Souper Duper

Last night I had a good browse on a gorgeous food blog - Tartelette. If you haven't heard of it, do visit, if just for the amazing food styling and light-filled photography. I saw a post on Roast Vegetable Soup, and although I often make vegetable soup, I've never roasted the vegetables first, but it inspired me and today I made some for lunch, then loved it so much I made it again, slightly differently, for supper! I just used whatever veg I had, and added a pile of basmati rice and some goat's cheese which melted and all in it was divine! There was no light for a photo, so I've illustrated the recipe instead!

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My Maps

I'm working on a series of maps of Paris, New York and London, for my illustration portfolio. Obviously there's a bit too much to fit onto a sheet of A4, so I've decided to pick out a few of my favourite places in each city and map those (loosely - scale and hard fact have gone out the window). I've just this second done Paris, which brought back lots of fond memories...

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Books etc.

I just thought I'd share a couple of inspiring books I've bought in the last few weeks... The first is Rob Ryan's You can still do a lot with a small brain, which has got all sorts of lovely and interesting images of his work and workshop (it's always nice to see behind the scenes). The second is Illusive, which showcases lots of different illustrators' work and which I can't bear to put on the bookshelf as the cover is just too pretty to be hidden away! It's the third in a series of tomes, so I'll have to backtrack and buy numbers 1 and 2 when funds allow.

Screening

Towards the end of last year I took part in a screen printing workshop at Print Club in London (to celebrate the third birthday of the graphic design agency where I work). We had an absolutely brilliant day, each printing our designs which were based on the number three... I was in Parisian mode...

Co.

I've been busy all this week building an actual proper real life website (www.bessharding.co.uk). It's mostly meant as a portfolio site to show examples of my illustration, textiles and painting, and of course has a link back to this blog and to my Etsy shop. I'm really pleased with the layout, and although not all the content is there yet, it's now online and ready for viewing!! Here's a snapshot...

Ltd.

I'm getting some limited editions prints made up this week, which will be in my Etsy shop (and possibly on Big Cartel too as a tester) in about a week's time. They're A4, the same design in two colourways, printed on really good quality 310gsm paper, and there will be a run of just 15 of each. Here are the designs, if anyone would like to pre-order one please feel free to email me (see address to the right). Just in time for Valentine's!

Traditionally...

I've just entered the latest Tigerprint design competition. The brief is for a beautiful traditional card design and I've had a lovely afternoon absorbed in "beautiful tradition". Here are a couple of my entries, fingers crossed as ever!