This blog is all about my personal projects, be it illustration or writing. My new blog feels like the perfect little platform to share some bite size nuggets of information about my process as an Illustrator and as a writer.
Being a creative individual is like being a yoyo. Up, down, tied in knots, eaten by the next door neighbour’s dog. Anything can happen. Some days when I'm painting a lovely picture, finding the perfect colour means climbing a mountain to catch a rainbow, other days the rainbow comes to you and sprinkles over the page.
With illustration I begin with a mood or feeling which usually begins in the shower, drawn into steam on the shower door. Then I take the idea to my art studio and turn it into thumbnail sketches, really rough sketches, slightly more pleasant sketches and finally tra da- it’s ready to paint.
Recently I have mainly been working on my latest project, ‘The Moonicorns and the Moon Hole’ This week I have bound the dummy book ready to send off to some choice publishers. I will also take a copy with me to ‘Bologna Children's Book Fair' (VERY EXCITING)
Writing is another type of adventure entirely. The ideas for poems or stories often come like an express train, so fast there's barely time to scribble down the first word before the train rushes to the next station. Anyone who has ever written a story will completely understand the hand, brain, speed, ratio dilemma. It would be fantastic if I could simply plug an USB stick into my ear and copy the story directly from my brain. I do wonder though, if this was possible, would it correct my spellings for me?
I have just finished collecting all my children's poems- now called ‘My Batty Book of Poems’. I have been writing these for a while, on napkins, loo roll, snotty tissues, whatever is handy. (You would think I would invest in a handy notebook, but alas the ideas often strike when I least expect them. No matter how prepared I am: an idea cannot be pre-arranged. Creativity is truly a force of nature. Thank goodness for eyeliner pen, lipstick and free pens from the bank!)
Now I finally have an entire collection of my humorous poetic insanity, in one place, I have illustrated them with equally as daft black and white illustrations. This is now bound into a dummy book/ manuscript crossbreed.
As I mentioned above, this year I am going to ‘Bologna Children’s Book Fair’. So on Friday, Jonathan Edwards (my wonderful website designer) and I are flying to Italy to promote my illustrations and make some exciting new contacts.
I hope you enjoyed a little insight into my world. Please follow me and watch out for my new super exciting posts. Comments are always welcome. Enjoy your day.
Julie, when you illustrated my book, I could see what a gifted artist you are, but I had NO idea that you're a marvelous writer as well! Your personality peeks through the words just as it does in your art! I love this blog and am humbled. I may never write again. Well, we both know that's not true. Cheerio, good friend whom I've yet to meet face to face!
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