Colourful Rabbits

Mice, and tigers, and rams…

Jan 28, 2023

Hello Goldcrests*

So, now that a respectable amount of time has passed since the outpouring of “Happy New Years”, inboxes full of Years in Review/Words of the Year, and an offensive amount of weight-loss/exercise ads, I thought it the moment to say hello. January, for me, is not the time for ‘new’ anything, it’s winter - it’s reading a book under a blanket pretending the world doesn’t exist kind of vibes. But if we must, then we at least wait until after Lunar New Year.

What I have been doing, is all those low-key boring jobs. Filed my taxes, tidied and re-sorted all my digital files (sidestepping round the mystery of the cloud and hoping it’s just doing it’s thing), applied for a DYCP grant, and surprising my analogue brain by selecting and installing additional RAM on my computer. Very boring, and grown-up.

I have to admit, the RAM upgrade and digital file tidy were 100% inspired by the final masterclass of the Pathways Into Children’s Publishing foundation week. It’s a new two year programme I’m embarking on, provided by Pop Up Projects and a collaboration of 14 universities and 12 book publishers. I’m equally excited and terrified!

My favourite masterclass was Colour Theory with the amazing Viola Wang www.violawangstudio.com

I don’t like surprises (or opening presents in front of people), so it won’t surprise you when I tell you that we stick to Christmas (and birthday) wish lists in our family. Somehow this year, by some subconscious listing and subliminal choosing, I ended up with a small pile of beautifully colour co-ordinated gifts.

And if you’re in to peeping into other peoples shopping baskets, then here’s a little video of some of my art material gifts, and Christmas money purchases.

Watch

I’m thinking of starting a blog page on my website, where I can deep-dive on a topic without boring those of you who aren’t interested. That way you can just click through if you want to read more. What do you think? I suspect the first post will be about Judith Kerr.

Banner that reads “The Bower” illustrated with feathers, butterflies and plants.

As much as I love my Christmas tree and all its trinkets, it’s down just a day or two into January. I really want to wait until Epiphany, but I barely have the patience to get to the end of December with it. I’m ready to find a home for fresh treasures.

Five January finds from under my blanket:

I don’t favour the colour purple. In my sketchbook of colour palettes, purple makes up only 7%. Compare that to my favourite colour, blue, which makes up 32%. Maybe I outdid it as a favoured felt-tip in my childhood. It seems like artists before 1860 didn’t like it either, or maybe they just couldn’t see it?
Running headfirst down the colour rabbit hole, revel in the perfect colourfully-corresponding parking of these vehicles in Tokyo.
Children ask on average two questions a minute. I’d argue it’s more, especially when you’re late for school, you’re in the middle of another conversation, or it’s bedtime. They’re natural philosophers, and here’s how to embrace it.
After last months share of my love of illustrated floor-plans and cross-sections, the internet sent me this beauty. I absolutely want to live in mouse’s house. On a side note, if anyone can find me a copy of House By Mouse for less than a kidney…
I’m currently obsessed with all things Judith Kerr, I’ve just re-read her Out Of Time trilogy and have borrowed the libraries entire collection of her picture books (those we don’t already own). I have really vivid memories of reading When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit as a 10 year old. I wish I could have gone drawing tigers in the zoo with her.

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Colourful Rabbits

Mice, and tigers, and rams…

Hello Goldcrests*

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