The Legend Of Frog (numero 1)

I have been given a challenge by my very well-meaning, if somewhat bossy, other half. To update my blog more often! It needs doing, it's very true. I've been leaving my exposure far too much in the safe hands of Facebook and Twitter (yes, I know! I finally joined Twitter!). Time to get busy with the bloggin' again! Hello everyone!!

There are sh-LOADS of things that have been happening recently! The first update should really be about the latest Time Hunters Series, another one has just come out...I did indeed promise an entire post dedicated to Cleo the Cat, as he is truly a legend and I am very grateful that he leapt happily out of the storage-compartment in my imagination labelled 'Crazily Cute Felines' and onto the pages of the first series of TH through the tip of my Wacom pen. Those illustrations will be posted as soon as I am back in the Dynamo Studio. However currently I am visiting London, again!

I am here because I was invited to attend the launch party of The Legend Of Frog, written by the super-brilliant Guy Bass, which was held at the Hampstead Waterstones this Tuesday evening. It was a great little celebration with the lovely people from Stripes Publishing, Guy himself and a few awesome supporters including his brother, who happens to be a stand up comedian and an illustrator (HUGE fan of that combo!). There was even a cake in the form of Frog's face, which was very yummy. I may have come home with green icing on my face after having greedily scoffed a cheeky extra piece on tube!

I have had an absolute blast illustrating the inside of this great book! His latest story is an epically adventurous tale about a green prince called Frog who turns out to be...not from here...and  a tiny stubborn Princess, and a castle, and cool creatures like Rarewolves and Newnicorns, and The End of The Wurld and EXPLOSIONS....not to mention a sheep, erm sorry, Royal Steed, called Captain Explosion! And Basil Rathbone IS the best name for a sword EVER!! Check out the publisher's description of it here!

So yeah, my imagination was allowed to run wild - and with the help of Guy's fantastical and hilarious descriptions creating the inside doodles wasn't exactly a difficult task!

The INcredible Jonny Duddle did the cover for this first book. I was very honoured to follow his depiction of Frog for the insides! I'm doing the cover for the second book as dear Mr. Duddle is just too busy at the moment, a baton I really have not minded at all taking over. Better make sure I step up to the mark though, I have a lot to live up to!! Currently working on the rough for that, so watch this space!

I love the way they did the graphics around the illustrations in this book too - especially how during the latter half of the book things start going a bit...boom...the paper is made to look like it's burning up! Awesome! 

So without further ado, below are some of the illustrations from the first bookthat I am most proud of. 

Guy cutting the cake: 

Below is one of the originals - I will post more as soon as I'm back in the studio and can grab them. It's the one they've used for the first pages, but in the double page spread they've cut out a few details in the corners so I though it would be nice to show this in it's entirety. Notice the little bunny-wabbit by the tree on the right for example. And I like the massive waterfall on the left. Had so much fun imagining this world! 

Oh and don't forget get yourself a copy of TLOF, which you should be able to get from most books stores now!

Also check out www.guybass.com for all his other awesome books , including one of my faves: Secret Santa, where you find out that during the rest of the year beardy old Father Xmas is actually a SPY...whaaat...hehehe

yay!