Auntie Yaya

Wednesday, 29 July 2015

Je suis perdu

I tried to explain to my nephew why there was security and immigration at the airport on Sunday. He is just about to turn 8 years old. He kept asking, "But why can't we just go in and out [freely]". He didn't understand what everyone was so afraid of. It's a complex issue to explain to an (nearly) 8 year old. I couldn't fault his arguments of free-movement but I also had to point out that there may not be resources for everyone if they went to one country or another. Watching this film there is another little boy who is 8 years old. He dreams of school and a passport and a new nationality. Something my nephew and many others take for granted. Whilst we are lucky to not even have to really think about having these things, we hear about how they need to be stricter at Calais, how they are building bigger fences and sending in 120 more officers to control the desperate people trying to smuggle their way over the border. I hope my nephew never has to do this. We must remember that the word 'immigrants' is referring to people. People willing to risk their lives to no longer feel lost.

Watch the video here.

I'm back

Wow, 3 years since I last used this blog. Well, I've been mouthing off a bit, so I reckon this is the place to do it.

Follow me, please!
Yas
x

Thursday, 15 November 2012

Callino Quartet

Callino Quartet
Watercolours, Typography.

I illustrated and designed this album cover, and the disc image for Callino Quartet's debut album featuring a selection of classical songs.
The cover features all members of the quartet and their instruments.

Monday, 29 October 2012

Somerset House

Spooky Cut and Paste workshop
The AOI
Somerset House Workshop
Photography by Ben Smith

As part of the run up to the Halloween celebrations, The AOI and Somerset House asked me to run a family workshop for children. This drop-in class allowed kids to use their creativity and imagination to make masks, magic wands and pirate outfits. Participants had the freedom to come up with their own ideas. A very successful day out!

Tuesday, 2 October 2012

Character development

Just trying out some stuff for a new book I am doing. Watch this space... for ages, cos it probably won't be published for a year... but that's okay!

Tuesday, 25 September 2012

New secret book!

Just finished my first book!

Here's the pile of work that went into it. All will be revealed in a while!

Wish me luck!

Callino Quartet (work in progress!)

Working on an album cover for the Callino Quartet. Watch this space! www.callinoquartet.com

Monday, 18 June 2012

Beerly Beloved

This was designed for the bespoke pale ale created by Velocity Brewing (Ireland) for my wedding.
The label was created using existing graphics from the wedding invitation.
The Velocity Brewing "Penny Farthing" logo was also hand painted as was the typography.

See the brewer's blog here: http://stoutfellow.wordpress.com/

Saturday, 28 April 2012

Life drawing! How fun!

I went life drawing for the first time in ages. First time at the Prince's drawing school also. Might go again.

Monday, 16 April 2012

Canadian Family Magazine

Canadian Family Magazine
Watercolours
Canadian Family Magazine commissioned me to create 7 spot illustrations for their Ages and Stages section – an editorial package that addresses parenting issues for each age group, starting at prenatal all the way to age sixteen.

Monday, 26 March 2012

Adweek Magazine

This double page illustration was commissioned by Adweek Magazine, NY, to go with a feature article in their kids themed issue, March 2012.

Monday, 19 March 2012

Lolita

Antwerp based design agency, Beshart asked 100 creatives to join in their DoeDeMee project to re-do the cover of a book listed in “the 100 best novels of all time” published by The Observer in 2003. Artists were carefully selected and I was given the book "Lolita" by Vladimire Nabokov to illustrate. It will turn into a traveling poster exhibition and posters will be for sale. Proceeds of sales will go to the fight against illiteracy.