Marjorie's Sketch Blog

answer to another question

2011-08-09T12:14:00.006+02:00

To answer the question from an illustrator working mostly for the educational market - How do I break into the trade market?
This could be a discussion that could take days and many cups of earl grey tea - there is so many essential bits and pieces – then there is also the magical - being in the right place at the right time.
Basically It has to do with a mind change, illustrating happens in your mind not on the paper.
You need to take your illustrations into the next level. Away from stereotyping, away from minimulising because of a time restrain.
So… Spend the time and really look at the trade books – try and find out what gives some picture books that magical feel. Why they stand out from other books?

Join children’s book organisations like SCBWI (Society of children’s book writers and illustrators ) http://www.scbwi.org/
Attend conferences -http://springevent2011-scbwi-sa.blogspot.com/
Attend SCBWI SA events and get-togethers - get onto the mailing list so that you can get the circulars about upcoming events http://www.scbwi.za.org/
Attend Illustration workshops and courses -
I’m giving a children’s book illustration course for the 2011 CCIBA Creative Workshops to be held from 5 – 9 September 2011 at the Stellenbosch University Department of Visual Arts - http://www.cciba.sun.ac.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16&Itemid=20

Perhaps at one of the SCBWI SA events we can talk more about… how do I break into the trade market?

Websites that are really useful

2011-08-09T12:11:00.003+02:00

Here are a number of websites with info on writing & illustrating and submitting work to publishers - good luck
http://www.gropenassoc.com/articles/TrustPublishers.htm
http://underdown.org/
http://www.underdown.org/basics.htm
http://cbiclubhouse.com/

Answering a question

2011-08-07T14:11:00.004+02:00

In answer to a question I was asked on Facebook on my media and method I use when illustrating picture books.

To share a few notes on the technique and materials I currently enjoy using when I illustrate a children’s picture book: After completing a full set of rough pencil drawings and sorting out the design and layout of the book, I like to choose a specific paper that would suit the atmosphere of the story best. Generally I find that a fast-paced story wants a rougher paper, whereas an intimate, quiet story benefits from a smoother, fine paper on which I can do much more detailed work. I then redraw the illustration onto the selected paper, often using a light box. Next I paint a wash onto the illustration area of the page and finish the detailed drawing with crayons over the wash.

I use Caran d’Ache ‘Neocolor II Aquarelle’ oil pastels. Three makes of paper that work well for me are Canson Mi-teintes 160g/m2, Fabriano 4 Liscio 220g/m2 and Bainbridge Coquille Bristol #2. I like the last one best...

To add to that - I do not stretch my paper but using a big brush, I brush the paper lightly with a thin layer of water before starting to work with the wash of paint then let it dry completely before starting to work with the crayons. The crayons I use is water-soluble so from time to time I would smooth an area done with crayon with a wet brush

A tip - use very good quality paper - the cheaper paper disintegrate and bugle very quickly

And there is also an article I wrote on
http://marjorie-van-heerden-articles.blogspot.com/
on illustrating the picture book - Nina and Little Duck
The article is called THE MIND OF AN ILLUSTRATOR (August 2008)
Hope you will go and read it!

Final illustrations for Numbers Do

2011-07-11T15:47:00.003+02:00

Some final illustrations I did for the picture book Numbers Do written by Chu-Ren Huang & Kathleen Ahrens , to be published by Sun Ya publishers, Hong Kong

Rough Illustrations for Numbers Do

2011-07-11T15:35:00.006+02:00

I'm busy with two books for a the Chinese publishers, Sun Ya (Hong Kong)
Both books are written by Chu-Ren Huang & Kathleen Ahrens

Here are some rough illustrations - click on the picture for larger view

Goblin Diary - final artwork

2011-04-21T20:52:00.004+02:00

Pheee! - 42 B/W illustrations! Final artwork done! See a selection below. Illustration are done with a HB pencil on a very smooth hot-press paper. I have taken in consideration that the pencil does reflect a bit so I did compensate. I really enjoyed illustrating this books... drawing Goblins, dragons and a Red Witch! Alex d'Angelo wrote a real good story - thanks, Alex.

2011-04-21T20:49:00.000+02:00

2011-04-21T20:40:00.001+02:00

The Goblin's Diary - cover illustration

2011-03-18T23:53:00.001+02:00

Final Illustration for the cover delivered last week - now I have to do 41 B/W inside illustrations.

Very rough cover

2011-03-09T12:46:00.004+02:00

Cover design - very rough - for the Goblin's Diary written by Alex D'Angelo to be published by Tafelberg Publishers (SA)

The rough drawing for the cover

Then I 'coloured' it in very quickly in photoshop just to get a colour feel to show to the publisher - and I have the go-ahead!!

Rough sketches of Character studies

2011-03-09T12:32:00.004+02:00

Some Character studies for a chapter book I'm illustrating - Goblin's Diary written by Alex D'Angelo and to be published by Tafelberg Publishers

Exhibition of Alice Illustrations

2011-03-09T11:22:00.005+02:00

Click on invitation to be able to view it

An exhibition of original illustrations by Marjorie van Heerden from the book “Die Avonture van Alice in Wonderland”

Held at the US Art Galery, (”Die Kerkie”), corner of Dorp & Bird Street, Stellenbosch from 3 to 26 March 2011

Human & Rousseau has made art-prints of the illustrations being shown that will be for sale at the gallery (see prints below) Any inquiries please contact Hevette Le Grange Tel: +27 21 406 3033 - She is prepared to post prints if you interested to buy - money of the sale of the prints will be going to charities

The Exceed Group (www.exceed.co.za) sponsored the exhibition

Colour test illustration for 'Numbers Do'

2011-03-09T11:19:00.002+02:00

Colour test illustration for a picture book I'm illustrating 'Numbers do' written by Chu-Ren Huang & Kathleen Ahrens

Rough double spreads

2011-02-22T23:09:00.002+02:00

Rough sketches for the book I'm working on.

2010-08-24T19:34:00.005+02:00

The Alice in Wonderland Book I illustrated has been published!!!

Die Avonture van Alice in Wonderland

Author: Lewis Carroll

Translator: André P. Brink

Illustrator: Marjorie Van Heerden
Human & Rousseau (Pty) Ltd

ISBN: 9780798151511

The author...

See below some of the Illustrations for “Die Avonture van Alice in Wonderland”as they appeared in the published book.

In this publication there is a total of 79 illustrations: 51 B/W (grayscale) and 28 full-colour

Delivered Alice in Wonderland illustrations!!

2010-01-22T23:47:00.009+02:00

My apologise for being sooo quiet lately... that's the last 4 months - been underground... literary - with Alice
I delivered the Alice in Wonderland illustrations this past Monday... 52 black & white illustrations and 28 colour illustrations - mostly spreads, Slept a bit and now I'm slowly but surely creeping up to the surface.

Will do some proper posting in the next few day - but in the meantime here is a peep

final Artwork

Rough Illustration

Final Artwork

Rough Illustration

Final artwork

rough Illustration

Final Artwork

Rough illustration

Final Artwork

Rough Illustration

Final Artwork

Rough Illustration

2009-08-11T22:09:00.004+02:00

I am so excited about the projects I'm working on at the moment - working on two books at the same time - One is a fantasy story by a well known South African writer - in Afrikaans... Soek-soek op soek, for Tafelberg publishers
The second is Alice in Wonderland!!! - a translation into Afrikaans by the awards winning author Andre P Brink... Die Avonture van Alice

See below some character studies and test illustrations
These are the first character studies I did of Alice - the publishers wanted to see a more traditional Alice so I did the ones belowAnd here are two rough illustrations I'm really looking forward to do this job!

See quite a few more new postings below.

2009-08-11T21:47:00.007+02:00

Some rough & test illustrations for the book I'm working on...

A test illustration in ink and penRough drawing in pencil
Character studies of the main character in the book - Soek-soek, a gnome
The second project is an story by Elsabe Steenberg (well known Afrikaans children's book writer). Fantasy story of war between the gnomes and the mice - Soek-soek op soek, a chapter book (Black&white illustrations with full colour cover)
Here are some character studies and test illustrations

2009-08-11T21:29:00.005+02:00

I inserted some of the finish artwork of the book I worked on in April, Kootjie Totjie, into the previous posts where I posted rough drawings - enjoy. The book should be appearing soon. Since May I've been very busy... gave a workshop... How to draw children, in June, - then were actively involved in the Cape Town Book Fair. I was looking forward to take a bit of a holiday, but then I got two very exciting project so no holiday - straight back to my desk - see new post above..

2009-04-06T22:12:00.003+02:00

Some more roughs of Kootjie Totjie

2009-04-06T22:07:00.006+02:00

At the moment I'm busy with a picture book of one of CJ Langenhoven's children's stories - Tootjie Kotjie - publisher is Protea Boekhuis.

Just finished the rough illustrations - still to do the finals.

2009-04-06T21:59:00.003+02:00

Finish art illustration - Back & Front cover - background painted with water colour then on that I worked with my oil pastels

Rough illustration with darker background with text- Colour done in photoshop

Rough illustration with darker background - Colour done in photoshop

Rough illustration - Colour done in photoshop

Rough Drawing

This is the second design - colour also inserted in photoshop - The publisher decided on a darker background

2009-04-06T21:49:00.003+02:00

This design the publisher felt it might not appeal to boy - Asked for something "rougher"
The colour on this illustration was done VERY FAST in photoshop - Just so that the publisher could get the colour feel

After a winderful break during which I did NO WORK except make Christmas presents I started started working beginning of February 2009 - I climbed onto a roller coaster - Did a reader for Cambridge and then did a new cover illustration for the Afrikaans addition of Mr Humperdinck's wonderful Whatsit
Went through a few possibilities - Here are two examples

2009-04-06T21:46:00.001+02:00

This book was completed just before Christmas - I think it will be released in May.

2009-04-06T21:42:00.002+02:00

2009-04-06T21:41:00.000+02:00

2009-04-06T21:38:00.001+02:00

These are the finish art

these are the rough illustrations

These very very rough illustrations were thumbnail sketches

2009-04-06T21:23:00.002+02:00

After delivering the Christmas card illustrations for NB Publishers - I started on a book for LAPA Publishers called Bertus soek 'n Boek written by Jaco Jacobs.

2009-04-06T19:53:00.002+02:00

Finished (click on illustration to see bigger image)

after all animals were done I work on darking areas and lighting areas and working on the background - adding energy swirls

Then I started with the flying animals first puttong down a wash then working with my crayons

2009-04-06T19:44:00.002+02:00

worked on the christmas lights

and the books

and lightening area of light source - then with with oil pastel I started building up the grass & figures.

Then started darkening areas

I was commisioned to design and do the illustration for NB Publishers Christmas card - Here is the process. After doing the drawing I put down a wash with watercolour paint.

2009-04-06T19:41:00.000+02:00

Cover illustration & design of Long Juju Man.

2009-04-06T19:34:00.002+02:00

Some of the final illustrations of Long Juju Man

2009-04-06T19:11:00.002+02:00

These are layout with rough illustration for Long Juju Man
Long time since I posted -
Had deadlines and SCBWI SA stuff that had to be done so I was burning the midnight oil... But here are the stuff I have been working on since October 2008

Currently illustrating 2008 Macmillan Writer's Prize winning book

2008-08-22T23:23:00.003+02:00

Here are some rough drawings for the book I ‘m currently busy illustrating. It is the winning book of the 2007/08 Macmillan Writer's Prize for Africa; by novelist Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu. Though American-born, Nnedi's muse is Nigeria. Her winning unpublished children's book, Long Juju Man, a story about a girl's encounters with an irritating crafty ghost, will be published by Macmillan UK. The girl is harassed and taught lessons by an annoying, snickering, rotten fruit eating, sneaky, prank playing ghost named Long Juju Man.

Her first novel, Zahrah the Windseeker was shortlisted for the Parallax Award and Kindred Award in 2006, a finalist for the 2005 Golden Duck and GardenState Teen Choice awards and nominated for a Locus Award (Best First Novel) 2005; Her second novel, The Shadow Speaker (Hyperion Books, 2007) was a Booksense Pick for Winter 2007/08 and a finalist for the Essence Magazine Literary Award and the Andre Norton Award. It is also an NAACP Image Award nominee, a Tiptree Honor Book and a Locus Magazine Recommended Book.

I'm enjoying illustrating Nnedi's words!

2008-08-12T19:34:00.001+02:00

Posted an article on http://marjorie-van-heerden-articles.blogspot.com/
on illustrating the picture book - Nina and Little Duck

The article is called THE MIND OF AN ILLUSTRATOR (August 2008)
Hope you will go and read it!

Nina and Little Duck - 2008 M-Net/Via Afrika Literary Award Winner!

2008-06-25T23:04:00.009+02:00

Saturday June 14th brought a huge surprise! My friend Wendy and I were awarded the M.E.R. Prize for the picture book we did together. I'm still trying to believe it... Read below.

Nina and Little Duck - 2008 M-Net/Via Afrika Literary Award Winner!

The M.E.R Prize for best illustrated children’s book was awarded to Wendy Hartmann (author) and Marjorie van Heerden (illustrator) for Nina and Little Duck published by Human & Rousseau (SA) in 2007 (also available in Afrikaans as Nina en Eendjie).

ABOUT THE PRIZE: The M.E.R. Prize was established in 1983 and is awarded annually by M-Net and Via Afrika to the best illustrated children’s book published during the previous year. The only condition is that the books must be aimed at younger readers and that the authors and illustrators must be South African citizens. The award is named after MER (ME Rothman) for her ground breaking work in the field of children’s literature. No distinction is made between English and Afrikaans books.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Nina, Simon, and Mr and Mrs Rajah, together with their cat and dog, all live on a quaint little street where shops and houses are built right next door to each other. Mr and Mrs Rajah own a shop on this street. Their house is part of the shop. Next to it is an entrance to the garden where they store a few things. It is charming, just the kind of place a duck would love to make a nest.

Nina and Simon spend a lot of time playing close to Mr and Mrs Rajah’s house and shop. They often stop for a chat and sometimes go into the garden to play games. Little Duck also spends a lot of time in the street and around the shop. After a long search, she recently moved into the Rajah’s garden to raise her family.

And this is where the adventures of Little Duck and her ducklings, Max, Molly and Martin really start. The text is supported by humorous and charming rhymes and illustrations that warm the heart and tickle the tummy.

Nina and Little Duck (English) - ISBN 978-0-7981-4824-5
Nina en Eendjie (Afrikaans) - ISBN 978-0-7981-4825-2
Written by Wendy Hartmann and illustrated by Marjorie van Heerden
Published by Human & Rousseau Publishers (SA) [Aug 2007]
Format (soft cover): 280mm x 215mm; 64 pages
Readership: Toddlers, Read aloud & New Readers
Copies can be ordered from: www.kalahari.net or orders@onthedot.co.za

2008-06-08T13:02:00.002+02:00

Klara, my grand daughter, is now 10 months old - I bought her a hippy jacket to keep her warm this coming winter!!! She crawls very fast and stand up holding on to stuff and now and then she lets go to test standing alone - and she does for two seconds! - She smiles when she sees me!!!! AND she loves books!!!!

Back after a long silence!

2008-06-08T12:23:00.003+02:00

Hi - apologies for the long silence - the first six months of this year was crazily busy but I'm back - I've done 4 books (all educational readers) since the beginning of this year, now busy with a book for Shuter Publishers (SA) - a fun scary fantasy story - here are some of the roughs. During these last months I also organised, with the help of only 3 other people, a SCBWI writers and Illustrators' retreat at a natural warm water spa - It was a wonderful success... I was exhausted afterwards - but happy!
Some good news!!!! I've been asked to illustrate the winning book of the Macmillan writers competition - Long Juju Man by by Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu (http://nnedi.com/) I'm very excited and will be starting on it soon.

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-16T12:07:00.003+02:00

2008-01-10T02:27:00.000+02:00

SEASON"S GREETINGS to you and yours and we wish you laughter and joy for 2008!

My husband, Johann, took this picture of our first grandchild, Klara, who was born on 31 July 2007 - Here she is seen LOVING her very first Christmas!!! (Click to enlarge)

SERIES OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF A RECENT PAINTING

2008-01-10T01:33:00.000+02:00

For Christmas 2007 I made a painting for my daughter, Alexia, and her family. [Acrylic on hardboard - 800cm x 1200cm]. The painting is based on A Tiger took me to the Circus, the second picture book I wrote and illustrated (this was back in in 1986). I used Alexia (then nine) and her doll Sunshine as the central characters in the story. My husband Johann took some photographs while I was painting and I show them below, to share the creative process with you. [START VIEWING FROM THE BOTTOM UP...]

Some final touches added, and now I feel the painting is ready to become a Christmas gift! (These photos were taken outside - for more light)

I've done some work on the foreground, the tiger's feet and some wild grasses.

Here I've started finalising the dark and light areas.

Here I've got the likeness to Alexia right and I've added some darker areas where she sits on the tiger's back. I've also done some work on its eyes.

2008-01-10T01:31:00.000+02:00

Here is the start of the new painting of the girl and her doll Sunshine (Alexia still has her little Sunshine to this day...)

I made a new drawing of the girl on tracing paper to fit the body size and position, whited out the old drawing, corrected the background and started a new picture of the girl.

I start working on the likeness to Alexia (more than 20 years ago) and realise the girl needs to be redone!!!

I start work on darkening areas on the tiger to complement the light source.

The Tiger's stripes have been added.

2008-01-10T01:29:00.000+02:00

I start on the tiger's fur colour and black stripes.

...and her doll, Sunshine.

I start painting the little girl, Alexia...

I add trees and light filtering in the background to give depth.

I've finished the base colour on the background. Now I have to decide where the main light source will come from.

2008-01-10T01:23:00.000+02:00

After duplicating my rough drawing onto the board I start with the background - first adding a base colour. This is a good way to see if the composition and proportions are correct.

... and added a grid to help with the redrawing onto the board.

I have done a rough drawing...

Now it's ready - clean, white and waiting!

Preparing the Hardboard: Johann had added a frame on the back and here I am painting the smooth front with a white base colour (a good quality PVA). My son, Markus, is giving advise.

[<<< A TIGER TOOK ME TO THE CIRCUS (the painting). START VIEWING THE PROCESS FROM HERE, UPWARDS]

2007-12-05T19:47:00.001+02:00

Some more bags!

2007-12-05T19:43:00.001+02:00

Some bear drawings - their body's are so like a bag!

2007-11-16T00:47:00.001+02:00

A picture from the blog I have started - dedicated to the literacy series I conceptualized, wrote and illustrated - for the first 3 years of a child's school - go and have a peep www.Marjorie-readers.blogspot.com/

2007-11-16T00:17:00.001+02:00

Here are some new roughs I've done for my stories - a series of 3 books published a few years back - I've got my rights back from the publishers and have re-written the stories and intend to re-illustrate the books

2007-11-16T00:05:00.000+02:00

Here are some pictures I illustrated for the book by Katherine Paterson - The King's Equal that was translated into Greek - a wonderful fairytale.

2007-10-24T23:59:00.000+02:00

And here is the artwork of the Noah drawing!

2007-10-23T16:18:00.000+02:00

Thought I'll post the picture of Noah that I'm working on -
Spring has arrived in Gordon's Bay and the beaches are getting more and more visitors. It's Wonderful!!!

2007-10-13T23:36:00.000+02:00

MANY Rabbits!

2007-10-04T21:02:00.001+02:00

Drawing of a fairy in my garden with how she/he camouflages!!!!
A call to ALL children's book writers, illustrators and Children's book publishers in South Africa... I have added links of South African writers, illustrators and publishers on my blog - please check your link and if there is a different link you want or if you have a website or blog and you are not listed please let me know - send me your link - contact detail on my website-gallery - www.grafikon.co.za

2007-10-04T20:54:00.000+02:00

Some character studies for the book I'm working on. I have also worked on my other blogs - go and have a look! See links - top right of blog or go to my website - it has all the links - www.grafikon.co.za/

2007-09-14T21:38:00.000+02:00

These are some VERY VERY rough drawings - the beginnings of a new book. (This is what it looks like in my mind's eye!!!)

2007-09-14T20:39:00.001+02:00

A rough illustration of a Grandpa and his grandson from a book in progress that I have been working on for a loooong time - this book is looking for a publisher...

My granddaughter Klara (born July 31):

2007-09-14T20:29:00.001+02:00

I just had to share these recent pics with you!

Happiness is... Klara in the arms of Morpheus. I love this photo!

Klara and her Oupa catching forty winks - Look at Klara's hands (she loves catching her fingers in Johann's long beard).

Newest book - just published!!

2007-08-19T23:20:00.000+02:00

The latest book I illustrated (Nina and Little Duck by Wendy Hartmann), has just been published! Here are a few double spreads. (Click on "TRADE BOOKS" above for more information).

2007-08-13T10:53:00.000+02:00

I've added a whole lot of links... created more blogs for myself, created blogs for the SCBWI South Africa and added links of other SA writers & illustrators and interesting websites - see the list in the sidebar and go and have a peep. If you're a SA writer/illustrator and your link is not there, please let me have your link details and I will add it.

Paddy Bouma and Wendy Hartmann have just started their own blogs - go and have a look!

(The picture above is a test illustration.)

2007-08-13T10:42:00.000+02:00

I'm playing with sketches of babies. Newborn Babies: The neck flops and drops forward; reflexes; startled and jerky arm and leg movements; when open, eyes look either sleepy or wide eyed (startled); head size exaggerated (about one third of body size), basically body grows to catch up with head size; arms and legs very short (I remember a school readiness test where the child must be able to cross its arm over its head and touch the ear on the other side - that's about age 4 or 5). More about drawing babies later - I'm really enjoying this!!!

2007-08-03T13:49:00.000+02:00

I have not been blogging for a while, but I have a very good reason: Her name is Klara and she arrived at 10h50, weighing in at 4.1Kg (9 pounds) on Tuesday, July 31, 2007. My daughter, Alexia, gave Johann and me our first grandchild. Once I get used to the wonderful feeling of being a granny, I will probably start drawing babies and babies and some more babies... After all, I now have the most beautiful model in the whole wide world.

My Newest Book

2007-07-16T11:02:00.000+02:00

My book is out!!!! Launched at the Cape Town Book Fair.

It is Lulama's Long Way Home published by Giraffe Books, an imprint of Pan Macmillan - ISBN 978-1-920162-09-2 (also available in Afrikaans and will be published in 11 other languages soon) - about a little girl that is swooped out of the river by a near sighted Fish Eagle who though she was a fish!

2007-06-28T15:21:00.000+02:00

This is to thank the CT Book Fair Committee for giving the SCBWI South Africa a stand to promote our organisation

Cape Town Book Fair was a huge success - over 40.000 people attended and our SCBWI stand was a hive of activity - afterwards a nasty flu bug ambushed me on my way home and I have been in bed since then - But better now - although still coughing.

2007-06-12T00:16:00.000+02:00

Nina & Little Duck... FINISHED ALL PICTURES!!! - I had fun drawing a frog in the illustrations that is not in the text - the frog appears throughout the book - see below other pictures of the Nina & Little Duck book- children love something like that!

2007-06-10T17:05:00.000+02:00

Very busy with Cape Town Book Fair arrangements - SCBWI South Africa are going to print posters from 5 South African illustrators (1,000 of each one) that we will be selling at the Book Fair - Here are the posters and above them a close up of the poster I made

2007-06-04T12:35:00.000+02:00

I had a whole week-end relaxing - now its getting all the arrangements sorted out for the Cape Town Book Fair that's happening on the 16-19 June - Here is another pic from the Nina & Little Duck book I completed last week.

2007-05-31T12:46:00.000+02:00

a close up - Three posts in one day - to make up for the past postless days. My son, Markus, suggested I should let some butterflies escape from Nina's top - good idea!
AND a BIG belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my dear friend Simone Kaplan from New York - thought of you on Tuesday!

2007-05-31T12:40:00.000+02:00

Here is a doule spread from Nina and Little duck - the book I just completed!!! Have to say that over and over to believe it!

2007-05-31T12:32:00.000+02:00

This past week has been a very busy week - I delivered all illustrations on Tuesday and slept the whole of yesterday. I'm finished!!!!! 34 double spreads!!!! Will post a few pages for you to see - Book will be out about the end of July. Here the close up of the pic below I promised to post. - June is starting next week, the Cape Town Book Fair is on the 16-19 June and the South African chapter of the SCBWI is going to have a stand st the fair so the next two weeks are going to be EXTREMELY busy with preparation. But today I'm taking the day off! Have a jolly day

2007-05-20T11:28:00.000+02:00

Part of the Illustration I'm working on today - will post it when it is finished. It's raining in Gordon's Bay and the small stream that runs past our house is a torren - I can clearly hear the sound of running water in my studio. It is also cold - I unpacked my small blow-heater yesterday- (just to heat one's feet) - a perfect working day!

2007-05-16T12:25:00.000+02:00

Ducktivity continues! Have a good drawing day!

2007-05-14T23:34:00.000+02:00

My husband, Johann, sneaked up to my studio and took some photos while I was working - thought I'll share them with you.

2007-05-14T14:57:00.000+02:00

The ducks are attacking me... Aaargh!

2007-05-13T00:50:00.000+02:00

Thought because it's Mother's Day I'll load this picture - Happy Mother's Day to all you illustrating mothers! (see rough drawing of this one below)

2007-05-11T22:13:00.000+02:00

an Illustration for the duck book I've just finished - here are before and after pictures - double spread & close up.

2007-05-10T11:40:00.000+02:00

In Gordon's Bay the sun is shining - we had some rain last night so it is a cool day - wonderful for my crayons - if it is too warm my crayons get too soft! - Here is how I do my skin colour for the little girl in the book I'm working on... I put down a wash of cinnamon colour then darken shadow areas with the cinnamon pastal on top of the wash - then smooth the whole area with the salmon colour pastel - then work on top with white pastel -blending and lightening the areas nearest to my light source - if I want to darken areas more I use the cinnamon again or add some periwinkle blue and blend it in with the cinnamon or salmon pastels - For my line I use my line Indigo blue oil pastel - not black - I find black too hard and if I want an even softer out line I use the cinnamon pastel - sharpened to a sharp point.

2007-05-05T18:37:00.000+02:00

Still busy drawing ducks!

2007-05-05T13:34:00.000+02:00

Sketch done for Showcase website of SCBWI South Africa - see links. They flying a kite & standing on a world!

2007-05-03T11:42:00.000+02:00

My first attempt at animation!! Click on the frog to see it jump.

2007-04-29T13:09:00.000+02:00

Thought I share with you two test illustrations I made for a book I've written (Work in progress - dummy completed - still have to submit to publishers.)

Goodnight, Grandpa is based on a true story. My son Markus was 3 years old when my father died in hospital. That night we had not yet told him that his Grandpa had died. After midnight Markus came into our bedroom and told us that Grandpa had just visited him in his room. Wide awake and in a clear voice he said, “Grandpa came to say goodbye and then he flew away”. For the little boy the encounter was absolutely real. The story stayed with me and eventually became a picture book.

2007-04-27T12:24:00.000+02:00

Work on final artwork for the duck book continues! I think I have now drawn 1,000,699 blades of grass - Have a good week-end - I'm working!!

2007-04-24T22:02:00.000+02:00

I call this sketch - reading in Africa. I enjoyed drawing her hair too.

2007-04-22T00:13:00.000+02:00

I love drawing hair - they say so much of the character - here are a few close-ups of hair.

2007-04-20T10:55:00.000+02:00

a quote... Maurice Sendak says: "To me, illustrating means having a passionate affair with the words." (Page 109 from The Art of Maurice Sendak by Selma G. Lanes - 1980) a book I found very helpfull when I first started illustrating Children's Books.
Here is another pic from the Monster book (see below April 8th).

2007-04-19T09:19:00.000+02:00

Working hard and long hours on the finish art illustrations for "Nina and Little Duck" - here is one of the finished artwork - Really enjoyed doing Mrs Rajah's hair - Have a good drawing day.

2007-04-15T20:33:00.000+02:00

I love trees - Trees have a powerful presents and and I use them in my illustrations to create atmosphere. Here are some of my illustrations with trees in them.

2007-04-12T23:09:00.000+02:00

While living (1999 - 2003) amongst the pine trees in the mountians north of Athens, Greece, I became very concious of the play of light and its source - something that has stayed with me ever since and has become an important part of my illustrations - I drew this picture then and this was the scene through my Greek studio window that inspired me. These were the pine forest arround our Greek house in winter - isn't the play of light amazing!

2007-04-10T10:21:00.000+02:00

Hope you found a lot of chocolate eggs this weekend - I work most of the time and finished all the rough illustrations for "Nina & Little Duck" and felt like the girl in the illustration.
(From a book (in Greek) I illustrated for Patakis Publisher in Greece - the sneezing dragons also came from this book)

All you illustrators out there - Have a good drawing week!

2007-04-08T22:35:00.000+02:00

I'm busy with the last rough drawing of the Nina and Little Duck - the 64 page! 34 double spreads. Tomorrow I start with the finish Artwork. So I feel a bit like this drawing that I did for factual book on monsters - that was also a gigantic task - I had to draw over two hunderd monsters - but I really had fun with that book

"Ek en My Monster" (My Monster and Me) written by Leon de Villiers, published by LAPA Publishers SA in 2004

Unfortunately it only was published in Afrikaans - hopefully it will one day be published in English too

2007-04-06T23:43:00.000+02:00

Some more Dragons - Sneezing Dragons!

2007-04-06T01:54:00.000+02:00

I'm burning the midnight oil... Lots of Ducktivity happening in my studio! - I really enjoyed doing this rough illustration for the Duck Book.

2007-04-04T22:36:00.000+02:00

Another rough drawing & close up from "Nina and Little Duck" - I'm having fun!

2007-04-04T09:58:00.000+02:00

More Dragons...

2007-04-03T19:53:00.000+02:00

I love dragons - If I see a book on dragon's I just HAVE TO BUY it! I also love to draw Dragons - I hope to one day be asked to illustrate a REALLY good Dragon story!
This Dragon picture I call THE GUARDIAN I drew for my son, Markus... for his office.

2007-04-02T10:33:00.000+02:00

Work is going well on the "Nina and Little Duck" Book - Here are one of the rough double spreads.

2007-04-01T22:03:00.000+02:00

April 1st Red Nose Day in Africa!! Have a Happy Fool's day

2007-03-31T11:08:00.000+02:00

Some more character studies -Tip for today... keeping in mind a bag of flour when drawing a character works well - see the penquins & the mice - Enjoy your weekend... I'm working...

2007-03-30T10:52:00.000+02:00

Have you every visited Prague - It is a city that looks as if all fairytales were written with Prague as the setting - Here is a picture I drew when we visited prague some years ago - That's me and with me is my imaginary dragon called Peanutbutter that follows me everywhere!!!

2007-03-29T16:37:00.000+02:00

Working hard!! - I posted some my most recent books at end of this page.

Here is a picture I drew quickly to insert into my e-mails - the animal parade

2007-03-28T09:50:00.000+02:00

More Nina studies - I use maths when doing character studies - by transferring maths shapes into your drawings helps to keep your character's shape, size, age consistent throughout the book you illustrating. See the shape of Nina's body, length of arms etc etc. Try it - you will be amazed how it helps with your drawings - It was a breakthrough for me when I realised it. Got to get to work now - have a good day!