Quote

I believe my father made me for a purpose. We all have a purpose. Don't you think, detective?

Sonny in I, Robot (the film, not the book)

Historical Accuracy

In my illustration work, I try to be as accurate as possible. When illustrating real events that happened in a real place and time (or indeed, fictional events set in a real place and time) it makes sense to make the illustrations as close as possible to how it would really have been. And I love doing research about it - particularly the clothes.

So, when I was illustrating Daniel in the lions' den recently, I made sure to dress him with accurate Persian clothes and hairstyle for the time (really easy – there are so many ancient pictures to copy).

 

The thing is, though. How accurate is this really? I've given him grey hair, because he was in his eighties at the time. Actually, though, I've a feeling an important Persian official might have dyed his hair. But with a picture in this simple style, how else can I show he is old? And then of course, I've read somewhere (though not verified) that men at the time wore heavy makeup… That might look just a tiny bit odd to today's eyes!

So you have to compromise. If I were doing an educational book that could have info boxes explaining the pics, I would be more pedantic. But when a picture has to speak for itself, you have to not confuse people.

Of course, there are some times when it's OK to stretch the historical accuracy just a wee bit more…

 

Parts of King Darius are very accurate :-)

The Journey of Life

Look!!!

 

Just arrived this morning.

I'm really pleased with how it's turned out - particularly considering I photographed the pictures myself - I was a bit concerned how it would look in print.

Some random pages:

Not to say it's perfect. In fact, the whole project has been an example of how not to do it! But I've learned a lot, and I'm basically pleased with the result.

The layout was worked out by me, but the cover, all the fancy design and the typesetting was done by a designer called Paul Lewis. He's in America, and the author's in Malawi - what would we do without the internet!

Discussion questions at the back.

Not sure when it will be available yet (or price). Watch this space...

A+

The people who invented the A series of paper (A4, A3 etc) deserve a medal. Best thing since sliced bread.* I'm working on some illustrations at the minute, and we're not quite sure how big they'll be printed. But it doesn't matter. Because all the paper is the same proportion, we can do them 71% smaller and they'll still fit exactly. 

*Why is every good invention always compared to sliced bread? Yes, it's useful, but personally I think disposable toilet paper wins hands down.

British weather

On Tuesday it was so cold in the studio I had to go out and buy an extra jumper in a charity shop and gloves in the £ shop.

This afternoon I am sitting in a T-shirt with the window open.

Obesity is rising

Inspired by a comment my mum made about a radio report she'd heard.

Logo design

When designing a logo, it makes sense to design it in black & white first, and get it to work perfectly - then add colour (assuming you will need a b/w version, which you will if it is ever going to be photocopied.)

This means you will not finish designing a perfect colour logo and then discover it doesn't work in b/w.