SATURDAY SALE EVENT!

 

CLICK HERE TO GO TO SHOP!

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ELMerchant

WOWZA! A SATURDAY SALE EVENT! 

Get your hands on some hand made Christmas cards this weekend with 20% off all orders by quoting: "SATURDAYSALE" at the checkout!

Today I've been taking some great new snaps of the newly made cards to update my Etsy shop to show you all the "Merry Christmas" design in detail!

Remember! The whole design has been hand cut out of lino, individually printed and finished with a foiled star on top, making each card completely unique and one-of-a-kind.

Bag yourself a bargain and help make my weekend a little more fantastic 

Big Love x

Christmas Card Launch! GET YOURS TODAY!

WOOHOOOOOOOO!!! So the moment I've been leading up to all week has finally arrived and I am happy to announce that as of tonight, my handmade, typographic Christmas cards are ready to purchase via Etsy!

Each card is hand printed and finished with a foiled star, meaning that no two cards are the same and guaranteeing you a one-of-a-kind design every time! :D

For more information and to BUY follow the link here:
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/elmerchant



I'm hoping that this is just the beginning for my little Etsy shop and that there will be lots more to come in the future. Look out people, Emily's empire will be expanding ;) Hehe....

There are 2 styles to choose from: a gold print & green foiled star or a red print with a gold foiled star and both come as either individual cards or packs of 5! Please read the listing properly before committing to buy!

I'd like to put a big shout out to everyone who's liked, shared and supported me thus far! It's always so humbling and exciting to see friends (and strangers) sharing your work. So BIG love to everyone!

Christmassy Creativeness: SNEEK PEEK!

So in the run up to Christmas I've been planning some Christmas creativeness and here's a sneek peek of what you can expect! The design is currently being fine tuned ready for production but exciting things are happening! And they'll be here soon!

I've also just finished cutting, creasing and enveloping cards ready for printing so by the end of the week there will be a finished hand-made festive fancy to purchase for you and your family!

I've been meaning to get back into making things for a long time now and slowly things are taking shape, fingers crossed the launch of my new card designs will inspire me to keep creating more and more and more in the evenings to share with everyone! 

Welcome Back to Blogging!

Hello! Good day, good evening! It's been a long while since I've been active on this particular blog, but now that I'm beginning to get my head back together after graduating university, getting a job (OMG!) and beginning to prepare the foundations for my own creative business - I think it's about time I get back to what I do best! Talking!

So what's new with me?! Apart from the aforementioned series of events (Yes, I graduated with a first class honours degree in Graphic Design and Illustration and managed to get a job as a Junior Designer) I have been busy with freelance design work, whilst absolutely falling in love with calligraphy!  

As of yet, I haven't had time to invest in any beginner tools yet so instead I've been practicing getting to grips with how you'd hold a pen / brush by strapping two pencils together! 

It's actually really fun and I'm beginning to find my inspiration again after what seems like an age of having no spare time since leaving university. Of course, I can't and won't complain about being busy - I'm very thankful for all the work that has come my way. But sometimes... just sometimes it'd be amazing to just sprawl in bed for the day and do nothing but play xbox....

Print Room Previews

I've been in the print studio a lot this week, trying to catch up on some work from last term and also to try out some new techniques for a project that's been giving me so much grief with what to do with it!

Hopefully I can make something of these prints so I can reduce my stress levels when it comes to this project. They look cool and quirky but it's the treatment of them now that is going to define whether they are fit for purpose or not...

(Vague much...?) :P

Creating A Cocktail Menu! (Gatsby Style)

Recently my boss asked me to create a cocktail menu for our Students Union new cocktail night. I've been given complete creative freedom with this, which is always a little more difficult than working to a brief, but tonight I've really taken off with the design!

I found a menu in a similar style and it made me think of The Great Gatsby and glamour and tried to capture this in the design. It's still unfinished, but tomorrow will be fine tuning everything and then getting it ready for print on Friday!

I was a little apprehensive about doing this but I'd be quite proud to tell people I've created this now after realising what I want to do with it! Keep an eye out for the finished product soon!

SNEAK PREVIEW!!! Twitter Poster: Wing Shadow

So today I've been working on a project based around twitter and so in my design there of course is a bird! (Original I know!!!) But I thought I'd post some developments on it as they're happening.

If you've previously seen anything to do with a twitter project on this blog, please disregard it now! Concept has changed entirely as I'm sure you can see from the previous post! 

Below is a little preview of some of the shadowing I've started to add into one of the wings. And man it's taking a long time!!! Stay tuned for more updates!

Comedy Poster: Turning Famous Comedians Into Birds!

For one of our third year briefs, we have to design a poster for a comedy festival around the theme of twitter so I thought it would be pretty funny to try to turn some famous comedians from over the ages into birds! (Or just dress birds up in their attire)

I've tried to pick comedians with a distinct style so that it's easier to extract enough of their identity onto the blank birds. Below is a preview of some ideas I've come up with today! Bare in mind, these are preliminary sketches so the birds will end up looking much better by the end of the project!

See if you can guess who's who...

'MIRAGE' Textiles Pattern (2 part series) - NOW AVAILABLE!

Woo, I'm excited about this pattern!
Lovely, simple pattern to make and looks great!

I've named the pattern 'Mirage' and it's part of a 2 part series.
The other half, you can find on Society6 also!

To see the rest of the collection of this design, follow this link:
http://society6.com/Elmerchant/MIRAGE-02_Print?show=promoters#user_list

AND THERE'S FREE SHIPPING UNTIL SUNDAY!!!

Promote, and share with all your friends! :) 

New "Rust" Collection on Society6!

I'm really happy that I've recently discovered Society6! It gives me a chance to put my designs onto things I've wanted to for a long time, but have had no way of physically doing it. Although I'd prefer to be making everything myself, for the time being this is the best possible solution I can see! And it does have it's positives with people being able to promote and comment on your designs! 

So without further ado...

Available on all kinds of products! 

You can find the website here: http://society6.com/Elmerchant/Rust-aKd_Print

SOCIETY 6 SIGN UP!

WOOHOO! I'm finally on Society6! 

Check out my designs on some awesome products!

You'll also get free shipping if you decide to buy when you follow the link!

http://society6.com/Elmerchant?promo=01ca38

If you're feeling kind, please share with your friends! <3

Effect Test: Watercolour Painting In Illustrator

Continuing with some effects tests in Illustrator I wanted to do another watercolour image.

I used a random face off google for the black features, but then tried adding in tone and depth with different colours and shaped strokes with the built in brush tools.

This was inspired partly by one of my favourite artists, Marion Bolognesi, however I still have a way to go before I reach the standard of art that she produces!

Pattern Sneek Peek!

Inspired by some simplistic art work I found online, I've recently been creating a pattern for a competition. I don't want to give too much away as of yet though but here's a little preview of some colour options...

Vector Image Practice

Over the summer, whilst on my internship in a graphic design company it was suggested that I use illustrator as my go-to programme for creating things as everything is then vectorised and easily adjusted / resized etc. When I started, I only ever used illustrator for creating some outlines for sketches that I was planning on taking into photoshop so it was a little daunting for me!

Now, I cant say I've learnt heaps... But I have come to realise how cool illustrator can be and how useful it is! I've always wondered how people create vector images and I guess I'm beginning to finally understand how by exploring the tools the programme provides.

During the internship, all I really managed to create / assist with was some simple logo ideas and putting presentations together for clients. I didnt really get the chance to try making images as such. Since then, I've had a little practice and I decided to try creating a little fox! :)

I originally created him for a design I was working on for a competition but have since decided against using him. Still.. I'm quite happy with how he turned out considering it was my first attempt at vectorising anything properly! 

Onwards and upwards!

Procrastination: Zombie Maker

Yesterday I almost sat down to do some summer project research until I realised that I could have more fun by turning my friend Nik into a zombie. I'd done something similar for a Zine I created for coursework this year, which he really liked and so when he said this I set about turning him into one (but more gruesome and gory than I've done before)

It's sad to say that this is the first bit of art I've created this summer for fun, rather than for someone else. Suppose I had to start somewhere! 

- Original Photograph -

- Zombie Nik - 

Internship Work: Pop-Art Inspired Logo Ideas

Currently, at my internship I've been working (and am just finishing off) some logo designs and a presentation to show a client who is looking to re-brand/re-design their cafe. The name we have been working with so far is 'Hot on Top', and based on some pop-arty styled things we've seen around areas of London like Shoreditch and Lambs Conduit I drew up some hand written logos.

I don't know what will be presented to the client yet, but I really like the hand written, script looking text I've made... When it comes to choosing a definite colour though, the decision is really difficult to pick a favourite! 

Below is another variation on the theme I drew into the computer with my graphics tablet. Whatever I decide to use, the choice won't be an easy one! 

Moroccan Patterning: Repeat Pattern/Texture (Final Option)

The final option I created for the Moroccan food van I was asked to design for (at my internship) was a repeat pattern I made using a pattern I found and a texture that I created. This actually turned out to be my favourite result of them all, and annoyingly it only took me about 1 minute to create as I was messing around with some Photoshop effects for some ideas, and this happened! 

Yet again, it's another case of a happy accident when it comes to me creating patterns!

I kinda hope the client picks this pattern to cover his van!

It's definitely the best, in my opinion!

Competition Time!

To try to keep myself in practice/my hand in the door sort-of speak, I am going to be trying to enter some design competitions over the summer and I recently found a new website (http://www.creativeallies.com) where this was possible!

The piece above was something I created using a similar pattern that I have previously displayed on this blog (but altered slightly to fit the competitions brief) as it seemed to tick most of the boxes that it was asking for. It is a commemorative piece of art designed for the music artist Woodkid to celebrate the release of his debut album, The Golden Age! 

Soon, I think there will be a chance for people to vote for their favourite entries so I am excited to get the link posted out as soon as thats possible! Fingers crossed my design can gain some good numbers!

Book Illustration: Brave New World

As part of our illustration module at the beginning of the year we were asked to make 3 images and a cover to use to accompany the book, Brave New World. 

The book itself if quite messed up, and reminds me almost of George Orwell's 1984 - but opposite. I've tried to make the images represent this twisted, backwards reality with a series of abstract portraits to tell the story. 

Book Cover

The night before the final deadline I decided to re-draw two of the above images (Cover and decapitated head). Looking back on the work because it was done a few months ago, I'd like to think I could do a better job of them if I tried again however they sadly weren't going to be worth enough marks to warrant a complete re-design.

American Propaganda (Uncle Sam) Exhibition Model

It's the project that's caused me the most stress and confusion but I think I've finally got it! 

(Well.. I'm happy with what I've done now so it's tough shit if it's still wrong)

The aim was to create an exhibition based on something you'd written about previously in the year and so I chose the Uncle Sam propaganda posters by James Montgommery Flagg. 

There is a poster and a postcard to go along with the model, but here is what I've come up with.

Entrance / Exit view

The red lines connect the work to each other and stem from the main 'I Want You' poster.

(Which is technically/historically correct as they all followed in suit after the first one was so successful)

Side View 01

Side View 02