Hello! It’s me again. I did warn you that regularity was not my strong point. The upside is that I have lots to share with you.
Since my last newsletter we have moved house and had, what seems like a never ending, run of illnesses - including Covid finally catching-up with us. I even write this now having just doused my throat with anaesthetic spray. But despite the stop/start nature of life with small germ factories, I’ve never been more excited about where my work is taking me.
You’ll notice my new header image (I know, I know, it’s the third or fourth one I’ve had) [Edit: Now I’ve moved to sub stack it’s changed again!], well now I can also introduce my brand new website. I even have my very own domain www.catherinefortey.com
Please visit and let me know what you think. it still needs a few finishing touches, not least a photograph of myself, and I have more images to add to both my portfolio and sketchbook galleries. Most excitingly you’ll find my shop re-opened, and a brand new product!
Back in 2020, at the start of the pandemic and UK lockdowns, I had a plan to begin an illustrated stationary subscription box. I even got as far as ordering my first washi tape designs, on the theme of ‘home’. I might still launch it one day, but for now you can buy the washi tape set whilst stocks last (I won’t be getting a reprint of these designs), and if they’re popular I’ll illustrate some more.
I took a Risograph workshop for my birthday in April. Watch this space for future riso printed illustrations, but until then the first 8 people who order from my shop and write RISO in the notes box will get a free, limited edition (I only made 8) riso print in with their order!
I’ve been juggling lots of different projects this spring, all in an attempt to expand my portfolio and develop my skills and knowledge. If you follow me on Instagram you’ll know about my (non-consecutive) 50 day project, a commitment to myself to get out and sketchbook more, prompted by my fabulous friend and illustrator, Ella Beech. When I manage it, I really enjoy it and I always have to remind myself that it’s not time-off or ‘just’ playing, but it actually feeds into the visual language I need to develop as an illustrator. The same can be said of my weekly art class. During autumn and winter I focused on Life Drawing, but I felt like a change and a big challenge, so I’m tackling all the things I hate - pastels, foliage, and the colour green.
I’m also taking two online courses, and I haven’t shared any of my work from these yet on social media. I’m nearly half way through The Goodship Illustration’s ‘Find Your Creative Voice’ which is like having your hand held by the most encouraging art teacher we all wish we had - in the shape of Katie Chappell, Tania Willis and Helen Stephens. And I’m very nearly finished the four month long Make Art That Sells ‘Bootcamp Special: Character Play’. I’ve learnt so much and produced some pieces for my portfolio I’m really proud of.
Good news for that growing pile of unread books - Building An Antilibrary. Fun fact: I once speed read Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose in alternating chapters with my best friend for our degree coursework.
Jarvis Cocker interviews 6 collectors, including Stephen Ellcock who you should definitely follow on Instagram.
Poignant documentation of the possessions Ukrainian refugees brought with them - The Thing She Carried.
See: Old Book Illustrations, Melissa Castrillon, Paper Plane, Nora Krug’s Diaries of War, Queens of Infamy.
Inside the genius of Hayao Miyazaki.
31 years of persistence to land your dream job - the man who designs the space patches for NASA.
That’s all for now, I’m off out to sketch some goslings. I’d love to know what you think of this newsletter and my new website, or if you have any burning questions. Speak soon!