I am so excited about the projects I'm working on at the moment - working on two books at the same time - One is a fantasy story by a well known South African writer - in Afrikaans... Soek-soek op soek, for Tafelberg publishers
The second is Alice in Wonderland!!! - a translation into Afrikaans by the awards winning author Andre P Brink... Die Avonture van Alice

See below some character studies and test illustrations
These are the first character studies I did of Alice - the publishers wanted to see a more traditional Alice so I did the ones belowAnd here are two rough illustrations I'm really looking forward to do this job!

See quite a few more new postings below.

Some rough & test illustrations for the book I'm working on...

A test illustration in ink and penRough drawing in pencil
Character studies of the main character in the book - Soek-soek, a gnome
The second project is an story by Elsabe Steenberg (well known Afrikaans children's book writer). Fantasy story of war between the gnomes and the mice - Soek-soek op soek, a chapter book (Black&white illustrations with full colour cover)
Here are some character studies and test illustrations

I inserted some of the finish artwork of the book I worked on in April, Kootjie Totjie, into the previous posts where I posted rough drawings - enjoy. The book should be appearing soon. Since May I've been very busy... gave a workshop... How to draw children, in June, - then were actively involved in the Cape Town Book Fair. I was looking forward to take a bit of a holiday, but then I got two very exciting project so no holiday - straight back to my desk - see new post above..

Some more roughs of Kootjie Totjie

At the moment I'm busy with a picture book of one of CJ Langenhoven's children's stories - Tootjie Kotjie - publisher is Protea Boekhuis.

Just finished the rough illustrations - still to do the finals.

Finish art illustration - Back & Front cover - background painted with water colour then on that I worked with my oil pastels

Rough illustration with darker background with text- Colour done in photoshop

Rough illustration with darker background - Colour done in photoshop

Rough illustration - Colour done in photoshop

Rough Drawing

This is the second design - colour also inserted in photoshop - The publisher decided on a darker background

This design the publisher felt it might not appeal to boy - Asked for something "rougher"
The colour on this illustration was done VERY FAST in photoshop - Just so that the publisher could get the colour feel


After a winderful break during which I did NO WORK except make Christmas presents I started started working beginning of February 2009 - I climbed onto a roller coaster - Did a reader for Cambridge and then did a new cover illustration for the Afrikaans addition of Mr Humperdinck's wonderful Whatsit
Went through a few possibilities - Here are two examples

This book was completed just before Christmas - I think it will be released in May.

These are the finish art

these are the rough illustrations

These very very rough illustrations were thumbnail sketches

After delivering the Christmas card illustrations for NB Publishers - I started on a book for LAPA Publishers called Bertus soek 'n Boek written by Jaco Jacobs.

Finished (click on illustration to see bigger image)


after all animals were done I work on darking areas and lighting areas and working on the background - adding energy swirls


Then I started with the flying animals first puttong down a wash then working with my crayons

worked on the christmas lights

and the books

and lightening area of light source - then with with oil pastel I started building up the grass & figures.

Then started darkening areas


I was commisioned to design and do the illustration for NB Publishers Christmas card - Here is the process. After doing the drawing I put down a wash with watercolour paint.

Cover illustration & design of Long Juju Man.