A Picture Book

I am currently running around like a blue arsed fly - Lily is having a nap. So its a race against the clock whether I will finish this post.

This last month I have been working on a picture book. I like it, though I'm not really happy with it yet, but I am very impatient and want to be on with the next thing. Sometimes I feel like trashing it, but I am quite proud of it for a month's work.

It's not the most astonishing story, but bumbles along quite happily and I have tried to do a couple of things differently in the design. I'm going to send it somewhere and will probably keep going back to it :os
Just have to make sure it doesn't end up under the stairs.

The Book

'The Book' is the one I have been working on for years, Years I tell you. I think I started it back in 2004 :os I even finished it once and have returned to it so many times - never able to quite give it up as a bad job.

 I even sent it off to a literary agent. It was no where near ready I just wanted to be free of it.

 I've resigned myself to the fact it will probably be my burden for life so I might as well enjoy it as no one else ever will.

 I'm quite strict with it these days. When I first started it I was so excited I tried to pack every idea I had into it. I have been untangling it ever since.

It is said everyone has one novel inside them. I think mine possibly should have stayed there :os
I love drawing pics for it though ;o)

Old Stuff

 My Uncle John apparently said. "If you don't blow your own trumpet, who will?"
This is part of the reason for me starting this blog. I have always been pants at showing what I can do and have a horrible habbit of putting myself down.

 The thing I do best is drawing. Yet, I'm always disapointed with everything I draw. It always sems almost good. If they could just be tidy, more stylish, better presented I could try and use my ideas.

 So new year, new start. I am no longer going to be precious about my paintings and drawings. I am going to experiment and be brave. This year I am going to finally gain the confidence to create a portfolio with which to tempt publishers :os

I love the work of Dave McKean, Anthony Browne and Shirley Hughes - to name but a few.I'm a long way off just at the moment, but I really hope to one day add my own stamp on the world of illustration. and since due to the rise in fees ideas of studying are not really an option this is going to have to be my own little quest. I don't really want to do it all on my own so I will be sharing my ideas :o)
This is some of my old stuff and I'm putting it out there so I can get on with the new.

Lily

Pictures of Lily sleeping after a dreadful night.