OPEN SKETCHBOOKS Spring Part 2


Words & Pictures' illustration features editor Ell Rose showcases a second glimpse into the current work of SCBWI illustrators. Take a look along the lines of their analog and digital brushes.


Welcome to the second part of Open Sketchbooks. This is where you can get a little look into the minds of some amazing and talented illustrators and see what their creative processes are. Enjoy!

Tammy Angelis

I love illustrating children's books and creating patterns with a variety of media. Alongside evening classes and creative diplomas, I studied Ocean Science at University and later ran my own business in Project Management. I still work as a freelancer, whilst raising my two boys. My favourite themes are neurodiversity, botanicals and science.


Collage for a new arty book which celebrates neurodiverse agents of change using Japanese printing paper and a gelliplate.

Watercolour botanical study of a magnificent magnolia which cheers me up in bloom each spring, using a handmade sketchbook.

Character study in different media - watercolour and pencil, exploring skin tones and clothing patterns for a portfolio piece.


credit:
@tabbykatstudio



Alison Miles


My name is Alison Miles. These are from the book I am currently working on. It’s the eighth in my Snippy the Crab series. Snippy got stuck inside the professor’s lunch box while nibbling her sandwiches on the beach and is now trapped in her purple bag. She is striding to the lecture room to give a talk on art to the local school children. I usually work on a picture until it’s nearly finished before I move on to the next. I add the final details, like hands and feet, when all the illustrations for the book are done.


My second illustration shows two sneaky thieves in the gallery at night about to steal a painting. I’m still working on how much light and shadow to have. I draw in Procreate and can experiment by adding and taking away layers.
Snippy foils the art heist by giving the thieves a fright and leaping out of a painting called ‘Two Crabs’ by Van Gogh.



credit: @fyddlestix



Paulette Bogan


Hurt my hip and couldn't go dancing class for a few weeks, so I drew myself dancing instead. (At least, I hope that's what I look like!😁)


Dancing in my dreams

Saw a funny car outside my building Sunday night and woke up thinking about driving it, went to get coffee, and felt a little "crabby" (I'm not a morning person), then tried to get to work and felt like everything was going at a snail's pace. Monday mornings...


Monday morning

I drew the pool party first. I was thinking about my kids when they were little in our little blow-up pool. Then I heard someone in the building playing what I think was a cello. I pictured a rabbit with sunglasses playing the cello in their apartment.


Cello and pool party


credit: @paulettebogan123



Sally Walker


Hi, I'm SallyI’m a Suffolk (UK) based Children's Book illustrator. I've worked with publishers such as Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Page Street Kids, PJ Publishing, Mighty Kids, Baby Bug and Ask Magazine.



Some pencil sketches for an idea for a picture book story.


Digital sketches, playing around with animal characters.

Experiments with foam prints, coloured pencils, and acrylic pens.

credit: @sallywalkerillustration



Gillie Childs


I have been drawing bears for many years and they have gradually evolved from crude pen and ink drawings to colourful paintings created with watercolour pencils and washes.


During the Lockdown in 2020, I started sharing Charlie’s story on my Facebook page, 'The Chocolate Ear', after my chocolate-making business collapsed. He rapidly gained a lot of loyal and enthusiastic followers who avidly followed his story. He boosted morale with his daily, inspirational sayings and some of his antics.


Trubshaw. As he gazed at the ceiling in the gathering dusk, he had the sinking feeling he’d be here for some time.


I found this bear on the floor after it had been liberated by my dog and quickly captured the image and the potential story it offered.

Mole on a summer’s day.

When I was teaching I used to illustrate ideas for the children and this one was developed into a short story about friendship.
Charlie anticipates his forthcoming birthday along with recalling last year’s party.

I started writing a story about the main character I’ve been developing for years. I was exploring the range of emotions from excitement to the awful memory of what had happened at the last party.

credit: @chocolateear



Huong Nguyen


Hi, I'm Huong, a HarperCollins Author Academy alumna, FAB 2022 Commended winner & SCBWI BIPOC Scholarship Recipient. Here are some sketches with my explanations for them.



May we all be happy with what we wear, what we do, and who we choose to be.


Family members miss the mother.



Sleep tight.


credit: @huong_illustrator

Jensen Collins


My name is Jensen Collins and I am a member of the SCBWI Montana (USA) Region. These are my sketchbook submissions for the Words & Pictures magazine feature.


Sketch of a Buff Orpington chicken in my Farm Animal Studies completed April 2023.

Sketch of a chick in my Farm Animal Studies completed April 2023.

Sketch of a White Crested Duck in my Farm Animal Studies completed April 2023.


credit: @jennypennypaper



That's all for Part 2! A MASSIVE thank you to all the amazing illustrators who have sent us their work! 

Some of these illustrators are SCBWI volunteers, producing amazing illustrations for articles featured in Words & Pictures, and you can be one too!

If you want your sketches and illustrations to be featured in our articles, please email us at illustrators@britishscbwi.org


*Header image: in-house collaboration by Ell Rose & Tita Berredo



*


Ell Rose
 is the Illustration Features Editor of Words & Pictures
Find their work at www.shannonillustrates.com 
Follow them on Instagram and Twitter
Contact them at illustrators@britishscbwi.org 

*

Tita Berredo is the Illustrator Coordinator of SCBWI British Isles and the Art Director of Words & Pictures. She has a Master's degree in Children's Literature and Illustration from Goldsmiths UOL and a background in marketing and publicity.   

Follow her on Instagram and Twitter or www.titaberredo.com 

Contact her at: illuscoordinator@britishscbwi.org


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