Ever think "I could write this" or "I could illustrate that" about children's books?

Do you love reading outloud to your poppity-pumpkins?

You have a great idea for a story book?

You're often inventing lovely tales to keep the little ones happy?

A couple of lovely books I have read with my son recently that really 'work' for me, as picture books where the illustrations and narrative carry each other, are Doctor Meow's Big Emergency by Sam Lloyd...

(see some pages from the book here)

...and the other one is Christopher Nibble by Charlotte Middleton

There are some illustrations from the book here
My son really loves them both! - He has created a Christopher Nibble / Jeremy Mouse scenario with his Playmobil guinea-pigs and a toy red car - I'll take a photo in the morning and post it tomorrow...

Do you make up songs at bedtime to lull small people off to gentle sleep?

Look at your children's picture books and long to be making artwork for youngsters?

For me - it's when I play with or tidy or sort out the children's toys. I love the colours and the shapes and feel the urge to draw them.
I love the way that some soft toys have the potential to become real 'characters'.

I was sorting through my little fella's toys yesterday - ordering things to enhance his play experience, (you know - like a good mummy should !!) when I realised I have a great deal of affection for Lego and I really love toy vehicles. Anyway - that's a whole another post...

If you really are serious about trying your hand at writing or illustrating (or both) for children, I would advise joining SCBWI - that's the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
It started out in the US and is still based there - but there is a large British SCBWI contingent over here in the UK... It is very supportive, with conferences, a handboook and regional get togethers; critiques, networking etc.
Visit the website for more info. and get busy - your idea might be just what the publishers have been looking for...

Eyes Get Tired and Sting a Bit

Here are a couple of emergency service vehicles I have been having a little play around with.
I worked on them digitally but it makes my eyes get tired and sting a bit ...worrying..
So I think I'll try some ink and watercolours or some collaged pieces next

Matthew is One of Six Children...

On Friday night I met up with a friend at the preview for an exhibition of two painters - Alec Cumming and Matthew Lanyon at the Art 18/21 gallery in Norwich.

I love the paintings of Peter Lanyon - and saw the show at the Castle Museum a few years ago which had one of his last paintings...he died in a gliding accident aged only forty-six.
Matthew is one of his six children.  Read about him and see more of his Cornishly inspired work here

Alec Cumming is a young artist who works in a mid-twentieth century tradition too really.

His paintings are like abstracted still lives for me. 

They could be a blend of Patrick Heron and William Scott's paintings

It's great to see a former City College student doing so well..here

Meet New People - Learn New Stuff

Spent an inspiring day on Saturday with other emerging and published children's book writers and illustrators - a critique and networking workshop.
It was organised by other SCBWI members
Emma Graham came up from Ipswich and chatting to her was inspiring. Here's one of her drawings I liked from the portfolio she brought with her

Probably my favourite image of Emma's was Gardeners' World - take a look... Also what I learned from Emma was that you can get out there and trawl round publishers and they will have a look at your portfolio

My colleague Julia Groves was there in the morning.  She is having a very exciting time at the moment with one of her illustrations winning a recent SCBWI competition and published in an illustrated book of new writing. See what she says about it here.

I love this birdies in a tree image - lovely simple use of the textures in the print combined with the flat (digital?) grey. She knows how to leave space - something I learned from looking at Julia's work.

My work can only benefit from meeting new people, seeing their work and listening to their wise words.

In the afternoon I worked with writer Lisa Mann and author of the Adventure Island series Helen Moss to develop an idea for a picture book - so watch this space...!

Helen writes a chapter a day - for a whole month - to produce one of the books in her series... She suggested I do one illustration a day - I'd SO love to have the time! With two or three hours maximum in any one day to spend on my art work - maybe one illustration a fortnight is more realistic!! - Oh, to have an eight hour stretch in one go...

You wouldn't think they'd develop so fully...

I drew some leaf and floral shapes in a grey marker as I wanted to make a delicate repeat. 

You can see where I drew ideas for alternative flower motifs but decided against them - I cross them out so I don't get confused after I've scanned it in and I start to work digitally.

I thought the final design (shown in half drop repeat below) looked good to use as a background for some more bold motifs to sit on top...

And here it is - I gave it a subtle green ground and used it for the background for this cute little woodland creatures design

So designs can start out as something very simple.

You wouldn't think they'd develop so fully to become a design that could work alone or as part of something more complex

You've probably seen this already...?

If you like contemporary, quirky illustration, you've probably seen Gemma Correll's work. She's very lovely; based in Norwich, adores pugs and has a fab funny slightly cynical outlook on life - neatly captured in her artwork.
These pics of her studio are from her website where you can see her work and visit her shop.

Got something worth Noting?

They're here!

Lovely little A6 notebooks - for when you're at the house at Kettles Yard and just need to draw....
And you'll say I need something to note stuff down, wish I had....here's one of Annie's little notebooks, thank goodness I had this - it's PERFECT!

Or - when you see a new magazine - like oh comely or Anorak on the shelf and you can't get it today, but want to remember it so you can check it out online when you get home - there's that lovely notebook in your bag that Annie made - that's PERFECT!

Or - maybe your sister's birthday is soon and you don't live that near to her, but something sweet, unique, simple and useful that can be popped into the post would be an ideal pressie - here's a neat notebook that does the trick - PERFECT!

And I just put two sister-designs in to the printers for bigger A5 notebooks, so look out...
Enjoy the rest of the week -

Let's hope he doesn't read my blog...

I just found this lovely website and read about the brave and interesting people who create the beautiful artwork, designs and prints sold at Arthouse Meath

And I have bought this lovely letters mug for my lil'bro for his birthday...

Let's hope he doesn't read my blog!!!

Visit the website - and feel really good about buying such fantastic products!