and a few more characters!

New Project

I've decided to enter a Puffin competition to design an e-book for i-pad for 3 - 6 year olds. I did a project while at college called 'Pete and the Circus' that I never felt quite fulfilled its potential, so I have decided to revisit it and use it for my competition entry. In the original story the main character was a Daddy long legs called Pete who was embarrassed by his long, gangly legs. One of the changes I have decided to make is to change the main character into a boy, who has long arms and legs. Here are some initial character sketches.

Stuff I like

Here are some of my favourite illustrators who inspire me and I aspire to.

John Burningham

I am a self confessed John Burningham obsessive. What I particularly like is that in his books for younger children not a lot happens! Often they are little more than a series of lists but yet, they have a pleasing rhythm that makes them enjoyable to read and they are infused with a serene and peaceful atmosphere:

‘For a little while they all went along happily but then…

The goat kicked

The calf trampled

The chickens flapped

The sheep bleated

The pig mucked about’

Excerpt from Mr Gumpy’s Outing, published 1970

Additionally John Burningham’s work is very hand drawn and human. He is a fantastic draughtsman but he varies his style from oily saturated colours on one page to scratchy line drawings on the next. He does not hide rubbed out pencil lines or messy paintwork. I long for the day when my work might more resemble his, but for now I content myself to aspire to the serenity of his books and their spontaneous, imperfect but beautifully human illustrations.

Lydia Monks

I am also a big fan of Lydia Monks. I like the combination of paint and collage, bright colours and white space that she uses. Her stories are funny, her characters quirky and she creates fantastic double page spreads, full of interest, that my son and I love to pore over.

Sam Lloyd

I also enjoy the work of Sam Lloyd. Apart from her stories being entertaining, I particularly like her interesting compositions, loose brushstrokes and the active role her text placement plays on the pages.

Pat Hutchins

And lastly, Pat Hutchins is also one of my favourites. The thing I like most about her illustrations is the effectiveness of a restricted colour palette.

Gloria - A Star is Born!

Great news - the magnificent Gloria won the Big Anorak's category of the 'Design a Happy Pal' competition! Here's my mention on their blog:

http://www.anorak-magazine.co.uk/index.php/blog/post/anorak/

I've won a whole goodie bag of prizes including tickets to Madame Tussauds. We had a good time there on the weekend, and as you can see Jimmy was far more impressed with meeting Spiderman than the Queen!

New Baby Card

Here is a card I have made for a friend's new baby.

Gloria

Here she is at last, my knitted squirrel called Gloria that I have created for the Anorak (happy mag for kids) Competition!

Gloria is very health conscious. She cycles, snorkels and climbs trees as well as being a very keen bungee jumper. When not out and about taking part in high adrenalin sports, Gloria keeps her drey ship shape and Bristol fashion. On quiet nights in she enjoys reading detective stories and listening to Laura Branigan.

Big Pictures

I've started working on a larger scale, photographing the pictures and then playing with them in photoshop. I'd forgotten how difficult this bit is; there are so many possibilities!

My Colours

I enjoy working within the restrictions of a colour palette. It stops me from automatically using the most obvious shade of red, green etc. I also like the appearance of illustrations using unusual but limited colours. Here's what I'll be using in 'A Walk in the Park':

A taster of the First Draft of 'A Walk in the Park'

Thwack

As two best friends walk home through the park

Jimmy kicks the ball up high

Ben with a leap tries his best to catch it

But the ball sails up through the sky

Whoosh

The boys jump onto a rocket

And it flies up into space

They giggle with delight and hold on tight

As after the ball they chase

Sluurp

The aliens sip at their tea

And offer their ‘new friend’ chocolate cake

As the boys watch surprised from a distance

Wondering how to explain the mistake

Whizzzzzzz

The boys jump into the space ship

And the aliens say ‘keep your eyes peeled

We’ll drop you back on earth in a tick

Once we find an empty field’

Aaaargh

But uh oh, this field isn’t empty

The boys hear an enormous roar

And quick thinking Jimmy tosses the ball

Into the mouth of the dinosaur

Neee Nar Neee Nar

Disgusted the dinosaur spits the ball out

In unison the boys shout ‘Oh no!’

They jump into a fire engine zooming up the hill

To save their ball from the volcano!

Pssssh

The two brave firemen battle the flames

And the sputtering smoke starts to rise

Jimmy and Ben stop and stare at what’s there

They cannot believe their eyes!

Things have got to change