When I have Fears that I may Cease to Be...

When I have fears that I may cease to be
Before my pen has glean'd my teeming brain,
Before high piled books, in charact'ry,
Hold like rich garners the full ripened grain;
When I behold, upon the night's starr'd face,
Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance,
And think that I may never live to trace
Their shadows with the magic hand of chance;

And when I feel, fair creature of an hour!

That I may never look upon thee more,
Never have relish in the faery power
Of Unreflecting Love! - Then on the shore
Of the wide world I stand alone, and think
Till love and fame to nothingness do sink.
- Keats

Chinese Tea

I have been drinking a lot of Chinese tea lately thanks to the lovely people at The Essence of Tea in Falmouth, so here is a lady sipping from a Chinese teacup. If anybody is wondering, it is oolong that she is drinking.

I will be making a print of this to sell at the Islington Contemporary Art and Design Fair that I shall be exhibiting at again this year! Also more oriental things on their way since I'm feeling that way inclined recently. Quite possibly some more screenprints in the not too distant future too!

Gee Whizz! She's integrating!

It's true, I'm getting all technical and social networky! I have been talked into creating a facebook page for my illustration on several occasions by several people so just to SHUT THEM UP (and also maybe because it's a good idea), I have created a facebook page for my illustration.

It's here: Nicola Patten Illustration

Also, the homepage of my website now has shiny new (and hideously modern-looking) facebook/ twitter/ blogspot buttons, since that appears to be the done thing these days.

They shall probably follow on the other pages some time when it's not half 1 in the morning and when I've not been living in a field for four days.

Viking makes a discovery

You might be seeing this guy around a fair bit now so please be welcoming. He's pretty friendly really.

Capture Cure 2011

Some of you may remember this lady from the illustration I auctioned off at last year's Capture Cure auction for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Well, the time has come around again and here she is sporting a brand new headscarf from her range of eccentric headgear! Also, she's grown hands! Hurrah! Maybe next year she will have arms too.

When the time comes I shall update you with how to vote for it on facebook to appear in the auction.

Website Updates!

I realise I have been neglecting you again. I can only apologise.

In my defence, I have been working really hard (at getting a tan) in Spain.

I HAVE, however, also been making some changes. My portfolio has had many things removed and added and the portfolio page of my website has since followed. I've taken away the crazy projector thing (which, although providing you visitors with hours of unending fun, was impractical; limiting the space for the actual illustrations to be shown. And I suppose, being an illustration website, the illustrations ought to come first. Sorry, I know it's boring).

I've also arranged the thumbnails into two categories - 'children's illustration' and 'older audiences', which encompasses the books market and greetings cards, along with my personal work - prints and so-forth.

I've been meaning to tidy this page up for a while so currently feel like I would imagine I would feel if I'd just given my room a big tidy (I can only speculate as to what this feels like, as I have not given my room a big tidy in quite some time).

If you spot any problems with it or can think of a better way of wording 'older audiences' please let me know!

_________

Also the 'Echoes' book IS on its way still - I'm rather busy recently so it is being somewhat delayed!

Coming Soon!

A little sneak preview of my new book. I shall reveal all soon but for now this is all you're getting.

http://nicolapatten.bigcartel.com/product/echoes-signed-hand-bound-book