Best job in the world! :D

HAPPY EASTER EVERYBODY! :D

This is as far as my Easter greetings will be going! These are some cute decorations we made for the game that me and my colleagues have been slaving over. It's called 'Me to You My Place', it's free to play on Facebook so give it a try! It really is a great game!

Me to You My Place, click here to play!

A lot of crazy things have been going down lately. I'm working at Sharkius full-time now, mostly as an Illustrator and Animator but I'm also doing a little Design work and I'm greatly enjoying it. I really love and respect everybody I work with; they're so passionate about what they doing, and work so hard! Plus we're all really silly, and get to play with a giant exercise ball everyday - we call it Giant ball or 'Whooaah' ball. :)

Also, we met someone quite exciting the other day...I'm not going to pretend that I possess a giant plethora of knowledge into politics, but it was still exciting to meet Chancellor George Osborn! He came over and talked to us and everything! He was asking about our company and about social games. Me met him because he opened the Techhub Google Campus in London, which is set to be like the biggest hub for start-up companies and entrepreneurs involved with Tech in London.

Another thing that's going down; due to unforeseen circumstances, me and my housemate Michelle (check out her blog and shop!) are leaving our current abode in Surrey and moving house to central London! :D Exciting times my friends, exciting times!!

All the best,

Louisa

Beauties

I bought this set of 25 Beauties a short while ago, and they live on my desk so that I can shuffle them about and look at them all he time. I love them dearly and I'm a little bit obsessed with them so I thought I ought to share some with you!

They're a card set featuring famous women through history (I love this kind of stuff!) so not only is it educational and inspiring (there are little blurbs about them on the back), but also they are gorgously illustrated.

Here are a few of my favourites <3

Merry Christmas everybody!

Have a very merry Christmas and a very happy new year!


xLouisax

New years resolutions and Interning

Happy new year!!

This time of year is always great for reflecting on all the things you have or haven't achieved since last new year, which can be either very depressing or very encouraging. I definately didn't achieve the yearly 'lose a few pounds' order, but I'm glad to say that I did achieve all the less menial goals I set for myself - to get a good grade for my degree and get myself an internship. Well, I got a great mark for my degree and now I'm on my second internship!

Right now I'm interning at Sharkius Games which is really cool and right at the heart of the so called Silicon roundabout in London. I'm having an awesome time making artwork, mostly for their Facebook game Me to You: My Place (you can play it here also!) Better still, everybody is super cool and very talented and I've been learning a lot from the whole experience.

Here's everybody doing the Fonz!



Eyyyyy!

By this time next year I think I'd like to have a job that I'm happy with and generally have much improved palette of art skills. But that's only 365 days away so let's just see how it goes!

xLouisax

[EDIT]

Recently we had 30 seconds of fame in this TV report!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16387725

The Three Muskateers - all for one and 10/10!!

Last night my boyfriend had the pleasure of being dragged to the cinema, by me to watch the film I've been raving about since first I saw its trailer.

This movie is really cool! I am someone who is easily impressed, but sugar coat this with a great story, great characters, great music, great background scenery, great comedic moments, and not to mention TONS of beautiful period costume, and you're onto a winner. The Three Muskateers is a GREAT film in both style and substance, and in fact I'd probably go as far as to say that it's the most visually stunning film I have ever seen - possibly better than the film Avatar, and that's saying something because I love that film!

The amount of visual detail put into this film takes my breath away. Their costumes were awesome, especially the girls in the film, I couldn't stop looking at their hair!!








All these photos are from IMBD.com

Please see this film, if for nothing else atleast for for hard-work and art's sake!

xLouisax

Gilbert & Sullivan characters = Period Costume!

I recently went to a car boot sale selling an almost complete set of Player's Cigarette cards, featuring Gilbert & Sullivan characters!

Coming from a very musical family, I've grown up to seeing my parents performing in the majority of the Gilbert & Sullivan operas, which is actually how they both first met. Although I didn't really understand or appreciate the shows as a child, now that I am older I have grown to appreciate them for their light-hearted and ageless comedy, as well as the beautiful range of costume eras they offer to period costume geeks like me!

My favourite shows are probably The Pirates of Penzance, Gondoliers and The Mikado, the latter perhaps being one of the most famous. Here is a few of my collection of the exquisitely drawn characters.

And aren't there here two very significant characters for me! Below is the sweet Rose Maybud from Ruddigore, whom I was named after! (Louisa Rose Brooks)

And here is the character Robin Oakapple, the first role my Dad ever played on stage, and one he has played again countless times since. He actually looks a little like this drawing too, wooOOOOOoooo!

These cards have been added to my ever growing collection of objects related period costume, and remain upright on my desk for at least a full working year! :)

Hope your all good,

xLouisax

Graduating & Interning!

Earlier this month I finally graduated! You may now refer to me as Louisa Rose Brooks BA, with a first honours degree! It was a beautiful ceremony and we all looked awesome in our robes! I'm so proud of myself and all of my classmates who did so well, I wish the best of luck to everybody!

Me with one of my favourite tutors Mike Nicholson and my best friend Michelle Siddall.

I've also spend the last month interning at a company called Naked Penguin Boy doing my absolute dream project. I can't say much about it (that would give it away now wouldn't it! :p) but I'm pretty much being a mini-games artist, concept artist, level & puzzle designer and I'm even doing a little animation! It's made me realise that this is what I want to do for my career and I'm really looking forward to my future. Best of all I've been challenging myself everyday, and have faced some of my biggest (drawing) fears, such as rock faces and foliage!! AAAAAH! :D

I've been enjoying myself tremendously at Naked Penguin Boy; it's a wonderful place to work in one of the nicest areas in London, and I will be sad to say goodbye to everyone there! :(

Also they've just recently released a new game for the Blackberry Playbook. It's called Dunky Dough Ball and it's a pretty cool and addictive little game so If you have a Playbook check it out!

xLouisax