Opeel goes digital

I've made some desktop wallpapers from the pencil drawings. What do you think?

Here's also a first glimpse of Mhetli, the main antagonist of the book. I've finally started writing the chapter where he's introduced so it's been helpful to make create some visuals that inform a lot of the writing. He's a mean looking dude and a lot more intimidating than I imagined he'd be, but I think that's good. Looking to see what stuff he gets up to when he and Opeel finally meet.

I did the Opeel wallpaper first but think Mhetli's has been more successful. I think I'll go back and redesign Opeel's.

Sem in action

Working on chapter three has forced out a lot of new drawings. Here's one of Sem at her best getting ready for a Sparrein match.

St Andrew's Day Ceilidh - 26 November 2010

I did some design work for a friend who works with Lomarra Events. I've designed a logo and a flyer for their first event, a St Andrew's Day Charity Ceilidh in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

The brief was to create an invitation that was aimed 'at younger people, international students and the like, but [still] accessible to older folk as well... it should be bright, young and fresh with accent colours.'

I took a bit of license as I was asked to use the St Andrew's flag for inspiration but thought a soltaire on blue would get too washed out in the sea of Scottish themed events. The red I chose to be striking and slightly regal (also, inadvertently conjures images of St Andrew's crucifixion!). And, I chose a particularly angular kilt image and with intersecting accents of white to give the feeling of crisscrossing.

For the image I thought what do people really go to ceilidh's for... men in kilts. Male, female, gay, straight, doesn't matter. Guys love wearing kilts. Girls love seeing guys in kilts. And everyone pays attention when they see a dude jump and spin, the question on everyone's mind, 'is he a real Scotsman?'

So, here is my homage to ceilidhs, kilts and St Andrew.

It's going to be a fab event folks so come along and support a noble cause! 26 November, 7 pm - 1 pm. St John's Church Hall, Edinburgh. You can order tickets online with Lomarra Events.

Chapter 2 is finished!

Chapter 2 of the Mighty Orange-Peel is finished! After writing the chapter and scrapping it and starting from the beginning I've come up with something that I'm quite pleased with. Chapter 2 focusses on the story of where the name The Mighty Orange-Peel comes from. So, now that the prologue and chapters 1 and 2 are complete it's time to let them sit a while and come back to them in about a month with fresh eyes.

And what good timing! It was a happy Saturday when two books I've eagerly been awaiting arrived in the post! I've been good not to dive into them until I'd finished my own stuff. But, now that I have I'm going into 'sponge' mode where production is arrested and I spend time immersing myself in the things that inspire me. I visit galleries, sit outside, read lots, watch films and so on.

The first book on the list is 'The Spook's Bestiary' by Joseph Delaney. These are part of the Wardstone Chronicles. Fab books and the illustrator, Julek Heller, has made some mind blowing pencils for it. The second book is 'The Search for Wondla' by Tony Diterlizzi. One of my absolute favourite artists who created Diterlizzi & Black's Spiderwick Chronicles. I love his art but I've not read his writing before so I'm keen to get into the book.

I'm also watching out for D. M. Cornish's Monster Blood Tattoo: Book 3 - Factotum! Cornish is an Aussie writer/illustrator who's created the amazing world of the half-continent. Really rich text and illustrations. That's out later in October. I think I'll have to get back on the trail of Opeel before that but it will be ready for me during my next break!

In the meantime I'll be posting some earlier works and any illustrations I make in the coming weeks to keep things ticking along!

Jack and Alice

I have finished the second chapter of The Mighty Orange-Peel (sic) and I'm letting the text and the characters lie for a while. I hope to come back to it with a fresh pair of eyes and read the first two chapters along with the prologue to make sure the tone of voice is consistent and that the story not only flows but is engaging and, ultimately, is a good read.

In the mean time I'd like to introduce you to two old friends of mine. This is Jack and Alice, the main characters of my first picture book... Jack and Alice. They're fraternal twins who, over the course of their first book, explore the ups and downs of having to share. They learn that the benefits of having a partner in crime and loving each other far outweighs any of the draw backs. Here are a few of my favourite panels from the book

Alice gets some eats and Jack gets his!

They can play nice when they try.

Playtime with their dog, Glasgow.

Pirates versus Lady Posy.

The kids scrub up nice!

Opeel 1/2

Well, just in case you're wondering what Opeel looked like as a little tyke, here he is.

I've been working on the the part of the book where the nickname The Mighty Orange-Peel comes from and it takes place when he was just a wee boy of 8 years old. Here is the eager beaver in class raising his hand to answer a question. Ah what a keen youngster.

The infamous Raephite Grimm

Sem's dad, Raephite Grimm is the lead scientists at Black Star Labs the company that Opeel's dad works for. A very respectable chap Raephite is always well groomed with his accademical's knot and his double mustachios.

The Grimm and Westhill families have been close since the Grimms moved to Bansho. Raephite became Mr Westhill's supervisor and set up a play date for their kids. O and Sem became fast friends and their fathers have continued to work together and be friends.