Tuesday 28 May 2013

The One With The Green Lobster...

                    Click to enlarge.

FYI: my friend Sam returned the lobster to the shop and has no plans for ever buying or eating one again...


     

Sunday 26 May 2013

Caterpillars and Chrysanthemum Tea...

I had a busy day on Thursday with visits to two schools in Hackney, London to do some book events based on a couple of my books. Here's my sketchbook diary of the day...


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Tuesday 21 May 2013

FROM MY SKETCHBOOK: Beneath the Opera House...


click to enlarge.

I saw The Phantom of the Opera stage show for the first time a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed it. I saw the film when it came out in 2004 and loved that, but to see the show performed in a real, old theatre was treat. I must say though that I actually spent the entire show marvelling at the amazing set which was just ingenious in the way it shifted and changed and became numerous different locations. Brilliant!

When my parents took me to the theatre as a child, I remember enjoying sitting in the darkness transfixed, not by the story being played out on the stage (although I did enjoy that), but by the design of the costumes and set. I would take in every little detail and draw everything I'd seen when I got home. Nothing has changed now that I'm grown up. I'm still fascinated by the details and dress in tv, film and theatre. It actually makes sitting down to watch something quite difficult as my fingers are constantly twitching for the pencil and sketchbook I keep in my pocket.

So, of course some snippet from the the Phantom of the Opera had to make its way into my sketchbook. I've just been putting the finishing touches to my next picture book which is full of colour and pattern, so it was nice to change track here and do something dark and moody and grown up.
Bit spooky too...

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For more sketchbook images and information about my sketchbook process and what media I use to draw with, do visit this guest post I did for my agent's website.

Sunday 19 May 2013

Thursday 2 May 2013

Visitors to this time, this place...

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The above is a piece of hand lettering I created of one of my favourite pieces of text. It's an Australian Aboriginal proverb and I think it's just lovely.

I love creating lettering and find it really relaxing. More of this to be posted soon, I hope!

Wednesday 1 May 2013

1948.

My grandparents, Sid and Alice.