Happy St George's Day

Happy St George's Day.
I haven't ever illustrated that saint's story but this has similarities.
It's video of me doing an illustration showing the Bee-man of Orn tackling a pretty scary dragon.

Ignis in Germany

Here are three of my illustrations from Ignis by Gina Wilson, which are among a bunch that are winging their way to Cologne in Germany for an exhibition.
I'll post a few more next week with more info about the show and venue.

Ignis in 3D

Many thanks to fellow Iggy, Phil McDarby, for telling me about this lovely 3d computerized rendering of my little dragon, Ignis (below) from the story by Gina Wilson.
The computer version is by Vlad Konstantinov, and I think he has done a wonderful job.
Now we just have to persuade Dreamworks or Disney to make the movie.

The Fun of Drawing

I had a message recently talking about the "fun of drawing".
Strangely, when you are drawing for a living, it can be enjoyable, fulfilling, even occasionally exhilarating, but it is rarely "fun".

I have fun drawing with my kids on the chalkboard in the kitchen, but I suppose, when I am drawing for books, I feel there is always so much at stake that it's hard to really let go, and have fun.
It's great to watch that pure, careless fun that young children get from scribbling away at the first thing that jumps from their pencil.
I do love it when I get lost in a drawing; most often when I'm working from life, or maybe when I'm doing one of my rooftop vistas, or a grotesque old goblin.
Sometimes, when I am inscribing a book for someone and I'm not rushed, I can actually have fun doing a sketch.
I did this dragon to-day on a copy of Ignis I was signing for someone.
It was fun.

My Home Library

A good few years ago, I was asked by Anne Fine to draw a bookplate for My Home Library.
I thought it was a great scheme and said I would do one, but when I tried to make the drawing, I just couldn't do it.
I don't know what the problem was but I just couldn't complete this tiny job.
I felt really awful about it every time I thought of it over the years, so finally set to and produced something.
And here it is.
I think it's quite fun for someone who might have a library full of fantasy books.

I hope My Home Library will be able to use it.
Feel free to click on the picture for a larger image to download for non-commercial use as a bookplate.