Now sometimes things do not go to plan, I start on one track and end up on another ...with something quite different. So I left you in Process : From the top! Part 1 just after pointing you to a Pinterest collection of inspirational images, and short deviation on how inspiration works for me. I thought lace, and after a bit of fiddling in Coreldraw came up with a vector image of a lace snowflake which morphed into the image below. In part this was inspired by a previous desi

Or how I created my latest fabric design for Spoonflower. I read the contest brief – Using at least two of the colors from the palette provided (#2B061E, #5A001C, #AAB5A8) & optional accents of black & white, create a repeating design inspired by a sophisticated winter dinner party. Don’t forget to think about how your design could be used to complete a picturesque party on Roostery’s finished goods. Color variations and colors outside of this palette will not be accepted. –

Indulging in more Bootcamp loveliness with Lilla Rogers over at Make Art That Sells, and this month's mini assignment had us drawing/painting sewing accoutrements using three different media. So I sort my sewing drawer and basket and take some photos to sort of get me in the mood. Well I admit right now that I got out four types of pen – I know it should have been three – and started doing line drawings, and that is where I stopped! Here are the initial drawings: Lilla also g

I wrote this some months ago and just found it languishing in the drafts folder! So without more ado I give you Alice and Martin Provensen who illustrated more than 40 children's books together. Alice worked for Walter Lantz Studio, the creators of Woody Woodpecker, and Martin took worked with the rival Walt Disney Studio, where he collaborated on Dumbo, Fantasia, and Pinocchio. Also like Gustaf Tenggren - who worked for and animation studio, Disney - they illustrated several

The brief was to create an animal for a small child's T shirt. My first idea was a giraffe saying Hi! and the second was an elephant in a swimsuit with painted toenails ...well why not?! I decided to go with the elephant, she had more instant appeal, and drew her using a dip pen and gouache. Neither of these were working for me, the colours were all wrong — the first version too dark and heavy, the second too bright and bold — for a small child. I decided to draw her again, s

Part of a Global Interactive Art Library which contains over 36,000 sketchbooks, from more than 100 countries, within the walls of the Brooklyn Art Library. Their exhibitions and projects are interactive, allowing anyone to participate and creating an approachable museum setting that inspires creation, discussion and education and my work is now part of it, at least it soon will be as today I finished filling my sketchbook ...and it is ready to pack and post. Here are some o

Week four: The next decision was which part of the book I should illustrate, and I did these rough sketches of a scene where Eleanor slides down a giraffe's neck, has a bath with a sea lion, and looks out of the window of the apartment and watches swooping swallows. I went with the double page spread with Eleanor and the sea lion. I'm particularly pleased with the two vignettes on the left. Week five and the cover. I went with the plain background, but afterwards thought that

Weeks two and three I drew Eleanor some more and got to know her and how she would look when she laughed, smiled, cried or when she was in a temper! What next? Hands and feet! A little known fact - I LOVE drawing feet! I still wasn't feeling too confident about drawing Eleanor so I got a leaflet out of the bin and drew the children in it ...very quickly. I thought "That's more like it!". I drew Eleanor again several times really quickly. The image on the right is when I felt

It seems ages since I told you all I was taking an online course with Make Art That Sells in Children's book Illustration, it was in October, and some of you may be thinking "OK, what did you do?" Week one and I drew... and I drew, and I drew ...first I drew some things: Next came some animal drawings. Zoe Tucker who wrote the book - Pet Problems - mentions that Eleanor loves animals. Here's my very first drawing of Eleanor with her favourites things. I feel quite squirmy lo

It's that time of year when my thoughts turn to Christmas cards and in particular designing my own. I've done this for many, many years and thought that many other artists have done this too. This sent me on a hunt for some of those artists and their festive offerings, either for friends and family or as a commercial venture. Here are a select few of my favourites: At the top of this blog you can see a splendid design by Edward Bawden for wrapping paper. I love the hint of

The Little Golden Books are a very popular American series of children's books – first published in 1942, and The Poky little Puppy is one of the best selling children's books of all time! If you click on the puppy he will take you to the world of Gustaf Tenggren where you can find out everything about the man and his lifetimes work. Gustaf Tenggren Illustrated The Poky little Puppy and I like to think that the sales of this book were largely due to the incredibly cute puppy

Olle Eksell Swedish graphic designer, poster artist and children's book illustrator. His illustrations are the epitome of late 40's, early 50's, graphic art, one look at you can date his work with accuracy. I found this image the other day, while looking at James Thurber books, and followed it to a Chinese book site! Den Store Quillow by James Thurber Isn't it just fabulous?! This is the cover – click on it and go to blog by a fellow enthusiast – and see more fabulous images!

Oh dear! Apart from a few enticing images on Pinterest I can find very little about Hanna Czajkowska, these images will just have to be enough for now. If any one knows more please tell me! #Inspiringartistoftheday #artist #illustrator

Another Illustrator of children's books that I can find very little about ...but just look at her work! The image above links to a very short article about her. I just love that hippo! Click on the cow to see some more of her gorgeous work! #Inspiringartistoftheday #artist #illustrator

Illustrator of over three hundred books including such well known ones as Willi Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG and James and the Giant Peach written by Roald Dahl, and writer and illustrator of Mister Magnolia and Fantastic Daisy Artichoke among others. Blake's work is so free, open and frank... he draws life as it is or could be in his or someone else's imaginary world. His work shows great consistency, his early books are obviously illustrated by exactly the same

Cliff Roberts was an animator for Sesame Street, The Smurfs, and The Pink Panther! He also published comics in The New Yorker and in Playboy and had two syndicated newspaper comic strips ...he also illustrated books Thomas written by Mary Harris Click on Thomas to see this out of print book in its entirety. ...including his own The Dot. To find out as much as you possibly can about Cliff Roberts click on the images above to go to a splendid blog page – We too were childre

I have to admit I know exceeding little about Werner Klemke which is a shame - and the internet tells me very little more but here are some excellent examples of his gorgeous line and colour work on the theme of Little Red riding hood! Loving that cat on the magazine cover – now that's character! I also love these – so very stylish and typically mid century. #art #artist #moiracarter #moiracarter #moirarae #moiraraecarter #illustrator #wernerklemke #Inspiringartistoftheday

I came across her work on the internet and adored at first sight... Stunning characters, texture and pattern ...definitely one for the library. Click on the photos for more information about this book - although sadly not it's author and illustrator. #art #artist #moiracarter #moiracarter #moirarae #moiraraecarter #illustrator #michewynants #Inspiringartistoftheday

'The Day the Cow sneezed'... I wish I'd had a copy of this when I was a child! Enough said... off to amazon to see if it's still available! #art #artist #moiracarter #moiracarter #moirarae #moiraraecarter #illustrator #jimflora #Inspiringartistoftheday

Another illustrator whose work I have come across on the internet but know very little about. Czech Artist and Illustrator Мирко Hanák (Mirko Hanák) whose illustration technique has a lot in common with Chinese brush painting. His free pen and ink line work is simply beautiful and the wet-on-wet watercolour looks soft as the fur or feathers he depicts in his animal illustrations. ...but I particularly love his illustrations of fairy tales. #art #artist #moiracarter #moiracart