A Welcome Return To The Land of Picture Books.

After a long period away from Children's Picture Books, 2004 ('Tomorrow' Published by Lothian Books & still available on Amazon), to be precise, I've taken the plunge again. The script is in early development stage so all sorts of things could happen between now & the final draft, as is usual but I'll try to post tit-bits as I progress.
 I love this early stage of a new script, in many ways it's a lot like a new love affair, full of unguided energy, a little trepidation, a big dose of fumbling fun, never fully sure of the direction. Watching the characters evolve from the most scratchy scribblings to someone who you would be happy to have around... of course, as the process moves forward you get to play inside these characters heads, a little like method acting, you live them for a short while, imbue them with a sense of self & place. However, this is a double edged sword (& I'm not speaking on behalf of all Illustrators, I've no idea how anyone else's head operates), for, in my head, the characters & scenes are fully animated, often complete with sound & of course as such they work perfectly but trying to encapsulate that as a 2 dimensional image is, yes challenging but often frustrating. & so there is always a slight sadness that (a.) I'm not an animator (b.) loaded with dosh or (c.) sleeping with someone from Studio Aka... which, if anyone from the Studio reads this, I'm totally happy to do, just don't tell my wife.
 So, it's fun & painful all at once (that's the process I'm talking about now not sleeping with someone from Studio Aka, that would be easy... move on!),  just a little like life I guess. & in a way that's what's happening, as a Writer/Illustrator you are creating a little bit of life...

Development of Lucy (from left to right), one of two main characters. I like her high Seattle fringe.

Patterns & Textures.

Jacket Cover 'Satellite Now'. Inspired by Metric's 'Satellite Mind' from 'Fantasies'. Now all I need do is write the story behind the cover. For those keen on Type this is where you can get your sticky mitts on Inked God

'Seeds For Thought'. Matt-tastic.

You can find more textured fun over at connahbrecon.com Be sure to check out the Design gallery.

iPhone Wallpapers

Well, as promised, here is the 9 Tales Wallpaper, along with a few more images. Each image is sized for the iPhone 4 but will be fine on the 3gs or iTouch. So, have fun, go wild & have something a tad nicer than a pic of ya wife on your tasty phone... unless your wife is tastier than your phone.

 I've had a couple of requests to make 9 Tales available as Wallpaper for the iPad, if I get enough shouts it shall be done.
 Enjoy...

9 Tales

Freya Wakes The Morning.

Owl.

Sebastian Steps Out.

All The Things You Left Undone.

  For more visual goodness go here: connahbrecon.com

App Fun.

A little bit of App fun from the weekend.

Poor Jasper.

A smelly Fish might just do the job.

  For more visual goodness go here: connahbrecon.com

9 Tales

Some Digital goodness with 9 Tales.

Watch out for the iphone wallpaper coming soon. 

In the meantime why not shoot over here: connahbrecon.com

Fish Fight!

Whilst in the UK this Christmas we got caught up in Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's EU Discards Campaign & I would urge anyone with the faintest interest in our planet to check out the fight & sign up here: Fish Fight!  An utterly wasteful,  pointless exercise driven by the EU gravy-train.
 So, after the family had finished cursing tiny minds in Brussels, my nephew & I mucked about with some silly Badges for the campaign; here are four, mocked-up & ready to send to Hugh.

                                  

 For more tasty treats call in here: connahbrecon.com

An Alien Stole My Movie

Just arrived in the post today.
 Produced for Nelson/Cengage through Simply Literacy Ltd.
 A big thanks to John Parsons & the Crew at S L, nice Job.

Medium: Acrylic on Paper 

To see more Educational Fiction step on over to: connahbrecon.com