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).
The Au in Dinosaur
The book is about the journey of several young Australians on a time travel ride back to see real dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures.
The Ng in Ningaloo
The book highlights the many different creatures both on land and in the sea in northwestern WA and the Ningaloo Reef.