Marjorie's Sketch Blog

2009-08-11T23:09:00.004+03:00

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.

2009-08-11T22:47:00.007+03:00

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

2009-08-11T22:29:00.005+03:00

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..

2009-04-06T22:12:00.003+02:00

Some more roughs of Kootjie Totjie

2009-04-06T22:07:00.006+02:00

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.

2009-04-06T21:59:00.003+02:00

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

2009-04-06T21:49:00.003+02:00

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

2009-04-06T21:46:00.001+02:00

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

2009-04-06T21:42:00.002+02:00

2009-04-06T21:41:00.000+02:00

2009-04-06T21:38:00.001+02:00

These are the finish art

these are the rough illustrations

These very very rough illustrations were thumbnail sketches

2009-04-06T21:23:00.002+02:00

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.

2009-04-06T19:53:00.002+02:00

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

2009-04-06T19:44:00.002+02:00

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.

2009-04-06T19:41:00.000+02:00

Cover illustration & design of Long Juju Man.

2009-04-06T19:34:00.002+02:00

Some of the final illustrations of Long Juju Man

2009-04-06T19:11:00.002+02:00

These are layout with rough illustration for Long Juju Man
Long time since I posted -
Had deadlines and SCBWI SA stuff that had to be done so I was burning the midnight oil... But here are the stuff I have been working on since October 2008

2007-03-23T23:48:00.000+02:00

This is my first time blogging - Hi!

2007-03-24T15:27:00.000+02:00

I'm busy with a book "Nina and Little Duck" by Wendy Hartmann - a collection of stories to be published by Human & Rousseau in June - this is the rough drawing

of one of 34 illustrations!

2007-03-24T15:32:00.000+02:00

The next stage: picture scanned and rough colour-feel added in photoshop

2007-03-24T15:34:00.000+02:00

Final illustration done in oil-pastels. A start - got to do 32 more!!!

2007-03-25T08:59:00.000+02:00

Still busy drawing Ducks here are the sketches I made to work out what ducklings look like.

2007-03-25T09:02:00.000+02:00

And here is Little Duck - called "little" because she is smaller than the little girl in the book, Nina.

2007-03-26T10:00:00.000+02:00

2007-03-26T10:02:00.000+02:00