Hello everyone!
I hope you are all doing well and enjoying some rays of sunshine!
One of my goals this year is to be writing more blog posts (I've only written one article, back in 2020...). I would like to have a nice little place that feels like home, away from Instagram, where every post is so quickly forgotten. Since the platform has officially announced that videos would get the most exposure, it feels more and more difficult to connect with people and keep a good level of engagement. Instagram has changed, that's fine. I see it as a gentle reminder of how important it is to have a website/blog to be able to interact with people who support and appreciate my art!
So here I am, in this article I would like to show you more about the process behind my Spring collection (that will be launched on the 8th of April). It's really the first time I offer such a wide range of products at this time of the year, I usually focus more on Christmas. This year I felt like designing a proper Spring/Summer inspired collection. Drawing so many colourful flowers in the middle of gloomy January and February months felt so nice!
Lots of Spring flowers in my sketchbook
Sketching ideas.
I like the research phase when I draw loosely in my sketchbook. I don't know yet where I'm going, I'm just drawing little animals that inspire me in the moment. I knew I wanted to paint something with rain (I live in Scotland and love rainy days!). A piglet in a raincoat seemed appropriate :)
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Spring is also the season where I go for cycles again. This feeling of freedom, riding the country side roads with fresh wind on my face, after a long winter, is always wonderful! Unfortunately, as a french person living in the UK, I have to say I miss baguettes very much. If you can't eat it, draw it!
Opening the box that contains new greeting cards is always such a joy! Lots of packing work ahead :)
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My most ambitious painting, the garden scene! It had been on my mind for so long, I really took the time to research the composition, colours, characters etc.
If you would like to learn more about the process and see the painting come to life, you can check out my last YouTube
video
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Now, let me tell you a bit more about the products I'm the happiest about, the notepads! I really wanted to design something that could be used either for notes, to do lists or as a writing paper! I'm so glad I finally took the time to design them. And the new exciting thing (for me) is that they've entirely been drawn with Procreate!
At the beginning of this year I finally jumped and bought an iPad! And I haven't regretted it, it is such a wonderful tool! I didn't plan on making full digital illustrations (I love traditional art too much) but I thought it could be handy to sketch, and design some simple things!
I'm loving it, it's been particularly nice while I was working on this Spring collection. I was painting a lot and really saw the time experimenting with Procreate as a refreshing break! It's really useful when it comes to sketching and redrawing, but also the feeling of colouring is very pleasant!
I really love that I was able to draw something a bit more "graphic" than my usual work.
Below you can see the first rough ideas, where it all started!
The other great thing about the iPad is being able to work basically everywhere! I love my little studio very much but I spend a lot of time there and it's really refreshing at times to get away from my desk. I love to be able to work at a cafe for example
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So happy with how they turned out!
I wanted the notepads to be as eco friendly as possible so they're printed on recycled paper, which gives such a nice textured look to it!
It's always a bit scary to release a new product as I never know how popular it will be. I'm hoping these will be successful enough, I would love to design one or two others (I had one in mind with happy insects).
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I wanted to make more stickers too, these aren't particularly Spring inspired but I've been drawing so many flowers lately, it's nice to come back to the basics!
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That's it for today, I hope you liked seeing the process behind the new collection!
Do you like reading blog posts? Or do you prefer going on Instagram to connect with the artists you like? It just feels more homey and personal here, let me know what you think!
Thank you for reading this article! I wish you all a wonderful Spring.
See you soon,
Cécile
Cécile, my dear, I miss blogs.
I started reading them on a regular basis when I retired in 2008. It was so good to look forward to them when I sat down to rest from other tasks and doing my own creative projects.
It would be lovely to interact that way again. I loved Instagram when it first came out. It was a joy to have a glimpse at all the beautiful work people posted and to get to know new-to-me artists and I have made very special friends that way.
When Facebook bought IG, it was the beginning of the end of a lovely era. It’s too fast and furious in pace and I get overwhelmed and lost. Not to mention that ads have destroyed the sense of adventure, exploration and simple community.
Your spring collection of art is just full of joie de vivre and make my spirits light and happy. Your notepads are wonderful! And all your cards, too. I could not resist a print of the spring garden piece. I purchased an original to support Ukraine, which is very important to me to do. So, I will have to wait to get new cards and, especially, notepads for myself.
I pray with all my heart that you are healing well and that equilibrium is restored to your mind and heart.
Thank you for such a great blog post,
Denise
I loved this blog post and seeing your sketches. I’m so happy you included a mole character, moles are so cute! The notepads are lovely and the garden is magical – going to get a cup of tea and watch your process video. Looking forward to your next blog post. But first, I’m off to your shop! X
Merci beaucoup Cecile pour cette plongée dans ton processus créatif. J’aime beaucoup cet univers champêtre lié au printemps. Hâte de voir cette nouvelle collection ! Je suis étonnée de voir tout ce que permet Procreate, tout en gardant ton univers et ton style.
J’aime bien le format blog, moins instantané qu’instagram et qui permet de vraiment prendre le temps et de ne pas switcher dune personne à l’autre.
C’est une bonne idée de revenir aussi aux newsletters, c’est toujours une belle surprise d’en découvrir une dans sa boîte mail.
A bientôt,
Blandine
Yay I love this! The flower sketches really make it seem like spring had sprung! Hope you are doing well!💙
Hi Cécile,
I’m glad you’re posting here. I miss the way the internet was before social media took over. I miss blogs and message boards.
Thank you for sharing your process. And it was also nice to watch you paint and hear your voice! :)
Best wishes!