THEFTY

The Random Project: Postcards, snails and scribbles.

thefty — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:14:58 +0000

Hello! Have you heard about the Random Project? In the run-up to the 2012 Olympics, the public has been invited to create hand-made postcards in response to a random keyword they are given. The postcards will then be exhibited in March 2012. I thought it would be fun to take part.

My random word was sport. Now, I’m not the most athletic person in the world, so at first I was stuck. But then I remembered it was about what the word meant to me. And so, I drew a good sport. (I guess that’s what the Olympics are about too.)

This is my favourite one. I like the idea of using a couple of snails to illustrate the idea of ‘sport’. Hee hee.

My initial attempts involved robots, but then I realised I liked snails better.

If you’d like to take part in the Random Project, click here for details.

Elsewhere

thefty — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:57:21 +0000

Hello!

It’s been quiet around here because I’ve been busy tinkering elsewhere! You may recall that I have another blog, called Top 5 Photos. It is finally up and running again after a major overhaul, and I’m pretty pleased with the result.

TOP 5 Photos simply consists of my TOP 5 images in various categories. I choose a theme, and then scour the internet (and my photos) for 5 images which best fit that theme. If you like art and photography, make sure you take a look!

p.s. Expect arty updates soon!

Pink Sky: New Year Doodling

thefty — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:16:27 +0000

Hello there! I’ve been very quiet lately, haven’t I?

I haven’t been doodling much in the last few weeks (doodler’s block, I believe it’s called). However, this morning I awoke from a dream that made me want to reach for my pen. This is a quick sketch I did this morning.

In my dream, I was hanging out in a garden with my late grandfather, like we did when I was a kid. The grass was wet, and I was walking barefoot, climbing into flowerpots and feeling my feet sinking into damp soil. An evening worth drawing, no?

The dialogue is in Greek. For a bigger version (with subtitles!) please click here.

p.s. Happy new year!

Private Commission: Joy In Small Places

thefty — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:11:57 +0000

Hello! This is a brand new piece, called ‘Joy In Small Places’. It was commissioned by someone who wanted something bright and happy for their new home. This was a hugely enjoyable piece to work on – it’s lovely when a client suggests something that triggers off a flood of ideas! In this case, my client wanted a piece inspired by Islamic art. No faces, no animals, just a sea of elaborate patterns.

This is the biggest commissioned piece I’ve ever worked on. It is loaded with sparkling rhinestones and luminous acrylic pearls, as well as lots of silver ink. I love the way it shimmers in dim light, and I like the way the stark black patterns keep it from being too ‘girly’.

I hope you like it, Miss T!

A Very Thefty Christmas!

thefty — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:38:11 +0000

Hello everyone!

Just a quick reminder that my online store is open for Christmas shopping, with the last UK orders going out on December 17th. There are Christmas cards galore, as well as colourful art prints and posters, photographic prints, and original paintings too!

You could get these for a dinosaur lover, or this poster for someone who’s an Apple junkie! There’s a print for a book lover here, and something for a sweet-tooth over here. Oh, and what about your lover? Wouldn’t they like this? (The answer is yes.)

Prices start from £1.50, and a large A2 print is less than £33. I try to price my prints and cards so that people like me can afford them!

Thanks to everyone whose already done their shopping in my store. If you fancy anything, please get your orders in quick! There’s only a week to go!

Christmas ‘Cootie Catcher’

thefty — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 21:05:23 +0000

Hello! As a Christmas present for all of you, I’ve made a printable Christmas ‘cootie catcher’! I think it would make a funny little stocking stuffer, or a cute decoration on the Christmas table! I hope you like it.

The fortunes are as eye-roll-inducing as you’d hope. (See below for the rest of them!)

The template below can be printed straight onto A4 paper (click here for full size version). All you need to do is print it, cut off the excess at the bottom, and fold it up! (Folding instructions here.)

Happy fortune telling! Let me know if you decide to print some – I’d love to know what you do with them!

p.s. Don’t forget – I’ve also got a bunch of Christmas cards in my shop, in case you haven’t bought yours yet!

John’s birthday: A sketch.

thefty — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 09:54:46 +0000

When my brother was little, he had an obsession with rockets (evidence here). My mum’s the kind of awesome mum who made spectacular birthday cakes, and one year, John got a rocket cake (see it over here). John is all grown up now, but I thought I’d make him a rocket cake anyway, in the best way I know.

Happy birthday, John.

Hope it’s OUT OF THIS WORLD! Love, your sister.

p.s. If I lived in the same country as my bro, I’d have printed this out as a HUGE poster and used it as a party backdrop. But, alas, he’s far away! Sigh. (On that note, kitsch party banner commissions are welcome!!! Ha! But, seriously.)

Burnt Sugar: Robots & Fudge.

thefty — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 14:39:52 +0000

Hello! Burnt Sugar is a company that makes really good fudge (I used to work near Borough Market and, trust me, I’ve sampled it more than once). Burnt Sugar are running a competition to design the packaging for their Borough Market Bag.

Here is my entry! I described it as ‘Mr. Fudge-Bot and the Lumpy Bumpy fudge are pictured in the fudgy hall of fame.’

The winner is decided by vote, so please click here to vote for me! Any votes for my fudge-bot would be greatly appreciated!

Thefty @ Sunday Upmarket

thefty — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:28:02 +0000

Guess what? I’m taking my wares and hitting Brick Lane! For the last four Sundays before Christmas (dates below) I’ll be selling Christmas cards, prints and posters at the Sunday Upmarket on London’s Brick Lane.

I’ll be sharing a stall with two creative ladies (see here and here). If you’ll be in East London doing your Christmas shopping, make sure to come and say hello!

Click here to view the Facebook event!

Market dates: Nov 27th / Dec 4th / Dec 11th / Dec 18th

Of course, if you’re not in London, then you can still shop online. Check out my shop over here!

London Skies: A Private Commission

thefty — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:55:15 +0000

Hello! This piece was commissioned by an Aussie living in London. She’s here for a limited time only, and she wanted this painting to serve as a non-corny souvenir! Here’s the finished product (I wish metallics weren’t so hard to photograph!):

The words are lyrics from a Jamie Cullum song, and they say, ‘The sunlight always shines behind the clouds of London Skies‘. I was asked to include these words in the painting, and they inspired a lot of the imagery.

If you look closely, you’ll see the Queen having a G&T with her corgi, a squirrel tea party, the London Eye on a bad hair day, a pigeon, Kate and Wills, a lot of rain, and quite a lot more. I hope you like it Miss A!