Never fight an inanimate object

I get bored.

2011-11-16T22:20:00.004Z

Here is a little sketch I made at work the other day... Most times, when I am bored, little characters just appear in front of me. It's fun to get to meet them, little by little, as they decide to revel themselves.

The best thing for me though, is the reaction of other people to them, since they seem to instinctively know the characters in my drawings better than me. Three or four of my work colleagues decided to give her a back story: apparently she lives by the sea, and the coastal breeze is the reason why her hair is so unruly. In this image she is standing at the edge of a cliff, looking towards the sea, waiting for her love to come back in his ship. Some say he is a pirate, others say he is a sailor, but no one was able to tell me why she seems to be holding freakishly oversized flowers.

I love hearing people's ideas about my characters, so if you think you know who she is, please let me know.

Aqui esta um sketch que fiz no trabalho. Muitas vezes, quando estou aborrecida, pequenas personagens aparecem a minha frente. E engracado conhece-las, pouco a pouco, pela primeira vez, quando elas decidem revelar-se.

Para mim o melhor e a reacao das outras pessoas aos meus desenhos, ja que parecem conhecer as personagens instintivamente melhor do que eu. Tres ou quatro dos meus colegas de trabalho decidiram dar-lhe uma historia: aparentemente ela vive perto do mar e e a brisa costeira que faz com que o seu cabelo seja tao frisado. Nesta imagem ela estaria no precipicio de uma falesia, olhando para o mar a espera da volta do seu namorado num navio. Uns disseram que era pirata, outros que era um marinheiro, mas ninguem conseguiu explicar-me por que e que ela esta a segurar numas flores tao ridiculamente grandes.

Adoro ouvir ideias diferentes sobre as minhas personagens, por isso se alguem a reconhecer, ou souber quem ela e, por favor digam-me.

Speed Petting!

2011-11-07T23:11:00.016Z

Yes, I know it sounds really rude, but it really, really isn't! Last week I went to the Creature Company pet shop, in Wimbledon, to experience "speed petting". It was the same shop where I bought my two ratties, Cusca and Castanha, so I knew what I was getting myself in for! The idea is that you go in on a determined day and "try out" and play with different pets... and I mean DIFFERENT pets :D Every few minutes, Sebastian- the owner- brought a few different animals for us to see, from the smallest to the biggest. Here are some examples:

Mammals

Winter whites (they change colour if they get really cold!)
Gerbils
Hamsters - the one we met was NOT in a good mood (and so was respectfully left in the box), never seen such a scary little thing!
Guinea Pig- so cool!
Mice- small and quick, as you'd expect, but seriously endearing, which you wouldn't.
Rats!- Possibly my favourite animal of all time!
Chinchilla- which I'd never interacted with before, and quickly fell in love with. Probably my next pet.
Degus- weird little things... it bit my husband, but melted in the arms of my friend, who just wanted to take it home.
Rabbit- hairy, hairy things
Ferrets!- they jump, they run, they play, they kill things! and they smell. quite a lot.

Myself, Sebastian and the crazy ass ferret.

and finally.... A HEDGEHOG! who knew they could be such cute pets! and soft! well... sometimes.

Reptiles

Bearded dragon, a baby one, which will happily look at you and pose for the camera.

'Allo!

Corn snake, yellow. I had never handled a snake before... I know it's kinda small and that makes me look like a wimp, but it was a big thing for me.

Justin, from The Suburban Poacher, feeling quite relaxed.

I probably forgot some of them, but the point is that it was brilliant fun and it made me consider having pets that I wouldn't have before... (what would be cooler than opening the door to the postman while using a live snake for a hat?) My favourite was probably the Chinchilla (the rats don't count, I'm too biast towards them..)

Which one has your vote?

Dying Stars or why I love Lawrence M Krauss

2011-09-29T10:49:00.005+01:00

"Every atom in your body came from a star that exploded. And, the atoms in your left hand probably came from a different star than your right hand. It really is the most poetic thing I know about physics: You are all stardust.You couldn’t be here if stars hadn’t exploded, because the elements - the carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, iron, all the things that matter for evolution and for life - weren’t created at the beginning of time. They were created in the nuclear furnaces of stars, and the only way for them to get into your body is if those stars were kind enough to explode. So, forget Jesus. The stars died so that you could be here today."

- Lawrence M Krauss

TV time!

2011-09-01T15:21:00.003+01:00

Hey all! Very exciting news, my latest book was feature on Portuguese TV, in the programme Ler mais Ler Melhor! Here's the link! (bear in mind it was made in 8 days :)

The story is really sweet, so if you are in Portugal, I'd would definitely recommend it!

Capa/ Cover

2011-04-03T14:24:00.002+01:00

I forgot to upload the cover ;)

Esqueci-me de aqui por a capa ;)

NEW BOOK! out now! (in Portugal) eng/pt

2011-04-03T13:53:00.005+01:00

ENGLISH:

"TARDE FANTASTICA" is out now!

Hi everybody! Here are some pictures from my new book "Tarde Fantastica" and its presentation in Oporto, Portugal. It was written by Cristina Carvalho and published by "7 dias 6 noites". It is my first children's book, so obviously I'm over the moon!

Working on it was a lot of fun. They're in Portugal, I'm in England, so everything had to be done via e-mail. It was a bit bizarre (but nice) getting to finally meet everyone in the flesh during the presentations.

We did a few presentation, two in an Oporto school and about three at the Book Fair in Seia (both in Portugal). In the latter kids were a bit younger than expected, so we got a few interesting questions... namely "why are you always smiling?". I just do!

I thought I'd just go and check out the presentations, but as it turned out, the publishers had a different idea: I was to talk to the kids and do my mini bit of the presentation too. I must admit, it caught me by surprise, I was totally unprepared and I did think it was gonna be a truly horrible and cringe worthy experience.... turns out it was actually a lot of fun!! I think I'd really like to do it again!

The author Richard Zimmler acted as a host for the Oporto event, and he was absolutely brilliant! Some people just connect with kids effortlessly!

Well, anyway, here go the pictures, hope you enjoy it!

PORTUGUES:

‎"TARDE FANTASTICA" ja esta a venda!

Ola a todos! Aqui vao algumas imagens do livro "Tarde Fantastica" e apresentacao no Porto, escrito por Cristina Carvalho e editado por "7 dias 6 noites". E o meu primeiro livro infantil e estou bastante orgulhosa :)

Espero que gostem! Toca a comprar! :D

P.S.- Se o virem em lojas ou comprarem, gostava muito (e era-me muito util) saber o que pensam, por favor deixem comentarios francos e construtivos!

double spread, the toy room

pagina dupla, o quarto dos brinquedos

Double spread, the river

Pagina dupla, o rio

Richard Zimmler presenting the book and panel (from left to right: organizing teacher, myself, Cristina Carvalho)

Richard Zimmler a apresentar o livro e painel (da esquerda para a direita: professoara organizadora, eu e Cristina Carvalho)

Myself and Cristina

Eu e Cristina

Myself trying to be interesting :)

Eu na galhofa

New book!

2011-03-21T20:07:00.002Z

hi everyone!

long time no see!

Well, this is because I've been quite busy, working on my first children's book. It's called "tarde Fantastica" ("A Wonderful Afternoon") and it was written by Cristina Carvalho. For the portuguese people out there:

Vou estar no lancamento deste livro, no colegio Luso-Frances no Porto, no dia 24 deste mes. No dia seguinte, estarei na Feira do Livro de Seia, por isso se alguem estiver por la, toca a dar um saltinho ao nosso cantinho! Prometo carregar fotografias aqui no blog logo que voltarmos.

I'm also working on another book, which I will talk about in a couple of days. I'm not very positive about it though, cause, though the story is really fun, I was only given 8 days to complete it! *O.o* Cross fingers for me please!

Website Launch!

2010-10-07T23:40:00.001+01:00

New website is now live!!

Still needs a bit of work, but the main stuff is all there!

Please visit:

http://www.mizlucas.com

Little owl

2010-08-15T21:32:00.001+01:00

Little owl sketch. Dedicated to my aunty Nono whose birthday I nearly forgot.

New website layout

2010-06-02T22:17:00.002+01:00

My new website layout is nearly done! (and long overdue) here's a taster that will go on my "about" section. enjoy!

Miz Lucas on Stock Illustrations!

2009-11-13T16:42:00.003Z

My license free illustrations are now available for purchase on http://www.stockillustrations.com/! Prices vary according to use and length of license. I will keep uploading new images at least monthly, so don't forget to visit! Enjoy!

New illustration

2009-11-13T16:36:00.002Z

The goddess of tobacco, done for a project at uni. Finally tweaked it and finished the smoke. enjoy!

Sorry....

2009-11-09T14:10:00.002Z

I'm sorry I've not been posting much recently, I been swamped with the bad kind of work: the one that may or may not lead me to have a job! From updating my website, to translating my book, to sending industrial quantities of e-mails to publishers (this week, newspapers and magazines), there's been little time for my pretty little blog.

Also, I've had to take a part-time job, pretty easy and fun one, catering and serving at VIP events (last week I served Sir John Major.. oooooooooo!). It's kind of annoying because it takes precious time that could be spent on illustrating pretty things, but it's a change in scenery and although I've only done 4 shifts, I already have stories to tell.... maybe I smell a comic coming up!

In any way, this is my week off, so expect some pretty illustrations by the end of it! I will probably start updating only every two and two weeks, but there will be a newsletter coming soon, so watch this space!

New work!

2009-10-07T20:32:00.003+01:00

New work on the website! Visit www.mizlucas.com

Here are a couple of the new images as a taster:

Also, photographs from my MA exhibition's Private View to come on Friday (unless I drink too much and make a fool of myself...)

I'm also polishing some of this year's work, so shouldn't be long until I update the website again :)

"The Plan!"

2009-10-06T09:57:00.004+01:00

So I've finally finishes sorting out the exhibition. It's looking quite nice! Now this is "The Plan!" (insert suspenseful music) I've found a couple of comics competitions that will be on in the next few months, gonna work for those. From tomorrow I will also start sending thousands of e-mails possibly pestering creative directors and such to start doing some commissions. Which means that, slowly but surely, I will start filling this blog with images again, sketchbook work, little ideas and some of the final stuff (though I'll probably save most of it for my website).

All this to say, don't despair, new work to come soon!

Watch this space :)

Cleaning!

2009-10-04T13:08:00.001+01:00

Last day preparing the exhibition... Cleaning... Lovely :(

2009-09-22T16:00:00.003+01:00

Spent yesterday doing my book's cover, hurt my hand and wrist in the process, and I'm back today to do end and title pages... I wish I could draw with my left hand too... In fact, I wish I could also draw with both my feet AND my mouth... I could then rotate, every day a different limb/ mouth and my pain would decrease considerably. Life would be so good!

2009-09-19T23:29:00.001+01:00

BRAND NEW WEBSITE!

I've just uploaded my new website! It will serve as an online portfolio, so I'll be able use this blog in a more intimate way, uploading sketches, plans and personal work.

Go have a look!

It's at www.mizlucas.com

"Keepsake"

2009-08-03T16:13:00.002+01:00

Keepsake is a book I'm developing at the moment. It is about the journey of a boy who tries to retrieve the soul of his recently deceased brother. In the end he realizes that, although his brother won't come back, he will always have the memories of their time together.

The three images below are some of the double pages in the book, although it is not all like that... more to come soon!

Blind Tom

2009-06-02T09:51:00.002+01:00

I'd forgotten about this one! Another drawing I did for my first project...

"A little fable", by Franz Kafka

2009-05-08T09:51:00.009+01:00

Illustrations for a short text by Kafka, called " a little fable". Not by order... I'm a bit lazy with technology hehe.

"A little fable" by Franz Kafka

"Alas," said the mouse, "the whole world is growing smaller every day. At the beginning it was so big that I was afraid, I kept running and running, and I was glad when I saw walls far away to the right and left, but these long walls have narrowed so quickly that I am in the last chamber already, and there in the corner stands the trap that I must run into."
"You only need to change your direction," said the cat, and ate it up.

And people still have the nerve to say Kafka he's bleak. I've read this fable dozens of time, and I still can't help myself from giggling hihi.

2009-05-07T15:29:00.005+01:00

My first shot at children's illustration! Some nursery rhymes from around the world :)

I had a little nut tree

I had a little nut tree,
Nothing would it bear
But a silver nutmeg,
And a golden pear;
The King of Spain's daughter
Came to visit me,
And all for the sake
Of my little nut tree.

Her dress was made of crimson,
Jet black was her hair,
She asked me for my nut tree
And my golden pear.
I said, "So fair a princess
Never did I see,
I'll give you all the fruit
From my little nut tree.

(British nursery rhyme)

Hush you Mice!

Hush you mice! a cat is near us,
He can see us, he can hear us...
--What if he is on a diet?--
Even then you should be quiet!

(Russian nursery rhyme)

The Rabbit in the Moon

In a small, white boat

In the blue sky

Are a cinnamon tree and a rabbit.

Without sail and without oar,

Yet gliding,

Gliding smoothly to a western shore.

Sailing across the Milky Way

To the land of clouds.

Where does it journey

Beyond the land of clouds?

(Korean nursery rhyme)

Sugar in the coffee-o

Sheep's in the meadow a-mowing the hay.
The honey's in the bee-hive, so they all say.
My head's up and I'm bound to go.
Who'll take sugar in the coffee-o?

I'm the prettiest little gal in the county-o.
My mommy and daddy, they both say so.
I look in the glass, it don't say, "No";
So I'll take sugar in the coffee-o.

(African-America nursery rhyme)

3D

2009-05-07T15:20:00.005+01:00

Some 3D work for the same project.

2009-05-07T14:36:00.006+01:00

A few images from the Exploration and Innovation Project at Uni. I wanted to explore Savantism and the overload of information, talent and skill that accompanies it.

Kim Peek.