Katie Coulton

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My illustrating partner in crime Katie Coulton is working towards becoming a book illustrator. Just to pick one of the images that inspires me, the delicacy of the two birds is fragile and beautiful. Sensitive imagery like this encourages me further to think about how to illustrate stories in the most touching way that will provoke a reaction from the reader.

NEW SPREAD!

I have completed the first spread for the as yet untitled bee story. The six-part illustration spread shows more of a journey, as the bee tries to lift itself and find hope.

Bee carrying stamp

This image precedes the rain illustration as the bee fetches the stamp. The stamp is symbolic in itself as it has a sleeping sun, almost like it is dormant until hope is restored.

Reference Material

I have crafted a rough mock up bee out of blu tak as reference for when I illustrate the bees in the story in different stances. This is the sheeti used to elp draw the bee holding the stamp outin the rain

Bee in the rain

The bee wets the stampin te rain, this also reminds us that it rained every day when the sun left.

Origami bird

This is the bee folding the postcard into a bird, this spread works in 6 brief spots which helps to change the pace of the story and raises more attention to certain parts of the narrative, for example i wanted to emphasise the bee's resilience and persistence in keeping hope.

Final image of new spread

This is the original illustration for the sixth spot illustration of a new spread for the bee story. It shows the creatures finding other means to bring back the sun. This illustration shows the bee, having crafted the postcard into a paper bird, sending it across the skies to fall into hope's hands.

New Bee Story- work in progress

This is a test piece for a new story about bees, first introduced as support characters in Piano and the Boy. It is a new challenge to illustrate lead characters which are a much smaller scale, encouraging me to think about more intimate and suitable imagery which tells a story of the changing world through tiny and fragile eyes.

Bee holding quill

This is a test piece for a new story, which will include more spot illustrations to make the pace of the story more fluid.

New piece

This is the new piece from my 'Halo' picture book proposal. After months of searching, the fairy's exhaustion gets the better of her, falling asleep in a nest.

'Endlessly' new piece on the way

This is a new piece i have just finished drawing out. it will be a spot illustration and is a mid point in the story where the fairy is exhausted from searching. I may add a bird looking curiously in at its nest which has been filled by the sleeping fairy.

Work in progress

This is how the next piece is shaping up, ive utilised more realistic human features in this story however still kept the caricatured elements from Piano and the Boy.

New Piece #2

New Piece taken from the story Halo

Cover

This is the cover for my story, i have decided to take it from a different angle, and not introduce the boy till the inside cover page. Instead one of the night creatures is caught sitting on the piano staring up at the logo, which also contains the bees and mice which are situated almost as a ring of support around the Piano and the Boy, a symbol of them always being near to the boy.

Spend some time with Silence

This is a new piece taken from an upcoming story titled 'Halo'. I have worked on recreating forests and producing illustrations set in different times of day and season.

Cheltenham Festival visit to Anthony Browne

This is an awesome post for me to be able to write, as we were able to meet picture book illustrator Anthony Browne today following his one hour session as part of the Cheltenham Festival. Bar my dorky grin, it was a great day after he gave some background as to his inspirations and methods of teaching children stories purely through his illustration. We also had a quick chat after at the book signing session and i gave him a few cheeky badges one of which he is (proudly) wearing in this photo.

Poppy Character Sheet

This is an preparatory character sheet for another story i am working at, "Light up the Sky". I wanted to work more on creating more diverse expressions rather than the relativel melancholy aesthetic of Piano and the Boy.

'Spilt Glitter' Piece

Ive finally finished the new piece for Piano and the Boy, showing a landscape. Ive decided to take the detail up again for this piece, though i want to remain consistent throughout the story i terms of attention to detail. I may mut the colour a little as they are very vivid, and i may redraw the sky as it could be executed better.

Autumn befalls the Fairy Ophelia

This is my new piece, a spot illustration for now of the seasons changing as the fairy sheds its leaves to reveal autumnal colours. I have amended many little bits of this and im still not totally happy with it but its a decent representation of how one of the new images from this story, entitles 'Halo' may appear.