you can find in the Children's Book Department (I ran a Kids section at Waterstones and used to idle away the boring days looking through the picture books!) Everytime I look at Daria's work, I am a daydreaming child again. And it feels very comforting and happy.

Colour in my tiny, pokey bedroom/workroom

 

 

 

Thank you Daria x

   

Twelve Dancing Princesses

A month or so ago I recieved these wonderful commisions from the Ukraine in the post. I asked Daria Hlazatova  to render me some pieces based on The Twelve Dancing Princesses. I had a small hardbook ladybird copy of the fairytale and used to stare at the illustrations for hours as a little girl, it fascinated me no end. The rug scattered with 12 pairs of worn and ruined slippers, the magical woods and branches of gold, silver. The twelve different dresses, the beautiful boats which the princesses travelled in to the ball. I haven't seen the book for years now, but they are etched into my memory. As all good illustrations should be. They make a mark on children and I think the visual power of them are very underestimated. I think they sometimes are remembered more so than the stories, and shape an individuals taste and vision, and sparks their imagination. I think it would be a good thing for adult books to have more illustrated plates in them. Especially considering how expensive they are, and with these awful Kindles taking away how precious a book is. Your book is a little friend for the time you are reading them.

 Anyway. I have finally gotten these beauties framed and mounted and up on my walls. Daria captured the story for me beautifully. I think this artist needs to be snapped up by a publisher as soon as possible because there is something fascinating in her work that is sometimes lacking in the more minimal, cutesy art work you can find in the Children's Book Department (I ran a Kids section at Waterstones and used to idle away the boring days looking through the picture books!) Everytime I look at Daria's work, I am a daydreaming child again. And it feels very comforting and happy.

Colour in my tiny, pokey bedroom/workroom

 

 

 

Thank you Daria x

   

Introducing... Mabel. And Fabrice.

As I had a booklet of postcards ready to draw on which I hadn't even touched yet, save a wobbely drawing from my train journey back from London. I decided it might be nice to do some and do a giveaway on Twitter. The girl I drew looked a bit saucy, but sweet. So did another one, and gave her a cat. Which have named Fabrice. She found him in France when she moved there from England. He is terribly grumpy and hates being touched. But she loves him all the same. Mabel loves black ribbons, and false eyelashes and frills. She's nuts actually.

Introducing... Mabel. And Fabrice.

As I had a booklet of postcards ready to draw on which I hadn't even touched yet, save a wobbely drawing from my train journey back from London. I decided it might be nice to do some and do a giveaway on Twitter. The girl I drew looked a bit saucy, but sweet. So did another one, and gave her a cat. Which have named Fabrice. She found him in France when she moved there from England. He is terribly grumpy and hates being touched. But she loves him all the same. Mabel loves black ribbons, and false eyelashes and frills. She's nuts actually.

Pot Bound the Third

This one does not work either. But wanted to finish it all the same,

Pot Bound the Third

This one does not work either. But wanted to finish it all the same,

Pot Bound Again

Here is an idea for No Guts No Glory. Unfortunately we can't translate this one to a tee as it's too tonal. So back to drawing board! 

Pot Bound Again

Here is an idea for No Guts No Glory. Unfortunately we can't translate this one to a tee as it's too tonal. So back to drawing board! 

ACOFI Party and London Trip

Couple of weekends ago I escaped the small town I live in to get myself an injection of culture, fun and to a very important party.
Leaving North Devon at 5 something in the morning for the usual coach-of-death, I had quite a pleasent journey, managed to snooze, ate my packed lunch that Pops made me, so all good stuff.  The coach is always painfully slow as soon as it hits London, and crawls to Victoria. I just want to get off and start walking really fast with everyone else. And smell London. First stop was to see my old flatmate Soph and her baby, Harry for lunch. He thought it was a fun game dipping his chips, in anything. We then had a mooch around the charity shops of Pimlico, where I first lived on moving to London. Cornucopia was gone. Which was the best treasure trove of vintage dresses just cramming floor to ceiling. I then legged it over to Oxford Street to buy last minute accessories. I hit Selfridges (no sign of a recession in there! Girl in front thought nothing of spending £300 on two bra and knicker sets CHING CHING) I spoilt myself with some Tabio pale pink tights, although I wanted pale blue. And the Chanel Rouge Noir lipstick I have had my eye on. The dress I was going to wear cost me all of £8 in charity shop. YES!

Poser

Then rushed to see my date, Dan who I used to live and party with back in 2008. We got back to his flat in East and got ready in minutes! Off to ACOFI we go!

Got to the party and it was in full swing, we secured some drinks and started having fun from then on! Brilliant music from The Pipette's dj'ing skills and 6DayRiot, and got to meet all of the Amelia's Mag editors including Amelia herself  and a very dapper Matt Bramford in bow tie.

Amelia Shoulder Rockin some Beautiful Soul.

I was a bit shy and so didn't introduce myself to all of the other illustrators I wanted to meet, but did get to meet Abby and Avril and June gave me a lovely pack of her postcards. Felt a bit strange going up to people you have never met, thinking you recognise them from their twitter pictures and saying hello! I'm Faye West! Managed to introduce myself to Nicola Woods of Beautiful Soul finally and the girls from Ballad Of Magazine. I also had so much fun dancing I missed out on the amazing pink cake! Doh! Oh well. The fact that after the party finished we went on to an old friend, Ellie's Birthday party and then ate curry in a Dalston Bagel shop at 4am meant that this was probably a good thing! (Also a food fight ensued and a trip to a huge Pool hall happened at some point)

 

Dancing apparently. Courtesy of Matt Bramf

So I manged to not be too hungover in the morning, and after 24 hrs of being on the go, felt all refreshed and lovely once I had a shower and got dressed to see some of what my favourite place in London had to offer. The National Portrait Gallery. It is my favourite place. I miss spending days off on my own in there. We saw the amazing Isabella Blow piece by Tim Noble and Sue Webster.

 

Am very lucky to have been in the same room as Isabella Blow once. I was at a gallery event which my friend was 'working' at a few years ago, and there she was stalking the gallery space in one of her hats. It was fantastic seeing a woman of her brilliance whom you pick up on as a teenage fashion student in magazines in your home towns, a world away from hers.

We had a lovely time walking around, Ashlee, Dan, Ol and me. I even bought myself a fabulous multicoloured metallic jacket in a vintage shop. We had fish and chips in Soho and then went back East to get ready to head over to Holloway Road to see some of my other old London Town friends. I was an hour late, such a bumpkin had lost all TFL savvy. Must remember to actually look at a tube map next time.

I am amazed how much I fitted in to two days! I even got a pancake breakfast and a mad dash around Cass Art before missing my coach and having to spend £40 on a train home! It was worth it! I spent a luxurious and contented journey back reading the Amelia's Magazine and playing with my other ACOFI gifts that came in my goody bag. And just when I start to imagine moving back to London, I get met with a golden, hazy landscape of rolling hills and remember how happy I am back in Devon.

ACOFI Party and London Trip

Couple of weekends ago I escaped the small town I live in to get myself an injection of culture, fun and to a very important party.
Leaving North Devon at 5 something in the morning for the usual coach-of-death, I had quite a pleasent journey, managed to snooze, ate my packed lunch that Pops made me, so all good stuff.  The coach is always painfully slow as soon as it hits London, and crawls to Victoria. I just want to get off and start walking really fast with everyone else. And smell London. First stop was to see my old flatmate Soph and her baby, Harry for lunch. He thought it was a fun game dipping his chips, in anything. We then had a mooch around the charity shops of Pimlico, where I first lived on moving to London. Cornucopia was gone. Which was the best treasure trove of vintage dresses just cramming floor to ceiling. I then legged it over to Oxford Street to buy last minute accessories. I hit Selfridges (no sign of a recession in there! Girl in front thought nothing of spending £300 on two bra and knicker sets CHING CHING) I spoilt myself with some Tabio pale pink tights, although I wanted pale blue. And the Chanel Rouge Noir lipstick I have had my eye on. The dress I was going to wear cost me all of £8 in charity shop. YES!

Poser

Then rushed to see my date, Dan who I used to live and party with back in 2008. We got back to his flat in East and got ready in minutes! Off to ACOFI we go!

Got to the party and it was in full swing, we secured some drinks and started having fun from then on! Brilliant music from The Pipette's dj'ing skills and 6DayRiot, and got to meet all of the Amelia's Mag editors including Amelia herself  and a very dapper Matt Bramford in bow tie.

Amelia Shoulder Rockin some Beautiful Soul.

I was a bit shy and so didn't introduce myself to all of the other illustrators I wanted to meet, but did get to meet Abby and Avril and June gave me a lovely pack of her postcards. Felt a bit strange going up to people you have never met, thinking you recognise them from their twitter pictures and saying hello! I'm Faye West! Managed to introduce myself to Nicola Woods of Beautiful Soul finally and the girls from Ballad Of Magazine. I also had so much fun dancing I missed out on the amazing pink cake! Doh! Oh well. The fact that after the party finished we went on to an old friend, Ellie's Birthday party and then ate curry in a Dalston Bagel shop at 4am meant that this was probably a good thing! (Also a food fight ensued and a trip to a huge Pool hall happened at some point)

 

Dancing apparently. Courtesy of Matt Bramf

So I manged to not be too hungover in the morning, and after 24 hrs of being on the go, felt all refreshed and lovely once I had a shower and got dressed to see some of what my favourite place in London had to offer. The National Portrait Gallery. It is my favourite place. I miss spending days off on my own in there. We saw the amazing Isabella Blow piece by Tim Noble and Sue Webster.

 

Am very lucky to have been in the same room as Isabella Blow once. I was at a gallery event which my friend was 'working' at a few years ago, and there she was stalking the gallery space in one of her hats. It was fantastic seeing a woman of her brilliance whom you pick up on as a teenage fashion student in magazines in your home towns, a world away from hers.

We had a lovely time walking around, Ashlee, Dan, Ol and me. I even bought myself a fabulous multicoloured metallic jacket in a vintage shop. We had fish and chips in Soho and then went back East to get ready to head over to Holloway Road to see some of my other old London Town friends. I was an hour late, such a bumpkin had lost all TFL savvy. Must remember to actually look at a tube map next time.

I am amazed how much I fitted in to two days! I even got a pancake breakfast and a mad dash around Cass Art before missing my coach and having to spend £40 on a train home! It was worth it! I spent a luxurious and contented journey back reading the Amelia's Magazine and playing with my other ACOFI gifts that came in my goody bag. And just when I start to imagine moving back to London, I get met with a golden, hazy landscape of rolling hills and remember how happy I am back in Devon.

BEAUTIFUL SOUL Painting By Numbers

Just before Christmas I was asked to collaborate with Beautiful Soul on their next collection for A/W 11. They already worked on something beautiful with fellow ACOFI artist Zarina Liew and it really is all down to Amelia's Magazine that these projects take place. I never really imagined seeing my illustrations in this way whe I started as a Fashion Illustration student, it's been a wonderful highlight to my year so far.

And here are some examples from the collection, printed on Organic silk...

BEAUTIFUL SOUL Painting By Numbers

Just before Christmas I was asked to collaborate with Beautiful Soul on their next collection for A/W 11. They already worked on something beautiful with fellow ACOFI artist Zarina Liew and it really is all down to Amelia's Magazine that these projects take place. I never really imagined seeing my illustrations in this way whe I started as a Fashion Illustration student, it's been a wonderful highlight to my year so far.

And here are some examples from the collection, printed on Organic silk...

The Irrepressables

Here is my ink/watercolour of Nicole Robson, cellist and band member of The Irrepressables. Another great opportunity to do a music piece for Amelias Magazine.

The Irrepressables

Here is my ink/watercolour of Nicole Robson, cellist and band member of The Irrepressables. Another great opportunity to do a music piece for Amelias Magazine.