One year on..

The day before yesterday marked one year since the BIAD Visual Communication awards evening. How time flies?! This has made me stop and think and reflect on the year that has past. Although it has been a big emotional roller coaster, I am pretty proud of what I have achieved. I never expected to have done what I have so soon after leaving University.

If you have not been following me for long... then here is an insight:

AOI internship
Browns Fashion window illustrations
Secret 7" Project
The Enquiry Desk: In Session at Pick Me Up
Selected for 1000 Illustration Portraits
Selected for Images 36- Best of British Illustration: New Talent Category.

Stay tuned as I have a solo show scheduled for Summer 2012 in Birmingham, and in September I am  involved in a group exhibition in London, along with other illustrators as part of the collective Hero of Switzerland. 

x

Competition- Let me draw you!

One year ago this month I handed in my Final Major Project, left University and stepped into the real world. To celebrate my first year in the industry I have launched my first ever competition. Im giving one person the chance to win a bespoke portrait drawn by me! For FREE!

To enter, all you have to do is comment on this post. You can also like and share on facebook or even tweet about it, but remember to tag me @rebeccaabell (Please note: the more you share, the more times you are entered in to the prize draw)

One winner will be selected at random, at Midnight, on the 1st July 2012.
Prize consists of ONE a4 pencil portrait. Image chosen by you.

Good Luck! x

Rejections, but all good practice..

I thought I would share with you some work that was not used for a recent project. I produced the following mocked finals to show the creative director and head of VM at Browns in the initial stages of the window project. When we first discussed ideas it was decided that the imagery was to be quite stark using linear line. So, stepping away from my usual soft pencil approach I produced these ideas. It was a challenge as I am used to producing quite detailed soft illustrations but I actually quite enjoyed a more relaxed and quick way of working. Although it was later realised that in actual fact pencil worked best, it was good practice to try something new and out of my 'comfort zone' for once!

The final ones are here if you missed my post last time!

Noah's Ark - the finished piece!

You might have seen a previous post about a commission for a christening gift that I've been working on over the past couple of weeks?.. Well, dadaahh! Here it is! Im super pleased with the final result and I hope it will be greatly received :)

:: New work ::

Today I've made a start on a private commission for a friend who has requested an illustration for a christening gift. Can you guess what the theme is? ....Yep, Noah's Ark! Its something completely out of my comfort zone but I'm really enjoying it! Hopefully will have the finished piece ready to show you by the end of the week.. Until then, enjoy the preview!

Secret 7" Exhibition Opens 18.04.12

If you follow my twitter or facebook... back in February you might have seen my pledge for votes to have my artwork selected for the Secret 7" Project? I entered a competition through Talenthouse.com to design a 7" vinyl sleeve interpreting Florence + The Machines 'If Only for a Night' track. I am delighted to have won a top 5 spot in the competition and now my artwork shall be exhibited. (Massive thanks to everyone that voted!)

Alongside my own work, there will be designs by an array of musicians and other artists who have created sleeves inspired by tracks from The Cure, Florence + The Machine, Bombay Bicycle Club, CSS, DJ Shadow, Noah & The Whale and Ben Howard.  

'My Own Secret Ceremonials' - © Rebecca Abell 2012

The exhibition opens next week, from Wednesday 18th April - Sunday 22nd April 2012 at the Idea Generation Gallery, Shoreditch, London. Opening times: 10am - 6pm.  My design has been printed as a 'one-off' vinyl to be sold at the exhibition, so make sure you get down there if you want to own a copy!

Image by Secret 7"

Take a peek at whats to be expected at the exhibition at Secret-7.com - all artwork has now been uploaded to site for your viewing pleasure... can you guess which design is for which track?

Secret 7" is a project which aims to rekindle some of the excitement for sleeve art in the digital era by exploring how a track would be interpreted by an array of brilliant artists.

On the 21st April – Record Store Day – through to close on Sunday the exhibition is yours to own. Each of the one-of-a-kind heavyweight 7'' records will be available to take home with you for a minimum donation to Teenage Cancer Trust of £40.

Every penny profited from the sale of these exclusive vinyl records is going to the charity.

More info on the Secret 7" Project here
Visit The Teenage Cancer Trust to find out more about the cause.

The Enquiry Desk at Pick Me Up 2012

A few weeks ago it was announced that I'd won the exciting opportunity to present my work to a panel of industry professionals at the Pick Me Up contemporary graphic art fair, Somerset House, London. Alongside leading illustrators, the panel included commissioners within advertising, fashion and publishing.

The presentation took place in the heart of the Pick Me Up exhibition space where my portfolio was projected onto a huge screen for the panel and Pick Me Up visitors to see!

After I'd nervously 'pitched' my work, the panel gave me advice on feedback, which was incredibly informative. Although it was the scariest thing I'd ever done I am so glad I plucked up the courage to do it. The Enquiry Desk team were super helpful and pulled off a fantastic day. It was really great to meet other illustrators too and it was really inspiring to see such brilliant work on show!

As my presentation wasn't until the very end of the day I had the privilege of watching everyone else present first. There really was some great work presented... check out their work:

Casper Chan
Anthony Atkinson
Sarah Dennis
Ruchi Shah

Mercedes Leon
Holly Maguire
Joanne Young
Rich Orr

Simon Cheadle
Belinda Chen
Dori Siraly

The Enquiry Desk produces events that bring professional help to creative talent. It caters for students, postgraduates and practicing graphic artists & illustrators who seek constructive professional advice specific to their work. Alongside bookable portfolio reviews, The Enquiry Desk delivers talks at academic institutions and designs larger public events on creative professional practice and relevant topics. Launched in 2012, The Enquiry Desk was founded by Josie Sullens and Zara Wood.

The Enquiry Desk is back at Somerset House next month, offering bookable confidential portfolio reviews on Saturday 14th April.

Learn more about The Enquiry Desk here

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 Images above: by The Enquiry Desk, and Pick Me Up and Rebecca Abell.