27.05.19

Posted on 27/05/201926/05/2019 Posted in illustration, small things with great loveTagged art, drawing, illustration, inspiration

Wouldn’t it be liberating if we could be openly kinder to our bodies during our periods, particularly in places of education or employment?

At home I quite often use hot water bottles to help with cramps and devise various outfits of comfort and warmth to help with the intense and painful periods that I have. From talking with friends I know I am not alone in this and yet I have never ever seen anyone with a hot water bottle on their lap in the various work environments and jobs I have had.

I remember at my all girls secondary school which I went to between the ages 11 – 16 that if we had menstrual cramps we could all ask for a hot water bottle and sit with it during our lessons. It really wasn’t a bit deal. And it really did help. Then, when I went to a mixed school between ages 17 – 18, I realised that none of the girls sat around with hot water bottles. It was a subtle but noticeable change between two different school environments.

While I have not yet felt comfortable to wear jogging bottoms or use a hot water bottle at work I equally have never felt at ease taking a day off for period cramps, nausea, or heavy menstrual bleeding.

Fundamentally I would like to live in a society where menstruation and particularly problematic menstruation (whether that be pre-menstrual syndrome, pre-menstrual dysmorphic disorder, endometriosis, adenomyosis, peri-menopause or menopause) could be given greater visibility and kindness in public. It really feels like it’s time to end the taboo about periods.

19.05.19

Posted on 19/05/201919/05/2019 Posted in comic strips, illustration, small things with great loveTagged art, drawing, illustration

Ok so obviously an act of forgiveness can be a pretty big thing to do as well.

But this wasp sting felt oldly personal, random and unnecessary. Much like any hurt and reminded me of the struggle I have to forgive people sometimes.

My public reaction made me laugh though and I hope it gives you a giggle too.

xxx

12.05.19

Posted on 12/05/201912/05/2019 Posted in illustration, small things with great loveTagged art, drawing, illustration

Being ill sucks don’t you know? But oh, how the reminder of love that is still with you can soften the road to recovery.

If you are one who is ill, and going through it at the moment then I also send out some love to help you through. Know someone who is poorly? Then drop them a message to tell them you love them – snot, coughing, vomiting, pain and all.

When I feel at my most unlovable and gross these small things make all the difference.

I hope they do for you too xxx

06.05.19

Posted on 06/05/201907/08/2020 Posted in illustration, small things with great loveTagged art, drawing, illustrationLeave a comment

Happy May Day to fellow residents of the UK!

I’ll be out and about in the sunshine today, while committing to reusable cups, tumblers and straws galore, getting my fill of various iced teas and smoothies.

I was already alright(ish) in colder weather with reusable cups for tea and coffee but realised I was slipping into bad habits with the warmer days when I wanted a refreshing drink.

Very much a small thing on my part but I do love this world and I wouldn’t want to be without it.

Here’s to reducing plastic waste and a very happy holiday to you all! xxx

28.04.19

Posted on 28/04/201905/05/2019 Posted in illustration, small things with great loveTagged art, illustration, inspirationLeave a comment

Being a slow reader made me very self-conscious for much of my schooling until I was able to understand that it came from me being dyslexic. I realised (that in my experience) dyslexia meant that I took more time than the other academics around me to finish the same book, or even paragraph! I felt that unless I could devour a piece of writing or novel in an afternoon I should give up on literature and began to associate being a slow reader with being a bad reader’

Luckily I was able to find guidance from some good educators who helped demystify and simplify what it means to be a dyslexic learner and this gave me back confidence in the connection I had with literature rather than disadvantage I had with the mechanics of reading.

For me stories told through the medium of plays, graphic novels, films and radio are easier to digest. This may always be the case but now I am no longer frightened of delving into longer novels and after almost three decades am introducing myself to books I have always yearned to read but have shied away from given their page count.

How do engage with stories? Do you enjoy reading or have you, like me, been intimidated by school environments?

I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences, so drop me a comment below!

Love, Bryony x

21.04.19 – happy easter

Posted on 21/04/201907/08/2020 Posted in illustrationTagged art, drawing, illustrationLeave a comment

Welcoming spring in with some flowers, eggs and rabbits…oh and maybe some chocolate too. Happy Easter and enjoy your sunny Sundays everyone x

21.04.19

Posted on 21/04/201905/05/2019 Posted in illustration, small things with great loveTagged art, drawing, illustration, inspiration, simple pleasures pleasuresLeave a comment

There are times when I feel wrapped up in my own mind. Then, some instinct ‘taps me on the shoulder’ and I realise that I am moving through my day while disconnected from my body. Chaos is queen. Turning in, tuning back in and listening to my body, grounds me back into the present. The chaos settles into steadiness. Taking time to do small things with great love for my body re-aligns and balances me.

How do you find ways to listen to your own body?

xxx

25.03.18

Posted on 25/03/201812/03/2019 Posted in comic strips, illustrationTagged art, illustration, tea

Wishing you all a restful night’s sleep xxx

21.08.17 – the butterfly stage – comic book

Posted on 21/08/201710/08/2020 Posted in comic book, illustrationTagged art, inspiration

I have been writing an autobiographical graphic novel about my experience of mental illness and creativity – and have now finished the book! In celebration of this I have published a short extract on my site. You can find it by following the link here: ‘The Butterfly Stage’.

(On a further note – I am going to be giving a presentation of this comic book as well as my other illustration and comic book art in London sometime in the next month. This event will be hosted by the wonderful Laydeez Do Comics! I will post the dates and other details once confirmed on my blog and if you are in the area then it would be great to see you there!)

27.07.17

Posted on 27/07/201710/03/2019 Posted in illustrationTagged art, illustration

Worry cycles and clouds.

12.02.17

Posted on 12/02/201711/03/2019 Posted in illustrationTagged art, drawing, illustration, inspiration

Sometimes you need to let something go to begin something new…

Have a lovely Sunday everyone xxx

05.02.17

Posted on 05/02/201711/03/2019 Posted in illustrationTagged art, drawing, illustration, tea

Taking some time away from the screen this week and getting back to some sketching…

Have a lovely relaxing Sunday everyone! xxx

01.02.17

Posted on 01/02/201711/03/2019 Posted in illustrationTagged art, illustration, inspiration

15.01.17

Posted on 15/01/201711/03/2019 Posted in illustrationTagged art, drawing, illustration

Doing some doodling while waiting for spring…. x

27.11.16

Posted on 27/11/201611/03/2019 Posted in illustrationTagged art, drawing, humour, illustration, inspiration

My pencils were all really short at the end of a big drawing stint. I liked seeing the visual evidence of how much I had used them! Hope you all have creative Sundays ahead of you xxx

20.11.16

Posted on 20/11/201611/03/2019 Posted in illustrationTagged art, illustration

I had so much fun just wandering around and looking at things together. Thanks for a lovely day sis! x

13.11.16

Posted on 13/11/201611/03/2019 Posted in illustrationTagged art, humour, illustration

This is how I wrap up at home in the winter. It makes walking a little tricky, but I’m very warm! x

06.11.16

Posted on 06/11/201611/03/2019 Posted in illustrationTagged art, illustration, inspiration

Found myself frequently looking at the work of Louise Bourgeois over the last few days. Her way of expressing what she discovered in and around herself has been the ‘love’ of my week. x

04.09.16

Posted on 04/09/201612/03/2019 Posted in comic strips, illustrationTagged art, creativity, drawing, illustration, tea

Can not quite believe that it is September. I always love this month as it reminds me of starting a new phase! Hope everyone is enjoying the new month too! xxx

10.07.16

Posted on 10/07/201612/03/2019 Posted in illustrationTagged art, creativity, drawing, illustration, inspiration

Lots of drawing and sketching this week. The little figure in the middle is a caricature of my mum who has shared so much of her own inspiration with me, and certainly inspires me in return! (Thanks mum!) x

26.06.16

Posted on 26/06/201612/03/2019 Posted in comic strips, illustrationTagged art, creativity, drawing, illustration

This week I have loved having a blooming good cry! Or rather, to be more accurate, what I loved was the transformation as tears are shed. When the body and heart are lighter, refreshed and ready to go on.