a close up - Three posts in one day - to make up for the past postless days. My son, Markus, suggested I should let some butterflies escape from Nina's top - good idea!
AND a BIG belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my dear friend Simone Kaplan from New York - thought of you on Tuesday!

Here is a doule spread from Nina and Little duck - the book I just completed!!! Have to say that over and over to believe it!

This past week has been a very busy week - I delivered all illustrations on Tuesday and slept the whole of yesterday. I'm finished!!!!! 34 double spreads!!!! Will post a few pages for you to see - Book will be out about the end of July. Here the close up of the pic below I promised to post. - June is starting next week, the Cape Town Book Fair is on the 16-19 June and the South African chapter of the SCBWI is going to have a stand st the fair so the next two weeks are going to be EXTREMELY busy with preparation. But today I'm taking the day off! Have a jolly day

Part of the Illustration I'm working on today - will post it when it is finished. It's raining in Gordon's Bay and the small stream that runs past our house is a torren - I can clearly hear the sound of running water in my studio. It is also cold - I unpacked my small blow-heater yesterday- (just to heat one's feet) - a perfect working day!

Ducktivity continues! Have a good drawing day!

My husband, Johann, sneaked up to my studio and took some photos while I was working - thought I'll share them with you.

The ducks are attacking me... Aaargh!

Thought because it's Mother's Day I'll load this picture - Happy Mother's Day to all you illustrating mothers! (see rough drawing of this one below)

an Illustration for the duck book I've just finished - here are before and after pictures - double spread & close up.

In Gordon's Bay the sun is shining - we had some rain last night so it is a cool day - wonderful for my crayons - if it is too warm my crayons get too soft! - Here is how I do my skin colour for the little girl in the book I'm working on... I put down a wash of cinnamon colour then darken shadow areas with the cinnamon pastal on top of the wash - then smooth the whole area with the salmon colour pastel - then work on top with white pastel -blending and lightening the areas nearest to my light source - if I want to darken areas more I use the cinnamon again or add some periwinkle blue and blend it in with the cinnamon or salmon pastels - For my line I use my line Indigo blue oil pastel - not black - I find black too hard and if I want an even softer out line I use the cinnamon pastel - sharpened to a sharp point.

Still busy drawing ducks!

Sketch done for Showcase website of SCBWI South Africa - see links. They flying a kite & standing on a world!

My first attempt at animation!! Click on the frog to see it jump.