Samara Andrews

Blue Suede Shoes Exhibition

2011-10-11T06:36:00.001-07:00

Hello, firstly I would like to apologise for my lack of posts recently. It has been a busy few months and as I have now reached full-term in my pregnancy, it could be a while before I post anything on here in the near future, once my baby arrives...but I will try!

I would love to tell you about the new Gumbo Illustration show: 'Blue Suede Shoes'. It is in fact the second time this exhibition has been shown but this time we are hosting it in a central London location, at the wonderful Nancy Victor Gallery.

I couldn't make the private view (due to my pregnancy), held on 6th October but I hear it was a real corker with a fantastic turn-out. The show only runs for two weeks so if you are in the area and want to check out our collaborative project, please make sure to get there before 21st October. Booklets of our work, as well as limited edition prints from the show are available to purchase and I hear there has been a lot of interest so get in fast!

Sunday Express

2011-08-16T11:05:00.000-07:00

Here is the latest illustration, created for the Sunday Express magazine. It accompanied a short story about a young woman who is moving out of her flat and looks through the bottom drawer of her grandmother's chest of drawers to find old slips of paper with past worries written on them. The idea is that you shut them away in a 'worry drawer' and forget about them...

New Work

2011-08-01T08:52:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a bit longer than I'd like since my last post but I have been a busy lady and what with it being summer and all, I've had a fair few short breaks around the country visiting friends and family. All very lovely of course and being nearly 7 months pregnant now, does make me slightly less productive but I have managed to squeeze in a few illustrations lately.

The first is one I did a little while ago for Reform magazine. It was quite a nice illustration to do as Sav (the teenage son in this monthly column) is thinking about his heritage, being a mixture of English and Jamaican and I put together a little sketchbook, which meant I could incorporate pictures from previous illustrations.

The Second piece I have done recently is another illustration for The Sunday Express magazine. I have just sent another one off today but this is the one from a couple of weeks ago:

Single Mum for Reform

2011-06-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hello Folks, yet another illustration for Reform magazine. This is the one I was telling you about recently i.e. Lucy's account of mental illness and the difficulty this can bring if you want to adopt when fully recovered: "The whole decision became suddenly a paper one, about an illness which, for me, was finished; and for them was not. So Sav never had a sibling."

Lucy Berry's Single Mum Column

2011-05-20T07:16:00.000-07:00

Hi Folks,

Here is the May illustration for Lucy Berry's 'Single Mum' column for Reform magazine. The focus of this short story was Lucy and Saville's beloved dog Janice, who has had such an integral role in their family lives.

"I remember the day Saville discovered that animals were not generally attributed with having souls. He simply couldn't believe it. His vehement argument proceeded along the lines that few people have human friends as good, reliable, loyal, entertaining or willing-to-do-what-you-want-to-do-yourself as their dog friends."

In next month's June edition of Reform, I illustrate Lucy's story on coping with mental illness and how this can effect your life way after the symptoms themselves have disappeared.

May Up-date

2011-05-09T07:40:00.000-07:00

Hello Folks, sorry it's been a while! It was lovely to have a two week break and get away from it all visiting friends and family around the country recently but now I am back and raring to go again. One of the illustrations I produced just before the Easter break was for The Sunday Express, which accompanied a short story about one man's memories of his past and a lost love.

I am currently working on an illustration for Reform magazine which will accompany a short story by Lucy Berry about mental illness and how a breakdown can affect a person for life, even when fully recovered. Watch this space...!

Sunday Express

2011-04-08T09:20:00.000-07:00

I am very lucky to also be a regular client of the Sunday Express magazine and the latest short story I illustrated was of a little girl, with bright blue eyes, blond hair and a pink dress so the brief was pretty descriptive! I had to have a kids softplay ball pit in the background, which I must admit, wasn't my most favourite thing to draw (too many ropes!) but it was enjoyable to do never-the-less.

New 'Single Mum' Illustration

2011-04-08T09:11:00.001-07:00

Here is the latest illustration for the April edition of Reform magazine. This month's story was regarding Lucy's teenage son and how delighted she is by the North London school he attends;"Between them the kids speak more than 60 languages. Some of the girls wear skirts resembling curtain pelmets; some wear hijab. Some of the boys wear turbans; some have locks, some have chin-fluff, some have impressive, fully grown beards."

New Waitrose Yogurt Pots

2011-03-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've up-dated this blog. I have been busy with the Gumbo Illustration show: 'Blue Suede shoes' but now have a little time to do my own thing. I thought I'd post the newer Waitrose Yogurt packaging which are updated versions of the previous ones I did before. They taste good too!

Single Mum Illustration

2011-02-08T09:46:00.000-08:00

Hello! Sorry it's been a little while since my last blog post, I have lots to put up but very little free time at the moment. Anyway, here is an illustration I did recently for Reform magazine. It's for the 'Single Mum' piece by Lucy Berry and in this month's installment, Lucy remembers her father and their often strained relationship. Unlike the relationship between her son and his grandfather which was very strong.

Waitrose Packaging Projects

2011-01-22T10:19:00.000-08:00

Hello, thought I'd share my Waitrose packaging projects with you as these haven't been put up on my blog yet...

These are just a selection of the packaging I illustrated for Waitrose.

Sunday Express

2011-01-07T04:13:00.000-08:00

Hello and a Happy New Year to you! I'm looking forward to what this New Year has to offer in terms of creative jobs and opportunities...I'm raring to go! For my first post of 2011 I am putting up a Sunday Express illustration I did just before Christmas for their Sunday magazine. It was a project with a very quick turnaround. I had one night to produce the rough and one day (excluding the weekend) to finish the final artwork and a lot of detail was required! Great challenge though...certainly kept me on my toes!

Reindeer Cards

2010-12-21T06:46:00.000-08:00

You can now buy a pack of 5 originally drawn 'Reindeer' postcards on my Etsy shop page. I know it's a bit late now for this year but you can always get in early for next year!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/64656878/pack-of-5-hand-drawn-reindeer-postcards

Single Mum Illustration

2010-12-20T06:10:00.000-08:00

Finally got around to adding this month's installment of 'Single Mum' for Reform magazine. This month, the article by Lucy focuses on what it must be like for her son to grow up without a father, particularly now he is a teenager. It's not always easy to be a mother and father figure to your child when you are a single parent...

Etsy Shop

2010-12-03T07:50:00.000-08:00

I am finally selling archival prints on my Etsy shop. It has been a long process for me to get it all completed but I have finally done it whoop, whoop!

Sunday Express

2010-11-23T11:34:00.000-08:00

This is the illustration I did recently for a short story in The Sunday Express magazine which shows the female character having second thoughts about sharing her Raspberry Pavlova...

Single Mum

2010-11-10T03:39:00.001-08:00

I've been itching to get this new piece of work up on my blog for ages but just haven't had the chance. Finally, I can put it up today. It is the next illustration to accompany the 'Single Mum' column for Reform. This month's story was how Sav (the son of Lucy) sometimes feels that he can't always explain to his mum that her comments can come across as hurtful. The colours on this print also match the original artwork (unlike last month's) so I am really pleased with it.

Work on Creative Bedfordshire Website

2010-10-14T02:15:00.000-07:00

I received an email yesterday from a lady from Bedfordshire Council saying that they were using one of my illustrations for their Creative Bedfordshire website front page for the next few days. I'm very flattered they would like to use my work to promote their site and they have credited me at the bottom of the page too. Here is the picture they have used.

2010-10-12T01:15:00.001-07:00

Just noticed the Sunday Express have put my work on their website and I have to say the tighter crop is much better here.

Sunday Express

2010-10-04T01:26:00.000-07:00

I did an illustration recently for the Sunday Express magazine which was in yesterday's paper. It was about a couple out to dinner with their teenage son sharing some important news. This was a relatively easy one for me to do as the designer simply wanted the three hands clinking champagne glasses.

Single Mum Illustration

2010-09-29T03:56:00.001-07:00

Here is number three in the series of 'Single Mum'. The story this month relates to Lucy taking Sav to a fancy coffee shop and the utter embarrassment she faced when he shouted out swearwords that he had picked up from playgroup.

New 'Single Mum' Illustration.

2010-08-25T04:27:00.000-07:00

My second 'Single Mum' illustration for Reform magazine. The brief was quite challenging this month as I had to convey a young woman, alone, with her new born baby, feeling anxious about how on earth she might cope but with the comforting thought that God was with her. Despite being slightly tricky to depict, I was really pleased with the results and hope Lucy (the subject/writer of the piece) is too when she see's it! Here is the picture on it's own and within the spread.

Map of Italy

2010-08-03T06:16:00.000-07:00

I have been working on an illustrated map of Italy for a few weeks now on and off and finally found the time to finish it yesterday. I came to the conclusion that I really should have a map in my portfolio so I set myself the challenge and am really pleased with the results. It took a while but it was worth all the effort!

New Pic!

2010-06-30T04:10:00.000-07:00

I've just finished another illustration which is of a good friend of mine, Teresa. I did the main drawing before I went in for my tonsillectomy recently and have been itching to finish it ever since! Yesterday, I finally felt well enough to sit at my computer and complete it.I am still heavily dosed up on painkillers but thankfully I can still do some artwork which is keeping me sane at the moment!

'Starting Out' Illustration

2010-06-02T04:49:00.000-07:00

The last illustration for the Matt Stone column in Reform as Matt is going from trainee minister to minister. I have really enjoyed doing these illustrations each month and I look forward to starting a new one with a new contributor soon. As this was the last picture for this series I wanted it to feel slightly celebratory and show the story of Matt's life in ministry. A collection of past illustrations within a journal seemed like an effective way of doing this.

Betty

2010-05-25T02:47:00.000-07:00

I've been itching to get this picture finished and yesterday I finally managed to find the time. It's always lovely to get a bit of your own, un-interrupted time, to totally lose yourself in a piece of personal illustration. In the studio, radio on, sun-light pouring through the windows and a steady stream of tea, which has to be poured into a cup and saucer when I am working...feels more special that way! The dog is called 'Betty' and belongs to a very good friend of mine, Robyn. Betty certainly is a character and stole one of my slippers once; utterly destroying it until there were just a few fragments left. I can't say I was delighted by this but I have forgiven her (just!) and hopefully I have captured a little bit of her 'mischievousness' (and look of innocence)in this artwork.

Koala

2010-04-21T03:42:00.000-07:00

Still working on some self promotional stuff and loving it. The latest illustration is of a Koala that Chris and I saw on our honeymoon in Australia...Happy days!

Style of Wight Magazine.

2010-04-06T02:55:00.000-07:00

I have drawn some bird illustrations to add to the front cover of the new 'Style of Wight' magazine which was launched at the beginning of this year. It's a free publication which aims to identify and promote all the latest news and events on the Isle of Wight. I found out about it last month when there was a call to all local artists and photographers to do something creative with a future cover. I was fortunate enough to be asked to contribute, after submitting some of my work to the editor and asked to illustrate some birds which would accompany the photography of the latest issue. I realise that I am no longer local, but I did grow up on the Island and felt I had something to contribute, should they be interested. I'm delighted that the editor was keen for me to be involved so here is the cover...

Sunday Express

2010-03-30T03:31:00.000-07:00

I have recently been commissioned to illustrate a short story for the Sunday Express Magazine, which was printed a couple of days ago. I was asked to draw a muffin on a kitchen table with a note accompanying it so fairly simple really! I decided to go for the blueberry muffin as, well, they are the best aren't they...? I have just been asked to illustrate another short story for them too which will be my third in the last few weeks. I am therefore hoping to work with them on a regular basis in future!

More Portrait Work

2010-03-17T05:21:00.000-07:00

Hi Folks, yet another portrait to add to my new collection of work. I am really enjoying doing this self initiated project at the moment and I have found that my drawing skills have improved for commissioned artwork too.

Chris...

2010-03-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

This new piece of work was based on a photograph I took of Chris when he first vistited me on the Isle of Wight 9 years ago (so he's looking a bit more youthful then he currently does!) He wasn't sad though, more thoughtful...

Sunday Express Artwork

2010-02-22T04:36:00.000-08:00

I have recently illustrated a short story for the Sunday Express magazine and it was featured in yesterday's paper (21.02.10). Here is the illustration in print along with the original artwork.

Another Piece of Work

2010-02-10T07:29:00.000-08:00

No friend is safe at the moment from going in my sketchbook. I am still drawing more portraits of friends to add to my collection and I am not telling them beforehand that I am illustrating them so I really hope a) they don't mind and b) that I don't offend anyone! Here's a picture of a good friend of mine Caroline.

Two new Illustrations

2010-01-26T06:16:00.000-08:00

Here are two new illustrations I have been working on which are in a similar style to my previous artwork. Although I want to mainly focus on drawing people in this series, I will also be doing other things as well, hence the reason for my pig drawing. I visited the farm at Wimpole Hall last year and particularly liked the Tamworth pigs, one of which this drawing is based on. The human figure is a picture of me which is based on an image my husband, Chris Andrews, took of me recently in Hong Kong.

New Work

2010-01-15T02:51:00.000-08:00

As commissioned work is slightly thin on the ground at the moment I have set myself the task of building up a whole new body of work which has so far been both motivating and fullfilling. My first piece is a portrait of on a good friend of mine Lindsey Stainer. I'm hoping to do a whole series like this and will put the next one up (which is currently in progress) soon.

Christmas Tree!

2009-12-18T08:03:00.001-08:00

Thought I'd share with you our Christmas tree this year. It's very short and fat and also takes up about half of our floor space so it is very cosy when more than one is sitting on the sofa (as you have to squash up to see the tv!) I also made the gingerbread heart shaped cookies that are dangling from the tree.

Work Christmas Card

2009-12-18T07:59:00.000-08:00

I work part time for The United Reformed Church at their head office in London. I was asked whether I could illustrate this year's Christmas card for all in-house staff to sign and here it is. I wanted to keep it really simple and obviously it should have a religious feel to it so here it is...

Image for Reform Magazine

2009-11-25T09:34:00.001-08:00

Every month I help out the Reform magazine (for the United Reformed Church) by doing them an image for their 'Starting Out' article. Most of them are in keeping with my style but sometimes I like to do something a bit different. This is the most recent image which is much more graphic for me. It's definately good to vary your style every once and a while though!

Singapore Paper Goodies...

2009-11-16T09:47:00.000-08:00

Here is the book of papers which will come in handy for my illustrations...

2009-11-16T09:44:00.000-08:00

When Chris and I were in Singapore recently we came across a great shop which was full of fantastic papers, cards, stickers, etc: an illustrator's dream! Unfortunately I have forgotten the name of the shop in question but I have included a couple of pics from it. We bought a notebook (sassafraslass.com) full of different patterned pages; some of which are shown here, some cool little wooden stickers and some numbered cards, which had a real 'retro' feel. ('Paper Whimsies' sassafraslass.com).

Waitrose Magazine Illustrations

2009-11-09T09:24:00.000-08:00

My first blog! I thought I'd show you what I have been up to recently (apart from getting married and going on honeymoon!) I produced two illustrations for the monthly Waitrose magazine which is out in shops now.