The End (And they all lived happily ever after...)

Well that's it folks! The exhibition is now down but we had a great time and it seems that everyone loved it (at least that's what we're taking the teeth-marks in the artwork to mean!). It was a real challenge to produce something that children would really be able to interact with and Cate and I enjoyed a great number of coffees whilst sat in the Storytelling Centre's Cafe watching visitors get to grips with the characters and props!

Thanks to everyone involved and to the Centre for having us! Cate and I are planning another exhibition for next year's festival so watch this space!

Stortyelling Pick & Mix Workshop

On July 17th Cate and I took part in a workshop with a group of lovely children and a professional storyteller, Beth Cross. Beth told us some wonderful stories to get everyone warmed up and then Cate and I got involved with various felt tip pens and some inspirational ideas from the little ones!

The whole event was a great success and everyone had fun, adults and children alike! We produced some great artwork and answered various questions from our audience (including a surprised little girl who didn't know that drawing pictures could be a career option- she was convinced I'd not been to school and so had been forced to follow this career path!).

Exhibition D-Day!

The day of reckoning finally arrived as Cate and I headed for the Storytelling Centre laden with illustrations, double-sided tape, scissors, coloured card and a ton of blu tac. We managed to pick the hottest day of the year so far (30 degrees in Edinburgh!) as we cut, glued, stuck and adjusted various things until we were finally satisfied. It's all people up so please go take a look and let us know what you think!


The start of the day, hundreds of cut out characters and letters and lots of sticky tape and blu tac!



Cate and Vicki get sticking!




The boxes of characters are put in place and we're ready to go!

Not long now folks!

The prints have arrived, the lettering is being cut out and we're getting ready for a big foamboard-and-spraymount session!

One of the backgrounds in progress...

...and I think it's working well. Interesting to see if we can get our two very different styles to blend on the same page. We're always up for a challenge!

Latest Characters and Animals

Hooray, I have finished all my characters, animals and objects, as has Vicki. Phew! Now we are going to work on the backgrounds, and all the final details of everything else for the exhibition. Not long to go now! It's really exciting to be in the last few weeks before we install everything; wait til you see our ideas!

Fresh off the drawing table today!

One month to go! Aaargh!

Animal Update

I've been concentrating on getting all my animals finished by the end of the week and so far my favourite is this blue whale.

Only another 5 to go, although I keep adding new ones to the list!

The countdown begins...

Whew time is really whipping by now but Cate and I seem to be on a roll. This week we've been designing posters and adding a few new characters to our huge lists!

Some new bits and pieces

Including an idea for a poster. We've really got into the swing of it now and we're starting off the advertising for the exhibition. We're also currently looking/ meeting with potential sponsors- so if you'd like to get involved give us a shout!

"Eeeeyes right!"

About the Illustrators- Cate

I love being in my studio surrounded by stuff. I have two halves to the room; a digital side which is clean, and messy side where I paint and don't care if I spill things.

I tend to begin my work by drawing furiously and then scanning things and playing around with them on my computer, but I also create work by sitting on the floor with bits of paper a pair of scissors which is a lot more fun. I like to save everything that catches my eye and have been known to peel bits of paper off the pavement. I think I will need a bigger studio quite soon to house my collection of rubbish.

I have been an artist forever but only freelancing for the past 18 months and I can't think of anything I'd rather do.

Cate

About the Illustrators- Vicki

We thought we ought to introduce ourselves and I've volunteered to go first. Above are pics of my busy (and mostly tidy- no I didn't just clean it up for the photo!) studio. Note the various inspiring bits of artwork from other artists that I admire and my shelf of 'fun stuff'. I work from home with my dog (Roo) and cat (Bob) for company. All of my work begins with a traditional dipping pen and ink. I then scan the images and add colour digitally. Actually, that isn't totally true as my work really begins with an idea or a brief- followed by an intense period of research. I've been freelancing for nearly five years now and I recently completed my Master of Design degree at Edinburgh College of Art.

I have a passion for bold colours, hand lettered type, animals and patterns. The Storytelling exhibition is a great opportunity to work with another illustrator and to produce some exciting new work that will be going directly to its audience...I hope people like it!

Vicki

And a few more things to keep you going!

Work is underway! Make sure you take the time to pop by and visit them in the flesh...

A few sneak previews!

Hello and Welcome!

This blog will be documenting our progress as we prepare for our exhibition which will run at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh from Sat 4 July – Sat 5 September 2009. We are two children's illustrators based in Edinburgh, UK. We met on our Master of Design degree course at Edinburgh College of Art and, after a lot of plotting and planning, are now only months away from our opening night!