Shop 'Till You Drop!!

I can safely say that when your a techno-phobe like me .... setting up online can initially be a DRAG!!!! It has taken ages to put my images up but but of course once they are there ... job done!!! More things to go in later this week too :D Hopefully maintaining the store will be easier ... just putting new stuff in as I produce it ... and taking old stuff out I suppose!  And of course hopefully getting all those lovely orders out in a timely fashion.

 So please "scoot" along to my Etsy store - it is now ... open!!!

https:www.etsy.com/shop/banham

Old Style Selling to New Style selling ..

 Today was the last of the Seasonal Markets this side of christmas. As usual ... it was a mixed bag ... and it is always a learning curve as to what sells. It can be hard to get it right ... but I was glad I had plenty of Pug cards! And of course there is the cost of the stall to take in to account as well as petrol etc. So how does this balance up against selling on the internet? Well I am about to find out by filling my Etsy store with cards and art work. I know from past experience that putting your stuff in to your store takes time ... but so does sitting at a craft market.

Time will tell .. and I'll happily report back! Thanks to everyone who has bought stuff from me in the past couple of weeks ... much appreciated!

Colour It In !!

Really enjoying getting to grips with some new materials and some new themes ready for the seasonal markets. I've always been a sucker for working in black and white ... but I know I need to do more in colour if I'm ever going to get anywhere. If you're a black ink addict like me ... colour can be scary! But I've really enjoyed "playing" around a bit ... and getting stuff ready for Seasonal Markets has actually helped. Working on cards and small illustrations has made it all feel a bit less risky. I've been using Caran d"Ache "Pablo" pencils which are really forgiving as long as you use them on a smooth surface.

And my sketch book has come in real handy ... makes life easier when you can pick out some ideas to work on rather than staring at that blank paper wondering what on earth to do next! Its something I'd really encourage any Artist or Writer to keep!

Well wish me luck at the Markets (at Thermae Son this thursday 10-3) and thanks for looking in on the blog! :D

#carandache #pablopencils

Festive Pugs and Kisses

Always be open to suggestions! Like so many others at the moment ...my daughter is obsessed with all things Pug. I have to admit I do love these cute little critters and their ability to wear hats well has meant they have found a place along side my Beagle and Bear designs! They are drawn in pen and ink and then the hats and scarves  are mixed media. Lots of fun to do ....

These hand made originals are available at the next ISE coffee morning on November 20th (International School Eindhoven) They will be on  Hollie's stall along with her Retro Kitchen produce. After that ... The IWCE Winter Market at Thermae Son on November 21st. And on Etsy this week ...so look out for the link :D

Winter Markets and Woolly Hats!

Just getting everything ready for the start of the Christmas Markets ....and noting how many of my characters are wearing hats! Must be the cold weather getting to me! My work will be for sale at The Hub in Eindhoven on November 3rd at the Arts/crafts and Flea Market and also at the IWCE Winter Market at Thermae Son 21st of November (10am - 3pm) I am also hoping to get some goodies in to my Etsy store in plenty of time for christmas ..so watch out for updates!

Thank you!!!

A big THANK YOU to everyone for checking out my Blog! I just went over 1,000 views which is small beans compared to some ...but we all start somewhere! 

Have a great weekend!!!!

Just Draw Anything !!! ....

We all have those times right ???? ....you seem to be working every day ...but where's the finished stuff??? I suppose it comes down to this ....like every profession - you have to do the ground work. You have to maintain and improve your skills continually!

 Really the only way to do that with drawing ... is to draw every day. Just get your head down and do it. Thats when the ideas start to come ...staring at a blank piece of paper just instils panic in most creative people - it certainly panics me!

 I hit a brick wall earlier in the week - and the "fear" began to rise. So I thought "...oh God ...just draw anything!!!! ..even if its rubbish" So I did ....and it was ...and its in the bin ...but it did free up the bottle neck!!! 

So on we go!!!

Go to ....and Party!

I guess we all have our "go to" subjects when we're at a bit of a sticking point! Mine used to be mushrooms (great to just doodle away!) ...but now its Bears! Just finished a couple of little jobs so have had fun finishing this party bear .... it is Friday after all!!!!

What to do????? What to do?????

The most frightening thing in my working day? A blank sheet of paper! Especially if its a gloriously  expensive piece .... The sketchbook can be scary enough though! And then you start working ... and have to decide whats worth developing and what isn't. If you have a brief or a commission its actually easier believe it or not! Maybe the best way to go is a combination of what excites you, what absorbs you so you don't know where the time went .... and hopefully some feedback ...happy or painful ..it all helps!!

Bear With a Purpose!!

Today I finally sat down and started to draw again! Its been a long summer ... a great summer ..but the girls are both back in England now - so no excuses! The drawing muscles are a little rusty so it was good to have a play around with a few materials and get back in to the swing of things ... kind of starting with no real purpose ... aiming towards working with PURPOSE! And - of course- a bear or two :D
So onwards with my book idea plus start getting things ready for a new online store :D

Bear!!!!!

In the interest of trying to unify everything ...I've changed the name of my Blog to yvonne-banham ...don't forget the hyphen or you'll just go to really old stuff :D

Well ...back from my holidays and ready to get going again. Working on some characters for a book (not commissioned ...yet!!!! ;D) but having way too much fun working on the Bear. Watch this space for evidence of bear obsession!!!

doodle day!!

Had to come up with an image to "summarise" myself as a person and the kind of "art" I do for an Arts course ...started to do the "Mamma Bear and Toby Tobes" (I'm mamma bear to my girls .... feisty mamma!) and Toby is my companion through the day while I work  ...but then I thought maybe a spread from my sketch book says more ....so this is what I sent! :D The work on the left is the start of a story/character ...so fingers crossed ....coming to a shelf near you (eventually! :D )

Loving my new pencils!! ...such a child!!!! ;D Had a lovely afternoon messing about in my sketchbook!! Why are my sketchbooks messy? I've seen some gorgeous ones out there!