Autumn Newsletter

Hello!

And welcome to my Autumn newsletter. How are you doing? Since my last newsletter, I have been busy creating lots of new art, stories and projects. I am so excited to share a few of these with you today… Most excitingly I have had my first book published!

Back in August 2021 writer Colin Stern approached me and asked if I would work on a new children’s picture book with him. About a year later we have completed and published our very own book. Titled ‘Never-my-name and Isn’t-my-name’, the book is a new, weird and wacky fairytale about a pair of fairy twins. Written as a poem it explores the adventure one fairy takes when she falls down a hole and into the den of a dragon. Meanwhile a concerned sister calls on pixie helpers to search high and low for the missing fairy.

It has been an absolute pleasure working with Colin Stern and creating this awesome book. I have learnt so much and can't wait to create another book.

Here are a few photographs of the book and some behind the scenes….

The Second double page spread from our book… (one of my favourites for the colour and texture)

This is page 8 and 9 ~ I used a combination of digital and hand collaging techniques to create the illustrations. The characters were made digitally and then placed onto backgrounds I painted and cut out of old magazines. Above, you can see lots cut out card and cotton-wall to create a “smoke” effect.

Here are some character design for the fairy twins. I start every project with a few pages of designs.

For a few images I created more 3D scenes. Above on the right is a little example... it is a photograph of a real teacup with paper hands to suggest one of the fairy characters is holding it. This was a really fun and experimental page to make. I of course enlisted help from my lovely friends for lighting and creating smoke rings.

Here is a little behind the scenes photo, of our very professional studio!

My book is available on Amazon and other big online book sellers.

Click here for the link to buy the book!

Exhibition Time! - Over the summer I was also lucky enough to take part in two exhibitions. The first was in July at Small Ships, Falmouth. I collaborated with a range of other artists and illustrators to put on a ‘Cornwall’ themed show. I chose to present one of my favourite pieces, ‘The Rockpool Goddess’.

Here are some images from the private view…

And just this week I have put up my first solo exhibition! It will run for the whole of October at Cafe Art in St. Ives! The theme is “Afternoon Tea at the circus.” Many of you will recognise my Characters Tig, Flopsy Rabbit and Bear in these new circus inspired illustrations. There are also new fox jester, bear mermaid, and teapot lion characters to meet. Stay tuned for close ups on my social media and website.

(for those of you who are less familiar with my characters. Click below to read more…)

Thank you so much for reading my newsletter and supporting my artwork.

Lots of love

Emily

Email: emily.luke@btinternet.com

Website: www.emilylukeillustration.com

Instagram: @emily_lukeillustration

Pinterest: Emily Luke

Phone number: 07554963796