Book on the Telly!!

Posted on by Karen Erasmus

Secret Safe cover smallLast year I illustrated a book named ‘A Secret Safe to Tell’. I must admit it was a confronting a difficult book to illustrate but it felt like the right thing to do. Since the book was published earlier this year I have had the pleasure of getting to know the author and now consider her a good friend. She and her husband have worked tirelessly to promote the book and its message. It aims to encourage children who are victims of abuse to speak out and find some one they trust. The books words and illustrations are not scary or inaccessible to children in any way. In my experience it allows children to talk about important questions and issues freely.

I have been continually amazed at how much Naomi Hunter (the author) has promoted the book through radio and press interviews. We are all very excited that she has been interviewed by the current affairs program ‘The Project’. It will be aired on Channel 10 Thursday 9th October at 6.30pm.

New Projects

Posted on by Karen Erasmus

A few weeks ago I watched a video by an illustrator. It was a talk on her work practices. She bordered of being OCD but her approach was something I feel I’d like to adopt. It centred around systematically and routinely creating according to rules and commitment. Sounds really boring and not at all artistic but the results were often very beautiful and led on to unexpected discoveries.

It made me think of the last time I approached something in this way, unrelated to creating a book. Last year I took part in the Sketchbook Project. Despite having other work that needed to be done I somehow fitting in creating a pop-up book by hand. I had no plan for it before I started, just a set of rules. It was a diary, and by the time it was finished I was very happy with the results. It’s now archived in the New York library and I’m hoping that one of my kids will go and look it up sometime. On Tuesday this week I met an old friend who is now working in a local gallery and she said she’d printed off some examples from it for use in gallery education for kids. I don’t know how it worked but I was thrilled that it had been used in this context.

So it’s Sketchbook Project time again! The book has been sitting on my desk for quite a while so I’ve decided to impose some rules;

1/ Deadline in 8 weeks. 10th Sept.

2/ At least 2 pieces a week, sometimes 3.

3/ 18 double page spreads.

4/ Don’t overthink it. It’s a sketchbook.

5/ Use random selections of words and phrases from a favourite novel as inspiration and page titles.

6/ Each page must include collage.

7/Copy and post each page before constructing the book

 

So here is the first one!

In-Bed

Veg Baby

Posted on by Karen Erasmus

vegbaby

Every Tuesday I have a box of market fresh veggies delivered to the door and a cheerful wave from Scott who delivers them. This week I had a message to say that the veggies wouldn’t be delivered as his wife had had a baby. So I thought that required a congratulations card.

Fear!

Posted on by Karen Erasmus

It’s that scary time again. I’ve just finished one book and now have two more to complete in the next six weeks.  I know there are real scary things happening in the world (like this and this) and I am being a bit of a woos. All work is good . I’ll be alright once I get started and stop being distracted by all the fabulous stuff the internet has to offer. But;

Will I keep my ink lines loose without messing up on the fingers?

Can I maintain a light sketchy feel with out it looking a shambles?

Will my colour choices be right, bright, beautiful?

Will I overshadow?

Can I get it all done on time?

Unbelievably this is all stopping me from starting. And when written down sounds outrageously self indulgent. Time to get on with some work!

But first; acrylic, ink or watercolour? I’ve decided that no one can really tell the difference when they used in a certain way. Here’s a little sketch I did using all three.

Kate