Illustrations for The Parrot Prince by Caitlyn Paxson from New Fairy Tales - Issue Three

Exciting news, Issue Tree of New Fairy Tales is out and ready to read.

I'm about to sit down and read it myself but wanted to post my illustrations and a link to the magazine so you can go and enjoy it too. Hopefully you can find a quiet corner, perhaps outside in the slightly cooler air of the evening and spend some time in a fantastical and exciting world.

The illustrations above were for The Parrot Prince written by Caitlyn Paxson which can be found on page 10 of the magazine. I had great fun with the illustrations, trying to capture the brooding sense of mystery and darkness of the story. I hope I managed this.

Another of my illustrations was requested by Editor Claire Massey to be used as her profile picture along side the letter from the editor. I was extremely chuffed to be given such an honour.

Claire deserves a huge round of applause for all her hardwork and so do the rest of the writers and illustrators.

I hope you enjoy New Fairy Tales

www.newfairytales.co.uk

Work ...

I haven't had much time to do any illustrating recently. Though I'm attempting some this evening, I might be distracted by a new story idea which needs to be put down on paper.

I started my new job at Severn Beach Antiques and Collectables last week. It's really interesting, I've been learning all about the toys and things that we sell. My head is full of so many story ideas - thinking of the children who played with the toys, the families that used the old christmas decorations.

Last weekend I did some work for New Fairytales which I will post later in the month with the release of the next issue. Whilst looking through their website I discovered the beautiful work of Faye Durston, please take a look at her work, it's gorgous.

Picture This ...

I recently had some wonderful advice from a very kind lady called Laurie. As well as some really encouraging comments about my artwork she gave be some great tips about blogging, one of these was to post something on my blog at least once a week. You can visit Laurie's imaginative blog here at Creating Pictures in my Mind. Look out for her close up photos of gravestone surfaces, they are magical.

So this is my post for the week:

Last week I sent off an entry to the Waterstone's and Macmillan competition Picture This to
illustrate a new story by Julia Donaldson. It's a wonderful story, really tricky to illustrate as the action takes place in one space, I had to get my thinking cap on and do some really creative compositions but I loved every minute of it, I really hope I get through to the next round so I can illustrate some more.

I like the piece I submitted, especially my characters, I feel like it really shows how much my work has improved over the last few months.

I'd like to know what you all think of it, I'm not sure if it is a little busy with the textured background? My other worry is that the bats are too dark, but I wanted them to be both cute but alarming too!

(Text for illustration is the copyright of Julia Donaldson 2009)