Undependent Festival Storytelling Workshop

I was meaning to blog about this workshop for a while now, but somehow never got round to it. I was lucky to teach a storytelling workshop with a brand new film festival in Glasgow. I was even listed as an official event as part of the festival on their web page, so you can image how incredibly chuffed I was!

Initially I was planning to lead the workshop on my own, which was a little scary. I have taught various workshops before, but never been a part of the festival. When the festival was fast approaching I was lucky to meet Lesley and her husband, who run Spiral Heart Healing. They arrange storytelling workshops, with meditation and shaman inspired guided journeys. I was incredibly inspired after our meeting, so we decided to run the workshop together.

Spiral Heart Healing told a story of Goldilocks, but from a more darker and  mysterious perspective, where Goldilocks was a vixen. So I have produced a series of illustrations to decorate the Old Hairdressers where the workshop was going to take place. After the story was told and all the participants experienced a personal spiritual journey guided by Spiral Hear Healing, I enouraged them to share their experiences on the boards we provided. I sketched a background of trees and hills so that there was some starting point. Everybody enjoyed their drawing session even though it was fairly brief. I am hoping I will have a chance to work with the festival next year as well!

Here are some pictures from the workshop...

Another 15 min of fame :D

So for the past few months I have been lucky to work with The Genn newspaper and they have been incredibly kind to publish my work in a few issues of the newspaper. I am in the process to get some more of my work published with them, so whoever has access to the printed version of The Genn in Glasgow grab a few copies of the paper for me too :P

Bookbinding workshop for MUSA back in June!

I thought I will briefly talk about the workshop I did back in June for MUSA (University of St Andrews Museum). It was an evening three hour session on bookbinding. I have done a few of these type of sessions before for Design Team, but this was the first time the workshop was open to the public. I had a blast! And made loads of pretty notebooks. I enjoyed this workshop so much, that I am thinking of setting up my own workshop page on my website, so if anybody might be interested in taking part in these workshops just keep an eye on my website or this blog :)

Here are some pics from the event..

New items on Etsy shop!

I have been silent for a while. Just needed some me time and of course just started a new job in an office, which means I had to adjust to full time hours and early mornings.

I am now trying to get back to blogging, crafting and drawing!

To begin with, I have added a few more items to my Etsy shop and more will be added in the next few days, so make sure to check out my shop once in a while. I will also be blogging this whole week, trying to catch up and update you all on what I have been up to for the past few weeks :)

Some long lost photos from my home town :)

Today I was going through some of my old photos and I found these. They were taken all the way back in 2005. Spring time in my home town - Marijampole, Lithuania. The memories...

New ink illustrations for a book cover project!

So I am currently working on a poetry book cover. The book will be out in the UK on 3rd September. I have already submitted the final illustrations and just waiting for the cover to be finalised! Amazing feeling knowing that my work will be on a book cover!

However, I have produced a huge number of illustrations that were not used. I am planning to sell some of them as prints in my Etsy shop very shortly, but for now, here are the brand new ink illustrations for you to love <3

Back in time - paint work from 2007!

Whilst reviewing some of my work I stumbled upon some paint experiments from 2007. I always enjoyed painting. Mixing colours together, playing around with shape and form of images that can be reshaped and manipulated so easily, creating new patterns with different types of brushes - that is still so very fascinating. However, now I feel that perhaps I am a little less adventurous in my creative musings. Perhaps I should rethink how I approach work and get some of that youthful passion and freedom back in my life!

Long live the freedom!

My website!

So I thought I will just make a little blog post with a link to my website. I am super chuffed to have my own website, although it costs me £70 a year to keep it!! >.<

I have uploaded most of my work there, but still working on some new bits and bobs and they will be going up on the website too!

Feeling inspired and creative today! :)

My lovely new home :)

Many things inspire me, especially the place where I live. No matter where I go, no matter how small my room is - I have to make it look pretty. So now, I finally have an entire flat for myself and I could not be happier. I can decorate it as I wish and I am loving every minute I spend at home! Here are some pics of my lovely pad ;)

Linocutting!

I finally tried the linocutting technique today. There is a lot of space for improvement, but i think I did well for the first time! :)

Chuffed!

Glasgow School of Art Degree Show 2015 - Illustration

Glasgow School of Art Degree Show is on until 20th June in various locations around Glasgow. I popped in to look at the illustrations of the recent graduates.

Overall, the body of work was good, although some general illustration trends could be observed. There are always some sort of trends/styles going about that graduates like to adopt. I graduated in 2009 and there were certain themes circulating back them. These days a more indie/80s based scruffy artwork is the bomb. A few things caught my eye. Pictures attached :)

I would mention a few illustrators who caught my eye immediately and whose business cards I could grab: Jessica Taylor, Katie Dancer and Ianthe Hope Appleton. The later was my favorite. The illustrations had a life of their own and reminded me how powerful the art of portraiture can be.

This wee trip to the degree show brough back memories of May 2009 when we were preparing for our own degree show. I was full of dreams and hopes of how I will be the sensational illustrator in London.

Unfortunately, 2009 was a bad year for all graduates. Economic crisis hit and all struggling artists were working in Starbucks. Despite the struggles I went through as an illustrator, I remember the degree show fondly. I was so proud of my work and I still have the original book I have made. Pictures of some of the illustrations are below :)

The memories ...