Pets... in unexpected places

I got a lovely surprise in my boîte aux lettres from Hazel.

This "Pet in the Post" is a cheerful little spider... she even came with her own web!

The other pets seem to be taking to her just fine...

...and she seems to be right at home in Paris. Thanks, Hazel!

For those of you who don't know, Hazel is a painter and a teacher from Scotland, and the blogueuse responsible for the wonderful and inspiring blog, The Art Room Plant.
So much treasure and inspiration — go look...right NOW! Run, don't walk.

You're welcome.

Scenes from rural France

I'm back from my little break. It's good to get away from town —yes, even Paris!— every now and again.

New things to look at!  Fresh air!!

.  

Just what the doctor ordered.

New friends...  

More new friends... drawn "on the hoof", as it were.

Casting Call

Like most illustrators, I keep a sketchbook. At times haphazardly, only on post-its, old envelopes and other scraps of paper. And at other times fervently, into a notebook that never leaves my side. Many of the sketches are only pencil swirls and jottings, intelligible only to me— and take form only later, when they are painted in a final version.

But other sketches seem to have a life of their own, with recurrent elements making regular appearances in the pages, coming back again and again. Almost like they want to audition for a part in one of my numerous (and interminable!) children's book projects.

One of these is Hamlet:

He's a piglet in pajamas who (when not napping) is brash and playful. And pinchable!

I expect there will be more of Hamlet in future posts, as well as the other habitués of my sketchbook pages. But for now — good night, wherever you are!

Here I am!

I have arrived .... hello!