It’s a busy week for illustrator and designer Jessica Hogarth as she prepares her portfolio for upcoming trade shows
Monday
It was an early start this morning as I had a studio photoshoot with a lovely local photographer in preparation for an online feature. After a mad dash to Homebase, home to pick up things I had forgotten and a mass hoovering session I was ready! We spent the morning taking photographic shots of my studio and some images of me drawing and then styling some of my products.
After a quick stop for lunch I got on with fulfilling the NOTHS (Not on the High Street) and Etsy orders that had come in over the weekend, packing wholesale orders and catching up on emails. I treated myself to an early finish after working the majority of the weekend, and had a chilled evening at home, finishing the night with drawing of the Flatiron building. I am currently taking part in a 100 day project on Instagram, where I draw one illustration a day on a pre-chosen theme. I chose to do 100 days of buildings, and have so far covered some in Europe, my hometown of Whitby and some I simply made up! I’m using the hashtag #100daysofbuildingsjh on my Instagram account @jessicahogarth
Tuesday
It’s somehow got to 1.30pm and I’ve been stuck doing admin for hours! So I am counteracting that with an afternoon full of designing. I’m busy preparing to fly to New York for Surtex, the art licensing show, in May, so there is no shortage of things to do for that.
Wednesday
The morning flew by as I was working on a Paris-themed conversational print for Surtex. I’m planning to use it as a banner on the wall. It includes things I love to draw, such as buildings and modes of transport, as well as being colourful and quirky. After lunch I walked in to town to post my online orders and drop some stock off at the fabulous Whitby Book Shop, which is less than 10 minutes’ walk from my studio. It was great to get out and have some fresh air and thankfully I managed to dodge the hailstorms we have been getting on and off this week! Armed with a big bar of chocolate, which lasted all of 10 minutes, I continued with my illustration work, before heading home at 10pm, making for a 13 hour working day, but needs must!
Thursday
Today I have been trying to get as much of my portfolio book completed as possible. This will be the main thing that potential new clients look through at Surtex, in order for them to get a good gist of my artistic style. The book is a mixture of placement and repeat patterns, as well as product mock-ups. Running the card side of my business is usually much more a part of my weekly work routine, but with Surtex thankfully being a couple of weeks before PG Live this year, the deadlines are a bit more spread out, giving me chance to focus on this.
Friday
Today was a fab day – I worked until mid-afternoon and then headed to Robin Hood’s Bay to watch the Tour de Yorkshire race, which is always exciting to see. The cyclists flew past in no time at all so after a pub tea I came back to the studio to work until late evening. I actually enjoy working quite late – there are few distractions and I can just turn my music up and get on with it!
The weekend wasn’t without studio time either, and despite having a fairly hectic social schedule, I also worked two half days, packing some things for dispatch and catching up with emails. I really like to be on top of admin, but if I get on a roll with design work it can be easy to neglect my inbox for a couple of days. The weeks are just going so quickly at the moment, but it has definitely been a productive one. Fingers crossed next week will be the same!
