Below is a copy of the whole page I was given in the magazine, with photographs taken by Daniel James Photography.

If i can stand to part with her, Pepper will be available to buy on my Etsy shop. For now though, I’m hanging onto her unless the right offer comes along!

Thanks to both Daniel James for his beautiful photographs and ongoing support. Also to the good people at Art Doll Quarterly for giving my 2012 a bright start.

Krista Joy

March 2012

So I fancied a change from the regular run of the mill cute colourful dragons, right about the same time I discovered marble effect polymer clay. Put two and two together and what do you get? Gothic yet cute, the gargoyle dragon series was born!

Presenting Vladimir, Attila, Siegfried and Gunther, four little characters just itching to find new homes. From March 1^st 2012, you can find all four gargoyles for sale at the Billy Dylan at Etsy shop. But you need to be quick, as there are only four of them and there won’t be anymore available for the foreseeable future!

Each dragon is priced at $8 each, is signed on the underside, and comes in his own marble effect gift box.

Get them while they’re hot!

Krista Joy

Feb 27^th 2012

Photographs by Daniel James Photography

But in my spare time my pen has strayed from the supernatural, and onto the nature of the tattoo. Thanks to a willing friend a work of art has actually been immortalised! The image you see was created by Rob McNeill of Ethereal Ink, Kinver, and frankly I think he’s it given it a whole new feel. I hope the client is as pleased as I am – I’m still bragging about it to anyone who will listen!

Rob took the original sketch (below) and developed it into a suitable design, adding clouds and stars which tie in with the clients other tattoos. The angel will eventually tie in with a design covering the entire calf.

This has been a real learning curve for me as an artist. Where it has been glorious picking up my pencil and spending hours on end drawing to my hearts content, I have also had to adapt my style and clean up my act, so to speak, using cleaner, bolder lines and develop a new method of shading!

If anyone thinks tattoo artists have it easy, think again! My job is easy – you can use an eraser on paper – but ink on skin is permanent! Ethereal Ink, I take my hat off to you!

Still, I have so far managed to produce four rough flash sheets that will hopefully be for sale online soon! Look out for Fairies, Flowers and Butterflies, and Pin Up Girls!

Krista Joy

February 26 2012

Photograph curtesy of Daniel James Photography

Dragons are blue

Or pink, or green…

Special Valentines Day Dragons are now on sale in the Billy Dylan Etsy Shop, ready to take home and give to your sweetheart (or to yourself, everyone likes a treat now and again!) Super cute dragons offer you flowers, a stolen kiss or simply a sparkly heart. Then there’s Byron, who’s already tucking into his box of chocolates! Each of these guys comes in a special red box, and the four of them are ready to go now!

If there is something special you fancy, you can contact us with your ideas and see if we can’t cook up a commission for you! Some of these dragons have been added to with paper roses, but only the imagination is the limit!

Don’t delay, start your dragon collection today!

Krista Joy

24 Jan 2012

Watch this space for cute new Gargoyle Dragons – they’re baking in the oven as we speak!

The wonderful Bonded Warehouse site is right on my doorstep, and is a glorious example of industrial decay, both a bleak sign of the times, and a beautiful hideout for colour and texture. Coupled with threatening grey clouds, it was the perfect backdrop for the three broken robot siblings.

The concept for AGN8S 500 came from a drawing created on a long and lonesome train journey to the capital, in which an unfinished robot offers up the stolen heart of a cadaver, as she hasn’t one of her own. The finished drawing, quick and primitive as it was, spawned one of my favourite (and creepiest) puppet creations. It was only fair that AGN8S has finally been captured in suitable surroundings, along with her siblings.

A wasteland of unsalvageable scrap metal, boarded up factories and the skeletal remains of an industry that has long ago shut up shop and left, our location meant that creating a narrative was easy, and the puppets seemed to do the work for us, which is always nice. Despite her blank expression and one glass eye, AGN8S turned out to be a natural poser! S8TH and O1GA proved to be more of a challenge, as their awkwardly shaped forms make balancing a problem! Nevertheless, we managed to capture some really splendid shots against something a little more interesting that the white studio background.

As always, my wonderful photographer Daniel James was on hand to help with lighting and composition, but most importantly capturing the perfect shots! I should also throw in a mention that Dan has been an infinite source of information and help while building my new site and blog! None of this would be here without him, including these wonderful images!

All the puppets from this shoot are available to buy from my Etsy shop!

Happy Days!

Krista Joy 23/1/12

A while ago I found myself wondering how I could make the dragons more accessible to children, as they seem to be the ones who are most attracted to the cute little guys! But being small enough to chew, this was not an easy option.

Once again, Billy Dylan saved the day, inspiring the ‘living illustration’ where a small portion of scenery is framed and mounted on the wall or mantle, with a little slice of life captured perfectly therein, including a collectible dragon, named  and presented with a certificate as usual!

Once again with the help of my photographer, the perfect little frames have been acquired for housing these cute little scenes. Tiny mushrooms, tress and birdies abound make these cute little scenes a gorgeous addition to a nursery or bedroom wall!

Each one comes in its own sturdy handmade box, made to fit and padded accordingly to ensure each dragon reaches you in perfect condition!

Bring a bit of dragon magic into your house today!

Krista Joy

January 2012

With the usual holidays in store, a selection of new dragons will be appearing on the Billy Dylan at Etsy site, with cute Valentines dragons being first.

More excitingly, my collection of Bluebank stories will be hopefully be available for download soon, with the help of my partner in crime! Some freebies might be included as well as special offers and limited edition collectibles down the line, so watch closely, as we’ll be following progress right here!

Since a story is always better with pictures (well, it is for me, anyway, I’m very much in touch with my inner child!) the image for this little blog is of Pepper, who will can be seen in the Spring Issue of Art Doll Quarterly, a glorious magazine that’s right up my street for inspiration and a glance into the world of one my favourite things! Check it out for yourself!

Of course, when Pepper makes her debut I will be shouting it from the rooftops, being my first American publication, but until then I’ll just leave you with Pepper doing what she does best – posing!

Krista Joy

Jan 17, 2011