Self illustration!

Me in Amsterdam on a River boat.

I have always been a bit timid when it comes to self portraits and always seem to resist it as much as possible. I decided to be brave and try it out, and this is my outcome!!

Check out my instagram: Zozeboo

A surge of enthusiasim

Layering Illustrations.

I decided to print one of my drawings on transparency paper and layer it on top of another illustration. I thought it worked quite well, so I decided to scan both the images. 

When you learn to love what you have.

I am not normally one to talk about my personal feelings, but since moving to the Isle of Wight, I feel blessed to be able to wake up to these surroundings. I love going to Steephill Cove and just looking out to sea. I think the island is so much nicer when it's not the height of the tourist season, the island just feels so calm and healing.

Last week there was a slight fog lurking on the south of the Island, I like to capture anything that makes me feel inspired. I have been travelling backwards and forwards to London, which was where I used to live, I feel so grateful to call the Island my home. When Im on the boat travelling across the Solent and I can see the Island in the distance, I get this feeling of feeling complete. This place is just amazing and I can't quite put my finger on it.  As much as I love photography, I feel like one cannot appreciate what the photographer is going through, when looking out through the lense. The feeling of being overwhelmed, looking out over this unique view and just feeling complete for those few seconds.

Best working environment

Lately, the weather on the Isle of Wight has been rather beautiful, so I have been able to work outside. I love this. Its so nice to be able to not be stuck in between four walls, trying to be creative. I just wanted to create a quick blog post on a drawing I created today. The location is Ventnor beach on the Isle of Wight, I was rather pleased with my illustration, due to the depth of the image, the beach huts really make it look 3-D. It really frustrates me when I start drawing and the image looks really flat. Even though my drawings are not life-like, I like to allow the photograph to blend in with my illustration. 

A brisk country walk.

A brisk country walk

I recently moved to the Isle of Wight, which if you have not visited, you are missing out! I have travelled quite a lot in my tiny little life, but I have to say this is the most amazing place I have ever set my eyes upon. Many would say its very "seaside" and I would agree, but its different. I find something new every time I go to explore with my camera. 

I always take my camera with me wherever I go, a recent trip exploring on a rare sunny day, I found a deserted beach along my way. From living in London all of my life, it's so nice to live somewhere where you can actually breath and smell the sea air. I was walking along the path and in the distance I could see tiny little ripples of water in between the trees. The path opened up onto a peppled beach. It was beautiful, with the sun beaming, as well as fog rising from the sea, it was rather spectacular. It made me realise how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful environment.

A tree which I thought was rather unusual! 

Photograph of the deserted beach.

The pathway leading to the small beach.

Woodland, with a slight haze.

Location: Ventnor and St.Lawrence area.

Business Enquires: zoeillustrations@hotmail.co.uk
Tumblr: zoeillustrations

The View Tube, Stratford London.

2012 Olympic park

It only seems like yesterday we were all celebrating the London games and seems strange to think we are already into spring of 2013. I really enjoyed the 2012 olympic games, especially as I was living in London at the time. I did not see any events at the games, but I got pleasure from being so near and watching the amazing ceremony on the television with the rest of the family.

I had heard of a viewing centre in Stratford where you could go and view the Olympic stadium from a much closer view, as the olympic park is currently not accesible. This is called the 'View Tube'. If you are on the Jubilee Line or the overhead train going into stratford, you will be able to see the neon green containers in the distance. The viewing centre is made up of large containers which look a bit like lego blocks put together.

Being interested in Architecture, I was edging to make a visit to this quirky looking building. 

 I think this place needs to be discovered, on my visit the centre was practically deserted during the week, but I think thats what made it so special. The staff in the cafe were very friendly, and had a real community feel.

  The scenery i felt was quite odd,  It almost did not look real, like a painting. I was more interested in the surroundings of the olympic venues, rather than these magnificent architectural designed constructions. I was amazed how the landscape around the venues was pretty much non existent. Which I feel could really change the appearance of these buildings. It pains me to say this but I was more intrigued by the viewing centre building, rather than the olympic venues.
Comparing it to some of the past olympic venues, like the Beijing birds nest desgin, I felt that the 2012 stadium was not anything to be blown away by. But this is just my opinion!  Below are some of my illustrations I drew after my trip.

Although, I have some negative views about the design, I think it makes a great impact on the nearby surroundings. When I looked out at the Olympic park, I felt as though in the future it could inspire those that have nothing to aspire to. The dominant structures kind of overwhelmed me, the fact that inside these venues, dreams have been made and broken, pain has been felt, as well as joy and happiness. I think its important to see beyond the eye of these venues, because it is the sport that makes the games, not the buildings, not the city hosting it, but the athletes that have trained most of their lives to be in that building.

I dedcided to add a quote by Wayne Dyer- "The only limits you have, are the limits you believe"

Business Enquires: zoeillustrations@hotmail.co.uk
Tumblr: zoeillustrations

View tube website:
http://www.theviewtube.co.uk/