/ Shell Sherree

Factual Friday: Eagle St Pier, Brisbane

24.2.12

ink & watercolour illustration by Shell Sherree

As we dust off our Zen caps for a weekend forecast of heavy rain and put our best philosophical foot forward {carefully avoiding the puddles and putting remorseful gold coins in the Greenhouse Gas Jar while tumbling the towels dry}, let's stroll past the Eagle St Pier in Brisbane's inner city and watch the raindrops falling on the river it embraces. You can see this illustration from my archives was drawn at Christmas, and the vintage of the sporty yellow car on the left might help motoring enthusiasts to determine which decade. The Eagle St Pier is a wonderful dining destination and host of Brisbane's long-running Riverside at the Pier Sunday markets. While on their site, I found this clip promoting the River City. Warning: could cause a dizzy desire to board a plane and visit me. And on that note...

Happy Factual Friday to you!

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Francophile Friday: Paris Framboise

17.2.12

ink & watercolour illustration, 8.75" x 7" [22.5 x 18cm] ACQUIRE PRINTS

With clouds of romance perfuming the air this week, stocks in the colour red have soared. This weekend, perhaps we'll even see a spike in raspberry. Today's shoe shop in Paris was inspired by our dear Virginia of Paris Through My Lens {if you love Paris and red, you'll love her book, Paris Rouge}. Thank you, ma chère.

You can take a little tour of the interiors of Vialis thanks to Silvia Contreras, the architect behind its fitout. No prizes for guessing what activity we'll be engaged in while there. Do you think they serve champagne? I'm hoping we'll find the perfect heels to suit this, this or this. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

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Venerdi in Venice: Romance

10.2.12

pigment ink pen & watercolour illustration, 7" x 8.75" [18 x 22.5cm] BROWSE PRINTS

While I believe it's lovely to make every day Valentine's Day in simple and unassuming ways {a note with sweet nothings tucked in his pocket ... the outline of a heart magically appearing in the steam on the bathroom mirror ... remembering not to call him 'Hugh'}, I'm happy to have a formal excuse to stroll upon the romantic side of life. When I saw this old photo shoot in Venice by Mario Testino {with styling by Grace Coddington} for Vogue US 2005 not long ago, it was easy to slip into the picture and start dreaming ahead of time ... of Bellinis at Harry's Bar {where perhaps we can arrange something like this, but not indulge in too many of their signature champagne cocktails lest we end up looking like this}. And for dessert, dark chocolate gelato and moonlight lapping on the canals. And on that note...

Happy Venerdi in Venice to you!

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Francophile Friday: Paris et Le Bon Marché

3.2.12

pigment ink pen & watercolour illustration, 7" x 8.75" [18 x 22.5cm] BROWSE PRINTS

To make amends for my lamentable effort on facts and figures in last Friday's post, I have actually done some research this week. {May I offer you some smelling salts?}

Back in 1852 when an enterprising draper's assistant had visions of what was possibly the world's first department store dancing around in his head, I can only begin to imagine what some of his family and friends might have said. Something like, "Have you been sniffing the fabrics again?" or "Lay off the green fairy {la fée verte}, you crazy dude," for starters. But thanks to Aristide Boucicaut and his wife Marguerite, a revolutionary concept was born, offering "fixed prices, lower margins, home delivery, item exchange, mail order, promotional periods and sales, private concerts, a reading area and much more..." An art gallery was opened in 1875 to further cement Le Bon Marché's air of distinction and forward thinking. Louis Auguste Boileau was consulted for the construction of a new home for the store ~ this one ~ in 1867, and when his son Louis Charles Boileau continued the store in the 1870s, he consulted the firm of Gustave Eiffel for parts of its structure. I guess that makes it some kind of second cousin by marriage to La Tour Eiffel. So without further dilly dallying, please try this on for size ~ or perhaps this. Oh, heh, I mean this, and we shall entrez. A thousand thanks to our dear Katie for the beautiful photographic inspiration for today's illustration. Katie, I chose this outfit especially for you. Edgy but feminine ~ I think you'd rock it! And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

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Factual Friday: Wherefore Art Thou

27.1.12

ink & watercolour illustration, 7.25" x 7.25" [18.5 x 18.5cm] BROWSE PRINTS

There's rarely a deep and meaningful reason why I draw a certain subject matter. "Ooh, that's pretty!" is usually enough. And I remember clearly having that thought years ago over this gracious old dame on Ann Street, Brisbane. She provides one of many delightful little heritage flourishes amongst the standard office blocks in the middle of the CBD. We can safely say she was home to the School of Arts at one time, but I know little else of her history. So about all I can offer you for now is, "Ooh, that's pretty!" and procure some appropriate attire. I feel smocks are in order for our visit. And Singapore Slings on the upstairs verandah to counter the colonial humidity. And on that note...

Happy Factual Friday to you!

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Francophile Friday: Scootering Da Rocco

20.1.12

ink & watercolour illustration, 8.75" x 7" [22.5 x 18cm] ACQUIRE PRINTS

When I sit down to illustrate without a specific project, I often have no idea as to what I'm going to draw. At times like that, I'll resist the urge to spin the bottle and instead, will open my tear-sheet ring binders or the inspiration folders on my laptop, skim through my Pinterest boards, and gaze at the overflowing mood board next to my desk {and invariably think to myself that I need a much larger one, then daydream about gilt frames and somehow ending up wondering what Hugh's wearing today ... and not regaining consciousness until the best drawing light is dwindling fast. Damn it.}

Today, my eyes alighted on a photo sent to me some months ago by Pop Culture Nerd and taken when one of her loved ones was in Paris ~ she thought of me when she saw it. Thank you, my sweet! I loved it and filed it away to wait for little lights to flash over it when the time was right ~ which turned out to be today. And for those of you who are smitten with both Paris and Italy, Da Rocco Trattoria in the 7th arrondissement is made for you... a taste of both worlds. {And the reviews look excellent!} The sidecars are waiting and the red wine is breathing discreetly. We can relax elegantly in trousers so it doesn't matter from which angle the paparazzi catch us. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

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