Frances McKay Illustration

Wonderful Beast's Storm of Stories

Last Bank Holiday Monday, I ran a shadow puppet workshop, for Wonderful Beast’s 'Storm of Stories', based in Aldeburgh. Here are some of the pics we took.

We worked around the story of the Wild Man of Orford, following a performance of Martin Bonger’s “Return of the Wildman’. It all took place in the fabulous Pumphouse in a beautiful marquee. Working with the technician, we set up a magical stage where people could perform their own version of the story, using their character 'shadow puppets’.

 

 

All ages came and everyone got stuck in. Magical moments were had by all.

 

 

Bee Willey

 

Run, Run, as Fast as you Can...

Last month we wrote that Bee Willey would be running workshops at the Third Felixstowe Book Festival. Focusing on the Ladybird Books story of The Gingerbread Man the aim was to: offer an insight into the development and materialisation of a character in storybooks: a chance to see preliminary stages and drawings of characters as they form and gel, and see how they reveal themselves and form the visual narrative within the book.

It seems to have gone down well and these images are part of the work that the children - writers, readers and illustrators of the future - made in the workshops.

 

You might catch the Gingerbread Man and more about Bee's work here:

http://felixstowebookfestival.co.uk/2148/investingfuture

http://finkingcap.blogspot.co.uk/

How to Draw Norm in the Guardian

Ever wondered how Donough O' Malley draws Jonathan Meres' 'The World of Norm'? Well now is your chance to find out over at the Guardian newspaper's website. 'How to draw..' is a regular feature where artists and illustrators give step by step guides on how to create your favourite kid's book characters. Donough was very chuffed when he was asked by the paper to provide a guide to drawing the main character from this award winning, best selling series. Which just so happens to have a new book out too!

So get you pens ready, click here, and start drawing Norm for yourself!

Fairy Tale Village

During summer I spent a week in Sarmede, a tiny village in the Venetian hills in Italy. Quite unexpectedly given its small size and isolated location, Sarmede hosts an international school of illustration and a yearly exhibition featuring works by some of the most exciting contemporary children’s book illustrators.

The school was founded in 1989 by Czech artist Stepan Zavrel, whose beautiful frescos are still dotted around the village (together with the anecdotes about his rocambolesque life).

In Sarmede I attended a course taught by Linda Wolfsgruber (a great teacher as well an inspiring illustrator) and I had fun experimenting with monoprint.

By using a sheet of Perspex, oil based colours, and a press, monoprint allows you to create interesting textured backgrounds. If you don’t have access to a press though, a rolling pin will do the trick.

Back to my studio I cut and pasted the backgrounds I had produced in the course. And here is what came up…

Valentina Cavallini

Valentina's Website

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