Monday 3 December 2012

Play Bow Collograph

This is for a page about how dogs love to play. It shows a play soliciting posture called the play bow. I'm not 100% sure if I'm finished on this one. I was hoping the legs would come out a bit paler so that she looks like a dog with white legs, belly and face with tan markings. May have to reprint it paler with a new tan print on top and the definition for the eyes and ears over that.
This is what the print looked like before I added the 2nd layer. I felt there was not enough definition around the ear and decided it was a good opportunity to add more detail to the face. I espescially like his whisker spots around his nose.
This is how the face collograph printed first time round. I really like the furry texture, but it was too much so I cleaned most of the colour of the collograph before printing it after this.

Sunday 2 December 2012

Collograph Alphabet

I decided it was time to print an upper case alphabet to go with the lower case alphabet I designed for my Masters project. I might revise a few of the letters, but on the whole I'm quite pleased. I could use the letter press, but I would prefer to echo the textures of the collograph prints in the type face.
This is the original lower case alphabet. Each letter is individually placed onto each spread... sometimes I wonder if it would be easier just to pick a computerized text, but I think its worth using the printed one.

Ear and Tail Position Spreads

This is a double page spread with text and images describing ear positions to go over the top. His eye is missing because I am intending to have the 'e' for ears in that spot. The text will be in black and white, but I'm not sure how it will turn out yet. I'm giving myself a bit of a design challenge by using such strong images. Hope I can pull it off!
This is the first page of the following double spread. The second page of the spread will explain what different tail positions mean.

Saturday 19 May 2012

'40 Elephants' Redesign - 'How Big?' and 'How Many?'

I've had some interesting feedback from publishers, they feel the the concept of using weight to quantify size and scale is too abstract for younger children. They have suggested that I should consider redeveloping the book using a different measure of size, such as length. I have to admit, it's a fair point and something that I had considered when I started developing the original idea. Eventually I chose weight because it was easy to quantify and it allowed for greater diversity across the spreads because it involved using varying numbers of animals. I liked that it was possible to show social animals in groups as they would be in nature. I have a few concerns about the redesign, but on the whole I'm excited about it and looking forwards to the opportunity to get beck into the print rooms again.

'How Big?'

The second book is a less accurate representation of size using a combination of height and length.

'How Big?' continued

'How Big?' continued

Friday 9 March 2012

Dog Bite Prevention Illustrations.

I recently made a couple of images for a dog safety program in Jersey. Another illustrator is also being considered so lets hope they like my work best... Pictures to follow as blogger is refusing to let me upload.

Monday 20 February 2012

New 5 crocodiles page for '40 Elephants'.


I much prefer this to the other crocodiles, they are much better colours, shapes and just in general. Might have to do something about the paler line running through the middle of all of them. I think this is possibly where the two sheets of paper are joined.

Now I need to re-think the Zebra. They're quite clumsy looking and the layout is pretty dull. I think I need to sketch some next time I'm at the zoo so that I can get more movement into the images and make them more exciting...

Wednesday 8 February 2012

MA Children's Book Illustration Graduation Exhibition 2012.

Please come and see our MA Exhibition, everyone's work looks amazing. Its in Foyles Book Shop (Charing Cross), Wednesday 8th Feb 9am until Tuesday 14th Feb 6pm. Everyone is well come.

'40 Elephants' extended pages 28 & 29

'40 Elephants' extended pages 27 & 30


The Back cover of the book is the same as extended page 30, adding up to 40 elephants with the ones on the front cover. Shame about the tiny elephant on the spine, may have to rethink that one...

'40 Elephants" pages 26-27

'40 Elephants' pages 24-25


I'm not too keen on these crocs. I might substitute them for the larger crocodile with his new tail (made for the exhibition).

'40 Elephants' pages 22-23

'40 Elephants' pages 20-21

'40 Elephants' pages 18-19

'40 Elephants' pages 16-17

'40 Elephants' pages 14-15

'40 Elephants' pages 12-13

'40 Elephants' pages 10-11

'40 Elephants' pages 8-9

'40 Elephants' pages 6-7

'40 Elephants' Title page

'40 Elephants' End papers

'40 Elephants' Front Cover

Bologna Entry: 'Pteropus rodricensis'

Bologna Entry: 'Pteropus rodricensis'

Bologna Entry: 'Pteropus rodricensis'

Bologna Entry: 'Pteropus rodricensis'

Bologna Entry: 'Pteropus rodricensis'

Springbok sketches

Lemur sketches

Meerkat sketches