Merry Christmas!



Seems I've developed a habit of drawing Santa puppies each year.

Last year, we adopted a gorgeous puppy from the RSPCA and my brain had turned to puppy pulp from adoration. So, it was only natural I would draw a Santa puppy.

This year, I'm illustrating a picture book, featuring the cute fur-character above. Everyone else was wearing Santa hats and I didn't want the puppy to feel left out. This sweet, heartwarming Christmas story, written by Lili Wilkinson, will be published in time for Christmas 2017 by Allen and  Unwin.

I'm currently up to the exciting colour stage of the picture book and have spent this week preparing and experimenting. (Some onlookers may call this part of the process, procrastination.)

I've been working out my character colour palette, making my own texture brushes using pastel, pencil and watercolour, and experimenting with some new brushes I recently purchased from Kyle T Webster. I'm having so much fun procrast... I mean, preparing.

The deadline is fast approaching, so I'll be busy working on this book for the entire school holidays. My children have had to make their own fun at home so far. The inside of our house has turned into a paper jungle of lanterns, snowflakes and streamers dangling from windows, ceilings and fans. My husband and I pretty much have to crawl around on our hands and knees, so that we don't tangle ourselves up in it all. FYI - children design Christmassy lands for child height people.

Our house is feeling festive at least.

Merry Christmas!

A small section of some final drawings from the book.

A small section of my children's paper jungle.

Our puppy when she was small.
The day her bed exploded.