Celia Hyland Illustration Challenge

  (My personal Illustration Challenge for 2017 is to complete one 'double page spread' from a popular, modern or classic children's story each week, picked randomly from a hat. Using lines from the original text, I am re-creating the 'imagery' in my own way, just for fun!) Hmm, this one was tough. The Borrowers, written by Mary Norton, first published in 1952. It's hard work drawing three little people and all their little details, and then knowing that most of it will be hidden in the darkest part of the picture! So ! cheated. I drew the bits that are important, and left the rest to the imagination, and relied on digital colouring to complete the image. Not my favourite so far of this challenge, but it did bring back memories of the wonderful BBC TV series adaptation I watched as a child, starring Ian Holm and Penelope Wilton.

  (My personal Illustration Challenge for 2017 is to complete one 'double page spread' from a popular, modern or classic children's story each week, picked randomly from a hat. Using lines from the original text, I am re-creating the 'imagery' in my own way, just for fun!) This week's challenge was even harder! The Wind in the Willows , written by Kenneth Grahame, published in 1908. My daughter picked this one out of the hat for me, and immediately wanted to put the title back and choose another because she is reading this very story in class this term and is really not enjoying it... yet! Admittedly, there is a slow beginning (a lot of messing about in boats!) with Mole finding a friend in 'Ratty' the water vole, who teaches him the ways of the river, and adds a little adventure to Mole's comfortable existence. (Later on, Ratty is tempted by even bigger ideas; an invitation to board a ship with the Seafaring Rat. But Mole persuades him to stay

  (My personal Illustration Challenge for 2017 is to complete one 'double page spread' from a popular, modern or classic children's story each week, picked randomly from a hat. Using lines from the original text, I am re-creating the 'imagery' in my own way, just for fun!) The first title out of the challenge hat is a children's book our family received only about 3 years ago, yet I feel I have known it all my life and am instantly transported back to that feeling of childhood when I open the covers. Where the Wild Things Are , written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak, published in 1963. Those familiar with the book will know how Sendak depicted the 'wild things'; huge and hairy, some with beaks, some with horns, some with long hair, some with tails. So in week one I am faced with pushing those iconic beasts from my mind and re-imagining them for myself. I have discovered there is a reason Sendak drew them as he did. Big. Hairy. Large eyes and tee