Under The Stair Studios

On the Move...

2010-09-07T09:08:00.000-07:00

...In more ways than one, Rich and I are about to move house. Its all terribly exciting, the new house will enable us to set up a proper studio, so in the spirit of new beginnings I have decided to move my little art blog to my website www.katwhelan.com.

So if you would like to keep reading my nonsense then please wander over there for a little look, hope you like it!! A big thank you to all who have followed me so far!

My First Book

2010-08-16T13:35:00.000-07:00

Oh my god, how long have I been waiting for this!! Well about 27 years actually, but in real terms only about 8 months.

Yep that degree in 'Illustration for Children's Publishing', 3 years of my life and the small mountains of debt was totally worth it!

Fingers crossed someone actually buys it now!

Popular Crafts Magazine

2010-07-10T03:11:00.000-07:00

I'm in another magazine this month...

Oooh exciting, must remember to buy a copy!

Atelier

2010-07-10T02:56:00.000-07:00

In the next couple of weeks my little paper creations will be appearing in a new gallery in Barnstable Devon, so the last month or so has see an awful lot if this...

Good luck little circuses, I hope you look good in Tracey's new gallery!

New Creations

2010-07-10T02:50:00.000-07:00

Yes I finally have a few new bits for the shops...

A new circus and two new flat packs, also I'm hoping to have a brand new item up for for sale in the next week, still working the kinks out of the design though!

©Kat Whelan

Swaps!

2010-06-23T09:46:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago I was approached on Etsy by another buyer offering to do a trade for one of my Theatres, naturally I'm always up for swaps, I just love getting nice stuff in the post (rather than large scary bills!) So I was over the moon when these showed up...

And when I opened mine (the biggest one naturally!)...

How cute, my very own Wol!

Come Wol, you shall sit on my Mac and watch me work (or waste time...depends what sort of day it is!) If you would like your own Owl or anything else then check out the very talented Abby's shop or her very cool blog!

Cheers Abby, I really love him!

Cake Cards

2010-06-23T09:30:00.000-07:00

Apologise for the lack of posts, life is yet again running away from me, various project and ideas all crowding for head space!

Anyway a few of my recent cards designs....

Mmmmmcake!

©Kat Whelan

Victoriana Nursery

2010-04-21T13:59:00.000-07:00

Another busy month slips by, I really don't know where the time goes some days?!

Anyway most of it has been spent doing various illustration jobs, a few new logos and a seed packet of all things. I regularly do bits and pieces of work for Victoriana Nursery's (See my other blog for more about this excellent company!) we agreed when they first approached me about designing them a logo that they would pay me in plants rather than cash, now I love our garden and am very into growing our own food this all works out rather well, plus I always really liked the barter aspect of our arrangement!

So over the last year or so Ive done quite a few buttons, logos and other things...

and most recentaly I was asked to re-design their seed packet artwork, I'm really chuffed, first time I've ever done a seed packet! I can't wait to order my flower seeds!

©Kat Whelan 2010

This Weekend..

2010-03-11T01:30:00.000-08:00

So what are you guys up to this weekend?
Me? Oh not much....just going to London to see this...

Oh my god...how excited am I, I have been wanting to see this since it came out. Amazingly my Mum managed to get some last minuet tickets from someone she works with who can't go! Which is great as the box office is sold out till 2011.

The puppets used just look so amazing, apparently you totally forget that their not real!

Everyone who's seen it says it makes you cry, so I will probably sob through out the entire thing as I tend to burst into tears at anything right now!

Must dash, have to pack my bag and sort my train tickets out...oooh I cant wait!!

Look What I Spotted...

2010-02-28T04:56:00.000-08:00

....Oooooh, am so excited! I was just reading Mandy's very lovely blog Belle and Boo (check it out, she does the most beautiful illustrations) when I spotted this photo of a magazine interview she had done...

...and whats that right in the middle of the page...yes, one of my Circuses!!

I must instantly rush out and buy hundreds of copy's to sent to everyone I've ever met! (or in reality 2 copy's for me and Mum...which Mum will end up buying.....thanks Mum, love you!)

Love In a Jar

2010-02-25T11:12:00.000-08:00

Just thought I'd quickly show you a little present I made for my Mum recentaly, poor Mum her house is stuffed to the gills with this kind of thing from me and my sister over the years!

But then again who wouldn't want a jar full or butterflies!

First Pigs Now Lions

2010-02-11T10:51:00.000-08:00

I think one of the first few posts I did back in 2008 on this blog was about the King Bladuds Pigs public art project here in Bath, it was a great success at the time, so following on from this the same team are now doing another one, so this year we can expect out streets to be colonized by Lions!

I for one cant wait, the Pigs where wonderful and it was so lovely seeing them around the place, bring on the lions!

New for 2010

2010-02-11T10:14:00.001-08:00

Yet again another unscheduled blog break, although I do have better reasons this time, so all in all 2009 was a funny old year and in some ways I'm pleased to be getting on with 2010.

So new for this year are my latest products for my little shops, I have finally after about 6 months of meaning to do so, made my Circuses up into flat packs, mean that people can buy one of my design and make them up themselves.

The packs come with 3 sheets with all the parts of the Circus printed out on and the little wooden pole to make the characters in the center turn, all you need to supply is glue, sharp scissors or a craft knife and a cork!

I already sold a batch to an little company in Australia, you can find their shop here, so I'll have to wait and see how popular they are, so far I've only done a few of my designs as flat packs as it takes quite a while to set them up (and try to write comprehensive instructions !!)

Guilt

2009-11-25T06:50:00.000-08:00

Guilt, that is what I have right now, guilt that I haven't up-dated the blogs as much as I should, guilt that I don't get as much work done in a day as I should, guilt that I need to do such mundane things as eating and sleeping when I should be working, guilt, guilt guilt!!

This is I find the one major draw back of working from home, the inability to switch off from work. I find myself of an evening gravitating back towards my Mac to just finish this little job off...oh and maybe answer the odd email...oh and I'll just print those Etsy orders off.....and suddenly is midnight arrrrrrr!

One advantage of my recent work obsession is that I finally, after a year of meaning to do it, have built a website for myself! hooray! Ok its not spectacular but at least its somewhere to refer people who are interested in my work too....introducing katwhelan.com

I have ditched my third blog katwhelanillustrations.blogspot and am now using the website, I may eventually (and when I figure out how) move this blog over to there as well but quite frankly just building the site made my brain ache so that will have to wait till another time.

I have been doing many other exciting things, greeting cards, new flat pack Circuses for my Etsy and Folksy shops, a children's book and making some very nice Christmas present for my nearest and dearest all of which I unfortunately can't show you yet, but I will soon!

and finally, did I get to go the the amazing, never to be repeated Banksy exhibition.....No....I was getting married instead.....guilt!

Banksy

2009-07-30T03:24:00.000-07:00

Is their anyone on the plant that has not hear of Banksy right now? I think not so I wont bother to explain who he is (what else is google for?), I worked in Bristol for 2 years and was used to seeing his work around he city (usually sprayed 3 storeys up on the side of buildings) so I was really excited to hear he was doing a free exhibition at the Bristol Museum.

They shut the whole place for a couple of months so he could run around setting his artwork up (what an amazing job that must have been!!) at the moment it takes about 2 hours to cue to get in and is probably the most popular exhibition the Museum has ever had running, people for all over the world have been coming to see it!
Which makes me a bit ashamed that Rich and I, who only live 20 minuets away haven't been yet! Well we've got till the end of August, and by God I will go and see it even if I have to stand in rain for 2 hours! Here's what I've been missing...

At this rate we'll be the only people in the south west who haven't seen it, must go to Bristol next week!!!!

Time Slips Away

2009-07-30T03:08:00.001-07:00

Ok it is well established by now that I am a bad blogger, but I'm getting married in 6 weeks! that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it!

I'm also lucky enough to have two children's books I'm working on for an American publisher which is very exciting! that will keep me quite till next March, but in between I'm still trying to producing one or two other bits and bobs as well as trying to keep my shops running smoothly.

Here's two little images I managed to squeeze in:

I'd love to do more things like this, fingers crossed!

©Kat Whelan

Art Show

2009-05-07T01:57:00.000-07:00

Managed to get hold of the pics mum took at the weekend, here is the finished stand with my work on it...

Can you believe Rich built this all by himself out of 2 old doors we got of freecycle and a load of old pallet wood!

Rich had to make it in stages so the first time it was all screwed together and stand up on its own was at the show, we meant to test run it at home but it kept raining so we never got chance, good job he's so cleaver and it all fitted together fine!

I got some lovely comments about how well the stand complimented my work, it was Rich's idea to paint the shelves white then sand the edges off a little to give them a slightly worn look, I think it was works really well together.

and lastly here I am looking chuffed with my stand, lets hope it survives in our garage to do this again next year!

Hopefully I will be putting pics from the whole event up on the art show website (when I get 5 mins that is!)

©Kat Whelan

Where Have I Been!

2009-05-06T01:26:00.000-07:00

I have just looked at my last entry and realized it has been a month since i posted, how very lazy I am! Well not that lazy actually, I've been working my little paper cut fingers off getting ready for the art show which was the weekend just gone. It went well despite a last minuet change of venue (meaning that all the printed fliers where wrong, but never mind!) I didn't sell anything but all my business cards have gone and I have had a few follow up enquires vie the shops so that's great! there will be pics of the show and the totally fabulous stand Rich built for me, but they are on Mums camera so I am waiting on an email for her (hint hint mum!)

Anyway right now I'm busy filling orders...

designing my wedding invitations...

Doing a little more logo design...

and when I get 5 mins where I'm not doing any of those things I'm making miles of bunting for the wedding...

No wonder my hands are aching!

Also a quick thank you to Francesca for choosing Under The Stair Studios as one of her Folksy Feature Sellers, its always nice to be recognized! Francesca writes a lovely blog totally worth a look here!

x

New in My Shops

2009-04-02T02:20:00.000-07:00

What a lovely little break that's was, so many things done in such a sort space of time! The wedding plans are coming along brilliantly (we are amazingly managing to stick to our minuscule budget but that's another post altogether!)

So I have rushed home to add my latest creations to my 2 shops, here's a little taster...

I'm really please to get the little card designs up in the shops, all these new items will be featuring in the art shop in May, fingers crossed people like them!

© Kat Whelan 2009

New Ideas & A Little Break

2009-03-20T04:00:00.000-07:00

Well I am going to be taking a little blog break for a week or two, I'm off to spend a week organizing things for our up and coming wedding, I will hopefully get a little free time to work on some new designs and ideas too. Heres some new stuff which will be added to the shop when I'm back and its open again.

Also heres a quick pic of Rich's valentines prezzy I made him...

Yep, its a ninja squirrel theater! Isn't love a wonderful thing!

Art Exhibition

2009-03-10T03:10:00.000-07:00

Phew, what a busy 2 weeks its been, I have signed up to do a local art show at the beginning of May, I also made the slight dubious decision to volunteer to put together a website for it! Am I mad, maybe?!

Any how it has been what I shall diplomatically describe as a learning experience ( I have learned NEVER to volunteer for things! only joking!) the website is finally up and running with most of the artists who are taking part on there, although I have a feeling I shall end up tweaking it until the last minuet, mostly because I keep thinking of useful things to put on there or if I just moved this and this around it would look better!

Anyway its all good practice for building my own website which I will eventually get round to sometime this century!

So if anyone's in Bath on the Mayday Bank Holiday Weekend (2nd,3rd & 4th of May) and you fancy a look at some very beautiful things, come and see us!

Here's my entry on the site:

Take a peek at the site and then say nice encouraging things to me!

The Wonderful Ginko Papers

2009-02-20T04:16:00.000-08:00

Such a beautifully designed site this, and what their selling is very lovely too! The first thing I always look at is the design and layout of a website, if its badly put together it can really put you off no matter how nice their products are! In this case the site is as yummy as the cute little cards and stationary they sell!

All sourced in Japan, no one does cute little characters and brilliant pop ups like the Japanese! And the best bit is Ginko Papers have just started doing global shipping, so we can all have a bit of cuteness in our lives!

Crocks & Pots Logo

2009-02-20T03:22:00.000-08:00

Well I have been asked to create another web logo, the last lot I did where for Lucy over at Rural Muse, apparently Stephen and Serena over at Crocks & Pots saw these and liked them so got in touch to see if I would mind doing them one for their re-designed website. These guys also run the very excellent Victoriana Nursery, a brilliant family run nursery that supplies plants and seeds all over the UK.
In fact this year I will be reviewing some of the Victoriana Nursery seeds and plants over on my gardening blog, baring this in mind Stephen approached me with the proposal of trading some more plants for the logo design, this is something I hadn't considered before but as I would more than likely spend any money earned on plants anyway it made sense (plus I have always liked the idea of trading skills!).
So there we go, one 4ft olive tree will buy you a new logo for your website, anyone out there fancy trading some chickens for a few drawings?!

© Kat Whelan

New Shop!

2009-02-10T08:14:00.000-08:00

I have finally got another shop up and running, phew! I've been meaning to start another one to get a bit more exposure for my work but have as usual been side tracked by shiny objects!
The best bit is this one is in lovely Sterling, so no more confusion trying to work out postage on the international currency converter.

I'll be keeping my good old Etsy shop going for international buyers but for any Brit's out there you can find the new one here:

http://www.folksy.com/shops/UnderTheStairStudios

Paper Theaters

2009-02-06T04:43:00.000-08:00

Yes Theaters not Circuses, I'm branching out! I only have 3 designs at the moment but hopefully I will be adding to that soon, I've stuck with using the Hares again as the Dancing Hare Circus has been far and away the best seller, plus I just love drawing them!

Moon Dancing Hare Paper Theater

Little Baby Hare Paper Theater

Star Gazing Hare Paper Theater

© Under The Stair Studios

New Watercolour Work

2009-01-28T06:04:00.000-08:00

As I said in my last post, I am finally putting some work up thats NOT a circus!
I recently had to do a few illustrations for my agent to add to my portfolio, I wanted to produce some soft character based images as most of my resent stuff has been quite graphic and computer based. I love painting with watercolours, I find it very relaxing, just listening to my music and quietly building my pictures up.

© Kat Whelan

Valentines Circus

2009-01-22T03:52:00.000-08:00

Wow the last few posts have been nothing but Circuses recently! I promise I will blog about something else soon!!

Anyway here's the latest edition to my shop, a pale pink and cream Valentine's offering, arrrr some bunny loves you!

Hopefully this will be as popular as the Hare Circus has been but we'll see!

I'd also like to say a quick thank you to all the wonderful crafty blogger people out there that have posted about my little creations , I have tried to send thank you emails to everyone but in case I missed one of you a huge hug and than you, its always lovely to hear that others like what I'm making!!

© Under The Stair Studios

New Circuses

2009-01-13T05:47:00.000-08:00

I have decided to add a few more Paper Circuses to my Etsy shop, a few people made the suggestion to me so here they are:

Dancing Kittys

Dancing Piggys

Dancing Puppies

And finally Dancing Squirrels!

©Under The Stair Studios

Etsy Inspiration

2009-01-09T04:20:00.000-08:00

I love Etsy, my little shop is great fun but I mostly like looking at what other people are producing, the number of times I find something and think 'I wish I'd thought of doing that!'. One of those moments happened what when I found Cotton Bird Design, these beautifully simple little birds are made from recycled fabric and vintage paper, check out the Etsy shop here!

I especially love these little wedding bird couples, so sweet!

www.cottonbird.co.uk

Christmas Cards

2009-01-09T04:07:00.000-08:00

I realize it is now January and therefore a little late for Christmas cards, but as I haven't posted in a month I thought I post about what I was doing, these designs where produced in the run up to Christmas for my agent, hopefully we can sell them next year. I always find it hard to do Christmas design in the middle of spring ( when most design houses are working on them!) November and December are great because there plenty of reference and inspiration around.

My Favourite Sculpture

2008-11-29T09:31:00.000-08:00

Today Rich and I had the day in Bath, we've both been working pretty hard lately so I felt we deserved a brake, one of the places we always have to and have a look in is The Victoria Art Gallery, it's free to go in and they have some really amazing stuff on display.

My favourite thing is the sculpture they have in the entrance hall...

This is 'Lady-Hare on Dog' by Sophie Ryder, I think it just wonderful, I love the fact that the artist has used toys, kitchen implements and bits of old metal like bike chains and stuff in the casting.

Whenever we're usual there its always surrounded by kids looking at all the pieces in it and trying to recognize them, I really love the fact that this sculpture seems to draw so many people to it, you can't help but want to touch it!

You can see where Dog's nose has gone all shiny because everyone strokes him as they go past! No day out in Bath is complete without saying hello to Dog and Lady-Hare!

Shop Update

2008-11-25T03:13:00.000-08:00

I have just updated my shop with my latest Christmas card designs, hopefully there will be some more stuff going up in the next few days including another Paper Circus!

Merry almost Christmas!

©Under The Stair Studios

Fairys

2008-11-24T04:09:00.000-08:00

Here's some bits I produced for a small company in Ireland a few months back, the theme was fairy's and was aimed at little girls from about 4 to 8 years old, the idea is that these images can be used on any produce from stationary to kids wear.

© Kat Whelan 2008

Watercolour Illustrations

2008-10-19T10:15:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update to show I am still alive and drawing, these are just some ideas I've been playing around with lately, not for anything in particular mostly to keep my hand in and because I love using watercolours!

© Kat Whelan

Web Work

2008-09-02T10:40:00.000-07:00

I realize I haven't been updating much but that has mostly been as I've been waiting to finish up some deadline's before I could show you what I've been up to.

One of my latest briefs has been for a blogging friend of mine, I've been designing some banners or her web site (soon to be redesigned to include my stuff!) Her site is a gardening and green living web site/forum, pretty cool stuff, just up my street!

Here's what I've produced for her:

Here's Lucy's web site, check out the forum, there's some really good ideas on there!

http://www.ruralmuse.co.uk/

Selling Cards

2008-08-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

I haven't had chance to post these last couple of weeks, I've been run of my feet finishing verious jobs (which I shall post about later!) and getting cards ready for shops, I am now selling to a new shop in Bath. The Widcombe Gift company has taken 17 cards from me to see how they sell (fingers crossed that their popular!)

Dancing Hares

2008-07-22T09:44:00.000-07:00

I've got a real thing about hares, I just love them for some reason. This would be why they seem to end up all over my designs, I cant help it they just scurry on there and they wont budge!

Anyway I have got the latest Etsy offering up in my shop, my Paper Circuses are now available to the world at large, lets home some nice people want to give them good homes!...and what has this got to do with hares, well I couldn't resist doing a dancing hare circus.

I don't care if no one but me likes it, the one I made for the photos will sit on my little desk making my happy!

Etsy

2008-07-18T09:24:00.000-07:00

Finally, I have my shop up and running (I think?!), the test will come when someone wants to buy something. It was pretty easy and straight forward, nice and user friendly thankfully or I'd be really stuck!

Take a look and let me know what you think

UnderTheStairStudios.etsy.com

Pigs in Bath

2008-07-16T12:26:00.000-07:00

We live in Bath in the UK, it's a really beautiful Georgian city (for those who may not have been!), at the moment around the city we have a public art event going on called King Bladud's Pigs, basically we have around 100 life sized pig sculptures all around the town that have been personalized by local artist and designers. Each pig has been sponsored by a local business and will be auctioned of in October (if you want to know more here's the link to the official website)

I really love this idea, every time I go in to town I spot one I haven't seen before, I'm a bit sad they'll only be around till the end of summer, anyway here are some I hunted out today.

I think my favourite so far is this last one, hes so cute!

I'm also worried I am become a little obsessive about this and start trying to photograph them all!

Circuses

2008-07-15T11:01:00.000-07:00

I love paper sculptors, well any sort of 3d paper design is pretty cool in my book, I always love the idea that something that look's so intricate and complicated can be make out of something as simple and ordinary as a sheet of card.

These are the latest idea for my Esty shop (hopefully up and running in the next few weeks!) they are paper circuses, each one is design for a special occasion, Birthday, Wedding and New Baby. The idea is that if you wanted to send something a little more impressive that an ordinary card or if you were struggling to find a present for a special someone then these would be perfect.

They are all hand make my me, and the disk in the center spins round so you can see all the little illustrations, a small message can be written on either side of the flag on the top so you can put who its too and who its from.

I'm not sure how well these will sell but I'm going to give them a try and see how they go, hopefully I can add to the designs if they are popular.

Butterflies

2008-07-07T09:58:00.000-07:00

Phew, finally I've got round to updating! Sorry its taken so long, mad, mad week last week leading to not much art work being done and lots of boring stuff like sorting my computer out and ordering from my card supplier!

Anyway this is a quickie update, hopefully there will be more photos tomorrow, the latest idea I'm playing around with is a small verse range with 3d butterflies.

I'll take some pic's tomorrow to demonstrate the butterflies better, the idea is the wings are die cut and pop put of the card, so it looks like they just landed on it, I'm pretty please with the finale look, lets hope they come out in the photos!

Up Date

Finally some quick photos so you can see the effect of the butterflies.

New Cards

2008-06-30T10:17:00.000-07:00

The last week or so I have been working on some ideas for small cute cards, I'm hoping to open an Etsy shop in the next couple of months so this is hopefully some of the stock that will be featuring in it.

These cards will be 7 x 9.5 cm so pretty small, I have always prefer smaller cards, I think people tend to hand on to them as a keep sack if they are small enough to put away or they get kept out on show long as they don't take up vast amounts of room and get in the way.

The cards will feature a 3D pop out, this makes them stand better on a flat surface and also adds a little some thing extra!

These cards are aimed at women but I thing the subtle blue colouring would make them ok for the man in your life too.

I'll keep you up dated as I develop this range, at the moment it only has 6 occasions but if they are popular I will extend it.

Introductions!

2008-06-25T08:54:00.000-07:00

Hello

Wow the first post, always a little pressure to put something interesting, something that will get the attention of the reader... mmmm you'd think I'd be better at this by now!

So let me introduce myself, I'm Kat, I'm 27, I live in the city of Bath in the UK and I'm an Illustrator and Artist. Of course if you've found your way here from my other blog Shoestring Garden, you'll already know some of this so feel free to skip ahead! Unless your related to me in which case I fully expect you to read every word of this rubbish...there will be questions later!

So here's my story, basically I have been an Illustrator in the Greeting Card industry since I left university in 2002. I was lucky enough to get a full time job straight after graduation, I moved to the beautiful city of Bath and have been here ever since.
Unfortunately I was made redundant from that job in 2006, I spend about 6 months out of work before I landed another full time Illustrator position with a company in Bristol. A good company but a punishing 2 hour daily commute up two of the crappiest motor-ways in the country, driving on them really should be classed as some sort of extreme sport!
This lead to me being out of the house from 7-am till 7-pm, that's a damn long day!
I usually be so knackered by the weekend I'd sleep through most of it, this went on for 2 years, until about a month ago when I was yet again made redundant!

So here I am, no job, huge mortgage to pay, spiraling living costs and for some reason I'm not that sad about it, don't get me wrong, my partner and I will miss the regular income but I realized I hadn't been happy for a while, funny how I never noticed that before.

So why have I started a blog about all this, am I not sad enough already?! Well apparently not, this blog will mainly be about me being a freelance illustrator, jobs I get, ideas I come up with and where you can find my work, it will also (hopefully!) contain examples of other artist stuff, things that inspire me and exhibitions that get my creative juices going. Eventually it will have a link to my on-line shop selling hand made goods by Me (again, hopefully!)

...and one last thing, why is my blog called under the stair studios? because that were I'll be working!