Again!

Great quote from Sebastian Walker: “All that counts,” he said, “is that a child says at the end of the book, ‘Again!’”
I couldn't agree more I know from my own kids that if the book is a good one, it will be asked for again, and again! What is the magic ingredient? That is the question. I am starting on a new picture book with Walker, it's just at the doodle stage. I am drawing it up into a dummy form. I start with a spark of an idea, then let it settle and play around with language, character, form and doodle all the time. My desk is a mess. The above doodle is a early Hugglewug sketch from one of my notebooks.

Lovely London

I was over last Friday signing artwork for my forthcoming show in The Illustration Cupboard in London. It was the first time I was in the gallery, and it is amazing. They specialize in selling and exhibiting contemporary Picture Book Illustrations, from Anthony Browne to Maurice Sendak. There was a wonderful exhibition of Dick Bruna's screenprints of Miffy. So incredible vibrant. Myself and owner John Huddy came up with a plan that includes looking at doodles in notebooks, animation, reading,web viewing, signing, family fun and oh yes looking at artwork. Cinderella shall be a total multimedia event ehem.. ball.

Glitter and Doom

Tom Waits comes to Dublin this week. I have been a fan since my good friend Owen, now my husband discovered Raindogs when he was seventeen. Seeing Tom sing is second top of my wish list, I never thought that it would come true. So I just have to sneak back stage, break into his dressing room, and put my top of the list question to the fantastic Mister Waits 'Any chance you could write a picture book for me?'
Watch this space...

Busy Week

Been a busy week I just finished the Argosy Christmas catalogue. It features Santa and a reindeer on the cover. I will post the cover when its nearer the season. For now here is a little bug that's on the back cover, it's a bit blurry but thats because it's blown up from tiny. I am over in London tomorrow to sign the artwork for my exhibition in October so I won't be posting until next week.

Farmleigh Big Day Out

The sun came out and so did lots of children to Children’s Books Ireland’s Summer Story Day. Thanks to all the children who came along to Farmleigh House and drew a Hugglewug. My workshop was for 3-5 year olds, I read I'm a Happy Hugglewug and did a step by step drawing of how to draw a Hugglewug. The drawings were fantastic! And what an amazing setting!

The Buzz

Check out my interview on The Buzz yesterday. Thanks to Shonagh and Declan who gave me a fab welcome!

Wild Tales of Family Life

Sit down with a cup of tea and read my picture book roundup in The Irish Times today.

Once Upon A Tale

This is a short documentary that was made about my work by Estelle Barrett Morgan. Hope you enjoy.
YouTube

Miss Read!

My designer Helen Read has left Walker Books after twenty years. I featured Miss Read in 'I'm a Happy Hugglewug', as Henry's school teacher. Helen did a fantastic job designing all my books with Walker. I will really miss her. Good luck Miss Read in your new adventures!

Dino 2

My son Oscar is four and here is his Dino. Fantastic Drawing Oscar!

Walking with Dinos

My daughter Megan just drew this brilliant picture of a dinosaur. She is nearly seven. Inspired by watching Walking with Dinosaurs, an episode a day!

Sunny Day!

Hi writing this blog is getting to be like a weather forecast station. Our moods are really affected by weather. So I just want to say the rain has gone, the studio windows are open wide and it is a beautiful day in Dublin!

Rainy Day

The rain is pitter pattering, on the window of my studio. Today is a day for staying in and working on my new roughs for a picture book just commissioned by Walker Books. I love this part of the project I am going to sit down and roughly layout my ideas in thumbnail sketches. These very fast doodles become the bones of what the book looks like. the first sketches are so important. The story is finished but there is still a good bit of flexibility as the words and the pictures have to work together.