Progress and new project

I've been busy working away on my calendars and am glad to be making some progress! I have printed our my first drafts and have just about all the months filled up, I'm really happy with how they're looking. I'm going to be doing the Robins calendar again with new illustrations as well as a Flying Birds calendar and also a new addition, a native bird calendar.

I had a lightbulb moment earlier this week and decided that I need to make a calendar featuring native birds, I've been wanting to create a new range of native bird illustrated greeting cards, so I'm thinking these could tie in together nicely. I also have been wanting to make something that I can donate some proceeds towards saving our beautiful birds, I feel like I need to do something to help (other than feed dozens of Tui, Kaka, Bellbirds, and Waxeyes everyday).

I've developed a new style with my robins this year, since it's mid-winter it's quite convenient for me that I can keep warm on the couch with a pile of paper in front of me and sketch away. I've tried this new style with some native birds and am quite liking most of them - unfortunately some birds just don't suit the style so I'm going to be selective which ones I include in the calendar, and greeting cards. Here are my favourites so far...

Also I've decided to take part in the 100 Days Project - the challenge is to choose a theme and create something with that theme every day for 100 days. I am constantly thinking about patterns and this is really just gives me a reason and excuse to make them. I've begun with a couple of bird themed patterns but I really want to explore abstract patterns and use different mediums and explore mark making. It's a lot of fun already and I can't wait to see what I come up with.