Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 26

Week 26: Shoes.

"There was an old woman who lived in a shoe; She had so many children she... decided to renovate and add a summertime verandah." Cartoon in black finepoint Sharpie and watercolour.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 25

Week 25: Invention.

"Professor Pat Pending builds the better mousetrap." Black finepoint Sharpie with watercolour, based on several cels of the character from TV's "Wacky Races".

Update:

Week 25: Invention II.

"Invention in the arts." Freecut symmetrical silhouette in black card, plus ribbon scraps, collaged onto a mounted print-out from Wikipedia.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 24

Week 24: Birthday.

"Jack at 14." White Signo pigment ink sketch on red Quill Metallique card, with black finepoint shading and coloured oil pastel highlights. Based upon two photos from my collection.

Update:

Week 24: Birthday II.

"Happy birthday, Bert!" Oil pastels and gold glitter on black card, based on a photograph found in Google Images.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 23

Week 23: Zoo.

Freecut silhouettes in black card, and sketches in black finepoint marker on white paper with watercolour shading, collaged to either side of a translucent blue plastic stationery folder. Based on elements from several photos taken by me at Sydney's Taronga Park Zoo.

My blue cardboard had a bend in it, and I had to improvise. I had only found the folder on a forgotten pile last weekend. For me the exciting thing is how it photographed! Way more interesting and realistic than blue card, and the sea lions can be repositioned inside the plastic sleeve!

Update:

Week 23: Zoo II.

Freecut silhouettes in black card, and a sketch in black finepoint marker on white paper with coloured pencil and watercolour shading, collaged to either side of a mounted mesh baking sheet. Based on elements from a recent photo taken by me, plus a 1960s stock photo of Taronga Park Zoo's late feature attraction, King Kong.

It's as difficult to see the gorilla as it was at the Zoo in the 1960s. Infamously, Taronga's King Kong (and his partner, Mary Kong, in a separate enclosure) delighted in tossing sawdust and excrement onto the screaming human observers. Eventually, an additional perspex barrier had to be added. I thought people might like to see what it looks like inside the depressing 1960s enclosure, so here he is (below).

Week 23: Zoo IIa.

Week 23: Zoo III.

Freecut silhouettes in black card, and sketches in black finepoint marker on white paper with watercolour shading, collaged to either side of a mounted translucent green plastic stationery folder. Based on a memory of the original otter enclosure at Sydney's Taronga Park Zoo and stock otter photos found via a Google Image search.

This was one of my favourite Taronga exhibits as a kid (and featured in a favourite episode of TV's Catch Kandy), but in the late 70s, it disappeared off the official Zoo maps and I had to use an older map (in the Jacaranda School World Atlas) to find it each time I visited. It was like my secret rendezvous with the otters. The new maps and Zoo signage showed only a newer exhibit, around the corner.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 22

Week 22: Science.

Ida Lupino as the evil alchemist, Dr Cassandra Spellcraft, in the "Batman" TV series of the 1960s. Oil pastels on A3 paper, with watercolour wash.

Update:

Week 22: Science II.

"Periodic Table of the Elephants." White pigment Signo ink and collaged black finepoint sketch on black card.