Last week I posted the roughs for this scene from The Last Viking Returns. This post will show how I got from my almost-final rough to my final illustration.
Continue reading “Evolution of a scene: the final version of ‘Big Trouble’”
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Evolution of a scene: the rough sketches for ‘Big Trouble’
There’s a scene in The Last Viking Returns called ‘Big Trouble’ where Fafnir the dragon is finally revealed in all his terrible glory. The scene went through a lot of changes during development, so I thought I’d share them here.
It’s a lot of pics though so I’ll share them in two parts. This post will show you the roughs, and next week’s post will show how the final illustration was put together.
(And if you haven’t read the book yet, there’s a few SPOILERS below.)
Continue reading “Evolution of a scene: the rough sketches for ‘Big Trouble’”
How I make comics
Late 2013 and all of 2014 was a hectic time for me work-wise, and I didn’t get to post as many pieces as I would have liked. So here’s a post on a great freelance job I had back in 2013-4; I got to make some comics. Here’s how I made them.
What the heck happened to 2014?
Happy New Year! I hope you’re well-fed and rested after the holidays, and are feeling ready to tackle another year.
I’ve just had a two-week holiday at home, my first big break in a while. I read a pile of books, watched a stack of movies and played a heap of video games. It was heaven. I’m back at the desk now, but I wanted to take stock of 2014 before getting stuck into new jobs. It’s mostly for my benefit, but if you’re at all interested in how a full-time children’s illustrator spends his time, here’s a month-by-month summary of my 2014.
Meeting Mem: Ubud Writers and Readers Festival 2014
Bali … it’s an idyllic paradise filled with rice fields, temples and frangipanis … unless you’re in Kuta, and then it’s a place of digestive upsets and Bintang-singleted bogans.
Don’t go to Kuta. Go to Ubud. It’s a very special place an hour’s drive north of Denpasar, and I got the chance to go there for the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival in October. I ran a workshop for kids, I did a school session too, and I got to be on a panel with Mem Fox!
Details after the jump.
Continue reading “Meeting Mem: Ubud Writers and Readers Festival 2014”
Join me for a picture book illustration workshop
I’m running a full-day picture book illustration workshop through UWA Extension.
There are four places left, so if it sounds like your kind of thing, book in and come along. Details below.
Continue reading “Join me for a picture book illustration workshop”
“My Place”: whimsical stories from Mount Hawthorn Primary students
This year, Mount Hawthorn Primary School invited myself and fellow author/illustrator Briony Stewart to collaborate on a 13-week residency project.
Our project was called ‘My Place’. The aim for each year four student (all 87 of them) was to complete a polished story and accompanying illustration based upon their favourite place in Mount Hawthorn. They also made the amazing map you see above!
Hit the link to see more work by the kids.
Continue reading ““My Place”: whimsical stories from Mount Hawthorn Primary students”
The Last Viking Returns, September/October school holiday events
We’ve got two more Viking events happening during the school holidays:
- the State Library exhibition continues until the end of the September
- we’ve got a Boffins bookshop event in Perth on Wednesday 1st October.
Hit the link for the details.
Continue reading “The Last Viking Returns, September/October school holiday events”
Tonya ‘Valkyrie’ McCusker launches The Last Viking Returns
We had two launches for The Last Viking Returns this past week: a mini-launch at the fantastic Beaufort Street Books in Mount Lawley, then a big mammoth launch at the State Library. Tonya McCusker generously dressed up to launch our book with her daughter Mary ably assisting. Hit the jump for more photos.
Continue reading “Tonya ‘Valkyrie’ McCusker launches The Last Viking Returns”
The Last Viking Returns out now
My new children’s book The Last Viking Returns is finally out!
Written by Norman Jorgensen, it’s the sequel to The Last Viking. Here’s the official synopsis:
Josh is still as brave as a Viking warrior, and not much can scare a Viking … but the two littlest Vikings have grown up a bit since the first book, and they’re going berserk. They think they’re invincible, and that spells trouble!
When Pop takes the family to Viking World, Josh finds out just how far he’ll go to keep them safe.
You can find The Last Viking Returns at your local bookstore and online.
Hit the link for more photos from the official launches!
James Foley 