One down, one to go! Here’s the latest illustration for Charline & Lauren’s storybook, “Tartan Meets the Queen.” The illustrations for this book are all done in regular old pencil (below), then I give them a tint of colour in Photoshop (above.)

This is the first children’s book I’ve had a chance to illustrate since I joined In The Picture, a project aimed to encourage illustrators, authors & publishers to include disabled children in their books for young readers. I’ve incorporated one little girl in a funky wheelchair in this illustration as my first contribution to In The Picture. (Read on …)

At first I was horrified to read this post on Drawn! about the Orphan Works Act and the adverse affects it could have on protecting illustration copyrights. But then I started reading some of the responses to said post, and came across Dan Heller’s writeup  which served me up some humble pie, as I realized I had taken on this doom & gloom perspective on the act without actually reading it myself! So I recommend to other illustrators out there who have heard of this act and have had a similar lump-in-your-throat reaction to it that I did… have a read of the actual act, or Dan’s dissection of it, then make up your mind! As for me, I don’t feel so worried about it… I’ll just keep making sure my work has my name on it, and do what I can to not make it easy for people to steal my images online or otherwise.

One more illustration down, two to go before “Tartan Meets the Queen” is complete! I’ve saved the most detailed for last… an illustration of Buckingham Palace, and another of several of the interior rooms. Will enjoy drawing all the royal bling in those! (Read on …)

I’m just amazed at how the time’s just zoomed by… Hera’s three months old now, and I just don’t know where the time’s gone! As she’s grown she’s become more interested in her surroundings and wants to spend more time with mummy, so my days are pretty much centred around her needs… making it a challenge to squeeze in some drawing time! I have had a little “me time” here & there to do some hand sewing… I used the (free) BittyBooties pattern from Heather Bailey for the boot, then added ears & eyes to make these little Dead Mouse Booties for our little girl… she looks so cute in them! kapow!

“The holy grail is to spend less time making the picture than it takes people to look at it.” – Banksy (British graffiti artist)

After an overwhelmingly successfull Earth Hour ‘08, it’s exciting to think of what could be in store for Earth Hour ‘09, to be held on March 28th at 8pm everywhere! 58% of adults in Australia’s capital cities participating in Earth Hour this was quite impressive, with many coming up with fun ideas for how to spend Earth Hour with their families. I think my favourite idea was two young boys who formed “Earth Hour Police” and went door-to-door asking their neighbours to shut off their lights. I wonder if they wore special badges :) Maybe next year I’ll do some Art In The Dark!

With only 3 illustrations left, the finish line is in sight for Charline & Lauren’s story, “Tartan Meets the Queen!” Here’s one of the most recent illustrations completed, I’m hoping to have the rest done in the next few weeks (depending on how long my baby Hera naps each day to let me draw!)
To see other posts on “Tartan Meets the Queen,” check out :

• • Tartan Meets the Queen | Teaparty
• • Tartan Meets the Queen | A few finished illustrations
• • Tartan Meets the Queen | Sketches
• • Tartan Meets the Queen | Concept Boards

“Tartan Meets the Queen” © Charline Crous & Lauren Everton, Illustrations © Heather Castles

Well after a little navel gazing, I’ve updated my Top 10 Illustrations list…

Tom Krause |”The Little Boy’s Smile” children’s book illustrations

(Read on …)

My favourite comic strip artist, David Malki of Wondermark, is having a zany “make-something” contest, check it out! We’ll see if I have time to whip something up between burping Hera and illustrating Charline & Lauren’s storybook.