Walking the Lees

Flecks of Snow

Broken Tree

Clouds Looming

Spring Trees

Sunlight on River Leet

The Midnight Hare – Drawing

Someone who knows me well was surprised when he knew that I was putting images from “The Midnight Hare” on WordPress when I was in the middle of working on the picture book, since I am usually secretive about what I am my working on until it is finished.  But the script for this book is finished, apart from tweaking a word here and there as I go along (see below); and I am finding that my feeling about showing illustrations in process is different to my attitude to text.  The book is already there, I am just working out how to interpret it.  Putting pictures on line distances me from the work so I can look with a more critical eye.  I spent some time doing two pictures of Milo sitting almost back view, in a flowery field, looking at the hare in the distance.  I thought the second version was all right, but after putting it on-line, after a while I had the same sensation that I had when I put the original idea for the cover on-line – there is some dynamic missing.  Since this is the first page of illustration I feel that Milo should be seen full-face and in action, even if he is creeping through the field.  And the hare herself is seen much closer, which is right as she is a real protagonist in the story, even if only at the beginning and the end.  So I did this drawing today, which I think works better; and now I will colour it up and try not to overwork it.  I also took out the words “small,brown” when describing the hare, as the hare is what she is in the picture, she doesn’t need words of description.  The Midnight Hare himself is quite obviously a distinct character, so they are quite differentiated enough visually without adjectives attached.

Hellebore

Snail Shell

The Midnight Hare: A Boy Called Milo…