Kirsty Love Illustration

celebration is in order :o)

2011-04-19T10:35:00.000-07:00

So I just found out today that I have been accepted unconditionally to do an honours degree in graphic design at university here in Edinburgh. So so happy :o) Had my interview at the beginning on March so it has been a long wait. Will start in September and have direct entry for 2nd year!! It is a big load off my mind, the job situation here is rubbish, and although it is graphic design and not illustration, from what I can gather there you can do modules in illustration which is obviously what I will be doing. And the creative jobs i have seen advertised over this last few months since leaving college, have been for graphic designers. So basically better prospects and I will be doing what I love to do!! Good times! :oD xx

summery :o)

2011-04-13T07:45:00.000-07:00

There we go! A little bit of colour has brightened it up. And cropped images seem to look better for some reason!

ladybirds and popsicles...

2011-04-13T06:29:00.000-07:00

So I was busy sketching away at this self portrait in my sketchbook which I am determined to fill, when I noticed my cat Grace sitting on the window sill. Nothing unusual there, except she appeared to be attacking the window. When I looked closer this cute little ladybird was on the window, hense the pyschotic attacking of the window, which would never have worked because she was outside and the ladybird inside. Anyway I took this photo which i think is very pretty :o) Think I'm going to add some colour to the sketch now.

IF - Bottled

2011-04-11T11:14:00.000-07:00

This is my entry for illustration friday's word bottled. I'm actually not sure if it is a universal term or just a Scottish phrase I'm used to, but if you are attacked with a glass bottle then you have been 'bottled'. Not very cheery but it does happen! I liked using these more grungy colours for a change, and fits the theme I think! :o)

gabby again

2011-04-07T10:18:00.000-07:00

Gabby

2011-04-06T11:28:00.000-07:00

OK so the lack of photoshop didn't last long but it was too much colour detail to use paint. Pretty happy with how this turned out :o)

Adele

2011-04-06T07:35:00.000-07:00

Really loving Adele at the moment. Here is a watercolour and pencil portrait of her. (I hope you appreciate the lack of photoshop help in these recent pieces...it is a hard habbit to break!!) :o)

Duet - Illustration Friday

2011-04-04T13:49:00.000-07:00

So this is my entry for illustration friday's word Duet. If you didn't already know, when you hear a tawny owl call, the 't-witt' noise is the female calling, and the 't-woo-ooo' is the male answering back. I really enjoyed doing this piece. I drew the owls first in my sketchbook, scanned in a watercolour wash and added colour on photoshop.

Here is the original sketchbook scan...

:o)

little sketchbook thingy...

2011-04-04T11:49:00.000-07:00

IF - Toy

2011-03-30T08:47:00.000-07:00

VERY quick sketch for this weeks word...and my photoshop wouldnt load so can't alter it in any way...nooo!! Anyay, Polly Pockets were my favourite toy when I was young. I had soooo many, and still have them all in my attic. But I had this one randomly still in my room, so decided to draw it. It is a necklace which I used to wear all the time. Brought back so many memories doing this, I had a look at this website....http://www.onlypollypocket.com/

If you ever had any then it will probably be on here, so have a look for fun :o)

IF - Swarm

2011-02-27T14:10:00.000-08:00

This is my entry for this weeks word 'swarm'. I wanted to try and avoid the obvious, so went with a celebrity (nobody specific) being swarmed by the paparazzi! I think this fits pretty well :o)

IF - Layer

2011-02-23T12:59:00.000-08:00

Helloooo! This is my entry for this week's Illustration Friday word Layer. Some people apply millions and zillions of layers of make up on their face every day, and most of the time they look a lot better with out it. I may add some text on the left when i figure out something clever to write there haha xxx :o)

ouchy!!!

2011-02-21T02:07:00.000-08:00

This is my foot after I dropped something on it at work on Saturday. It was pretty damn sore at the time but it is now very very sore to move my toes!! I'm pretty sure nothing is broken, and I can still walk on it and can drive so I will survive. But the colours are very pretty so it is not all bad :oP

Cat at the window

2011-02-16T09:21:00.000-08:00

I did a very quick sketch of my cat Grace sitting on my window sill then added colour on Photoshop. Its a bit psychedelic for me but I quite like it! I've been bored with my nice neat lines and stay in the lines colour, really need to get out my paint again and go wild, but my house is totally upside down just now from recent repairs/decorating so there is limited space. Anyway, I drew this because Grace always sits at either the living room window or the kitchen window at the back to show us she wants to come in, or just to mark her teritory to the other cats on the street :o)

IF - Sweater

2011-02-16T06:35:00.000-08:00

This is my entry for 'Sweater'. I decided to draw Kurt Cobain, because his stripy sweater's were very iconic! And I looooove Nirvana :o)

IF - Reverse

2011-02-07T08:45:00.000-08:00

Helloooo! Been far too lazy with the IF entrys recently, and this is still very lazy because I am using an existing piece of work...I am bad, but also have been very busy recently! I created this for a local rock band called Underclass, they are awesome :o) Anyway, when I read that this weeks word was reverse, I though of a mirror and then remembered this. The single is called Bruised Eyes and is basically about a girl who goes out a lot, drinks, takes drugs etc...but she can't see what she is doing to herself. *cough*PLUG*cough* Available to download on iTunes ;o) xx

Underclass - Sheep

2011-02-01T09:57:00.000-08:00

Hellooooo, meant to upload this before now, but this is another artwork which I was commissioned to do for Underclass. Pretty happy with it, and had lots of compliments which always makes me feel good! Hope you like it too :o)

Happy Anniversary!

2011-01-24T06:34:00.000-08:00

Helloooo! Not posted anything in aaaaaages. Been pretty busy and had lots going on. Today is my 3 year anniversary with my boyfriend David so I illustrated this photo of us for a card. Going out for an italian meal tonight, yum yum, can't wait! Thursday was my 23rd birthday too so lots to celebrate this time of year :o)

Phenomenon - Illustration Friday

2010-12-13T10:08:00.000-08:00

Here is my entry for this weeks illustration friday word - phenomenon. I went on a slight tangent by illustrating Scotland's iconic fizzy drink - Irn Bru. Their slogan is 'Its phenomenal' :o)
So unless you are also Scottish, or at the very least British (although I'm not sure how big it is everywhere else) you may not have tasted this bright orange drink, but trust me, it is gooooood!
They always have really funny TV adverts, and as its Christmas time they have started showing their usual one which is a Scottish take on the classic Christmas animation 'The Snowman'. Have a look here....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfiqrkV_ZqI
oh and a cool fact about Irn Bru is that only 2 or 3 people in the Barr's family know the recipe, it's a big secret so they are not allowed to fly on a plane together incase it crashes and they die! Crazyness! :o)

Another Christmas Card Design

2010-12-10T06:39:00.000-08:00

Christmas Card Design

2010-12-10T03:55:00.000-08:00

SNOW!

2010-11-30T10:25:00.000-08:00

There is just a little covering of snow here in Scotland....It is actually halarious how deep it is so I thought I would share some photos that I took this morning.
My crazy cat Grace who is the only cat I know who loves to play in the wet and cold snow, we have to persuade her with food to come back in...MENTAL!

This is my back garden...reminds me of a foam party gone wrong haha :o)

That is my car over there, and my front garden in the foreground....snow is deeper than my knees in parts (and I'm 6ft tall!)

And although it is causing loads of travel problems, schools closed and Tesco running out of bread...it does look very pretty :o)

Illustration Friday - Sneaky

2010-11-23T03:46:00.000-08:00

Just a quick illustration for sneaky....

Underclass - Bruised Eyes artwork

2010-11-21T12:59:00.000-08:00

Heeeey! So I have recently completed this commission doing the artwork for a brilliant Edinburgh rock band called Underclass. This is their single called Bruised Eyes which is a great track and you can check it out here...
http://www.amazingtunes.com/users/underclassmusic?sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4ce6f7733f39cb15%2C0
My mate Mikey is the guitarist and they are really amazing to see live! You can check them out on youtube too...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRzzMYTmEEo
So I was really pleased to do the artwork and I will hopefully be doing future artwork for them tooooooo. I am genuinely a fan...not getting paid to plug them hee hee. :o)

IF - Afterwards

2010-11-11T13:30:00.000-08:00

Afterwards they went back to hers...;o)

IF - Spent

2010-11-01T14:55:00.000-07:00

I SPENT all day Friday with my Grandad, unfortunately he SPENT most of the day sleeping :o) He is 92 though so I can't complain too much. So I took the opportunity to do a sneaky little sketch of him which I have now added some colour too. Hope you like it :o)

Foxgloves

2010-10-28T10:06:00.000-07:00

This is a card design which I came up with and have just sent to someone :o) been crazily busy this week so don't think I will be able to do illustration friday this week, will try though!

telephone!

2010-10-22T07:35:00.000-07:00

took me a few hours to do but really happy with this :o)

purple hair!

2010-10-21T13:28:00.000-07:00

pretty happy with how this turned out :o)

Spooky - Illustration Friday

2010-10-21T08:56:00.000-07:00

"Whats that coming over the hill? Is it a monster? Is it a monster?"

new flyers....

2010-10-13T10:33:00.000-07:00

cats and butterflys...

2010-10-11T07:39:00.000-07:00

Thought I would share some photographs which I have just taken in my back garden.This is my geriatric cat Rosie, she is 19 and a half and still going strong. She has arthritis so can't look after her coat very well but she still tries!

Main reason I took these photos was because I spotted our new litte cat Grace chasing butterflies and it was just too cute! She stands no chance of getting them but she chases anything that moves haha.

Ready to pounce....

Butterflies are so pretty and so are these flowers so when I get time I will do some illustrations from these pics I think :o) Busy doing flyer designs today for this new commission I have, fun fun!

Transportation - Illustration Friday

2010-10-08T07:48:00.000-07:00

Not a traditional method of transportation...but look how cool you would look! :o)

New Selfportrait

2010-10-08T04:53:00.000-07:00

Little bit different...

2010-10-08T03:11:00.000-07:00

New flyer I designed...

2010-10-06T08:31:00.000-07:00

This is the latest flyer I have been commissioned to design - think I should get some regular work from this so good times! Obv not illustration but I can turn my hand to more graphic design if need be!

Beneath - Illustration Friday

2010-10-06T08:17:00.000-07:00

After my recent trip to NYC, I thought I would illustrate the subway seeing as it is BENEATH the streets of an amazing city :o) It is a great way to get around the city - even I figured it out right away!

VW Campervan

2010-09-30T09:38:00.003-07:00

a late proverb!

2010-09-28T08:02:00.000-07:00

As promised! Here is the illustration I started for illustration friday's word proverb a couple of weeks back...

Tasha and John

2010-09-28T07:07:00.000-07:00

This is an illustration of my lovely friend Tasha and her boyfriend John. Drawn from a photograph of them at their graduation ball. Going to make a card for her :o)

IF - Old Fashioned

2010-09-27T14:49:00.000-07:00

A typewriter...I can't imagine the stress of not having a delete button!

IF - Acrobat

2010-09-22T08:23:00.000-07:00

I wish I could do this! :o)

IF - Proverb

2010-09-17T02:35:00.000-07:00

I have started another illustration for this weeks word but I haven't had time to finish it, busy week! But I will finish it ASAP and let you have a nosey. But here is an illustration which also fits that I created a while ago, based on a song lyric i like :o)

Eliza

2010-09-10T07:23:00.001-07:00

Dessert - Illustration Friday

2010-09-08T10:59:00.000-07:00

Did she resist the temptation? You decide!

home sweet home!

2010-09-08T09:24:00.000-07:00

This is a card design I have made to send to my friend who has just moved to a new flat with her boyfriend. Awwwww!

Chrysler Building

2010-09-02T13:45:00.000-07:00

Immovable - Illustration Friday

2010-09-01T09:35:00.000-07:00

I'm just back from an amazing holiday in New York so it was bound to inspire me with my first illustration since getting home. If you can't tell, this is the Flatiron building which I seen on my trip and thought it's shape was even more amazing in reality than photographs. I found out that when it was first built in 1902, the locals were convinced the wind would blow it over and they took bets as to how far the debris would spread when it did. But clearly they were wrong, because it is still standing and I got to take lots of pics of it last week!

Enjoy!

I'm home...

2010-09-01T04:57:00.000-07:00

I'm back from New York! Booooo! Wish I was still there, I had such an amazing time! Did all the big tourist things like Empire State Building, Top of the Rockerfeller, Broadway Show (Mary Poppins), went to the Guggenheim and MoMA, tour of Madison Square Gardens, open top bus tour, seen the NY Yankees play... Took a zillion photos so going to be working on some illustrations from them :o). Feels weird missing two weeks of illustration friday but going to try an come up with something for this weeks word immovable.

This is me from the top of the empire state building with the chrysler building behind me!

New York, New York

2010-08-16T12:38:00.000-07:00

I started typing this post then realised there was no illustration to go with it which just seemed weird for me! So here is a book cover design I did a couple of years ago for college...my style has changed a bit don't you think!

It's sort of related because I'm off to New York on Wednesday for a week. Sooooooooooo excited! Can't wait. Needless to say my blog will be full of New York illustrations when I'm back, so don't say I didn't warn you!

Oh, and I am now on Hire An Illustrator. Check me out here...

http://hireanillustrator.com/i/kirsty-love

Tasha and meeee!

2010-08-09T14:18:00.000-07:00

Just completed this illustration of me and my friend Tasha. Its her 23rd birthday on Thursday so I wanted to make her card with an image of us on it. This was drawn from a photo taken a few years back, I've always liked it :o) Hope she enjoys!

Caged - Illustration Friday

2010-08-09T10:35:00.000-07:00

Right now I feel like a bird

Caged without a key

Everyone comes to stare at me

With so much joy and revelry

They don't know how I feel inside

Through my smile I cry

They don't know what they do to me

Keeping me from flying

Thats why I say that I know why the caged bird sings

Only joy comes from song

Shes so rare and beautiful to others

Why not just set her free

So she can fly, fly fly

Spreading her wings and her song

Let her fly, fly, fly

For the whole world to see.

(Caged Bird - Alicia Keys)

Lollypop!

2010-08-06T05:33:00.000-07:00

This is the latest illustration I've done, no reason why really except that lollypops are fun to colour!

New Website...sort of!

2010-08-04T11:50:00.000-07:00

I have finally got round to redesigning my website. Being clueless at html has not helped, but I have taken what I had and made it a bit more me and professional I feel. Also updated my portfolio and took away things which I was embarrassed about haha. So have a look!

http://www.kirstylove.com/

This is a wee illustration I did for one of the pages so have a nosey at this...

Artificial - Illustration Friday

2010-08-02T09:05:00.000-07:00

This is my entry for this weeks word 'artificial'. I went with the idea of costmetic surgery, in this case botox. But as you can see, this girl is extremely artificial...spray tan, bleached hair, fake breasts, false eye lashes and now injecting poison into her lips. So unattractive...in my opinion!

Journey

2010-08-02T05:06:00.000-07:00

I was away for the weekend to Liverpool for my boyfriend's cousin's wedding. Was very nice and I got to wear a pretty dress and David had an excuse to wear a kilt so it was all good. This is a wee sketch I did on the way there in the car. Nothing special but thought I would post it anyway. I'm going to New York for a week on the 18th....sooooooooooooo excited! Going to take lots of photos and do loads of illustrations from them :-). Need to have a think about this weeks illustration friday word artificial....i'll get back to you!

Double - Illustration Friday

2010-07-28T03:04:00.000-07:00

Here is my entry for this weeks word Double. A mother trying to clean her son but he is not impressed! Enjoy! :o)

Newhaven Harbour

2010-07-27T04:38:00.000-07:00

This is an illustration of Newhaven Harbour in Edinburgh. Today is my Grandads 92nd birthday and he was born and raised in Newhaven, so I created this for his birthday card. Last year I made him a card with a photo-realistic illustration of him on the card, everyone commented on how much it looked like him, but he didn't have a clue who it was! So decided to go a different way this year haha. I think its quite sweet so I hope he likes it.

Update on the finished version of the cycle to work illustration.....

Think it looks a bit more complete now :-) Still don't really want to explain why I have done this yet...but I will next week, you should understand why then. Still need to figure out this weeks illustration friday word double....got a few things I could reuse but would like to come up with something new. So time permitting then I will!

cycle to work?

2010-07-20T14:43:00.000-07:00

All will become clear....mwhahaha!

Illustration Friday - Breakfast

2010-07-19T03:32:00.000-07:00

I think I am going to submit this for this weeks Illustration Friday word - breakfast. I created this illustration for a college brief, an editorial article about the Credit Crunch. I did it in May 2009 so it is a little out of date but I was pleased with the results. I played on the idea of Credit Crunch sounding like a cereal but instead of cereal, it is made up of companys who went into administration or banks who have suffered. Also, I changed Kellogs to Goodwins, after Sir Fred Goodwin who everyone blamed. Quite witty for me!

Self Portrait

2010-07-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

So i got a bit bored and did a wee self portrait. Liking using pen and ink at the mo. The background is a happy accident sort of....i never washed my paint pallet for months and then one day started picking off the paint in big strips, turned it over and was amazing by the pretty colours and textures! You never learnt that on Art Attack! haha xx

Illustration Friday - Diary

2010-07-13T08:37:00.000-07:00

This is my entry for this weeks illustration friday word - diary.

What I'm working on...

2010-07-11T12:34:00.000-07:00

This is a wee sketch I've done for this weeks illustration friday word...diary. It is very emo...but I like to draw the emos! Stay tuned for the finished piece...

Giant - Illustration Friday

2010-07-07T09:08:00.000-07:00

This is my entry for Giant. As I am 6 foot tall, I always feel a bit of a giant around people. But I must be a super duper giant to my cat Rosie! She is tiny compared with me :-)

My Actual Love

2010-07-02T12:20:00.000-07:00

Since I illustrated Simon Neil, I figured I should probably illustrate my actual man - David. Two and a half years and I'm still crazy about him...I must be crazy! haha xx

My Other Love

2010-07-02T04:39:00.000-07:00

Been meaning to illustrate this guy for a loooong time. For those who don't know who it is, Simon Neil from Biffy Clyro. Soooooo loverly. Mega fan. Mon the biff!

I can see the finish line...

2010-06-30T06:57:00.000-07:00

I've been doing a work placement for Edinburgh Council for a few months now, its been going on way too long but it's almost done. I've designed and illustrated a leaflet for the Robert Burns Monument on Calton Hill, Edinburgh. Its not really my thing drawing pretty flowers but I'm quite happy with the result. The council have/are the the process of planting lots of flowers around the monument and the flowers are all mentioned in Burn's poems. So this is the inside of the leaflet, it will be A4 folded into 3. The outside talks about the architecture of the monument and the statue that used to be in it. Its going to be printed in time for an event at the monument on the 24th July so its about to go to the printers!

Satellite

2010-06-29T10:20:00.000-07:00

This is my entry for Illustration Friday for 'Satellite'. I decided to focus on satellite dishes and how ugly they can look, but I recently seen a picture of a tower block with lots of multicoloured satellite dishes which really brightened it up. I think you can buy stickers for them. So this is what I came up with...

New Blog!

2010-06-29T09:10:00.000-07:00

I've decided to make one of these - for real this time! The main reason I want to make a blog is so I have somewhere to link my Illustration Friday entrys to! Anyway, for those who don't know, I have just finished my HND Illustration course and I am now (trying to be) an illustrator! Here is my exhibition space for my end of year show! It was a really good experience and I got lots of lovely comments :-) Also, my full website with all my portfolio is at www.kirstylove.com!