Illustration Friday - 'Skinny' - Screw Skinny...Eat Cake!

I think at least once a day, I look at myself and think, "maybe I could loose a few fatty bits here and there..."

At least once a day I wish I was skinny.

At least 5 times a day I want to eat cake!

 

  

These illustrations were quickly achieved with a scrap of white paper, an old biro, a retro cookery book I found on the shelf and my fella's camera skills...thanks Andy! xxx

Front Cover... Discuss!

Well, I'm just working on the front cover for 'This Way Up' at the moment.
I did the artwork and gave it to Hodder's before leaving for my travels in May.
They have sent back a design idea, and I have today adjusted it to have a slightly different font, more 'stencil' like, and added some arrows to make it more 'cardboard-boxy'.

This is the original cover idea...

...then...

...I've adjusted and added a few bits....and changed some colours.

Which do you prefer?

Illustration Friday - 'Fast'

Bit cheesy I know, but thought I'd go along the lines of 'Fast Asleep'. "Yawn!"

This sketch was done unber fast, just doodling whilst drinking my brew, didn't realise I'd done it till I looked at my sketchpad...so thought I'd take inspiration for my friend (and 'hodderite'), Lynne Chapman, and have a go painting it with photoshop.

Her blog is cool, and really inspired me to do a lil digital painting. My attempt is pretty poor compared to Lynne's skills, but its a start.

This is how my doodle started, then just added new layer in photoshop for colour.

Looksa a bit sloppy and soft in colour, quite like the rawness of my doodle, but I guess the clour does make it look more finished.

Lynne's blog is awesome. Check it out! www.lynnechapman.blogspot.com/

Saatchi Gallery - Illustrator of the Day!

Yeah ok, so it was on the 16 July 2009, and I missed it for trecking around Thailand, but it actually did happen, I was Illustrator Of The Day on the Saatchi Gallery website, so I'm pretty chuffed with myself still!

Here's a link to the page...It's just a tiny link in the blue column, but hey it's better than a paintbrush in the eye! Woop di do!

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/blogon/?todt=2009-07-16

Frankfurt Feedback!

Well so far so good! Frankfurt feedback was positive... Horrah!!
My book got interest from Spain, France and USA which I am absolutely thrilled about! :)



Hodder's have also now decided to publish 'This Way Up' sooner than what was earlier expected. Now going to be published November 2010, rather than Spring 2011 which is also good news!

Should be some printed copies avaiable for October next year. It feels like ages away but I know how fast it's going to come and I cannot wait!

Hodder's sent me over my front cover artwork today, so I shall be sat in the shade with my lemonade playing with that this week. Just going to alter some colours. All good fun! Looking forward to getting my acrylics out.



Alison and Emma at Hodder's definatly know what they're talking about when it comes to picture books and front covers so taking whatever advice and suggestions they have about my work best with open arms and ears! They think the cover will look best in blue rather than brown cardboard, which it is at the moment.

I agree with them. It's sometimes difficult trying to comprimise between what looks cool and arty and what is appealing to children and what will sell. You're aiming at children, but its actually adults buying the books so it's weird trying to work out what works and what doesn't. As I said though, the guys at Hodder's have lot's of experience in the field and know what they're talking about. They're good 'un's and I love working with them...especially when we have lunchtime meetings with posh snacks! :)

New Dummy!

Today I recieved some photos from Hodder's of my book. I've not seen it since I sent in the final artwork in May. Since then, they've put it together with the amazing Corina Fletcher's papaer engineering and made another rough dummy. This is the one that is being exhibited at Frankfurt this week. I think I might see if we can experiment with the type font for the next one, not sure if it's a bit harsh at the moment (let me know what you recon).

Overall I am really happy with it though, especially the space page. It's so good to see it's coming along. :)

Illustration Friday - 'Flying'

Is it wrong that I did this illustration last week? It fit quite well with the topic so I thought I'd give it a go. Sorry if anyone objects. Don't judge me :)

TFI Frankfurt!

This week I've not been able to stop fidgetting. Got 100 butterflies in my belly! It's Frankfurt Book fair this week and the first time my children's book is being presented. Cross fingers and toes everything goes ok.

Emma Layfield and the Hodder's team have been great with the production process so far and with the amazing Corina Fletchers paper engineering which really bring the imagery to life, I am still really proud of the book, even if it flops at the fair.

Here are some rough illustrations from it.










I have learnt so much over the past year working with Hodder's Children's Books and seen as this is my first children's book, and I only finished university last year, and am absolutely thrilled to be where I am.




At the moment I am in upside down in Australia, designing another book with the same characters, Poppy and Quinn.



Also working on editorial illustration to approach some magazines over here, hence the fruity illustrations on the previous post (that was a tasty day!)

Hopefully got a bit of work with a magazine called 'G'day India' in Melbourne. The editor met me in Cairns whilst I was doing caricatures and wants me to do cartoons of celebrities and polititions. Not really my thing but I am happy to be drawing anything at the moment, especially if I can get paid for it.

I have also arranged to work with a school in Melbourne, drawing and painting with the kids, a bit like I was doing when I was working with Blackburn Council and foster children. It was such good fun.I cannot wait to get back painting and collaging with the sproglets again. It's a great excuse to make a mess! Love it!

Anyway, gonna go trough another shrimp on the barbie and crack on with a bit more doodling...anything to try to distract myself from the looming Frankfurt results!

See ya soon.

xxx

Good enough to eat...

Yesterday I did some sketches of whatever I could find in the fridge... then ate it! :)



I then merged the illustrations with text to putting the imagery into context. This shows publishers how my artwork could look in their magazines.





These are some real articles I have worked on for The Independent on Sunday.



Then this is another mock-up of how one of my paintings could work in a gardening magazine.
Gonna approach some Aussi glossy's with these cheeky chaps tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Horray! I've started my own scrapbook blog...about time!

Just a note to remind myself, to hold on the the thinks which are truely important.
Recently, I have been feeling confused and overwhelmed by problems and everything around me and not focusing on the important things. Finally, now I think I can see what I need to hold on to and what I should just let go. x