Feeling pretty tired

I now have a Facebook Page!

Marcel is pleased to now announce that I have finally created a Facebook page for my Illustration. I’m not sure if I have just added another thing for me to keep up to date and add to the ‘to do list’ but hopefully I’ll be a bit quicker at updating this one!

To see my page or ‘Like’ it...

Charity Xmas Cards in Oxfam

As I whizzed past the window of my local Oxfam something familiar caught my eye...of course it was one of the packs of the Charity Xmas Cards that I illustrated!

So if you fancy buying Christmas cards this year that will be sure to donate to a good cause then these might be worth a buy...(wink wink, nudge nudge)...

They’re also available to buy online at Oxfam. Here’s the link...Charity Xmas Cards

Little Shakers...available to buy!

Just a quick post to say the ‘Little Shakers’ books that I illustrated for Igloo Books are available to buy on Amazon. YAY!

For Noisy Jungle click here: NOISY JUNGLE

For Noisy Farm click here: NOISY FARM

Something that makes me giggle...

Ok, apologies first, I know it’s been a while since I have properly written on here, but as usual I never seem to have a spare minute. I have been busy working on Puzzle samples, Book samples, Fathers Day cards, new Christmas cards for WHSmith and illustrating two very funny childrens books for the lovely Igloo Books. I’d love to share a few of the illustrations but as they are very much work in progress I can’t share anything with you just yet. 

So all I have to give you for now is this very funny picture below, that I found on the web. Any time I get tired with work I just look at the little girls face...I can't tell if she’s laughing or screaming, but either way it makes me giggle so much...happy laughing!

I’m cold.

All I really have to say is...

Feeling a bit dizzy!

Sooooooooooooooooo much going on right now I’m feeling just a bit dizzy. 

Juggling a zillion different projects for a gajillion different clients which is calling for me to be uber-organised. At the moment its just leaving stars spinning round my head.

Not complaining though of course! Right...back to the ink pot...

Another Puzzle Available To Buy!

It’s that exciting time again when finally something I have illustrated a loooooooong time ago appears in the shops. This time it’s the dinky double-sided Pet’s Pocket Puzzle which is exclusive to Marks and Spencer. 

To order online or just have a peek click this link: Marks-and-Spencer-Pocket-Puzzle

Here’s a slightly bigger snapshot of the two sides of this puzzle... 

A much needed break...

Just thought I’d share a couple of pics from my holiday in Portinatx, a beautiful and peaceful spot on northern coast of Ibiza. 

After a week of burning hot sun it was a bit of a shock to the system coming back to rainy old England. 

Although, perhaps its a blessing really...it just means I can stay in my dry and (relatively) warm studio and get on with all the many illustration projects I have on the go. So back to the drawing board it is for me...

Off To The Seaside

Marcel would like to apologise greatly for having neglected his blogging lately...he has just been far far far too busy with book covers, never ending book pencils, greetings cards etc etc. So finally he has decided enough is enough and after 9 months of hard work he is taking a little break by the seaside. 

Time to pop the paws up, slurp on a cocktail and enjoy the sun (fingers crossed!!)...

Finally I have a website!

Marcel has been ever so busy with his technology head screwed on, and has managed to magic up a website! Unfortunately he is absolutely exhausted now and is putting his feet up with a slice of cake, so here is his friend Christophe Le Chat introducing the new website...

A slightly alternative Cinderella Tale...now for sale!

Woohooooooo...It’s now officially available to buy! 

“Cinderella A Wheel-y Silly Fairy Tale” is published by Simon and Schuster, written by Tina Gallo and illustrated by ME!

The classic fairy tale Cinderella is retold with a silly twist in this playful, interactive format that's sure to keep little ones laughing. Readers can turn the wheel on each page of this paper-over-board title to choose the correct words needed to complete the scene and further the story. Once the "right" word is displayed, the art on the wheel completes the image. Silly options will entertain and guide readers to choose the correct word and image.

To buy a copy from Amazon simply click here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cinderella

Or to buy/view it on Simon & Schuster’s site click here: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Cinderella

Exciting developments for Super Sam

I have recently illustrated a fab little book for Harper Collins called ‘Super Sam’. It is clever story written by a talented young writer Kaitlin Broadfoot, who actually won the ‘Collin’s Big Cat Writing Compettion’ at her school, which has given her the chance to see her story get published...and I was lucky enough to be chosen to illustrate it.

Click on the link for more information on the competition and winners: http://www.collinsbigcat.com/lovewriting

The insides are top secret for now, but the cover is above and here’s a closer peek at the super dog that is Sam!

Busy again...

Marcel would like to apologise massively as he hasn’t been keeping his diary up to date. It is all due to his manic few days of drawing, sketching, scribbling, doodling and general inkiness for a number of very fun and exciting new books he is drawing.

More details to follow...but for now he is going to allow himself a well deserved slice of cake!

Sunnier days

A little update...

Feet up Friday

Morning all, and Happy Friday! So, Marcel thinks it’s a sunny day so everyone should put their feet (or paws) up and relax...it’s Friday!

P.S. This sketch was also my contribution to this weeks 'Doggie Doodle Friday' by Dog Sniffer.

A Busy Busy Day

Phew! What a busy day. Lots and lots and lots of drawing done, very tired paws now. 

Hopefully will post some of the drawings tomorrow for a sneak peak! Here’s one for now...

Gulp

Hmmm, today, Marcel...

A Brighter Tuesday

Marcel would like to report that Tuesday has been a much happier day, and that he bought three shiny brand new things today!

A Moody Monday

Marcel would like to report that he has had a rubbish monday and that he should have stayed in bed.

Marcel takes over!

Ok so Marcel has ever so kindly informed me that I am totally useless at updating this blog, so from now on he has taken over. Any updates, features and daily scribblings will be brought to you by the cheeky little mouse Marcel (until further notice).

So to start off he wants to share some of his sunday events with you...

J'aime la France

Bonjour tout le monde! 

Well, I have always had a love for France (Paris in particular) but my love of all french things seems to have kicked in again lately (it tends to fluctuate somewhat). My beret has somehow reappeared, the croissants are out at breakfast and lunchtime has me longing for 'L’escargot et un verre de vin rouge’.

Perhaps not the most accessible or practical lunch whilst working.  

So, instead I have turned to scribbling french-type-things...hence the very quick little sketch from my sketchbook of 'le petit fille Madeleine’ and her cat.

Really I am also writing to say my apologies for not having written on here again for a while. I’ve been busy with greetings cards, educational illustrations, a great little picture book about a heroic dog and some bouncing little characters for another set of baby books. As its all work in progress I can’t really show any of it yet...but I will try to post more often! I promise...or shall i say "je promets”.

Shake, Rattle....and read!

MORE samples have been sent to me, yay! This time they are from the lovely people at Igloo Books.

At the end of last year I illustrated two very fun board books called ‘Little Shakers’. They are reasonably small books ideal for babies and very young readers. Each has a handle and a large rattle in the middle so the child can shake and rattle the book as they follow the story and it’s characters. They’re not in my usual inky line style of drawing, but instead in my younger softer style.

Here’s a few pictures if you fancy a peek...

and to the farm...

Rudy The Robot arrives!

Last year I illustrated three little educational books for a Korean company and was very happy to receive some sample copies today. They books are to aid children with the phonetics of words with a focus on pronouncing certain letters, and all feature a fun little character called Rudy The Robot.

All three of the books

'Rudy The Red Robot' focuses on pronouncing words beginning with the letter R...

Interior spread

‘Rudy Cooks with Cathy’ focuses on pronouncing words beginning with the letter C...

And finally ‘Rudy Helps The Baby Wolf’ focuses on pronouncing words beginning with the letter W...

It was a year ago that I illustrated these books and its interesting to see how my illustrations have changed, developed and hopefully improved over the year.

None the less it’s great to see the work in print!

Sniff sniff woof woof

Just a little contribution this week to ‘Doggy Doodle Friday’ at the lovely Book Sniffer...

Happy Friday to all!

A recent inking...

As usual I am a busy bee with all sorts of work (including Adult book covers, Greetings cards and fun new Picture books) therefore my blog has been neglected again. 

But for now here’s a little snippet of one of the characters who featured on my most recent set of greetings cards that I was commissioned to design. What a happy little chappy...and he’s making me want cake!

Current workings...

Just a little sketch of one of the characters I am illustrating as part of the project for Oxford University Press. Just at the very early pencil sketches stage at the moment...and this is Amy...

Out with the old and in with the new...

Sorry its been soooooo long since I’ve written on here. I was just stupendously busy trying to complete the colour artwork for a very BIG project with the lovely people at Igloo Books. But I am extremely happy to say I met the deadline last Monday and it was all handed in...hurraaaaayyyyy!

For now here are a few snippets I thought I’d share of the last project. The real versions are not black and white but for now I can only really show these samples. 

Click each to enlarge

So since then I have had a few very-much-needed days away from the drawing board and reminded myself what fresh air tasted like...very yummy indeed.

And now this week I have returned to my pens, pencils and inks to start two new projects, one for Oxford University Press and another for Harper Collins (very cute doggy story...yay!). So its back to the sketching for me...