Saving Snowdrop

Here's a set of children's illustrations I created back in 2012. The client, American-based Learning Media, informed me not to highlight them online until after publication in 2014. Found out last week that the company no longer exists! So here they are...

It was a pretty tight deadline (surprising as it wasn't going to print until 2014?!) so they're pretty basic combo of ink line work and flat Photoshop colouring.

Flute Magic

What do you get your talented flute-playing 10-year old nephew for his birthday. Answer: Flute Magic! This was fun to piece together and helped scratch an itch to do basic, bright, elasticy kids illustration (which I haven't done in some time).

 

 

This was probably the equivalent of someone giving me a 78rpm shellac record when I was 10, but created a little cd package containing fun tracks that all have flute playing present in them.

 

 

Also, printed an A3 print complete with shaky googly eyes. These always make me laugh as they're so harmlessly stupid.

 

Here's the tracklisting...

i am i Project - Update

Last year I was involved with creating the illustrated and design content for the 'i am i' Project created and facilitated by Kate Brown.

This artwork has now been donated to the childrens ward of Letterkenny General Hospital, Co.Donegal, Ireland.

Here's a report from online local news, Donegal News.

Chuffed to have work I've done on such a fun project find a home in the hospital I was born in (contrary to popular belief, I didn't land from space Gonzo-style).

'i am i' Project

I've recently been involved with a community project which was created and facilitated by Kate Brown.

Initially, children from a range of backgrounds from areas in Co.Donegal, Ireland, were given an opportunity to tell stories that were important to them about their lives. These were transcribed as they were spoken.

Following this, I created and designed picture book page spreads which contained these stories (click to embiggen).









We wanted to bring illustrative elements into the text but not override it, as the children's stories were the main focus. It was decided to drop cap the first letter of each story and through illustration, intertwine elements of the story through it. This was a nod to the ancient Celtic art of illuminated manusrcipts.

Below are a number of individual samples:














The printed artwork was then framed, with three dimensional objects related to the stories placed within.

These are shots from the opening of the exhibit in Ballybofey Library. Co.Donegal on 28th November:





This was a fun and bright and breezy project to work on.

This project was supported by the PEACE III Programme, managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by Donegal County Council and with support in kind through the Donegal Library Service.

Children's Illustrations

Below is a number of examples of interior full bleed spreads I completed for a 48-page children's publication last year.

It was a lot of fun to work in such a brash, bold style and play about with simplified character designs.













Aaaawwww!