Illustration Challenge #1: Where the Wild Things Are

 (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 teeth, yet cuddly and comforting all at the same time. Because all the best monsters look like that! Think of Axel Scheffler's Gruffalo or Pixar's Sully in Monsters Inc. They are wonderful!

The story specifically describes their loud roars, gnashing teeth and rolling eyes, so they had to remain in the image. As for the rest, I just had fun...