Reduced Visibility - Illustration Blog

W.I.P. Orchid Invites

2011-12-04T16:07:00.001-08:00

Quick instagram pic of a peek at my current project.

-- Post From My iPhone

Jägermeister Fairy

2011-06-15T13:23:00.001-07:00

I completely forgot to post this when I doodled it a while back.

Yes, it's the Jäger' Fairy! Bringing the drink of doom to all who rock hardest!

Print & Design Solutions - Exhibition Closeups

2011-06-09T05:13:00.001-07:00

Some more shots of the exhibition demos.

Sheff Uni Print Services Relaunch

2011-06-09T04:51:00.001-07:00

The Print Service at the University of Sheffield has recently had a rebrand and relaunch.
I was asked to contribute to the style update through the reception and exhibition demos; as seen above, as well as to the website which can be seen HERE

DoodleSwap - Round 9

2011-04-14T14:33:00.001-07:00

My entries for The DoodleSwap Project - Round #9 ("Under The Sea")

They get sent out to 9 people around the world and hopefully, I shall get some back :)

http://doodleswap.blogspot.com/

Sensoria Festival - Competition Entry

2011-03-01T13:51:00.000-08:00

Ok so I didn't win; but I'm quite proud of this one.

It's a new technique I thought I'd try, combining the hand-drawn

with the computer illustration to show process in a digital context.

I think it went quite well :)

Sky Pirate Canvas

2011-02-14T04:23:00.000-08:00

Yes, it is finally finished.
Sky Pirate; the Canvas. Hooray! :)

Emerald Snow #1

2011-02-02T12:40:00.000-08:00

I am VERY happy with this one!!

The lovely burlesque dancer Emerald Snow, commissioned me to do some drawings based upon my previous work relating to corsets and lingerie.

I have only done one as yet but, thanks to my love of the burlesque arts, I would very much like to get around to creating some more.

Christmas Cards 2010

2011-02-02T12:30:00.000-08:00

A rather late post, by about two months!

Here is my card design for Christmas 2010.

SpringFlowers Wedding Invitation

2011-02-02T06:25:00.000-08:00

The hyacinth invites shown in an earlier blog post eventually developed into those you see above. All printed and sent out; the next stage is the place settings.

p.s. Check out the 'Angelic Wars' font used on the front; it's gorgeous! ^_^

Sketchbook Ideas - Jan2011

2011-01-31T14:19:00.001-08:00

Just a couple of sketchbook ideas. Playing with "re-fashioning" magazine models to wear Steampunk clothing.
This was just a quick doodle, I want to try it with the others too.

(Ideas inspired by SteampunkCouture on Facebook)

-- Post From My iPhone

Yellow Roses

2011-01-22T09:04:00.000-08:00

I know it's 22nd January (my! how time flies) but HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Having finally moved house, got the new workspace finished and got the internets up and running, I've finally gotten around to some new sketchbook work.

Thanks must also go to the 'Working Drawings' conference at Sheffield Hallam University for inspiring me to do more random sketchbook stuff. I have been meaning to but kind of lost some motivation but I shall make more of an effort I hope. Think of it as a New Year resolution!

So, here are some drawings of a pretty rose plant my friend gave me as a house warming ... enjoy! x

Website Update

2010-12-06T05:31:00.001-08:00

The website has finally been updated, come and see! :0)

Christmas Card - Work in Progress

2010-12-02T08:12:00.000-08:00

I just don't like most of the christmas cards out there and it's far more fun to design my own.
I've gone for a slightly more typographic style this year ... enjoy!

Skeledoodle #1

2010-10-14T15:26:00.001-07:00

Please enjoy this slighly satirical look at magazine fashion in which the desire to be skinny has been taken somewhat to the extreme!

Flower Sketches

2010-10-14T15:21:00.001-07:00

Some more on the initial stages of the new commission.

We have a Primrose, Rosebud and Grape Hyacinth so far.

Work In Progress - Hyacinth Invites

2010-09-27T05:49:00.000-07:00

Preliminary Ideas and Sketches for another Wedding Invitation commission

Tea Ritual

2010-09-20T13:36:00.001-07:00

The first of my drawings inspired by tea.

This one is taking the idea of 'ritual' and mixing concepts between the pagan and the chinese tea traditions, creating a mystic, romantic scene.

'Caress' iPhone case (and giclee prints, on Society6)

2010-08-29T04:43:00.000-07:00

'Caress' Giclee Prints, Stretched Canvases and iPhone/iPod cases now available on Society6.

Illustrated iPad Case --ON SALE NOW--

2010-08-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

Illustrated iPad case for Sale at Etsy.com

Official Apple Product - Customised with Silver floral illustration

http://www.etsy.com/listing/53336900/illustrated-ipad-case

Sensuality. Postcard Set --ON SALE NOW--

2010-08-08T04:57:00.001-07:00

Postcard Set. ON SALE NOW at Etsy.com
http://www.etsy.com/listing/53335074/sensuality-post-card-set

Honey Cakes Recipe Illustration

2010-08-04T13:59:00.000-07:00

These was drawn for a recipe card for my friend Claire's hen party.

Her friends all made one and we collected them into a gift box on the day.

The bee took twice as long as after two hours work my pc crashed without a single save. Not sure why I didn't but let this be a lesson to both you and I!! >_<.

iPad Case Illustrations

2010-05-30T09:29:00.001-07:00

Drawings on the front of our iPad cases so that we might tell them apart. Based on the Diamond Wedding Illustrations done recently.

-- Post From My iPhone

Location:Sheffield

Rosey Cheeks

2010-05-17T15:09:00.000-07:00

I wanted a final illustration for one of my [coming soon] postcard collections and this seemed to fit best. The rose appears again!!

Tattoo Shoe

2010-05-17T15:05:00.001-07:00

Inspired by a shoe in a magazine I was reading and my current interest in tattoo art.

Also carrying on the roses I have been drawing lately and the fashion illustration trend.

Hillman Imp

2010-05-17T14:54:00.000-07:00

(Post 100!!) ...Metal Head

2010-05-16T15:57:00.002-07:00

There were two aspects that I wanted to include in my illustration at some point: a pun / play on words and my taste in music! After much pondering this amusing image popped into my head.

Soon to be a submitted tshirt on SwishSwosh.

Diamond Wedding Invites

2010-05-16T15:57:00.001-07:00

A crude photo of the finished invites. I loved the parchment envelopes that I found to go with them.

-- Post From My iPhone

New Commission

2010-05-01T04:02:00.000-07:00

I've been commissioned again!
More invitation work, have I found my niche?

Watch this space!
Keywords: floral, delicate, detailed and ... diamonds!

Red hot

2010-04-28T14:42:00.001-07:00

More experiments; I will get around to proper illustrations at some point, but just playing for now. I was actually quite pleased with this little shading excercise!

-- Post From My iPhone

Doodle Destruction

2010-04-28T14:16:00.000-07:00

Having used some felt-tip pens overleaf, this is what happened to my previous work!!
Quite funky actually!

-- Post From My iPhone

Sketchbook Page of the Month

2010-04-26T14:30:00.001-07:00

Just some experiments with Sailor Jerry style concepts, randow imagery and hand drawn type.

-- Post From My iPhone

Illustrative void

2010-04-25T15:07:00.001-07:00

I'm afraid I've been busy catching up with people and venturing out to Millhouses Park and Castleton; meaning little more time than to do my part time admin job and conceptualise illustraion ideas. I promise I'll get going again asap x

-- Post From My iPhone

Location:Sheffield

'Alternative Alice' - White Rabbit (on my shoulder)

2010-04-19T16:14:00.000-07:00

Doing the last blog entry I had a great idea for an illustration combined with a photo; something I've been wanting to try for ages.

I also used this opportunity to try shading to help it fit with the photo better and to improve my technique.

'Alternative Alice' - Rebel Alice

2010-04-19T14:27:00.000-07:00

I am aware that Alice is a bit of a rebel anyway but I thought I'd push it a step further.

What if Alice was rebellig against her own storyline? Stealing the watch from the White Rabbit, smashing the food and drink supposed to be consumed, painting the roses black and so on.

'Alternative Alice' - The White Rabbit

2010-04-19T14:17:00.001-07:00

The White Rabbit was somewhat obscured in the last drawing so I thought I would bring him out to show off; especially as he's a version I'm proud of in his 'SteamPunk' getup!

Also, more hand-lettering. Something I may have to explore a bit more; especially with the influence Andy Smith is having on me lately. I've been a fan for ages but just lately I've been absorbing the stuff from his RSS feed.

'Alternative Alice' - cute

2010-04-19T14:01:00.001-07:00

A bit of hand-lettering practice...

...some cartoons...

... and here it is at last.

My interpretation of Alice, the March Hare, the Dormouse the Mad Hatter and the White Rabbit, with some tea, painted roses, drink me/eat me catering and a croquet hedgehog.

The hearts were originally meant to be the queen's reign as the bubble bursts but I realise that it seems that Alice and the Hatter are in love, which is a little bit true I suppose.

Beauty and Freedom

2010-04-18T13:47:00.000-07:00

This started as a life drawing but I drew a little influence from Sailor Jerry and from the current trend in birds, especially swallows.

I've also experimented a bit with getting rid of black to make the image less harsh.

Alt Little Mermaid Concepts

2010-04-13T15:43:00.000-07:00

After 'Alternative Alice' (a modernised rebel version of Alice in Wonderland to be posted upon completion) I was theorising about other characters I could subvert:

-- Post From My iPhone

'Rebel Magazine' Article

2010-04-08T14:16:00.001-07:00

This is the first issue of the fashion zine 'Rebel Magazine,' featuring my work.

Many, many thanks to the wonderful Namal Lanka for including me.

http://www.rebelmagazine.co.uk/

http://www.issuu.com/

Dungarees - Spring Ammendment

2010-03-29T13:44:00.001-07:00

Dungarees was very plain when I first uploaded it but I've only just got around to sprucing it up.

This is the Spring2010 version with Daffodils and SpringSprites with the ivy in the background showing that we are putting winter behind us and clambering forth for the warmer weather.

Ruffles & Roses

2010-03-29T13:37:00.000-07:00

A quick drawing to reflect the current fashion trends: roses, bows, ruffles and sequins!

The natural colours are also 'in' at the moment; I just liked the look of the inverted colours.

Winter Bouquet - Tattoo Concept

2010-03-29T13:23:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love this drawing and the superimposed tattoo image is what I would actually like to get.

Loving ivy, as I'm sure is clear by now, I drew some of my new plant into it, then to add more detail, relevance and delicacy to the piece I added the snowdrops (my birth flower - so cute they are too!)

New Ivy Plant - squee!

2010-03-21T09:05:00.000-07:00

Seeing as I love ivy so much and the kitchen window was looking rather bare with the untimely end of my succulent, followed by that of the poinsettia, I bought myself this rather gorgeous little specimen.

Ivy Cascade

2010-03-21T08:47:00.001-07:00

This was originally a tattoo concept.

I love drawing ivy and it seemed like a cool idea.

It ended up rather big and rather busy though. I was aiming for something a little more delicate.

Retro Dolly

2010-03-21T05:39:00.001-07:00

I went through a magazine and cut out parts that I liked; putting them together into a whole body. I created the drawing from the dolly and illustrated around it.

This was the result!

Good Girls Gone Bad

2010-03-16T01:08:00.000-07:00

My new SwishSwosh tshirt design.

Inspired by the Cobra Starship song and one particular theme for the Carnage student night.

Website Title Bar

2010-02-23T23:59:00.000-08:00

With my brand new website teetering on the edge of completion I thought I'd share with you the title bar from the home page which is from the project that I previewed you on earlier this month.

Blog Title Bar

2010-02-22T12:17:00.001-08:00

Caress

2010-02-01T10:37:00.000-08:00

©SarahTompkins2010

"I wanted an image that showed intimacy and emotion and this fit my specifications, whilst also being quite sexy ^_^"

The illustration is very passionate and has quite a warm, tropical feel to it.
I also loved the design enough that I made it into a tshirt concept at http://www.swishswosh.com/design-vote/caress.

Another Wedding (Preview)

2010-02-01T10:28:00.001-08:00

I've been doing some drawings for more wedding invitations.

This is just a preview though. I want to show it fully when the invitations are finished.

Larkspur:

An open heart and ardent attachment

♥ Sky Pirate ♥

2010-02-01T10:17:00.001-08:00

©SarahTompkins2010

I was looking at the Steampunk genre and the theme of sky pirates came up, which is a fantastic concept, in every sense of the word. I therefore ended up drawing this gorgeous costume and just in my sketchbook wrote the title beneath it. Once scanned in I created a really cool logo from my own (marginally elaborated) handwriting.

I absolutely love this one ♥♥♥

Dungaree Shorts

2010-02-01T10:14:00.000-08:00

LOVE DUNGAREES! ♥♥♥

Jacket

2010-02-01T10:05:00.000-08:00

I wanted to draw this gorgeous jacket that Charlotte from Delain was wearing but this is also and attempt at integrating photographic texture.

Burlesque

2010-02-01T09:52:00.000-08:00

I have recently been looking through photos of me and I just really fancied drawing this one.

Also, I've been waiting to draw Burlesque so it was a win-win! ^_^

Cherry Blossoms

2010-01-20T14:13:00.000-08:00

The inspiration for these mainly came from the very beautiful Cherry Blossom Decorative Lights I received for my birthday ^_^

I didn't know how the illustrations would turn out but I'm quite happy with these two.

The actual illustration with these in will hopefully be arriving soon but may be published so you may have to wait until then!! ^_^

x x x

Ivy Swirl Tattoo

2010-01-12T05:48:00.000-08:00

This was a design I did for a tattoo.

I created a final illustration but have also included the tattoo concept.

Humourous Doodle - GothVsChav!

2010-01-11T13:42:00.000-08:00

I just had this concept in my head and I had to get it down on paper.

It makes me smile ^_^

Fairy WritingPaper

2010-01-11T13:05:00.000-08:00

This started off as a drawing of a flower, then I thought it could be a dress, then came the idea of the flower fairy, then it was going to be a Fairy Godmother, then nothing happened with it, then I needed an illustration for some thank you letters and I vectorised/coloured her into what you now see.

I love how this one just kind of came to exist without me even trying.

Sketchbook Page of the Month #3

2010-01-05T02:51:00.001-08:00

I've changed 'Page of the Week' to 'Page of the Month' as that's how often they seem to occur ^_^

I just bounght some new pencils so I thought I would try a bit of sketching for a change. Just as an experimental change from my usual style and to give me more practice with people but from a different point of view.

This is a drawing of Nina Kate from JaneDoeLatex, as shown in 'Bizarre' magazine's Jan 2010 issue.

Christmas Terracotta #2

2009-12-16T15:12:00.000-08:00

Part 2 of the christmas present.

I have started playing with type a bit ... more examples to come.

P.S.

Yes, this is an illustration of the bird decoration sitting in the flowerpot below ;0)

Christmas Terracotta #1

2009-12-16T15:00:00.000-08:00

A christmas present for my Nannie.

Oh it's been fun to get the ol' paints out again.

Eagle-Tee Concept

2009-12-09T07:10:00.000-08:00

Playing with ideas.

This is just a concept but I quite like it ^_^

SnowLeopard Revisited

2009-12-09T05:39:00.000-08:00

I've actually tweaked this quite a few times in order to get it in suitable condition for a tShirt print and this is my latest attempt. Itruly believe that it's getting there ... slowly :0)

The top one uses the female colour palette and the bottom one is for the men.

Subtle but important differences I think.

Wolfie and the Hood

2009-11-24T12:16:00.001-08:00

The tshirt version of the Little Red Riding Hood design.

http://www.swishswosh.com/design-vote/wolfie-and-the-hood

PLEASE VOTE FOR MY DESIGN ^_^

Pebble Snake

2009-11-24T12:06:00.000-08:00

I had some brown card that needed de-blankifying!

Sketchbook Page of the Week #2

2009-11-17T08:15:00.000-08:00

I decided to draw my outfit that I'm wearing under my graduation gown.

Marginally out of proportion but one of the best people I've drawn so far .... people are hard!!

Seashells #2 - Elephant

2009-11-17T08:08:00.000-08:00

I asked my brother what I should draw and he said an elephant. So here it is!!

Seashells #1 - Butterfly

2009-11-17T07:52:00.001-08:00

After collecting shells on Brancaster beach in Norfolk I needed something to do with them.

Being me, I had to draw on them of course ^_^

Poinsettia #1

2009-11-16T09:15:00.001-08:00

Drawing for christmas cards - watch this space!!

Wolfie and the Hood

2009-11-16T08:59:00.000-08:00

Stemming from the animal designs I am doing for Hantu tshirts, I took the wolf idea a little further and explored the RedRidingHood faerieTale a little.

Snow Leopard

2009-11-03T16:31:00.001-08:00

Brief: Animals

Concept: Winter Animals / Animal Prints

Implementation: TShirt Design

Moonlight Dance <3 <3

2009-11-02T16:37:00.000-08:00

An image partially inspired by Victoria Frances and partially by Hallowe'en and Witchcraft.

I thought this would make a really good tattoo actually.

I'm sooo happy with this one...and I thought I would ruin it when I added the swirls and then when I added the colour. Oh, how exciting that I didn't!!

Poster Illustration #3

2009-11-02T16:35:00.000-08:00

The final 'illustration officiale' which is by far my favourite, not least becasue of the firemen!!

The tree came out so much better than I could have imagined.

Also, the little white cat is so cute ... Maow!!

Poster Illustration #2

2009-11-02T16:29:00.000-08:00

The official illustrations that came out of the poster illustration.

Poster Illustration #1

2009-11-02T15:44:00.001-08:00

A Degree Presentation poster I did illustrations for.

Heart from the Past

2009-10-14T03:38:00.001-07:00

Something I found from my first year group project at University.
It was a promotional project for LoveBytes festival in Sheffield.
I think this was my favourite outcome from the project; not least because I created it!! ^_^

SwishSwosh - TShirt Design

2009-10-14T03:30:00.000-07:00

I just signed up to SwishSwosh - a tshirt design site.

There's nothing submitted yet but WatchThisSpace!!

http://swishswosh.com/ReducedVisibility

Militant Cyborg Rats

2009-10-11T09:16:00.001-07:00

The completion to the army gilet you saw a few days ago.

Just something random that Michael invented for me to draw!!

'Mail Me Art' appearance

2009-10-11T05:15:00.001-07:00

My apperance on the "Mail Me Art 2" site - hooray! (1st column, 5 rows down as of 09/10/09)

If you get a chance you should look at the other work too - it's so good!! :0)

Sketchbook Page of the Week #1

2009-10-04T13:11:00.001-07:00

I'm quite please with the way this is looking so far.

It's part of a bigger project but it's a secret for now...I think you'll like it ^_^

Butterflies - Final #1

2009-09-22T09:55:00.000-07:00

The finished b&w version of Butterflies.

The next stage is to play with colours...to start with I'm thinking of REds to make it a bit gothic after my floral canvas looked really good with just the reds on.

Acquired Collective Blog Appearance

2009-09-22T08:25:00.000-07:00

As usual, I have been excited that people use my work.

Please go and view the blog for other great work.

http://acquiredcollective.blogspot.com/2009/09/sarah-tompkins.html

Ivy Wedding Invites - Final Returns

2009-09-22T06:35:00.000-07:00

Having sent off my illustration, I got the samples of the invitations back.

Thank you Alison! ^_^

New Sugar Publication

2009-09-09T02:18:00.000-07:00

My New Sugar image was published online yesterday.

http://newsugar.co.uk/ ... Covers Issue; Page 42

Butterflies - Process Image #2

2009-09-03T02:37:00.001-07:00

This one was a colour test although I'm not sure I want to use actual colours. I might play around with just one colour, red perhaps, and see what that looks like.

Butterflies - Process Image #1

2009-09-03T02:29:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a new design involving butterflies and I thought I would put up some of the stages of the drawing because I'm resolving to document my process to a better degree in case I make a mistake or want to try different approaches with the colour ... and so on.

One From The Archives - Moo!

2009-08-24T03:42:00.001-07:00

A TShirt design idea I submitted but actually drew quite a while ago now after a trip to Mull, Scotland.

I was playing around with Photoshop techniques at the time and this is what I came up with.

Love this to bits!!

Call Me

2009-08-24T03:35:00.000-07:00

A previous idea for a TShirt design but this one needs improvement.

A good concept that needs refining.

Mermaid

2009-08-24T03:26:00.001-07:00

A random drawing of an image I saw in a dream.
Splash!

Milk Milk Lemonade

2009-08-24T03:19:00.000-07:00

This is a TShirt Design idea that I submitted to Hantu Collective.

Subtle yet highly amusing in my opinion ^_^

I am very pleased with this one.

New Sugar - Covers Edition

2009-08-09T02:27:00.000-07:00

http://newsugar.co.uk/covers/

A special edition where they were inviting artists to submit images for a magazine that was all cover designs.

I wanted to draw characters that were kind of sweet but then to incoporate some more literal elements in the candy dotted around the image. I love the candy corn most of all :0)

Wedding Invitation Final

2009-08-08T13:10:00.000-07:00

I have got the final approval for the wedding invitation illustrations.

I am so pleased with the finished design, it is a well balanced motif that really stands out.

Applied Illustration - Homeware

2009-07-17T02:24:00.001-07:00

I took the theme of ivy from the wedding invitations and, upon some advice I was given recently, I created a more 'commercial' design and applied it to some vases. I really like the result actually ... most likely more to come in the future!

Wedding Invitation Illustration #1

2009-07-17T02:14:00.000-07:00

A commision for an illustration for the front of Wedding invitations involving ivy and wedding rings led to the creation of these sketchbook pages. None are the finished article yet but one is pretty close :0)

Kitty Cat Wall Illustration

2009-07-09T03:37:00.000-07:00

This was going to be a whole wall illustration but the commision fell through.

I managed to do a little something in the end though!! It works because it's hidden and you wouldn't notice it straight away ... it's more subtle. :0)

Flower Illustration - On Canvas!

2009-07-06T02:40:00.000-07:00

Thought I would transfer the style to canvas to see how it looked.

I was worried when I first thought it was done, but now it really is complete, i think it works quite well.

Not totally sure about colours; they're ok-ish but I was only using the pens i had available at the time!!

Envelope Flower Illustrations pt2

2009-07-06T02:33:00.000-07:00

I think this one is my favourite.

More sunny days drawing flowers in the conservatory.

Shame I'm back in Sheffield in the rain!!

Envelope Flower Illustrations

2009-06-26T16:10:00.000-07:00

Sitting in the conservatory, I am once again inspired.

Mum's conservatory, mum's flowers; thank you mummy!! :0)

Creative Spark - Degree Show

2009-06-19T04:02:00.000-07:00

My display at the Degree Show
... Portfolio also on display nearby.

CREATIVE SPARK

design degree show

SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY

Sheaf Building

until 23rd June