answer to another question

To answer the question from an illustrator working mostly for the educational market - How do I break into the trade market?
This could be a discussion that could take days and many cups of earl grey tea - there is so many essential bits and pieces – then there is also the magical - being in the right place at the right time.
Basically It has to do with a mind change, illustrating happens in your mind not on the paper.
You need to take your illustrations into the next level. Away from stereotyping, away from minimulising because of a time restrain.
So… Spend the time and really look at the trade books – try and find out what gives some picture books that magical feel. Why they stand out from other books?

Join children’s book organisations like SCBWI (Society of children’s book writers and illustrators ) http://www.scbwi.org/
Attend conferences -http://springevent2011-scbwi-sa.blogspot.com/
Attend SCBWI SA events and get-togethers - get onto the mailing list so that you can get the circulars about upcoming events http://www.scbwi.za.org/
Attend Illustration workshops and courses -
I’m giving a children’s book illustration course for the 2011 CCIBA Creative Workshops to be held from 5 – 9 September 2011 at the Stellenbosch University Department of Visual Arts - http://www.cciba.sun.ac.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16&Itemid=20

Perhaps at one of the SCBWI SA events we can talk more about… how do I break into the trade market?

Websites that are really useful

Here are a number of websites with info on writing & illustrating and submitting work to publishers - good luck
http://www.gropenassoc.com/art​icles/TrustPublishers.htm
http://underdown.org/
http://www.underdown.org/basic​s.htm
http://cbiclubhouse.com/

Answering a question

In answer to a question I was asked on Facebook on my media and method I use when illustrating picture books.

To share a few notes on the technique and materials I currently enjoy using when I illustrate a children’s picture book: After completing a full set of rough pencil drawings and sorting out the design and layout of the book, I like to choose a specific paper that would suit the atmosphere of the story best. Generally I find that a fast-paced story wants a rougher paper, whereas an intimate, quiet story benefits from a smoother, fine paper on which I can do much more detailed work. I then redraw the illustration onto the selected paper, often using a light box. Next I paint a wash onto the illustration area of the page and finish the detailed drawing with crayons over the wash.

I use Caran d’Ache ‘Neocolor II Aquarelle’ oil pastels. Three makes of paper that work well for me are Canson Mi-teintes 160g/m2, Fabriano 4 Liscio 220g/m2 and Bainbridge Coquille Bristol #2. I like the last one best...

To add to that - I do not stretch my paper but using a big brush, I brush the paper lightly with a thin layer of water before starting to work with the wash of paint then let it dry completely before starting to work with the crayons. The crayons I use is water-soluble so from time to time I would smooth an area done with crayon with a wet brush

A tip - use very good quality paper - the cheaper paper disintegrate and bugle very quickly

And there is also an article I wrote on
http://marjorie-van-heerden-articles.blogspot.com/
on illustrating the picture book - Nina and Little Duck
The article is called THE MIND OF AN ILLUSTRATOR (August 2008)
Hope you will go and read it!

Final illustrations for Numbers Do

Some final illustrations I did for the picture book Numbers Do written by Chu-Ren Huang & Kathleen Ahrens , to be published by Sun Ya publishers, Hong Kong
See Ears Hera's illustrations too - click here to get to the top of the blog

Rough Illustrations for Numbers Do

I'm busy with two books for a the Chinese publishers, Sun Ya (Hong Kong)
Both books are written by Chu-Ren Huang & Kathleen Ahrens

Here are some rough illustrations - click on the picture for larger view

Goblin Diary - final artwork

Pheee! - 42 B/W illustrations! Final artwork done! See a selection below. Illustration are done with a HB pencil on a very smooth hot-press paper. I have taken in consideration that the pencil does reflect a bit so I did compensate. I really enjoyed illustrating this books... drawing Goblins, dragons and a Red Witch! Alex d'Angelo wrote a real good story - thanks, Alex.

The Goblin's Diary - cover illustration

Final Illustration for the cover delivered last week - now I have to do 41 B/W inside illustrations.

Very rough cover

Cover design - very rough - for the Goblin's Diary written by Alex D'Angelo to be published by Tafelberg Publishers (SA)

The rough drawing for the cover

Then I 'coloured' it in very quickly in photoshop just to get a colour feel to show to the publisher - and I have the go-ahead!!

Rough sketches of Character studies

Some Character studies for a chapter book I'm illustrating - Goblin's Diary written by Alex D'Angelo and to be published by Tafelberg Publishers

Exhibition of Alice Illustrations

Click on invitation to be able to view it

An exhibition of original illustrations by Marjorie van Heerden from the book “Die Avonture van Alice in Wonderland”

Held at the US Art Galery, (”Die Kerkie”), corner of Dorp & Bird Street, Stellenbosch from 3 to 26 March 2011

Human & Rousseau has made art-prints of the illustrations being shown that will be for sale at the gallery (see prints below) Any inquiries please contact Hevette Le Grange Tel: +27 21 406 3033 - She is prepared to post prints if you interested to buy - money of the sale of the prints will be going to charities

The Exceed Group (www.exceed.co.za) sponsored the exhibition