Ten Years of Illustrations…

One Lucky Duck Ten years ago I had just started illustrating my first children’s book, One Lucky Duck, written by Alison Maloney and published by Meadowside Children’s Books.

I painted in the evenings and while my one year old had her daytime naps, and her naps never seemed long enough for the work that I wanted to do. I worked on a coffee table and had to clear it all up whenever I stopped.

Most of the books that I worked on after that were painted at a table in my bedroom…until I’d painted enough illustrations to afford a studio in my garden.

Recently I’ve been sorting out my studio, and looking through the artwork that’s been piling up.  I realise that I need to make some space for my new work (both physically and mentally)…I don’t really need to hang on to all these paintings.

studio floor

 book illustrationsSo at some point in the near future I’m going to have a Spring Studio Sale and try to create a bit more space.

And I still love the fact that I can spread this many paintings out in one room without having to put them on a bed or worrying that someone will stand/crawl/draw/scribble on them!

A dancing duck

20150417_145437-1-1-1-1 I was doodling some ducks recently when I noticed that the theme for #dailydoodle on twitter was Dancing Duck – so I drew this dainty duck, and gave her some music to dance to and a few flowers for good measure. Cutting the pieces out and sticking them down very quickly without thinking too much about it was fun, and a nice change from the way I usually work.