Thanks!

I’ve been checking your blog occasionally for a wee while now, and I’m please to say it’s always an amusing and enjoyable read. Good work!
Now, what I don’t know about illustration could fill a large textbook on illustration… nevertheless it was a mere 15 years ago that I read books with pictures of children and dogs on bicycles. Surely this makes me at least semi-qualified to comment?

* Remembering some of my favourite book series (‘Topsy and Tim’, ‘Biff, Kipper and Chip’…those were the days ), the central characters were very distinctive and well defined. Do a few pictures showing that you can draw distinctive faces, but all in the same ‘style’. A few adult faces would be a good idea too. Incidentally, you’ve done a fine job of gender distinction while keeping the same ‘look’ to those two. They make very convincing siblings!

* Children’s books love to show cultural diversity. It’s probably a good idea to include in your portfolio a few pictures with characters from many different racial backgrounds.

* Demonstrating that you can draw the same character in many different positions (swimming, playing on a swing, sleeping, kicking a ball) is obviously a good thing too. I imagine it’s pretty hard to make a figure instantly recognisable in all these situations.

* Including a dog on the bike is a great idea. A publisher is likely to be impressed if you can draw lots of different animals in the same style. Maybe chuck some rabbits, fish, seagulls and goats in too?

* As far as background is concerned, a publisher probably wants to see that you can cope with (as you said) a range of subjects. On the other hand, perhaps it’s better to develop a matching signature style of drawing buildings and cars etc. Hmmm. The bike is a nice style though – it matches the kids well and doesn’t look out of place.
For this particular sketch, I’d have them whizzing down a hedge-lined country lane with fields of sheep in the background and some puffy clouds in a blue sky

You’ve probably already thought of all this stuff, so sorry if I’m filling up the internet by stating the obvious. Good luck with the portfolio, and keep blogging!

Rob (a.k.a. Gabb of FTP ilk)

Thanks for your critique, I see what you mean about the similarities…in my mind the two characters are brother and sister so that’s why I did it. I might see if I can vary them slightly though.

Several observations. You would think that the best guide to the strength of your art would be small children. But I suppose few 4-year olds run their own blogs, and fewer still commission & buy books for the large publishing companies! Maybe what I perceive as poor artwork is simply a very minimalist scaled down illustration that is easy to transpose onto lunch boxes, t-shirts etc.

I love your illustrations and if forced to critique it, I’d suggest that the two main characters have more distinctive differences. They seem to have similar ears, noses and chins. But I can hardly draw my own name!