OK Good, February Isn't Over Yet.

I definitely meant to update my blog sooner than this but due to a huge workload, falling ill and general life shenanigans, I fell through on that. I'll fall into the habit of weekly updates soon enough. I hope.

This is gonna be another long entry I'm afraid. The sooner we get started, the sooner we can get back to eating. My fish supper is getting cold, dagnabbit.

~***~

To everyone who has shown interest/shared info/bought the books, I really thank you all for your amazing support! With these books all done and dusted, as well as available on a print on demand basis, I can see a lot of possible opportunities for them to really take off! I'm still contacting publishers and schools to not much avail currently but all we can really do is keep on pushing and have the books available for the right opportunity.

In case you need any incentive to purchase copies for yourself, here are some photos showing off how lovely they are~

And you can buy them HERE RIGHT HERE GO GO GOOOO

~***~

As I've mentioned a bunch of times, I'm taking commissions (if you're interested, you can check out my rates here!) and someone approached me wondering if I'd be interested in designing a logo for them. They are involved in a local organisation in Northumbria University and are known as the Gender and Society Research Hub. At the moment, they are preparing for feminist events and told me they would be exploring other gender identities and topics in the future.

Naturally at the mention of Feminism, I was on board.

To the left are the practice logos that I came up with as I worked with the client to capture what they were visualising.
As you can see, I tried to incorporate the different gender symbols in the majority of designs due to the fact that topics would cover more than women and feminist issues.

After a number of back and forths, where we came to the idea of possibly combining different aspects from more than one of the designs, the image below is what we officially came up with.

After the logo was close to completion, I was also asked to work on a couple of posters for a couple of events, as well as create a border that they could use for future posters. I believe you'll probably see them if you're around the Northumberia University area. They'll look a little like this!

I had never made a logo as a commission before, especially not for a gender studies group. It was a subject that I am very interested in and I really hope I captured the correct symbols in the border.

To visit the GSRH blog, go to gender-society-research-hub.com.

~***~

Back in November, I was picked as a potential animator for a client in Germany, wanting an animated educational children's web-series. I was given the topic of satellites to work with and was told to create a little character that would be entertaining enough to engage the viewers interest. However, I also had to keep things simple.

Due to the subject matter, and due to my obsession with glow-in-the-dark stars, I decided to create a green star character called Stella, who would explain the different types of satellite to the viewer.

There wasn't a huge amount of time to work on the project and a lot of things were against me for a variety of reasons. I had to work on the Bertie books, I was job hunting/working on commissions, I got sick and so on. Not to mention I was relearning the animating program I used as I hadn't flexed my animation muscles for some time at that point. 

Anyway, while I managed to get a quick two minute pilot together for the client, I just didn't feel it was my best work and therefore I wasn't surprised when the pilot was rejected. I'm not too disheartened however. It's a cute concept and I think with some more time, I might even take the opportunity to spruce it up a little and maybe try again. Watch this space!

… it's funny cos it took place in space. It IS funny. Nyeh.

~***~

On a final note, I've rediscovered my love for colouring with markers and decided to colour in a number of sketches I drew for Crumbs, many including new designs for my characters. I'm definitely going to be doing more of these but here's what I got so far!

If you're following me on Instagram, you'll have already seen some of these. And if not, WHY NOT? #SoUncool

A lot of these look a lot better in person, as is often the case with markers. The pug one looks pretty damn good on and off screen.

And we'll end with a sketch of GrumbleSquab the yetihuahua, who I drew when I was starting to give myself a hard time for no apparent reason. Mental health fun times!

~***~

Whew. There's quite a bit there. Although there's a lot of artwork to even things out visually I think. I really need to get into the habit of updating weekly so I don't have to do such long entries. Unless people like the long entries? I keep intending to update on a weekly basis so people don't have to trail through a long blog entry and I don't have to spend ages typing up a months worth of work. Buuuut I've clearly not been doing that very often, whoops.

Anyway, the plan is to share more work next week, most likely some more marker coloured artwork of Crumbs characters, and keep up regular updates. However, I often update my Instagram with artwork, I have a professional and personal tumblr you can check out, and I set up a professional twitter so you can see what I'm up to and then all the blog updates become old hat. Or some of them do. I hadn't mentioned the GSRH logo or Stella work anywhere soooo… your call.

Have a good evening, folks! Now to eat some of this cold fish.

The Adventures of Bertie Blue: Available NOW!

   

Click on the individual book cover to be taken to their shop page!

I'm pleased to announce that 'The Adventures of Bertie Blue' and 'The Further Adventures of Bertie Blue' are now available to buy through Lulu.com!

The first book contains the first EIGHT of Bertie Blue's adventures during the opening years of World War 1 and book two's SIX stories recounts his and the Captain's struggles during and after the war's later years.

On behalf of Steve and myself, we hope you enjoy the full coloured artwork and bittersweet stories written to commemorate the Centenary of World War 1, including the story of Christmas 1914.

Bucky the Terrifying Christmas Card

It's a good day to do what has to be done by me and update my blog entry!

… yep, that's a very satisfying start to my first entry of the year. And it looks pretty neato with the new 'Emmature Creative' logo up there. Figured I had to lose the 'Media' part since that wasn't what I was going with.

As I only just started work again on Monday, I don't have a huge amount of new artwork to show at the moment (although I occasionally share sketches on my Instagram page). However, I do have a design I did for this years Christmas cards.

It wasn't until I saw the Christmas card on my parents' fireplace that I realised I'd completely forgotten to talk about the design in my previous entry. At first, that lead me to attack myself with various declarations of how much of a numpty I am but then I remembered how ridiculously long the previous entry was so maybe this wasn't a bad thing.

So, as we wind down from Christmas, I'll share the design which a few people have described as "eerie" and "terrifying". He can't help how his face looks.


As I wrote my Christmas cards from both Ruari and myself this year, and with Staghound being the name of our collaborative projects, I decided to present a reluctant Bucky in a simplistic design to the world.

I was planning on including my own mascot, Grumbles the yeti, to the design as well; having her be the one decorating him. But when I tried to draw her in, she just didn't look right. Ah well, maybe next year. I do have a couple ideas in mind, including one for Crumbs as well.

I assure those who were intimidated by Bucky's intense gaze, they will have pupiled eyes from now on.

The design was done without pupils for a reason, though. I designed a couple of notebooks for some friends with a very simplistic theme, just something I was trying out, with their favourite animal. Sadly I didn't have enough money to create a note/sketchbook for everyone, which was a pity. But yeah, my point is, I was doing for a sort of overall theme with the designs., creating a friends favourite animal in their favourite colour/colour fitting of said animal. In retrospect, maybe making Bucky pitch black wasn't the best idea, it does make him look rather looming when he's actually a clumsy little potato with antlers. I should have stuck with very very very very very very very very very VERY dark grey. You live, you learn~

There were actually two more designs but those two notebooks hadn't arrived in time for the photo. Those were a nerve wracking few days, especially as I was going to Spain for Christmas. Luckily they arrived before I had to go.

From left to right: yeti, dragon, stag, dolphin, guinea pig. The two not photographed were a cat and a bat.

Anywho! Now we got the Christmas post out of the way, it's back to the ol' grind. I've got a few things sketched out, including Crumbs visual development, character designs, some header picture designs for the Emmature Creative Facebook and Twitter pages and we're also approaching completion of the second Bertie Blue novel's design.

Here's a glance from my Instagram if you're one of those non-hipster types. News to come later this week, next week at the latest!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

And I didn't get around to putting up a blog entry before now because WHOOPS, I guess, huurrrrr~

As I mentioned in a previous entry, I was to spend my Christmas in Spain this year with Ruari and my family. And I did! And it was jolly marvellous. Quite nice to wake up on Christmas day with palm trees and sunshine. And then go to the beach with dozens of other people for a BBQ. And then go back to the villa for traditional christmas dinner. And caviar.

It was a pretty swagged out Christmas and you're all totally jelly as beans, don't lie.

And at one point (I think Christmas Eve? Ish?) I won a HUGE hamper in a raffle at the German Restaurant Kopi's. It had various bottles of booze, a ridiculous amount of sweets and snacks, two vouchers for a two day hotel stay somewhere in Spain and an entire pigs leg of ham. God only knows how much it actually would have cost.

Pretty much the only time I've ever won something ever and I don't even get to take it home. I mean look at it, it's bloody HUGE. So I had to leave it with family and friends in Spain, dedicating the ham leg to the lovely couple who own the villa and flat we stayed at for the week.

My parents were especially gutted that we couldn't keep the ham so Ruari, being the cheeky beggar that he is, went and bought the pillow on the right. Yes, that IS a pillow. And yes, that pug hungers for it.

So, thats why I've been pretty quiet on social media and the internet in general this holiday season. I had planned on sharing a blog entry before I went to Spain but holiday preparations got in the way of that. So now, while I have some quiet time until New Year celebrations, I'm going to show you guys what I'd worked on before Spain.

Oh, just FYI, I'm not opening up commissions/starting any work until the 5th now, as I didn't realise the 3rd was a weekend. Screw that noise.

~***~

Earlier last month, I officially opened commissions with the hopes of bringing some more quick money in. And I'm pleased to see that a fair few people are taking interest! I've already completed a couple and have some work lined up in the new year.

My first commissioner was a very lovely person called Caroline Hey, who wanted to have a family portrait of herself with her husband Thomas and their dog for Thomas' birthday. She told me there wasn't really an image of the three of them together and I was more than happy to help her out.

Normally I have a tendency to colour my lineart but when I showed the options to the commissioner, she told me she preferred the black lineart. I've really found it growing on me as well. I might use it more often.

I am showing the commission with Caroline's permission and I've noticed, when she liked the Emmature Content Facebook page, she made it her Facebook picture. Colour me complimented!

The other commission work I was given was from Mum, who told me that Gran has wanted a portrait of her from me for a long time now. I could hardly say no. And not just cos of the payment, obviously.

Gran recently went to Las Vegas with my Uncle and his girlfriend, which as you can obviously see is the overall theme in this image. It was a bit of a task, trying to keep the background as simple as possible while still making it obvious that it was Vegas. But I think I pulled it off for the most part.

I was told that my uncle taught Gran how to play BlackJack while they were there, hence the two cards in her hand. Gran's a very classy lady and doesn't have a gambling bone in her body so I don't see her taking up the habit but in this case it makes for a very nice themed image. And it was really fun to work on!

This didn't take me long to do at all, mainly cos I could show Mum my progress instantly and she was immediately pleased with what I'd done. It's nice when a commission is smooth as cheddar!

As this was a present for a family member and that we'd be seeing them in Spain (due to the commission being their Christmas present), we printed out the artwork, framed it and wrapped it up to give to Gran on Christmas day.

I'm pleased to report that she was very happy with it, showing it to literally everyone who came by and standing it pride of place in the villa living room. It'll be cool to see it in her new house.

On the topic of printing and framing images, I've had people ask me why I don't provide this service myself for all commissioners. The reason is because I would have to charge a lot more, specifically to cover the cost of printer ink, frames, postage and packaging.

If enough people wouldn't mind doing this I could consider the possible costs and review my commission list to give people that option but for now, commissions are strictly digital only. Its a shame cos they don't look too bad framed, if I say so myself.

Now to check myself before I wreck myself.

~***~

Progress IS being made on the Bertie Blue book publishing. We wanted to have the book available for people to buy for Christmas but all sorts of ridiculous issues didn't allow that to happen.

We have a proof copy of the book but, due to a mess up on me not checking the website's options carefully, the pages are in black and white and lemme tell ya, I did NOT spend over a year on this for the coloured images to not be seen.

Sadly, with coloured images, it's too expensive to sell as the one book. The website refuses to sell the book at a price that won't give us any revenue. So chances are we'll need to split the novel up into two-three books to sell them at an affordable price.

I can, however, show you pictures of the proof copy so you get an idea of how the outside of the book looks. This design will now be a number of pages less and be 'book one' of the series.

I'm letting myself take things easy for a few more days so I won't be working on this, or any other project, until the 5th January but I thought I should at least update everyone as I haven't been able to say much on the Bertie Blue front for a while. Although I still haven't said anything different from "Watch this space" but at least this time it has photos!

~***~

Finally: Crumbs. Yes, it's being rewritten. Again. I keep feeling the need to have the story out NOW RIGHT NOW GOTTA GO FAST but the truth is, every time I do I'm never satisfied with it and then I stop working on it for weeks/months/years and then I start redoing it again.

So hopefully it'll be a case of 'Third time's a charm' but this time I'm being a lot more prepared. I have some very amazing friends with expertise in effective storytelling looking over my notes and giving me critique, advice and suggestions that have really helped make the story go in an extremely exciting direction.

I think what I'm going to do is get my notes for the introductory arc finished and once they're finalised, start working on the pages. I still have a new art style for the characters that I need to play about with so expect some new Crumbs concept art in the new year.

~***~

So, a quick summing up for my projects this upcoming year:

• Be able to actually sell the Bertie Blue novel(s)
• Keep up the commissions to support myself and my projects
• Design prints to sell
• Keep up with a buffer for Crumbs
• Have the intro arc of Crumbs in progress/completed on the website
• Begin the Staghound projects

… Oh yikes, I haven't even begun to go into Staghound. And this entry is long enough as it is. This is what I get for not blogging about stuff more often.

Ooh actually, on that note:

• Blog once/twice a week depending on amount of work to share

Ok, cool, got that covered. Where was I…? Oh right, Staghound.

I mentioned this before but Ruari and I have a number of ideas where we collaborate to create some creative content. One particular idea we have at the moment is Ruari's video reviews. I'll create a quick animated logo and title card for the reviews and once the video footage has been filmed, I can then edit the footage and create the final video.

It's a project we're both really looking forward to. Ruari goes into it in a bit more detail at his blog HERE.

Official release dates of these reviews have yet to be announced but keep your eye on this blog, Ruari's blog, my twitter, Ruari's twitter, my Facebook page, Ruari's Facebook p- well you get the idea.

… good lord, this was a long one. If you read all of that, have an extra shot on me tonight. Just don't blame me for any alcohol poisoning. Now, to chill and kill time before I see the Hobbit with my buddies tonight.

… oh, and I've decided to go with Emmature Content. New logo to come soon.

~*HAPPY NEW YEAR, DARLINGS!*~

Commissions and Identity Crisis

Thank you to everyone who has expressed interest in/shared information about/bought a commission so far. I've gotten some work out of it for Christmas and some work for after as well! Commissions are for life though, not just for Christmas. So if you have a birthday coming up or some other special event and want a unique piece of artwork for the occasion, hit me up!

Just a heads up though, I will NOT be able to take on/work on any commissions from the 20th December- 3rd January as I'll be with family in Spain for the Christmas week/visiting friends and family/getting drunk on New Years like everyone else. Once the hangover clears up though, I'll reopen them on the 3rd January for anyone interested.

I'm adding another section to the commission list, specifically discussing lineart. Sometimes, people have a reference on what lineart they want used for their image. Sometimes, people don't give a hoot. BUT it's good to provide an option just in case so here they are!

Featuring a new look for 'Crumbs'. Thinking of giving the pigeons more expressive eyes. I need to play about with the design for the other characters a bit more.

So yeah, I'm gonna add that to the price list page. Hopefully it'll make things clearer if you're considering a commission.

***

In other news, I've been having a bit of an identity crisis… in terms of business identity anyway. I want to change my web address as 'Emma Friel Doodlebug' is just kind of boring. Well, the Doodlebug part is neat but it's just that and my name which is kind of meh.

Long story short, it's not what I want my business identity to be anymore. I'm planning on changing the address after the new year. But the problem is, I can't decide what to go with.

I've been under the name 'Emmature Media' for the past few weeks and it's a much broader name for all the potential creative pies I can stick my thumb into. However, the name 'Emmature Content' has been creeping up a lot lately (I even gave my new instagram that as a username) and serves a similar purpose. And it also sounds pretty cool.

So what I'm wondering is, do any of you lovely lot have a preference? Emmature Media or Emmature Content?

I confess, I'm leaning sliiiiiightly more towards the latter at the moment. But don't let that sway your decision at all. If you have a preference, speak up!

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to create more animation assets/yell on social networks about why there isn't any pigeon merchandise in the shops.

Open for Commissions

Hey everyone! Still not much news I can share on the Bertie Blue book or other projects just yet but I do have something I need to talk to you about and it's something you can help with.

I'm a freelance cartoonist. This is my job. And I'm constantly needing money. Art stuff ain't cheap and nor is living. And I kind of want art stuff and life.

SO! If you've ever been wanting me to create something for you, like illustrations, portraits, logos, tattoo designs and so on, I am now open for commissions! Have a look down below and see the services I have to offer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Artwork/illustrations

Simple

Coloured character(s), no background, no shading

$20/ £13

If you have a preference, specify if you want the lineart to be black, coloured or lineless.

Simple Shaded
Coloured character(s), no background, shaded 

$30/ £20

If you have a preferece, specify if you want the lineart to be black, coloured or lineless.

Simple B/G

Coloured and shaded with simple background: 

$40/ £30

If you have a preference, specify if you want the lineart to be black, coloured or lineless.

Detailed B/G
Coloured and shaded with more detailed background: 

$50/ £35

If you have a preference, specify if you want the lineart to be black, coloured or lineless.

Can add up to two characters for no charge, after this, it's $5/£2.50 per character.

No more than ten characters per illustration/commission.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Logo designs

Simple Logo
One colour (up to three colours), no shading

$78/ £50

Complex Logo
More colours, shading

$149/ £100

Variations 
featuring mascots, banners suitable for social networks

$313/ £200

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Tattoo

You trust me enough to let me draw something that'll be permanently on you? Wow, that's intense. Hit me up and we'll talk custom tattoos. The below pictures are examples of particular designs I can do. I'll need as much help as possible to make the design of your dreams. Naturally, we'd want to do this right!

Simple

One colour

$39/ £25

Simple
More colour, unshaded

 $78/ £50

Complex
More colour, shading

 $149/ £100

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Portraits

Want a portrait of yourself/loved one/pet? Hit me up!

Portrait

$40/£30

Please specify if you want them to be cartoony/ realistic. Also mention if you want the lineart to be black, coloured or lineless if you have a preference.

No more than 5 people and/or pets per portrait. PLEASE provide a photo for reference.

Character sheets/designs

Want a one off character design? Or an in depth character sheet describing the character and their traits?

Character design
One off character drawing (ideal for mascots)

$30/ £20

Simple character sheet 

Shading/texture comparisons, some small detail 

$40, £30

Detailed character sheet 
expressions, details, character descriptions, colour palette

$50, £35

EXAMPLE TO COME SOON

____________________

Here are some conditions that won't take as long to read as Apple's. So y'all got no excuse!

~ I can only accept money through paypal, unless you know me locally and can pay in cash but other than that, we doin' this digital, yo.

~ Email Emmanimator@live.co.uk for commission orders and any questions you have.

~ I would appreciate you providing a reference of what/who you want me to draw. This is VITAL for the portraits. If I don't have a photo of who you want me to draw, I can't work on it!

~ Be as detailed as you can with what you want. I want to provide the best!

~ I work on a pay half now, pay half later rule. I accept half of the payment at the start, work on the sketch, show it to you and you let me know if everything's OK/anything needs changed. Once the sketch is approved, I'll need the second half of the payment and then I can finish the artwork.

~ As of now, I can only provide digital copies. They will be sent to your email/whatever email is provided on completion.

~ My prices are open for negotiation if I am providing multiple illustrations on the same project e.g. children's books, depending on detail and the time it would take to complete.

~ The finished image is yours and I will ask permission to feature the artwork on my website. I retain the right to feature it in my portfolio.

~ No family unfriendly commissions. Not hatin' on 'em, I just don't do 'em.

I've included a link to my price list with the links at the top. Have a look through them and hit me up if anything interests you. I MIGHT consider a christmas deal on some of the more expensive options but I'm still thinking about that.

Remember, contact me at Emmanimator@live.co.uk for more information/to discuss commissions.

Might be a rather unique christmas present though, eh?

Introducing GrumbleSquab

Now that I've made the decision to name my work under the umbrella name 'Emmature Media', I've been planning a bit of remodelling for my blogs and social networks alongside developing my other projects. You'll most likely have noticed the new blog title picture featuring mascots that you'll be seeing a lot more often.

I've been making variations for my portfolio and tumblr sites as well and I'm planning on making similar ones for my twitter and Facebook pages too. 

I've mentioned Bucky the pugalope before, the Staghound mascot who occasionally gets drunk on whatever tipple Ruari reviews at the time. But the big eared yeti is a new addition, one specifically for Emmature Media.

Her name is Squab. GrumbleSquab.

I really want to make a unique print out of this picture, possibly look into making some phone covers as well. But as of right now, here is Grumbles in her unique yetihuahua glory. Featuring the Doodlebug. Cos ain't no way I'm getting rid of that.

I'm debating making the background of all my customisable sites lilac with stars rather than straight black. If anyone has a preference, let me know but that's something I'll probably play about with when I have more time.

… does anyone else think GrumbleSquab sounds like something from a children's story? I pondered this heavily on twitter last night.

… I should probably stick to just illustrating stories, huh. On an unrelated note, Grumbles totally doesn't eat kids. Not after that one time.

~***~

Just a heads up, I'm planning on changing the URL of the website soon. Of course I'll update everyone once that happens, I'm mainly looking into how to be able to redirect an old URL to the new one. I'll keep ya posted.

Emmature-media.co.uk or something like that.

~***~

In other news, I know some folk have been really interested in obtaining a copy of the Bertie Blue novel. As of right now, we are currently looking into getting it out there. We were originally going to get copies printed and sell the, ourselves like we did with the picture books but it seems the price of a 140 page book as opposed to a 14 page book costs that little bit more. And by a little, I mean a LOT.

So we're still looking into other options. We have some ideas but we can't talk too much about that right now, not until we have some progress to share. All I can say is that the book itself is complete and we're just looking into the best options to get it out there and share with the world.

Watch this space, guys!