The Fashionable Cocktail officially launched!

'The Fashionable Cocktail' book has officially launched. It was celebrated with a delicious cocktail (or two) from the book. Clink, clink! I can highly recommend the Debutante and the Turkish Delight Martini. The book features the lovely Jane Rocca's fashion take on cocktails. It's a super nicely designed package on matte stock with lovely details, thanks to designer Heather Menzies from Hardie Grant. It should be in a bookstore near you soon! Try Readers Feast in Melbourne city and Readings for a start.

Here's just a few of my favourite illustrations and spreads.

Debutante

Black Russian

This event was unfortunately invite only but there are still some tickets left for this Tuesday night's event (mentioned in my post below). I will be selling some limited edition prints on the night too.

The Fashionable Cocktail

The book that consumed my life for a few months this year (and late last year), 'The Fashionable Cocktail' is finally launching at the end of August/early September. Written by Jane Rocca, published by Hardie Grant, and illustrated by moi. I did have a different cover but this is the final design by Michelle Mackintosh. The book is jam packed full of pretty awesome cocktail recipes and illustrations (150 or so but who's counting!)

The launch is in partnership with Melbourne Spring Fashion Week at Touche Hombre. Tix include Mexican canapes, cocktails, a signed book, goodie bags plus it will be launched by the ever hilarious Helen Razor. Wanna come clink glasses? Details below.

zipper pouch design

Week 5 and the final week of the course. It has been crazy busy but great. The last assignment was to create a zipper pouch design (cosmetic bag, pencil case, etc) in a hyper lush style. We had draw from one of our own collections. I had too many to choose from (there are those hoard-ish tendencies again) but went with my vintage pin up card collection. Look how cute those teeny cards are. So this was my final design, as someone mentioned naughty but nice.

abstract collage

It's Week 4 in the course and it covers Wall Art. The brief is to create an abstract collage. Get outside your comfort zone and do something different. Colours are limited to your star sign colours (mine is Aries - red and yellow). Plus we must add a floral and typographic element. Now I'm not really a florally kinda girl so set forth to abstract it down in some way.

First up we are asked to collect collage materials in your colour way. Luckily my hoard-ish tendencies paid off. No problem here. See pic above.

Then experiment and paint time (see thumbnail pics for paint studies). I go a bit frantic here with a few different ideas on the go but I am finding the 3-4 day deadline too restrictive to resolve my paintings so go purely into collage land. My first attempt below.

Then finally a breakthrough of a more abstracted version in petal shapes (yes the obtuse floral reference) which is what I went with. What do you think?

'Petals'

children's book cover

It's week three of the course and we had to illustrate a children's book cover for Hans Christian Andersen's, 'The Snail and The Rose Tree'. A rather odd tale written in 1872 about a particularly grumpy snail and you guessed it, a rose tree. The very crude rough below was my first idea before we got to read the story and then it just didn't suit. I've gone for a vintage vibe. I'm sure it's inspiration from osmosis -reading vintage kids books to my 3 year old every day.

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back to school

'Kitchenette'

I am currently half way through a 5 week e-course, 'Make Art that Sells'. I know it kinda sounds like a TV infomercial (free set of steak knives!) but it's about creating art and licensing in different markets. Who knew going back to school could be so much fun (if not a tad busy).

Each week we have an assignment in one category with a brief to follow. I'll post my work along the way.  All ready for licensing people!

First week, Bolt Fabric - retro kitchen fabric plus co-ordinates (above).

Second week, Home Decor (plate design) - using pods and/or succulents. I went with an Australian theme.

Botanica

A0 print

I recently had an order for an A0 print of 'Peacock Envy' for a customer. I was going for a vintage French poster vibe, ala Bernard Villemot's Bally posters. There are some fine examples of vintage posters to lust upon at Gallerie Montmarte and Vintage Posters. I was super stoked with the print quality. Thanks Lantern Printing, it looks amazing.

mid year catch up!

Well where has this year gone? I have just finished two major jobs back to back. First an illustrated cocktail recipe book, 'The Fashionable Cocktail' written by Jane Rocca and published by Hardie Grant. It was massive, involving about 150 illustrations and a whole lotta late nights. I'll be super excited when it launches in September, cocktail in hand. A sneak peek of the cover found here.

Then it was straight into 28 new Buxom Lips illustrations for Bare Escentuals. I've had a brief hiatus from working on this brand while the company swapped hands (now owned by Shiseido!) but I am back in full swing. Will upload the new girls when they launch.

Also my Australian agent Jacky Winter has just relaunched their website. 

hello new year!

Xmas and the New Year came and went without a mention so hope yours was swell. It will be Halloween before I get my act together so here's a real quick post before January slips away too.

I am currently working on about 100 illustrations for a book written by the lovely Jane Rocca. It's a great job with plenty of creative freedom but deadline is tight. Thus means my summer has been spent mostly indoors drawing away and staring at the computer.

I can't reveal the work just yet so thought I'd leave you with some pinterest inspiration.

Xmas prints

Thanks for the print orders everyone. Remember to put your order in early if you want it posted in time for Xmas. Lantern Printing have done a sterling job of the giclee prints. Click on image below for it to appear larger.

Bird's Nest

A collab with Unsigned Management

This artwork 'Siren' is a recent collab I've done with photographer James Pipino. I was asked along with other artists and designers (including my designer/art director hubby Tim) to create a unique work using Unsigned Management's photography. The monster A0 printed works will be silent auctioned off for charity at a launch party this Thurs night in Melbourne. Please contact me if you are interested in going. neryl@neryl.com

Other artist's work include Tim Haynes, 'Don't Rest Feet on the Wall'. Also in collab with James Pipino. Should look rockin' at A0 size.

Limited time Xmas print specials!

                 

                                                                      Folk Sweethearts

Well jingle my bells, it's that time of year again. I've had some print enquiries so I've decided to get into the Xmas spirit and run some holiday specials on my limited edition prints.

Usual prices are A4 $100 and A3 $130. Super Xmas discounted rates will both be under $100!  Hello, instant pressie idea. There are also discounts on multiples.

The giclee prints are great quality, printed on 300gsm art paper, 100% cotton rag, nil OBAs, natural finish, acid free and only archival pigment inks are used. They are limited edition of 100, signed and numbered, with white surrounds for framing.

                                                 A4 - $75 for one

                                                       - $130 for two

                                                       - $250 for four (or set as shown above)

                                                A3 - $95 for one

                                                      - $170 for two

                                                      - $320 for four (or set as shown above)

Discounted rates will run until Dec 21st but please get in early if you want them to be posted in time for Christmas!

Be What you Want to Be

Bear Hunt

These are some images that I've had some enquiries about but discounts are on all prints. See something you like, shoot me an email at neryl@neryl.com and I'll see what I can do.

More images on my pinterest page.

Postage and handling in Australia

A4 - $5 shipped flat

A3 - $10 shipped in tube

International postage and handling

A4 - $10 AUD shipped flat

A3 - $18  shipped in tube

Payment in Australia direct deposit preferred. Paypal accepted for international folk.

kid's designs

Bear Hunt

I've been creating some children's designs lately and lovin it. I'm sure that having a kid and reading vintage kids books every day has influenced the design process.
And hey, not a boob in sight. Who said I was typecast?

be what you want to be...

yeah!

pattern

'Folk Lover' print designs, available for licensing.

pinterest

I've been sucked into a void of pinterest, (damn you time wasting computer) but I do have some funny pics to share. Not is all lost. You can follow my pinterest page if you have a spare hour or two to waste. I'm still trying to decide if this pinterest is a good thing. Yes it has some ace reference material but I can't help think that it regurgitates the same images all over the web. It's great to see what is popular on one hand but will everyone have the same inspiration? And really, I used to have time to create things and now I'm just looking and thinking about it.... Images via Poppalina and Tiger beat Twist.

new work and other good stuff

I've been busy with deadlines (which I can't talk about just yet) which means I have a backlog of posts. Somehow I just can't manage to fit them in so here's a few to get started.

First up was a collaboration with my partner in crime, art director/designer Tim Haynes. A tote bag design created for Ulta3 pastels range of nail polishes. It's a giveaway for a limited time at leading pharmacies while stocks last.  Check out Ulta's facebook page for details. We hope to work on a few more projects together.

I've had a few good garage sale/op shop finds lately. These ace kids masks still in their packets are probably my faves. 

And this one is for the kids. My sister told me about this and I stumbled across it in the city yesterday. It's called Kaeru, a recycled temporary garden by a Japanese artist Hiroshi Fuji. It'son the upper terrace of Hamer Hall, entrance through the main lawn at the Arts Centre. More info here. Open until Sept 30th and it's free.