John Shelley's Blog, page 28

Nasty!

The latest book I've been working on is a new edition of Children's Laureate Michael Rosen's "Nasty" for Barn Owl Books in London. First released in the 1980's, this new edition will run with 25 black and white text drawings by yours truly, plus colour cover.

All will be revealed in August when the book is released, in the meantime here's a sneak preview of the cover design. [image error]

Parade

Here's something from the cupboard that matches this weeks Illustration Friday brief "Parade". It's from the picture book King Smelly Feet, written by Hiawyn Oram, released in the UK by Andersen Press a few years ago.
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Escapism

Here's a very recent doodle. I seem to be drawing a lot of fantasy towns lately, I think it's all part of the way my mind works with escapism.


Strange to say, much as I love the natural world my imagination tends to be most energized when I'm in a crowded, urban city environment. I love the country, exploring forests and craggy landscapes, but if I spend too long away from the city my imagination is dulled. My mind perhaps feeds off the surroundings but rarely goes beyond, I become relaxed and in

SCBWI British Isles Featured Artist

My work for children's literature is currently being showcased by SCBWI British Isles, having elected me the current Featured Artist. The website spotlight runs until July.

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St Georges Day

Well I'm not what anyone would describe as much of a patriot, but it seems in my long absence from the UK that celebrating the patron saint of England is nowadays acceptable. Actually I'm only half English (the other being Welsh), but any excuse to celebrate. Here's something I did for the George & Dragon pub in Florida a while back.

Happy St.Georges Day!

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Doodling

My thanks to Desdemona McCannon for querying the subject of doodling for a feature she's writing for Varoom (AOI magazine). I'm repeating my response here:

I always carry a small sketchbook with me everywhere I go, sometimes I use it to sketch, sometimes to practice, sometimes to work out ideas for jobs, and sometimes just to doodle. Doodling is a distinct activity for me. It's never sketching, it's not preparative drawing, and never has any deliberate connection to work, were it so it would ceas

Family Reminders images

Here's a sneak preview of some of the drawings from the book.





One of the most interesting things about working on historical fiction is researching the period. I've always been fascinated by history, I often think if I wasn't an illustrator I'd have become a researcher or archaeologist, nevertheless I have to admit my knowledge of 1880's Colorado was limited. Nowadays the internet is a great help in finding accurate period references, but the publishers also kindly sent me a package of material t

Family Reminders

My next book out in America will be Family Reminders. Written by Julie Danneberg and published by Charlesbridge, with black and white illustrations by your's truely.

Mary McHugh has a nearly perfect life in the frontier town of Cripple Creek, Colorado, but all that changes when her father suffers a serius mining accident. He no longer whistles, plays the piano, or carves the intricate wooden "Reminders" that mark the milestones in the family's life together. Mostly he sits in silence at the kitch

sketchbook fantasies

Some more pen on paper meandering from the pocket sketchbook. Where is it leading? Who knows, like most quests of discovery the journey is often more important than the destination.



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