Emily Russell

Illustrator and Artist.

[emilyrussellart]

Repost of one of my favourite illustrations from last year. 🦊

[emilyrussellart]

These Scottish wildlife illustrations were done for our wedding table names. We chose Scottish wildlife not only due to our mutual love of nature, but because we got engaged in Scotland whilst staying at @treshnish_isleofmull where we watched diving gannets from our cottage (as well as spotting sea eagles and golden eagles!). We also spent an unreal 2 day trip with @baskingsharkscotland experiencing swimming with Basking Sharks and seals. These illustrations have also inspired a tea towel design, which will be up in my online shop alongside prints of the illustrations TOMORROW. Link to my site in my bio 🦅🐚🐬🦈

[emilyrussellart]

Another picture in progress. Lizzie asked me if the wood pigeon was helping or hindering. I said you never can tell with wood pigeons. (at Oxford, United Kingdom)

[emilyrussellart]

Another image draft for my book. (at Puffin Books)

[emilyrussellart]

I have a few pieces available as cushions and tote bags and things on @artrookie_. Head on over to their website www.artrookie.co.uk and search for 'emilyrussellart' to see products I have available. Or browse the hundreds of amazing artists they have producing amazing work. (at Natural History Museum, London)

[emilyrussellart]

More #wip #workinprogress ideas down for a book project. (at South Oxfordshire)

[emilyrussellart]

I'm Emily, and I am an Artist and Illustrator.

I think there's a stigma around announcing yourself as an 'artist' of any sort, and to enable yourself to say it out loud, or publish it online is often accompanied with a lack of self confidence, or paranoid risk of sounding pretentious. So today, I decided to announce it and in doing so removed a barrier. I shouldn't have to defend my reasons for altering my bio across social media platforms from 'illustration' to 'illustrator', but I feel I ought to. It comes down to the simple fact that I illustrate, and not in the way that if someone sews a button onto a cardigan they should call themselves a fashion designer, but in a way where I think out, execute and promote my work, and sell it to people that like it. Even now I feel like a fraud, but to enable me to conquer my dreams, this is a good step forwards. Look out world, I'm going to illustrate you!

[emilyrussellart]

Sneaky look at a book in working on. #workinprogress #wip (at Oxford, United Kingdom)

[emilyrussellart]

Becoming proactive.

So, I have decided to become a more proactive blogger.  I can hear all your shouts of glee and sense your anticipation at the prospects of such excitement. 

You see, I’m on a mission, and that mission is to illustrate.  I LOVE drawing and painting and making art, I’ve always loved it, and I want to spend my life earning my wage by doing the thing that I love - did i mention that that’s drawing?!  But, it of course has occurred to me that actually, there are probably millions of people out there who want to earn a living from the thing they love, and with that, it FINALLY occurred to me that hard work is required in getting myself out there to publishers, writers or any other potential clients. I’ve not been the boldest in the past in regards to approaching people with my work, but all that is about to change!  I do apologise if I end up bombarding you all with my portfolio and my ideas, and why you should hire me, but i’m not getting any younger and I’m going to have a good bash at doing what i’d like to do.  

I’ve been making art all my life, throughout school, and attended Oxfordshire College of Art and Design in 2005, but i’ve been ‘seriously’ making art since 2009.  I started painting large scale, abstract and contemporary paintings in acrylic, and attracted some commissions from owners of racehorses which at the time, and still a lot of the time now, was my main focus of interest, due to the colours, strength and movement.  These days I mostly paint on a smaller scale, and my subject base is broad, although I do enjoy painting animals.  I used a mixture of medias - anything I can get my hands on really, but more often than not my work is an assortment of watercolour, coloured pencils, and inks.  

I’m one of the founding member of Oxfordshire Art Collective ‘Parched Artists’, and through this i’ve been able to exhibit and sell my work at events throughout the country, but it’s getting into illustration, books especially, that I have my heart set on.

There are some bits and bobs floating around the internet, on my website www.emilyrussellart.co.uk and on my instagram @emilyrussellart .  I do however, intend to be posting more work on tumblr, as a platform to inform and update the world on projects, and ups and downs.

[emilyrussellart]

Bit of an evening scribble in the #sketchbook. I've lit the #woodburner tonight to warm the house up. (at Oxford, United Kingdom)

[emilyrussellart]

I'm finally happy with this one and have put the brush down on it. I was very taken with the @bbcspringwatch footage of the Fox vs Eagle on #Winterwatch, and plan on getting cracking with the eagle right away. Painted with @winsorandnewton #cotman #watercolours (at Wallingford, Oxfordshire)

[emilyrussellart]

The first sketch in a new sketchbook (valentines gift from @lizzie_rhymes). The start of an #illustratedjournal I hope. Just a quick scribble in between jobs today. (at Wallingford, Oxfordshire)

[emilyrussellart]

Brilliant day exhibiting at #geekcon in #Banbury. There were a few unusual visitors to view the work on show! (at Castle Quay, Banbury)

[emilyrussellart]

So, I went with full colour. I wasn't expecting to get this done so quickly, but I really got into it, and I find the more pen and ink work I do before hand, the quicker and more confidently I set about adding any colour. I used @winsorandnewton cotman as usual, but I also used colouring pencils for hair detail where needed. Really quite pleased with this. I didn't expect to have it do to show at #geekcon in #Banbury this weekend either! (at Oxford, United Kingdom)

[emilyrussellart]

Very quick lunchtime sketch. (at Wallingford, Oxfordshire)

[emilyrussellart]

Finally finished this piece. Now time to crack on with some of the accompanying written work to go alongside the illustrations! #illustration #illustrator #heart #anatomicalart #anatomicalillustration #scientificillustration #biologyillustration #equinescience #art #watercolour #watercolours #WinsorNewton #WinsorAndNewton @winsorandnewton #paint #painting #photooftheday #succulent #artist #artofinstagram #instaart #artwork #indianink #dippen (at Wallingford, Oxfordshire)

[emilyrussellart]

I love seeing photos of people's workspaces, desks and studios, so I thought I'd post mine! I have dreams of working in big sunlit studio on day, but for now I'm grateful for the little grotto under the stairs where I paint, draw, and listen to 90s indie britpop. Post your workspaces and let me know - I'd love to see them! #thisismyworkspace (at South Oxfordshire)