Doodles and Designs

New illos!

Nicola Watson — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 16:18:59 +0000

New project I’m working on – got quite a few illustrations to do in a short space of time. Here’s a crafty snippet from one of them – and the haggis that made the cut from my sketchbook – more to be revealed soon…

**UPDATE**

Finished illustration……Vegetarian Haggis

Creative Bloq article

Nicola Watson — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:03:15 +0000

Been writing more than illustrating/designing recently – couple of articles I wrote for Creative Bloq a few weeks back related to Offset57.
How to create a pop-up shop: 7 expert tips

How to organise a design event: 5 expert tips

Article for Naewye Zine

Nicola Watson — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:40:05 +0000

A new zine was launched recently in Aberdeen, by Paul Mullen – featuring numerous designers/illustrators/collectives. It was nice to see so many who had been actively involved in Offset57 taking part in this too. Some very familiar names, including a great illustration and article from WLDWLVS, and an opportunity to finally get my mitts on one of Rachel McLeod‘s ‘Finders Keepers’ badges, who has also been an excellent (and very modest) ‘maker’ on the Aberdeen creative scene and equally very supportive of new projects. Plenty of former students too, which was excellent to see – with crisp adroit illustrations from Cameron Fraser and Adrian Reid , and a doodle, in his signature whimsical style, by Matthew McGregor, – which made me smile. Others who also submitted articles/work were 26 Collective, Aberdeen Ministry of Crafts, Dr Sketchy Aberdeen, Pirate Photography and Seas,Starry.

Paul also kindly asked if I would submit an article, which I did, based around the recent Offset57 project, alongside an illustration. A complete departure from my usual style, but wanted it to reflect how I often view Aberdeen on the surface - stolid, dry and utilitarian. I added glitches to represent the subtle emerging of something more creative, uncontrolled and less uniform.

Grab a copy while you can – Naewye

Playing with felt…..

Nicola Watson — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 20:52:33 +0000

Since the opening of Offset57 we have had numerous guests – all have been superb, and the most recent was Feltmistress and her partner Jonathan Edwards. Such lovely people, and great fun! I made a monster too – Melvin “The Teeth” MacLean – here he is in all his glory…. (wish I could sew as brilliantly as Feltmistress)

First post of 2012!

Nicola Watson — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 12:35:00 +0000

…hmmm – been very busy this year, and haven’t posted anything for 11 whole months, but launched this on Friday! Offset57 – nice little project bringing creatives together, to sell their work, attend/set up events/workshops etc. Launch night was a great success, and now looking forward to Fred Deakin and Shellsuit Zombie talks over the next few days…..and! – I also now intend on doing some of my own work again…finally.

Offset57 Store

Christmas Card

Nicola Watson — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 16:14:46 +0000

Almost finished my Christmas card design for this year – intend on doing some lino printed wrapping paper too, using same motif. Nearly there though.

Versus Poster update

Nicola Watson — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 15:17:18 +0000

Got my versus poster in the post today, with my illustration being used as part of the promotional material. More can be seen in this post.

Lino Printing

Nicola Watson — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:31:52 +0000

Haven’t done any lino printing in years, so decided to remedy that by doing a really simple design before experimenting with a more complex output. Forgot how much I love the smell of printing ink!

Gouging out the lino proved to be very therapeutic.The final outcome was fine, got me back in the saddle, and raring to do some more.

Jack of Spades

Nicola Watson — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 13:51:35 +0000

Illustration I did for Versus – didn’t get chosen as the final playing card, but will be used in their promotional poster for the exhibition launch in Bristol in September. The palette this year was limited to three main colours, and I chose the Jack. I had intended on creating various well known ‘Jack’ characters, Jack & the Beanstalk, Jack the Hat, Jack the Ripper etc.

Eventually Jack and the Beanstalk was the one I chose, with the beanstalk echoing the spade motif in the background.

UPDATE: Sneaky peek of the poster for the Bristol exhibition can be viewed here. Or the final one – here.

Four legs good……

Nicola Watson — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 20:11:03 +0000

Not quite finished, but almost there…….and done! This piece is for pocketful illustration magazine – entitled ‘Four Legs Good, Two Legs Bad’. I enjoyed trying to avoid too many cliches, and wanted to show a sense of smug elegance, from a four legged creature, as it prances in a celebratory style through a forest of what it sees as ‘ungainly’ two legged humans.

……Anyway, no rest for the wicked or something. Now to make a start on my Versus submission.

UPDATE: Magazine can be viewed (along with this submission) here , or bought at Amazon, here.