SUPER HAPPY MAGIC FOREST at Bologna Children's Book Fair 2015

I was in Bologna recently for the annual Children's Book Fair with Oxford University Press to help them promote SUPER HAPPY MAGIC FOREST. They were fantastic hosts and I was humbled by their enthusiasm for the book and characters.

This is the front of their stand, with matching zingy carpet...

They had the front cover and an inside spread blown up on the walls...

...and there was SUPER HAPPY MAGIC BUNTING. 

Close-up of the bunting, featuring a happy pixie:

There were also limited edition Matty Long balloons...

OUP let me draw on their walls, and even stood and smiled politely when I told them all the mistakes I had made. 

Also being promoted at the fair was a second book - SUPER HAPPY MAGIC FOREST: SLUG OF DOOM. A mark of evil was inevitably left upon the OUP walls.  

Big thanks to OUP for their hospitality and for all their hard work in promoting SUPER HAPPY MAGIC FOREST. It's going to be out in September this year. 

SUPER HAPPY MAGIC FOREST: Let the Frolicking Begin!

Wow...it's been a while since I uploaded anything here. But I have been really busy behind the scenes.

Exactly a year ago today I was offered a two-book deal by Oxford University Press following a meeting with them at the Bologna Children's Book Fair, which I accepted. 

Ever since, SUPER HAPPY MAGIC FOREST has pretty much taken over my life. I had an amazing summer last year working on the book. I remember sweaty late nights colouring it up with the World Cup on tv, tablet pen (sometimes a beer) in hand, and the 1975 providing the soundtrack. All the while though, I just tried to concentrate on the book and leave the promotional stuff for later. So here it is.

SUPER HAPPY MAGIC FOREST (yes it has to always be typed in caps) is due for release in September this year. Here's a peek at the cover...

I'm going to be travelling to Bologna in a few days time to help promote the book with the wonderful folks at OUP and also the 2nd book which is currently in development...SUPER HAPPY MAGIC FOREST: SLUG OF DOOM.

Get ready for some serious frolicking action. 

Halloween Monster Guide

An essential who's who of Halloween, from classic vampires and zombies to the lesser-known horrors of the night.

The Sleeping Giant...

...and the city trying to wake him up

Discovery

Spot the Sasquatch in Anorak Magazine

My "Spot the Sasquatch" game is in the current Summer Special issue of Anorak Magazine. If you see the magazine out and about, maybe buy it or give it a high five or something because it's awesome. 

More on Anorak Magazine including stockists here

Tree Of Life

Cake Man

A tasty character I designed for a charity bake sale poster a while back... 

Chapter XVII: The Clouds Burst

With the hoard of Smaug unguarded, the armies of Middle Earth clash beneath the Lonely Mountain.

This marks the end of my seven days of illustrations from the Hobbit! Now, time to illustrate the Lord of the Rings go outside.

Chapter XII: Inside Information

An invisible Bilbo enters the lair of Smaug.

Chapter V: Riddles In the Dark

Separated from the dwarves, Bilbo encounters Gollum in the depths of the Misty Mountains.

Chapter IV: Over Hill and Under Hill

Bilbo and the dwarves are captured by Goblins after sleeping in the entrance of their cave.

Chapter III: A Short Rest

Gandalf leads the 13 dwarves and their hired burglar to Rivendell.

Chapter II: Roast Mutton

Bilbo runs afoul of three hungry and slightly bewildered mountain trolls.

Chapter I: An Unexpected Party

Beginning my week of illustrations from the Hobbit, when Gandalf visits Bilbo Baggins to propose an adventure to the Lonely Mountain, home of Smaug the Dragon. 

Next week is...

Every day next week I'll be uploading a black and white illustration from The Hobbit (seven in total). This is a personal project to boost my black and white portfolio while illustrating what I believe to be my favourite book. It was a really fun project to work on and a different sort of challenge. The Journey begins on Monday right after second breakfast.

Spot The Sasquatch

Any cryptozoologist worth his or her salt can identify the common giveaways of today's wannabe sasquatch. Put your own skills to the ultimate test and identify the real sasquatch amongst this forest of imposters.

This piece is to be featured in the July edition of Anorak magazine.

Predator Cities

An image inspired by author Philip Reeve's Predator Cities/Mortal engines quartet of books which are set in the far future where cities have had to become mobile in order to survive - hunting and consuming other towns and cities in the process. The lower tiers of the city are full of salvage and processing machinery and buildings while the upper tiers give way to airship docks, aristocratic residences and guild buildings.

The image was posted by the cool dudes at jforjetpack.com who also tweeted it to Philip Reeve himself who thought it was 'fantastic'! To respond to and interpret the author's own world and have their seal of approval on the final outcome is really gratifying, especially as there was no mention of giant billboards with NOM NOM written on them in the actual book...

There is a bigger version up on my website and more on the Mortal Engines/Predator Cities series of books can be found here

Promotional Doo-dads

These are the business cards and postcards from my current round of self promotion. All of them made the trip to Bologna and forced themselves into the pocket/wallets/waste bins of anybody who would take them.

I used Moo.com for the first time (having only used VistaPrint before) and managed to get some pennies off by hunting around online for a voucher code - well worth the effort and it makes sense to save what you can when the costs of self promotion begin to stack up. Their delivery was pretty speedy and while their products aren't the cheapest around, the cost is justified in the paper and print quality. The cards are a decent size and durable. They also allow for an infinite number of designs (front only) and I feel this is ideal for illustrators as it allows us to get a range of work out there and you can choose the card you give out to suit whatever that person may have liked from your folio. Or, get them to choose a card themselves. I tried this at the Bologna Book Fair and it was mostly successful, but occasionally resulted in mild panic and indecision.

Under Siege! (+ New Website)

Wah! look what happened to those three vikings from last time. They got attacked by mythical beasts. Life was certainly hard in those days. You can see this image a bit bigger and better on my website which has recently had a hip new makeover. Go on, all the kids are doing it.