First attempt at animation EVER.

No laughing please. With my new bamboo drawing tablet I noticed one day that you could do animation with it. You'd think having an animator husband I'd have absorbed some kind of ability by osmosis - but no, I don't think so! It's really mind boggling. I have no idea what I was doing, what I was drawing or where it was going. Maybe some planning might be a good idea? All those zillions of storyboards they do for films - maybe they know something? ( stroke beard).

Panto Panda

I've just started work again on the annual Christmas Pantomime for the Theatre Royal Winchester. This year its Aladdin. Can't wait to get stuck in. It's always a lovely job to do, just really different and lots of fun. Today, I've begun and created Panto Panda for initial summer advertising. It's already making me smile.

I hope those Pandas in Edinburgh are having an equally fun day ;)

arrrrrgggh!

Not quite sure what to make of this post. I've been so busy on various book projects recently I've been really quiet on the doodle/blog front ( have a dreadful cold too)......Until this monster jumped out of the brush!

 For a while now I've wanted to explore the character of a monster who eats children before mending his ways and finding something slightly more delicious.  After a few years of this being in the dusty bottom drawer of my mind, I think this idea maybe a bit too harsh! However, I like the idea of him eating fluffy bunnies instead. Of course, somehow in the end the bunnies will have to have the last laugh. Slightly scared of my possible frame of mind whilst doing this! Will have to look again and bring down the violent tone a notch or two! Be very afraid.

What the Dickens?

Happy Birthday to you Mr Dickens. 200 years old. You've aged well.

I've never been so lucky as to illustrate a Dickens story. Funnily enough this week I had the urge! Dickens has been everywhere these past few months. I was really impressed with the BBC version of Great Expectations over Christmas (2011) and this week, the internet had a distinctly Dickensian feel with his 'trending' on Twitter and Google having a special Dickens design. I felt the urge to have a go. I set out to look for recent incarnations of Dickens characters by other illustrators, but found myself fairly low on images. I suppose this may be a product of the fact that unlike back in Dickens day when his books were highly illustrated - they aren't now (unless shortened versions for children). I can't help thinking this is a huge shame.

Anyway, here's my effort from Great Expectations. I haven't worked in black and white for a while and it was a real treat. I love a bit of history (even if the history is all made up).

Below are Dickens images that I really like. I'll always hold a torch for 'A Christmas Carol', as it was the first Dickens I read as my Dad loves the story and collects versions of the story on film. He consistently says that The Muppets Christmas Carol is one of the best!

A Christmas Carol

Fagin in his cell - Oliver Twist

Muppets Christmas Carol

Finding a character - The Princess and the Peas.

This week I finished tweeking a new book for the wonderful Nosy Crow and the cover image went on the website (below). Hurray! Have a look for more info on the book here http://nosycrow.com/books/the-princess-and-the-peas

This book has been a great joy to do. I thought I might share with you some initial sketch ideas I had for the book. Mainly the slightly manic process of 'finding' the character. This starts with a chat with everyone involved, what age the character should be? What kind of personality? Clothes?

Below you'll find sketches for different character ideas before settling on a girl who I believe was mainly inspired by the amazing Karen from the BBC sitcom 'Outnumbered'!

I've also included initial colour palette ideas and first scribblings - some of which have ended up directly in the final book. So make sure you get a copy in September to cross reference them!

Karen from Outnumbered

too 'cross' and slightly violent I think!

The idea for the cover came fairly quickly. It's always really exciting to try and bring many elements of the story together in the boldest image you can think of. This is by far the most enjoyable cover I've ever done.

Back to the brush

I've been hankering after doing some 'proper' slapdash painting with watery inks and pencils. Don't get me wrong, I love my mac but there's nothing like the splash of paint on paper, especially if you haven't quite worked out what you are doing. I've been looking at the old covers from the Madeline books which are just a great mixture of loose ink drawing, bold colour and great drawing.
Despite all this, I couldn't help scanning in and playing with the colour digitally over the top of the painting. Maybe there's no hope for me?

Booooooooooo!

Happy Halloween everyone. Its one of my favourite times of the year. I feel more at home in a jumper and thick socks, making stews, carving pumpkins and drawing spooky pictures. It confuses me slightly that the media these days seem to think that celebrating Halloween over here is a new thing. I remember lots of Halloween parties when I was younger in the early 80's. My mum even made me a fantastic costume of Evil Edna the TV witch from 'Willo the Wisp' (anyone remember that?) out of a massive cardboard box. I don't understand this idea that it's all come from America in the last few years. Anyway, I love it.

 Here's my celebration Halloween sketch, our pumpkins immortalised and also some favourite spooky illustrations from favourite illustrators. You lucky people.....

                                              I just have such a thing about birds and bats.....

 

 The incredibly talented David Roberts (left, bottom left and bottom right) is the most wonderful illustrator at evoking a spooky and sinister mood. His black and white work is second to none in my opinion. Look at that snowfall....

 This is a favourite book cover of mine from the ever talented Tony Ross. I've often tried to replicate fluid lines like this (without too much success!). Genius.

A perfect example of an Edward Gorey - the most sinister, disturbing yet beautiful book. An A-Z of unfortunate deaths of tiny children. Interestingly, both my children think its wonderful. So much for wanting happy endings.