Update

March 31st, 2008

This is a pretty generic blog - just to give you a bit of an update…

I’m afraid I have put my illustration aspirations on hold for just a short while - I have recently accepted a new job as a Creative Artworker in Stevenage, and this means I am madly attempting to buy a car, etc. to make this transition.  I won’t bore you with the details, but this site may be a bit quiet for the next few weeks while I do all of this… I hope to pick up where I left off soon by setting myself more meaningful projects and posting the results here.

I don’t imagine this site has much traffic just now anyway..
but if you have stumbled upon this site looking for a freelance illustrator, please feel free to contact me!  I am eager to start with some commissions!

ta ta for now…

A Graphic start…

March 2nd, 2008

Well, I’ve have a pretty hectic time at my full time job this week.  Not had much extra energy to do any more illustration work.  However, today I sat down and challenged myself to come up with a new book cover design for Bill Bryson’s Notes from a Small Island.  This is mainly because I never liked the illustration on the cover - and it happens to be the last proper book I’ve read.  I’m a bit disappointed with my cover, however… I seem to have made a very graphic cover, when I really wanted to showcase my illustration.  I think I’m just easing myself into the whole thing - I create more graphic material at work at the moment, so it probably feels safer to me.  I’m hoping to take the next month to develop my whole process - working out the easiest way for me to approach a new illustration project. 

In any case, I thought I would show you the cover I have made, even if I’m not terribly happy with it at the moment (it is, after all, just an excercise).

Here is the original cover design which I’m not too fond of:

And here is my cover:

Any comments welcome, of course…

Sketches

February 28th, 2008

I thought I would start by posting a couple of recent sketches.. Both of these are done simply ink on paper.  I did each one on an hour long break from work.  The sculptures here can be found at the current exhibition - Return of the Gods: Neoclassical Sculpture at Tate Britain.

Big Plans

February 26th, 2008

As you will have already read, my name is Sarah Jenkins, and I am an artist, illustrator and designer living in the London area - actually North West of London - in Chesham, Buckinghamshire.  I am currently working as a Desk Top Publishing Operator at Tate Britain, and I am launching this website to advertise myself as a freelance illustrator.  I have always had excellent drawing skills and a strong interest in all kinds of art.  If you visit my personal website, www.swanpillows.com, you will see examples of my wacky installation/sculptural/conceptual work which I produced during the three years of my BA Fine Art course at Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College.  You will also find details about exhibitions I have participated in, as well as some design work, animations and links.

Over the next week, I will be submitting my work and website to various websites such as Illustration Mundo in an attempt to get some freelance illustration commissions.  As I produce work, I plan to write on this blog - plotting my progression.  I am also planning on setting myself several tasks to develop my portfolio.  One of these will be designing a book cover, and I am also keen to create some drawings for a possible children’s book. 

Please feel free to leave comments of feedback and/or advice…

Launch

February 25th, 2008

Yay!

The new site and blog are up and running!