Something for the boys

Harriet Mellor FERRYSo much of what I do is quite feminine with flowers and things, this piece was created with boys in mind ! Especially mine who is 5 years old. The MATS bootcamp assignment this month was wall art with a nautical theme. I knew straight away that I wanted to do a cross section of a ferry. A couple of times a year we make a road trip back to England - on 'The England Ferry Boat' which travels overnight from Rotterdam in Holland to Hull in England. It's great fun and the children absolutely love it. This ferry is more of a Nordic ferry, I am thinking of people setting off on great adventures with camping, canoeing, lakes and mountains and of course ice creams. One day I would love to travel on a ferry like this. Now we are starting the summer holidays here and so wishing everyone a wonderful summer full of adventures, fun and of course lots of ice creams !

Folk Boat

This week was my final assignment for MATS B and it was for party paper - plates, napkins etc. The theme / inspiration was Ukrainian / Bavarian folk art. Lots of birds and flowers so this was such a fun assignment for me with gorgeous imagery for inspiration. 

First lots of sketches...

Then some colour (inspired by the Cath Kidston / Rice summer ranges - no online shopping in the process - honest!)

And ending up with the finished design with all the birds travelling in a 'Folk Boat'... Why not indeed!

 and a close up of the napkin:

Maps

This week the challenge was to design a map of our local area / town for the editorial market. I chose to do a section between Ruppertshain and Koenigstein that I drive  about 4 times a day. It is a beautiful drive, past Koenigstein with great views of the castle, past a natural spring on the right hand side where people are constantly filling their bottles and then up through the forest to Ruppertshain. From here the views stretch down all the way to Frankfurt, with fields, forests and orchards. 
This drive through the forest never ceases to amaze me in all seasons whether it is blanketed in snow or lush with green leaves. I have encountered deer, birds of prey, a family of wild boar and the occasional police speed trap !
There are endless paths winding through the forest, where I walk our dogs and children. Anyway enough waffle, here is my map:

It is a big responsibility drawing a map of a place where you have not lived for long. I found myself worrying if things were accurate, what did I leave out, what would native Germans who have lived here all their lives think...
But at the end of the day this map is a map for me, and artistic license is just fine ! 
I would love to do some more of the local area, towns and villages. It is so beautiful here and I feel very lucky that we can be in the midst of all this gorgeous nature and yet only 20 minutes from Frankfurt and the airport etc.
Here are some close ups (the hot air balloon design is inspired the painted designs on the bembel apple wine jugs):