LOT'S - A day in the life of illustrator Marc Martin

Lots

By Marc Martin

Published by Big Picture Press

£12.99

We absolutely adore this unique whistle-stop exploration of the world! Hours were spent uncovering some of our wonderful worlds most magnificent and mind-boggling secrets. An inspiring read for the young and curious. An essential addition to every bookshelf be it home, school or library. An illustrative masterpiece created with unbridled passion and enthusiasm. 

WELCOMING 
MARC MARTIN 
to Book Sniffer Towers

A day in the life... 

A typical day for me involves a mix of computer work and hands-on illustration. I’ll spare you all my pre-morning coffee photos and get straight to the good stuff. The majority of the time I’ll ride to the studio (about 30 minutes away), but if it’s raining or if I’m feeling lazy, I might catch the train in. 

I find riding to and from work is a great way for me de-stress and enjoy the outdoors. Here’s a picture of the bridge I ride across most days. Don’t look down:

I share a studio space with about 15 other people. There’s a mix of photographers, designers, artists and writers all working from the space at various times. Our studio above a tyre shop:

This is my desk… you can tell I’ve been at my current studio about for about 7 years because, yes, there’s a lot of junk. It’s funny because at home I’m very neat and minimalist, but in the studio I’m pretty messy. 

Having a studio so close to the city means there’s plenty of food and drink options close by. I’ll usually grab a coffee (and try to resist getting a chocolate brownie) from our local cafe across the road before getting stuck into work:

While I’m sipping a coffee I’ll usually sit down and go through my emails. I like to try and get all my admin and emails sorted as early as possible so I’ve got the rest of the day to focus on illustration. Because I spend a lot of time at my desk, I’ve built myself a standing desk with a high stool so my back gets a bit of relief from being hunched over all day (commonly known as 'illustrators back’ amongst illustrators!) - this also gives me the option of sitting (often when I’m typing emails), or standing. I use the smaller desk on the right for computer work, and the larger desk on the left for illustration.

Some of the tools I use for illustrating - pencils, gouache, watercolours, hair dryer (for drying paint fast)!

One the best things about having a studio is being around people and feeling like you’re actually ‘at work'. During lunch I’ll usually sit down at the communal table and chat with other studio members. Looks like no one wants to talk to me today

One of the worst things about the studio - the communal fridge. BEWARE! A place where leftovers and bananas go to die

Back at my desk, if I ever need a little bit of inspiration, I might consult my poorly ordered library. Note, I definitely don’t use the Dewey decimal system

Most days are mix of illustration for larger projects or books, and maybe some smaller jobs on the side

The thing I love about being an illustrator is having the freedom to explore my ideas. It’s a rewarding profession that challenges me to keep progressing and find new ways to tell stories

With HUGE thanks to Marc for taking the time to help us with this post and to the kind folk at Big Picture Press (especially Antonia). 

Don't forget to pop over to Book Lover Jo for the next stop on the LOT'S blog tour : ) 

Lock up your valuables! there's a master criminal in town...

Shifty McGifty & Slippery Sam

 The Diamond Chase 

By Tracey Corderoy and Steve Lenton 

£10.99 HB Published by Nosy Crow

Our beloved well-meaning dough-wielding dog detectives are back on the case when a valuable diamond tiara belonging to non-other than Lady Kate goes missing in this fabulous penguin filled romp. 

A perfectly rhyming text written by Tracey Corderoy will tickle your funny bone while the luscious illustrations by our next guest will have you reaching for the nearest bun. A fantastic story to read aloud and one which will no doubt be enjoyed over and over again. But for heavens sake keep hold of your jewels...just in case.

Let's sit down and have a chat and a cup of tea with illustrator 
Steven Lenton!

Do you have a favourite cake recipe? 

Lemon Drizzle or Coffee and Walnut are my absolute favourites to make.  As far as 'shop bought' goes we are very lucky/unlucky that our studio is next door to the Hummingbird Bakery in Soho and the chocolatey waves of deliciousness waft in through our windows every morning and afternoon - they bake the MOST DELICIOUS Red Velvet cupcakes.

Do you have a favourite penguin fact?

I love the contemporary classic fact that Benedict Cumberbatch can't pronounce the word penguin correctly. My favorite, more educational fact is that Penguin’s black and white plumage serves as camouflage while swimming. The black plumage on their back is hard to see from above, while the white plumage on their front looks like the sun reflecting off the surface of the water when seen from below. Isn't nature just AMAZING?!

Whats your favourite pantone colour? 

I prefer PANATONE (especially at Christmas), but my favourite PANTONE color would have to be ORANGE 021 C, because it is the orange featured throughout our premier Shifty and Sam fiction title 'The Spooky School' publishing in September, which Tracey and I are really thrilled about. 

Which is your favourite spread in the book? 

It has to be the reveal of the 42 Penguins in the ballroom scene - when Tracey and I have read the story at events and schools the audience always gasps when they see all the dancing dogs surrounded by waiter penguins - but which one is Sidney Scarper?!

Tell us about your three favourite book shops in London. 

Pickled Pepper is my local children's books shop in Crouch End and has a wonderful selection of classic and contemporary picture books and fiction titles.  They also allow me to create lovely window displays for my books and throw lovely book launches too - Steve and Urmi who own and run the business are lovely and BIG Shifty and Sam fans.

Waterstones Piccadilly and Waterstones stores in general have been incredibly supportive of our Shifty and Sam series and I LOVE to spend as much time as possible exploring the floors (maybe even sometimes the cocktail bar on the way 5th floor, ahem!) chock-full with beautiful tomes.

One book shop which I hope to visit soon is the beautiful Tales on Moon Lane - I think that shop could possible become a new favourite too!

Which spread was the trickiest to complete? 

There is a lot of plot going on in the Shifty and Sam picture books, so keeping the illustrations simple yet full of detail and humour is generally quite tricky!  In this one I think again the ballroom scene as there were so many penguins and dogs to draw! I think my favourite bit in this spread is the two bull terriers dancing the tango!

What would your dog Holly make of Shifty and Sam? And who would she be if she was in one of their adventures? 

WELL it's funny you should say that as Holly does feature somewhere in all three picture books so far - can you spot her?  She is a miniature Jack Russell!  In real-life Holly likes to be the centre of attention so I think she would be MILDLY disappointed that she doesn't have a main role in any of the books.....so far!

Do you collect anything? 

I'm sorry/not sorry to say that I am slightly obsessed not only with collecting picture books, but also Jem and the Holograms merchandise...

See my studio desk as proof! I had a secret obsession with the cartoon in the 80's!

Whats on the drawing board? 

I am working on a top secret picture book just now which will tell you more about as soon as I am allowed!  Also Tracey and I are working on the 4th and 5th Shifty and Sam picture books along with the 2nd and 3rd fiction titles! I am also currently writing my second picture book with Nosy Crow. 

Where can we catch you and lovely Tracey on tour over the next few months? 

We have been very lucky this year and have been invited along to all the major festivals and Tracey has been touring literally HUNDREDS of schools up and down the country with The Diamond Chase! Catch us together at the Edinburgh Festival, Bath Festival, The Cheltenham Festival which we are launching again this year.

BUY A COPY HERE 

With HUGE Thanks to Steven 

for taking the time to join us, 

and to 

Nosy Crow and *Dom* for 

sending us a copy of this book! 

FOLLOW Steven on Twitter @2dscrumptious 

Be sure to check in with Picture Books Blogger for the final stop on this blog tour! 

Introducing Belle & Boo and their creator Mandy Sutcliffe

This month sees the launch of two brand new utterly fabulous Belle & Boo sticker and activity books "Play Day" and "My Favorite Things"- If you can imagine french fancies in book form you are almost there - they are literally brimming (BRIMMING I TELL YOU) with fun and inventive things to do - From colouring in, spot the difference and other traditional activities to sticker cupcake decorating and dress-up. 

There is also a subtle educational strand which will help keep the older readers stimulated. 

Children will be entranced by Belle & Boo and their magical friendship and these books allow fans to literally play alongside these two charming characters. 

The treatment of Mandy's sublime artwork has been sensitively adapted to create two content rich books which epitomise the essence of the Belle and Boo brand. 

Perfect for sunny days under a tree, rainy days under a blanket and everyday in between. 

 

We are lucky enough to have been granted an interview with the ever so talented creator of Belle & Boo so here is our Q&A for your delectation.  

Which living illustrator would you most like your portrait painted by?

Jen Corace - I love her work

(You can read more about Jen's stunning work on her website here - http://jencorace.com/ ) 

What are the three most invaluable tools of your trade? 

 my pencil, scanner and wacom tablet

Do you keep sketch books?

 I don't anymore, I keep inspirational folders on my computer that are a collection of things I like and sketches I have done and scanned in.

What is the best part of your job?

There are so many it is hard to choose, working with my friends, getting paid to draw children, seeing my drawings on beautiful products but the best thing must be when I get emails from parents telling me how much Belle & Boo means to them and their little ones.

 Which item other than the books in the Belle and Boo range are you most proud if and why?

 I really love the large dress up Belle & Boo doll we sell as I used to spend hours playing with dress up dolls when I was little and I love the idea that children now are playing with my Belle & Boo.

Do you have any find childhood memories involving books or storytelling?

I have a lovely memory of a rainy afternoon spent in our family tent with my sister and other friends making a story book about a Welsh dragon, my dad art directed the whole thing and we ended up with a really fantastic book, it was a wonderful cosy creative time.

 Which illustrators do you most admire?

 Mary Cicely Barker, E H Shepard & Joyce Lankester Brisley

What is the best gift you have ever received?

It was probably last weekend when my sister looked after my 16 month old twin boys and lent me and my partner Russ her retro camper van for the weekend, we went to the Yorkshire Dales and walked and ate and slept!

 Have you brought any good children's books lately? Which have been. Your favourites? 

 I bought my boys 'The Tiger who Came to Tea' I wish I had filmed their reaction they were "ooohhhhhhh" every time I turned a page and they saw the tiger. We bought them 'I Want my Hat Back" by Jon Klassen and now are a little bit addicted by his books. I also love Miffy and pretty much everything by Maurice Sendak

Who should we follow on Twitter?

oohh you are asking the wrong person I don't even know how it works, our lovely designer Clare is in charge of Twitter but I have just become a big fan of Instagram so follow me at Belle & Boo!

What would your ideal picnic consist of and do you have a favourite picnic spot

 We used to live near Hampstead Heath and had lovely sunny lazy picnics there, I am a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to picnics, french bread, cheese, pink bubbles and a vanilla slice from Patisserie Valerie

What is your favourite thing to do on a rainy day?

Lie on my bed in the attic under the sky light and watch the rain falling on top of me, I will never get tired of the sound of rain.

 What does your studio look like?

 Very corporate I am afraid, I have a glass desk in a corner of an office with a computer, printer and scanner, I imagine I can make it look a lot prettier but when I am at work I always have too much work to do.

Is Belle based on anyone real and did you have an imaginary friend as a child?

I think she is based a little on me as a child as I had the same hair style, no I didn't have an imaginary friend but I believed my toys were real and I still believe in fairies.

What is next for Belle and Boo?

 We hope Belle & Boo get to travel, we have friends all over the world and we want that to grow.

 You can find out more about Bell & Boo by visiting their website http://belleandboo.com/ 

I heartily reccomend you have a look at the entire Belle & Boo story book range - they are utterly divine - you can check them out here 

THANK YOU to Orchard Books and the delightful Sarah Mays for including us on this wonderful blog tour, for sending us such sublime books and for letting us quiz Mandy! 

You can follow Orchard Books on Twitter @orchardbooks