The fox, the crow and the old smelly cheese

Here are some winter scenes for the reworking of the Aesops fable I started a while ago. I've been experimenting with pencils and tie-dyeing for the backgrounds. I do think the tie-dye textures add a bit of extra atmostphere and light/dark.
Adding that extra eye to profile views seems to add more character, too.

Twitch the harvest mouse

I am working on a new story about a harvest mouse called Twitch. Here are some of the character studies. I am fascinated how these mice use their tails like an extra limb to keep them balanced in the grass. I remember as a child being entranced watching them in a field.

Indigo tie-dyeing inspiration

I went on an inspirational tie-dyeing workshop last week, run by Beetlefelt textile artist Carol Mowl ( http://www.beetlefelt.co.uk/) in her wonderful studio. After tying-up, pleating, pegging and stitching pieces of fabric in a variety of ways, we dipped them in the dye-bucket for 5 minutes. The colour was green when we took the samples out, but as the dye oxidised, the colour turned indigo. The real fun bit was untying the fabric to see where the dye had taken. Won't some of these patterns look just great in children's book illustrations....

Thames Pageant 2012

Who watched the Thames Pageant on 3rd June? I thought it was an amazing sight, despite the rain. Over a 1000 boats, the grandest flotilla on the Thames for 350 years. I've illustrated the final section of the Pageant, between London Bridge and Tower Bridge, in my flattened-out black and white style. I think of it as medieval, because it's all elevations, plans and no perspective. Also, my dip-pen gets used a lot, along with a small brush.

I know this section of the Thames quite well, since it's one of my favourite parts of London. London Bridge stands where the Thames was first bridged in London. I've shown the Royal Jubilee Bells barge just crossing the finishing line under Tower Bridge. The royal row-barge, Gloriana, is following behind, along with the other rowboats. The Queen stands  in white on the royal barge, The Spirit of Chartwell. I've played around adding colour, too, but my favourite is still the black and white.


For sale on my Folksy shop.http://folksy.com/shops/AnnaViolet

scbwi illustrators blogspot

My seasonal blog header (featuring lacewings) is now up on the scbwi (Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators) Illustrators blogspot at

http://scbwiillustrators.blogspot.co.uk/

Chorlton Open Gardens

Chorlton Open Gardens was on for the second year running on 24th June, raising money for victims of torture. http://www.chorltonopengardens.org.uk/

Here's the wonderful dye garden on Chatburn Road.

Also a couple of maps I did for two of the gardens for display on the day.

One minute portraits

I did an afternoon stint  of one minute portrait sessions at Brookburn Primary School Fair last month, which was great fun. I did about 40 portraits in ink and wash, and the children (and adults, too)were fascinated watching. There is something magical about the creation of a quick portrait and then adding the water at the end to give a wash and 3D effect. I was amazed how well the children managed to stay still and concentrate, and I think talking through the stages with them helped - so they knew when they could relax parts of their face! Most of the portraits came out with a lively good likeness, despite the short time. I often think the longer you spend on a portrait, the more lifeless it becomes. Why is that?