Book Illustrations
Over the past few years I’ve been engaged in illustrating a series of Aussie themed children’s books that focus on phonemes (phonics) the sounds of the vowels long and short. Written by Judith Barker the books are a celebration of our glorious flora and fauna found in Australia.
A masked owl spooks a devil
With a thoughtful gaze
“The A in the Rainforest”
It wiggles as it spies a tasty treat
And traps an octopus with flashing speed
“The EE in the Deep Blue Sea”
How the Illustrations are created.
Firstly I make by hand all of my own colourful and textured papers using a Gelli plate and then cut and collage the creatures, birds or people onto a painted or rolled background. Finishing with painted details and a final tidy up in photoshop.
It stumbles on a broad-toothed rat
In the stampede and the rush
“The O in the Snow”
As kangaroos leap
and bound in twos
“The OO in Uluru”
Rejoicing in the rainbow bird
Who flew from far away
“The A in the Rainforest”
Amidst the peaceful wetlands
Under a warm September sky.
“The I in the Island”
A rufous hare-wallaby is digging a trench.
And eyes up a gecko under a hedge.
“The OO in Uluru”
Frolicking around the steep, outer reef
It’s the friendliest fish,
I’ll ever meet
“The EE in the Deep Blue Sea”
The OO in Uluru
A young girl and her father discover animals, birds and reptiles that inhabit Uluru. The long vowel sound 'OO' found in words.
The EE in The Deep Blue Sea
A family enjoys a day at Green Island in the Great Barrier Reef where the young boy is taken on a magical swim with a dolphin.
The O in the Snow
Celebrating the creatures of the High Country and the drovers that once mustered horses and cattle on the high plains.
The A in the Rainforest
The journey of a young Rainbow Bee Eater from the rainforests of Tasmania to their counterparts in New South Wales.
The I in the Island
The Brolga dance performed at Sydney’s Centennial Parklands evokes a journey to faraway K’gari (Fraser Island).