Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children - Book Review

Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children - Book Review

I picked up this book and saw this creepy as hell cover and then that the book is filled with weird and eerie vintage photos and I thought it looked really spooky! It has had some great reviews so I was looking forward to reading it.

 The main character is sixteen year old Jacob. His Polish grandfather liked to tell these stories about how when he was a child during the war, he was sent away from home to an orphanage on a Welsh island, he was accompanied by other peculiar children and supposedly kept safe from 'monsters'. As Jacob got older he realized that his grandfather's tales are probably just tall tales. Then his grandfather is horrifically killed in an 'accident' and Jacob heads off to Wales to visit his grandfather's old home as a form of closure. But it soon appears that his grandfather was telling the truth all this time. Jacob goes on to discover more about his grandfathers stories. This book started off as a really creepy and intriguing story, along with the eerie vintage pictures it worked well. But as I read the story became less and less gripping. Overall I'd say more went into the cover and interior of the book rather than the actual story. Nonetheless I'd still give it a read as I did enjoy it, I was just disappointed with the last quarter of it.

Nutshell, Illustration & outfits

First post of 2013. I have to say, I have not had much time or motivation for my blog lately. I have a few plans of posts to do very soon, including a book review and a post on my children's book that I wrote and illustrated. This post is very random, but I'm not a professional blogger so hey!

 A graphite sugar skull drawing.

 New favorite trainers - Pink Vans!

 OOTD - leopard print cardigan - H&M I added studs to the top and denim shorts

 A character sketch idea for a flower fairy in my childrens book, done with watercolours.

 Pencil drawing of a crocodile skull I did when I was at the Glasgow zoology museum.

 OOTD - T-shirt - H&M Shorts - New Look 

 Pink Rimmel nails

 OOTD - I got this car dress as a present.

Another character sketch done in colour pencil.

Hope you enjoyed looking at my pictures. 

Gothic Beauty Illustrations

This is what I have been working on recently on my current project at college. Design a deck of cards. It is mixed media and the theme is Gothic. 

 For this illustration I started with a pencil drawing on water-colour paper and I used plum and violet drawing ink for the background. I went over the pencil with black pen and ink. I added more ink later on for a darker look and glued on some lace for her top. I wanted this to be scary but beautiful so I added some skulls and roses.

 Mixed media - trying out prints in my sketchbook for my reverse card design. I wanted it to look like a window from the Notre Dame. 

 The same print on some hand-made paper. I created a dripping effect and filled in parts with ink. I also stuck on some lace.

 The style I am going for but more patterned and more of a circle for my final.

 Got one of these stamps with my initial to seal envelopes. I thought it would fit in my sketchbook, since I was inspired by the Victorian Gothic era.

 An idea for the queen card. I'm not completely happy with this, but I'm going to do it again anyway. I used tea stained paper and added plum and violet ink for the background effect I painted the girl in acrylic.

 Idea for my number card. Tea stained paper with acrylic sponged on and ink dripping from the top. I used acetone to transfer the images on to the paper.

 My joker card. Kind of Harley Quinn/gothic lolita inspired.

This one is one of my favourites, I like the look, it is simple but striking and I think it would work as a queen card. Again I used tea stained paper, acrylic sponged round the edges, lace and acetone transfer.

If your reading this, I hope you like my work!

Recent Sketches and Gothic Project

I thought I would update my blog, since I have been silent for about a month. I have a new project at college, which is mixed media. I chose the theme gothic - past and present. We have to design a deck of cards, which includes the reverse side design, two face cards and the joker. I did some research and looked at lots of pictures of gothic culture and history. I looked at gothic architecture, music and how the gothic fashion has changed.

 Some Sketches.

 George Square, Glasgow.

 A mixed media piece I did on tea stained paper I used ink and added lace and little beads.

 Got this cute little Vero Moda black prom dress the other day for a Christmas night out.

 Been really into deep red nails atm! this one is from H&M

 Been wanting to try this moisturizer for ages. It is very nice so far. 

Got Magic Mike on dvd!

What I Wore & Instagraming Everything

I am not quite turning into one of these people that instagrams about literally everything from their morning tea to their dinner at night. But I do enjoy posting pictures a lot of random things that have been in my day and I enjoy looking at other peoples pictures. So who gives a damn its fun! and you can look back on them and think "oh I forgot I did that!"

I am finished my current project in college, which was to design a book cover for 'The Big Sleep' by Raymond Chandler, but unfortunately it's not quite finished. I still have to finish it off on Photoshop, add logos and barcodes which I am not an expert at. Here is what my final drawing of the main character Philip Marlowe will look like on the front cover. I used pencil, gouache, and pens, size 0.1 0.4,0.7 & fine liner.

I thought I'd try out a 'what I wore' post, since I love seeing what other people wear on their blogs, instagram etc and also some random things I have drawn/painted lately.

 Little quick painting of a half eaten strawberry.

 Cut out sleeve top with skulls - Topshop

 Playsuit black and white with bunnies - Primark - £5!!

 Cut out sleeves top and black skirt - H&M

 Before I dusted my mirror - Skull shorts, Purple Vest - New Look, Leopard Print cardi - H&M

 A huge Red Velvet Cupcake

 A drawing I did recently, it started off as a sort of self portrait but then I made it look prettier :)

A little painting of a flamingo I did when I was bored.

Busy life, shopping, illustration and blog plans

Been so busy with college work lately I haven't had time to update my blog. I have my deadline for 'The Big Sleep' book cover project next Monday, so once thats all finished I'll be sharing my sketches and final. Also did some shopping and got a few new bits of makeup and clothes! :-) I might try out an ootd post or 'what I wear in a week' type thing. Anyway here are some random instagram pictures I've taken lately. Ps looking for some new blogs to follow pref art and fashion. leave links to yours :-)

Halloween Zombie Doll and Comic Noir

After saying I was going to stay in last night I ended up in the Cathouse! I didn't feel like wearing my cheerleader costume again so I put on a little dress with a petticoat underneath, and did some 'zombie doll' type makeup. It was good fun I'm actually glad I went.

I'm planning on doing some comic noir style drawings for my current college project. I have to design a book cover for The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler. We have been asked to come up with something original and give a new take on it, as it has been illustrated so many times already. I am still learning how to draw comic book style, these are some quick sketches of detective Philip Marlowe.

Here are some examples of comic noir style. I think this style would be fitting for the book cover because it is a more modern take and may appeal more to younger people.