My Summer

So I've had a bit of a nightmare over the summer having not had internet at home, I have had to log my summer on Microsoft word and wait until I am at my new house in Leeds to now copy this onto my blog! So it's all in one piece I'm afraid

Summed up:

To be honest, not much has happened other than I set myself on fire - the standard stuff! This set me back a lot with my work as I was in and out of hospital and in immense pain as you can imagine. This was really frustrating as I could not walk and spent a long time bed bound. It has made me appreciate how others less fortunate than ourselves are. For example, I was in a wheelchair for a while and it really made me see the world from a different angle. Not just because I was low down, but just how others communicate with you, how difficult things can be, how things are not as easily accessible, and how we take things for granted. After that I have mostly been working to make up for lost time, but in my days off I have visited some pretty nice chilled places which has really relaxed me after a manic first year.

I've been writing a little bit of poetry now and again, posting them to my friends to get a laugh out of them. I got a puppy! Buddy, a Labrador, whom I have been taking on walks with nice scenic views, and have been adapting to living back in Leeds, with new faces, bonding!

I've been to a couple of weddings, which made me feel really strange, most of my friends are settling down moving in with their partners, getting engaged or married and having babies and here's me deciding between a kitkat chunky or twirl. Also I've found myself cooking more. To be honest I haven't found myself drawing as much as I would have liked to and I can't really excuse this other than the fact that I've really just been working and going places. Worst illustration student ever! I must make the time to sit down and be more strict with myself. I haven't painted at all this summer which is something I thought I would do. I need to experiment with this much more when I am back. I've been mostly thinking, as I always do, rather than being practical.

On a personal note I'm now in a relationship which will probably give my poems a more positive light away from the depressing 'When will I ever find love, I'm going to die alone with 100 cats' kind of messages. I think it is interesting to see how relationships can actually affect your work, as well as your mood reflecting the kind of drawings you produce.
I have found I have been listening to music more appreciating the lyrics and this has inspired me to write my poetry.

I have found my poems have changed quite significantly as well, I am tending not to rhyme much anymore and just rely on feelings.


Poems

1) This one was influenced from spending time with my niece and nephew and missing being small again. Most people won't relate to it, but my friends did and had a laugh about it

1990's girls:

Being little not belittled
Playing not being played
Catching kisses over feelings
And energy to waste

Dreamphone over tinder
Lava lamps not drugs
Mud upon my rosy cheeks
A new meaning of dirty looks

These kitten heels are plastic
My very own microwave
Ten hours for a single cake
I'm starting to think it's fake

Biggest worry is my homework
When I just want to play
Spell my name out in my dinner
No such thing as 'bae'

Pogs and shiny Pokemon cards
Putting socks up in my bra
A million scrunchies in my head
Matching hat gloves and scarf

Calpol over cocaine
My tamagotchis had a poo
This furby needs a cool name
My friend Sarah fancies you

Drawing hopscotch out with chalk
Do a dance routine for the fam
Taking my fake dog for a walk
With my dolls inside my pram

Take my barbie to show and tell
Because I have a lot to say
Polishing my mini mouse shoes
Mam it's non-uniform day!

Making perfume out of roses
Add a splash of mam's Chanel
Sell it for twenty pence a pop
Thirty for a daisy chain as well

Freddos over fags
Nickelodeon back-to-back
The odd episode of goosebumps
Make a scaletrix track

Ask your friends if they're playing out
For a game of tigs or curby
Don't let Callum kiss you though
They say he has the lurgy

Have a pretend wedding
Let's play mam's and dad's
Stick on temporary tattoos
School disco in my glad rags

All kinds of clips in my hair
The latest one is pegs
Tammy girl for my underwear
And warmers for my legs

Claire's accessories is heaving
On a Saturday with my friends
Crimping my hair for tomorrow
So I know I'm bang on trend

No such thing as snapchat
Or the latest hip DJ
Spice girls and S club 7
Top of the pops on Saturday

Giz a pound for the ice cream van
No have a choc-ice instead
Brilliant I've missed it now
Glitter spray on my head

I wish I was Biff and Chip
Trying to make our door key glow
Do anything for an adventure
But I won't eat yellow snow





2) Influenced by Romeo and Juliet

Where are you now
Here alone
A darkness no stomach could prepare for
A crushing ache
The same routine, same moon
A black hole fills the gap you once laid in beside me.
Where do I turn in the night
If not to the light of your eyes
To guide me through this nightmare?
I close them tighter
Wishing for your face to appear
Clutching that same dream again.

They say life goes on
Nothing has felt further from the truth
My heart swallows the infinite waterfall
A sting upon my cheeks.
Where are you now?
Shadows lost in the storm
The clouds have taken you
I race through the sky in my mind to find the gates
To set you free again.

Give me back my soul
End the torment
Make me complete again.
This room, once so warm with love
Now a bitter darkened corner
In a world of despair.
Where are you now?
There are no corners, no escape.
Your words replay in my mind
The last words you spoke were that of love.
Nothing could prepare this world
For the loss of an angel.

I close my eyes
Try to breathe deep
Inhale, my heart exploding.
I see no future now
Looking back at the imprints of our feet in the sand
Washed away by the tide
We are no  more.
It is with a very heavy heart
We depart
Until we meet again my friend.



3) No real influence other than I was sat stuffing my face with sweets and thinking about them

You can be anything you put your mind to
All I put mine too is food
Ill put my mind to a KitKat Chunky
In the hopes that I'll start out small
and one day be too big to just have my own name.
An extended version of myself
Bigger and better
Like a multipack but the same price
To keep myself grounded and know my roots.
If they double the price of Freddo's
They could at least make them bigger
Like create Freddo's dad
Fredrico, now only 75p!
Where are all the old school sweets?
Did our tastebuds die with age?
Shed them like snake skin.
When will Willy Wonka cry bankruptcy?
Now that's food for thought.





4) Influenced from my stay at an old cottage

Even the Queen shits
Upon her royal throne
Prince Phillip has a fit
When she sprays his new cologne
She reads the morning paper
Whilst dropping off the kids
Diffusing her nasty vapour
And trying to hide her skids



4) Looking at literature, questioning why I write

Hemingway said
Write hard and clear about what hurts
And ever since then
I'm somewhat of an expert

Some things you can't express
When your tongue fills up your throat
Words won't come out
Instead you swallow, cholk

So you write them all down
Hoping they'll be read the same way
As those demons in your head
That you battle everyday

Words are set in stone
They can never be undone
Telling a thousand stories
Or applying to just one

I write mostly when I hurt
Though it may not seem that way
Take from it what you will
And apply it how you may

Connotations and meanings
Perhaps it could be this
Or maybe more literal
Pure heartache, no twists

Turn my feelings into jokes
My life is on paper
And yet I'm still chasing words
24 years later



5) Influenced by moving into my new house

Do you need a hand
Handy Andy
With your jobs
I can sand
Or screw some knobs
You must have magic fingers
To DIY so much
Oh here comes Linda
To add the finishing touch


6) Once again looking back at my childhood

Back in the day
My biggest fear was drowning
Four arm bands on each arm
A rubber ring around my waist
Now I'm diving into the deep end
Of financial woes and adulthood
Wishing I could go back to a time
Where men didn't exist
When the greatest passion I had
Was rubbing coffee on my work
Lighting the edges
To make it look dated
Now I'm dated
With the same creases
Covered in bruises
From falling for the wrong people
Rather than falling from trees
Pass me my tamagotchi
The only responsibility I can manage
Though I'd probably kill that too
After not feeding it for a few days


7) Feeling sad for a day

Inhale darkness
Exhale poetry
Fill your lungs with tears
Your mouth with song
Put your front coat on
As you leave the house
Never showing
Never knowing
The black hole
Behind your pearly whites

8) Looking at drawing old people a lot inspired me to observe and write about them

Growing old on the outside
A saggy exterior
Your belt buckle loosens
Your mind becomes delirious

You've forgotten who Paul is
Call him Howard instead
Squinting one eye shut
To read the paper in bed

Take a trip to town on Tuesdays
With Joyce on the bus
Exciting night in the telly mag
Eastenders ombnibus

Everything is on lists
Birthdays on the calendar
Skin-coloured tights
All your clothes smell of lavender

Bones and muscles weaken
But you can still bust a move
At the family do to Motown
Or listening to Smooth

Deep down you're still a teen
In a wrinkled old cocoon
Being sure to tell the grandkids
Of how life passes by too soon

9) Pretty self explanatory

It rains
It pours
It thunders
I'm in pain
I'm bored
It's Sunday


CHESTER ZOO YO

I went to Chester Zoo, my favourites were the Gorillas! Just like human beings, full of character, interesting to watch. One little character kept attempting to climb the walls and kept falling down! Also had big love for the Elephants. However, I went into the bat cave which was freaky as hell, bats flying right close to you - not my best experience to date.


BUDDY

So I'm sat at home minding my own business when I get a knock on the door from two men with some papers in their hand. "We have your puppy" one said. Fair to say I was confused at this comment, I said Puppy? And he pointed to the car and said yes for Mrs Pierce he's in the car I'll just go get him. Before I had chance to question this, I was landed with the most adorable little Labrador in my arms licking my face wagging his tail. We spent most of the day laid out on the floor playing, turns out my brother decided to surprise us by getting us one. I've never been much of a dog lover in the past, but now I think I am going to be a crazy dog lady who takes in all the strays. We couldn't come up with a name for days, so he was just called puppy until I forced for him to be called Buddy much against my mothers will. Most of my phone is now clogged with images of him sleeping, I feel like I have a baby.

AMERICAN IDIOT

For my best friend's homecoming after being away for a year I decided to throw her an American themed house party. A very extravagant affair I pulled out all of the stops; American sweets, food, décor, celebrity masks, fancy dress, punch fountain, beer hats, beer pong etc. Leading up to this was really fun but nerve wracking. I particularly enjoyed trying on lots of costumes. Being a surprise I had to secretly invite all of her family and friends - I'm the worst at keeping secrets once I am excited about something.
However brilliantly the party hit off (and it really was wild) it ended rather badly.
I somehow managed to set myself on fire. And as the great Johnny Cash sung, I did indeed fall into a burning pit of fire.. and oh boy it burns burns burns! We had a fire in the garden burning wood when it got dark, which was not the greatest idea I've ever had. I managed to fall on top of the fire, in a Wonder Woman costume. Who does that? This guy! Rushed to the hospital I was nil by mouth from 4am-8am, which gave me two hours to race to the buffet and eat as many donuts as I could manage.
I woke up a totally different character, in excruciating pain and sobbing my little heart out. The hospital had to tear off my skin which was the worst torturing experience I've ever had in my life. And if I had to illustrate how I felt at that particular moment in time I would be shooting the nurse in the head. Safe to say she got a mouthful from me that day for continuing to tear my skin incase of infection. I was left with what can only be described as slabs of meat for legs - pure flesh. At this moment in time, being a female at 24 years of age, already conscious of my looks, I could see no positives. I stumbled out of the hospital that day left feeling sick, sobbing and wrapped in bandages, as well as a killer hangover. Right at the start of my summer.. brilliant! I can't really describe the feeling of being on fire, other than I felt very warm and it hadn't sunk in until someone was rolling me around on the grass trying to put me out!

FOOTLOOSE

It seems that most of my Summer was now to be spent laid up in bed, in pain, off my head on tramadol. The furthest I could manage to go was the toilet and back. I had no desire to even think about illustration, or any social life, or my personal appearance. All of my friends were out in the sunshine, living it up and I was drowning my sorrows watching The Noteboook and having a cry.
I made light of the situation, laughing about it with my friends, as they sent me selfies of themselves in flames and all possible fire-related songs. However, deep down, I was so frustrated. This could really only happen to me!
After a couple of weeks and lots of sleep I got into watching films and reading. I watched black and white movies, my favourite being Casablanca. These really interest me, as I feel I am an old soul. My granddad was a singer so I love all the old music, and wish I was born 40 years earlier than I was. I started to read 'The fault in our stars' by John Green. The story is about a young girl who has lung cancer and falls in love with a young boy who also has cancer. It made me once again think of my granddad who died of lung cancer a few years ago. All of this time spent laid in my bed was good time for me to unwind and gather my thoughts. However, I was in constant agony with my legs and could never get comfortable. I needed to be out, just to breathe fresh air. It's amazing how much we take for granted, even getting a bath properly. I wasn't sure how long I would be in this state as the hospital told me everyone's healing time are different. I have no internet at home so I was like a cavewoman, entrapped in my laire with a bad temper and bored senseless.

SEE MAN DRIVING A GERMAN WHIP
My legs were going to get worse before they got better. I was now at the point where I could barely stand. They had swollen to the size of tree trunks and the skin was tightening in order to recover, meaning massive pressure when standing up. My friend is a physiotherapist, her dad a doctor, and so they brought me over a wheelchair so that I would be able to leave the house.
That's what this had came to, I threw a party, ended up in a wheelchair! This wheelchair was pretty cool though it had leg stirrups and said Breezy on the back... balling! We went to the seaside Saltburn for the day, which was a total eye opener.
If you have a friend that you can lend a wheelchair off, I strongly suggest you try it for a day. Seeing the world through the eyes of people less fortunate really is powerful. I am a very independent person too, so having to rely on other people really frustrated me. When my granddad got ill, he eventually ended up in a wheelchair and this would have killed his pride. He was such a proud man, and really fit so to have me pushing him around in a wheelchair would have been devastating for him and immediately I felt this. You feel like you have no control, and less of a person as harsh as it sounds. To not have the freedom to get in my car and drive where I like, walk where I want and not have people staring at me was so strange. People were smiling at me for no reason, telling me about their charity work and I felt like saying 'I'm not really disabled.' It was quite funny though later on when I was able to walk for short periods of two minutes or so, I would get up out of my wheelchair to go to the toilet and get back in it - that caught a few stares!
This was not how I had my Summer planned, but my friends were determined to keep me going and get me outside. They took me shopping too which was strange going into disabled changing rooms. I was having to buy endless amounts of trousers knowing that I have to stay out of the sun for at least a year.

I started a new trend I like to call 'Bandage Swag'. Fair to say my friends got a good laugh out of rolling me around in the wheelchair for a while! Putting my trust in them to not let me go down a hill was tricky!


UP & AT 'EM
When I was finally up on my feet I spent a lot of time with my family, still taking it easy, doing a fair bit of cooking and baking. I conjured up a lovely cheesecake (which I'm now the master of) and cooked the family a Sunday Roast. Spent a lot of time with my niece and nephew who always inspire me. I love how they see the world, how they think and are constantly happy. They question everything, I miss being that age. My niece of 4 years old was in a theatre show of the Wizard of Oz which was great to watch. I really want to encourage her to be interested in the arts. I spent a good week carrying out my Aunty duties with the children, taking them out for tea. We made lots of balloon animals, and went to see 'How to train your dragon.' I think I enjoyed the film more than they did, which is great credit to Disney for incorporating a storyline that attracts all ages.

Oh don't mind us.. just chilling..

I really enjoy walking it makes me feel free; sometimes when I am troubled or het up about something I just like to get outside breathe in and walk, and keep on walking until I feel better.
Pretty obvious feeling when you haven't walked for a while; so that's what I did. Walked places with the nicest views, and felt normal again.
























CHILLAX
I went for a little break away from all of the drama to a cottage in the countryside. Me and my boyfriend took Buddy to Sherwood Forest in a huge cottage with the best views. We went on many walks around the area which was beautiful. I spent a lot of time just sat admiring the views on my blanket. I turned to my boyfriend and said "How do we get to this point?" He asked what I meant, I added "How do you get this life?" I wanted to know what would it take to live in somewhere so beautiful, secluded with those views. I am not a big fan of the hustle and bustle of city life, sometimes it's nice to escape and do nothing. Sit in silence, by a log fire, without a care in the world.

The cottage was really dated but modern at the same time. It still had its features such as an old fashioned throne-like toilet. It inspired  me to write a poem about the Queen sitting on her throne. I began to think what goes on behind closed doors of royalty; so I wrote a poem about how she still 'shits.' I write them into my phone notes when I get inspired and later edit them. Sometimes I just write down certain words that enter my head then later try put them into a sentence or make them rhyme.

HANDY ANDY
I moved into my house in Leeds quite early compared to the rest of my housemates as I was aware I had no internet at home and needed to be getting on with my Summer brief. However, I was up and down for a while as the house needed decorating before I moved in. I spent a few days cleaning it and then put to work painting my room. My boyfriend said to me, "Adele, you're amazing at painting but you're shit at painting walls!" So there is something I have learnt about myself, to leave it to the experts!
This inspired me to write yet another poem about the programme 'Changing Rooms.' I felt like Handy Andy sorting all of my room out, fixing things and nailing things to the walls so I made a playful poem based on this.

Rona also came round to do research for the Summer Brief with me.This is how we felt about it

Illustrators that influenced me to draw

Belicta Castelbarco

Ben the illustrator

Chrissy Lau

David Lupton

Varoom went to foyles bookshop in london (Hannah Simpson)

Holly Monger

Judith Van Den Hoek

Judith Van Den Hoek

Karl Mountford

Kathryn Rathke

Matt Buckett

Montana Forbes

Naian Wu

Phoebe Halstead

Richard Johnson

Rob Barrett

Sarah Beetson

Sophia Oconnor Reportage. Varoom at forbes

Steve Bell

Tim Bradford

Tim King

Tom Chitty

Vanessa Dell

Varoom at forbes

Illustrations from Tumblr from unknown artists

Other influences towards my drawings and poetry have just came to me daily; like if I am sat listening to a certain song. For example I was listening to Chris Brown & Kendrick Lamar Autumn leaves and got thinking about autumn so I started to paint in watercolour the colours of autumn splashed along the page. I listened to Passenger a lot who I think is a lyrical genius and this encouraged me to write poetry.

I had a reoccuring them of birds at one point because I kept seeing a load of magpies and crows around. One day I had three massive crows on my car stomping around making a racket on  my roof so when I got home I drew them up in ink. I drew Robin Williams when he passed, a man screaming when I was feeling stressed, ugly and overweight people when I was feeling like that that day. Other than that was just things I saw around me, people, my puppy, flowers etc. My more boring drawings are on the days when I couldn't get influenced. Sat around drawing my hands because nothing was inspiring me. I enjoyed most working with ink and watercolour, letting it dry and working back into it in pen. I also enjoyed drawing overweight people as I always do because it just gives me something to laugh at. It is interesting to look back at my initial drawings because to be honest I didn't draw for a while at first I had some time off which I know is naughty, but it is definitely true that we must keep drawing because the earlier ones are shocking. I had gone back to cross hatching and drawing like I initially did when I started the course at the start of the year. I wouldn't say I was proud of any of my work to be honest, which I should be, but I know that that's because I don't really enjoy creating hand generated stuff anymore and keeping a sketchbook I would rather make a piece of work on Photoshop that looks finished. I find it very hard to keep a sketchbook and just draw for the sake of it. I run out of ideas, I really need a brief to give me a kick start and generate ideas to run with. Finding work individually to just create is really hard. I could barely draw at all whilst I was at home obvioiusly because I was busy setting myself alight but I also got distracted. Back in Leeds I have my own desk space set up and this really helps me to focus.
I got quite into a technique where I was just brushing big strokes of water on the page then dropping ink into it and letting it spread, then trying to make something of the image afterwards. I did this quite a bit to warm up before I started on a drawing I wanted to do and it allowed me to be  more free with my mark making.


My drawings

These next ones are reoccurant throughout my sketchbook to loosen up my lines. I used ink and dipped a pencil in creating quick 30 second sketches of old people. I chose old people because of all of the lines within the face. I used reference material for these. I found it really interesting to see how when we get old our faces just completely change, sag, folds and creases appear and were almost inhumane. I drew one old woman that actually looked like ET.

Old people book

I really enjoyed drawing old people so I decided to do a book souly based on this 

Colouring on Photoshop