Free September Mushrooms & Toadstools Illustration

Free September Illustration:
 Just click or right click to download-links back
appreciated if you use this

Hello there-hope you're well and feeling good. Am just checking in quickly with a September illustration, (of various mushrooms in watercolour (watercolor for US peeps!) that you're welcome to download and use if it helps with your projects.

There will be a lot of news very shortly, but it's still under wraps just yet. (And no, am not meaning to be mysterious...I just have to set up and test a lot of moving parts before making any announcements :-) ).

In the meantime, hope you enjoy this freebie, and have a lovely weekend.

A Wedding Cartoon With A Difference?

I'm not sure where the idea for this cartoon (hopefully a *funny* wedding cartoon) came from. Except that as someone married (and happily, luckily, and v. grateful for it)...I was musing the other day about how the spun-sugar, soft focus, wedding-industry version of marriage doesn't always focus much on the nitty-gritty  aspects that underpin most successful relationships of all  kinds, whether formalised or not.

This led me to thinking about the scarcity of really funny wedding cartoons and cards out there.

Perhaps you could let me know on the Facebook page if you find this fun. And, if you're reading this in the USA, please also let me know whether you think this needs a separate US version that refers to "trash," instead of bins?

Many thanks, and have a lovely weekend!

Update on May 20th 2022: This cartoon is now available as a greeting card here.

Seashells-Just in Time for the Beach...

Hello there and hope all is really well there.

It's a relatively quick post today, to introduce a new design.

In honesty, I started on these motifs an few weeks ago...And then realised that it's August already and that beach season (here in quite far north in the Northern hemisphere, anyway) can be short... Luckily, the turned into a pattern that features gorgeous and restful watercolour  turquoise, pink and white seashells on an aqua background. (I believe the shells are scallops, sea snails, cowrie, whelks  (and not a shell, but oh so cute and beachie) starfish are included too.

So, whenever you're bound for the beach, this tote bag, drawstring bag, backpack or dufflebag would make  great companions.

And luckily, this whimsical  design that can be lovely all year round.

Such as in this clock, 

and lots of other items.

Finally, the pattern's also on a range  there's also fabric on Zazzle, if you prefer to make your own items.

Seashell Patterned Fabric
by BoundingSquirrel

Hope you can find something here to love, and perhaps even send to someone else if you're looking for a gift, rather than a trip to the beach.

More soon!

New Artwork: It's OK to be Happy, People Need Joy

Hello. 

If you're in a space to be thinking about joy today, I have something for you.

(To share this image, retaining the watermark, the link is here)

This was a piece of digi-art journaling (hand-lettering and painting, but in a digital art program...Krita, in this case) I got up to this week. 

If you've read these posts for a while, you'll know that this isn't the first discussion of "can art/happiness be justified when X is happening,". But this just wanted to come out, as a full technicolour reminder that joy helps the world rather than hindering it.

And yes, it's a little brighter and bolder than I might have necessarily done things for a good while. Some of the credit for that must go to the workshop I'm on this week. Am purely a participant, not an affiliate or anything, But if you've been having any kind of creative block, stuckness or general "loss of colour," in your life or work recently, it may speak to you too, and you'll find all the details at:

https://radiantearthstudios.com/unlock-your-artist-challenge

And finally

And finally, pretty much for fun, I did put this image onto Redbubble as well, and am enjoying the look of it on magnets, mugs, and the like, here.

So I'll leave you with some more visual goodies (clicking on the pictures should click you straight through if you're interested.

It's OK to be Happy People Need Joy Magnet

It's OK to be Happy, People Need Joy Mug

It's OK to be Happy People Need Joy Cushion/Throw Pillow

And more than anything, I wish you a happy and joyful weekend.

New Cartoon Card (And I Got to Draw a Giraffe Again...)

Hello there

Hope you're well, and in the mood for some fun.

Have realised it's been ages since I posted a cartoon. So here's one  that's also now a card.

(Click through to enlarge the picture if need be).
Funny Wildlife Birthday Cartoon Greeting Card
by CartoonsbyClare

(with many thanks to the person who received it first for your positive feed back-not called Jan, obviously-that feedback is the reason I posted this for sale).

Looking back, it also seems that I have a bit of a track-record in enjoying drawing giraffes. I have another giraffe cartoon here, and an illustration from even further back, here.

(Yes, without wishing to ignore the lion on this card,  I do love drawing giraffes...It's something about their eyelashes, I think...)

Anywaaaaaaay....

Also, in my world this week...

Also, in truth, am knee-deep in doing all sorts of Christmas and seasonal designs that I just don't have the heart to share with you in the midst of what (in the Northern hemisphere, anyway) is prime summer holiday time. It feels like it wouldn't be fair.

However, hope this cartoon makes you smile. And if you have a friend who likes wildlife, remember you can customise the text on this card to say whatever you want.

In any event, hope this is fun. More soon.