Some additions to my portfolio

On the 9th of February I will be at the launch party of the Undiscovered Voices anthology that features my viking illustration. There will be lots of agents and art directors present (as well as the illustration chair, Nick Sharratt!) so I have been very busy recently preparing my children's illustration portfolio to be shown at the event. Here are some of the recent additions!

A little sketch to reassure you I'm not dead/my hands haven't fallen off

So the other day I went to see my favourite sea birds Guillemots at Koko in Camden, and the journey home involved an hour wait at Paddington for a train that was to take ANOTHER hour to get me back to Reading. I was, therefore, upon this occasion, the happiest I believe I have ever been to have my trusty Moleskine by my side, and this is the result of my boredom. This is Mr Dangerfield.

This Year's Christmas Cards

I realise this pretty much spoils the surprise for anyone receiving Christmas cards from me or any of my relative that buy cards off my this year. Having said that, since I am so incurably lazy, most of you probably won't be anyway so that shouldn't be a problem.

I have been playing with felting and knitting and enjoying it so expect to see more of this soon!

You can buy a pack of all four of these cards for £6 over on my SHOP!

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.