GOATS AFLOAT - Character development .
A new acquisition commissioned by Amazon Publishing written by Lezlie Evans 2024 release date. Agented by Painted Words
Some close up A-Z sketchbook development pages... more chat about the constriction, idea generation & picture book use here on Studio Steve (Lenton) Podcast....
Hot-Off-The-Press Publishing Weekly interview here :
Sneaky-Oinky-Peaky?....
It's nearly publication time.... February 23rd 2023 Pre order your copy here ☞ Waterstones
This is our protagonist Bea. Beatrice Millicent Robinson was a fixer. But she was no ordinary fixer. She was the fastest and finest fixer there was. Bea could mend everything (yes really everything) from the trickiest sprocket to the largest rocket! Whenever something broke, Bea was the first person anyone would call.
New signings mean new illustrations....
SO I've done something quite different, I've taken on 2 new illustration projects deliberately to try out some new and exciting illustrations styles, to keep me fresh and on point. One is a speedy/graphic novel/typography heavy collaged- style for a USA collaboration with a rapper- yes, I'm down with the kids.
The other a non-fiction title which enables me to return to my traditional drawing roots which is a breath of fresh air too! I was classically taught to draw from life at university and even contemplated studying botanical art at the Royal college. It was only when 'words met pictures' I found my true happy place.
The other a non-fiction title which enables me to return to my traditional drawing roots which is a breath of fresh air too! I was classically taught to draw from life at university and even contemplated studying botanical art at the Royal college. It was only when 'words met pictures' I found my true happy place.
SO much fun...
THE FIXER OF BROKEN THINGS- Bonnier Press TEMPLAR. UK Publishing 2023
This is my fourth author illustrator picture book that I'm so very excited to share with you. Here are some sneaky peak WIP's of the work I'm the most proud of to date. This narrative is a story so very close to my heart, so much so that I had to take a year's hiatus to undertake my PTSD Talking Therapies UK NHS to enable me to complete this. The entire Templar Team were so so kind, supportive and we are nearly, almost, ready to show it to the world....
NEW LOOK BOOK for 2022!
Heres the new and updates look book spread for my magnificent agents in NY, USA Painted Words. I didn't have the best start of 2022 but I'm back bigger and stronger and filled with more stories to share with you. Watch this space folks.....
I'm delighted to announce that No.7 Evergreen Street is the winner of the 'Student choice' & 'Teachers Choice' for 5-7 year old children by RIBA- Royal Institute Of British Architects published by Templar Books. This is exciting news as we've just started work on book 2 & 3, out in 2022. Which flat would you choose to live in?
The designing of this unique building & the characters was one of my favourite parts of this entire book. I've always been inspired by Richard Scarry books and the incredibly bonkers inventions & gadgets of W. Heath Robinson. I poured over the tiny details in the illustrations for hours, days, weeks.
November news. New adventures & new work...
So, I've just undertaken a new adventure, a brand new start and sadly have left my lecturing post at Sunderland (for now) to undertake something rather epic. It's all under a NDA so all I can say is ssshhhhh.... BUT I am also undertaking a new book that I wrote two years ago that I put on hold and right now, today, it begins. It's a story that's very close to my heart and I promise I'll put every ounce of love into it. It's a special one.
It's FINISHED. I've seen the proofs & they are GREAT!!!!
THIS FIELD TRIP STINKS! Under-construction.... the sequel to My School Stinks written by the amazingly talented Becky Scharnhorst
Directory Of Illustration NY. USA
New work edited & presented by my literary & illustartion agents PAINTED WORDS inc. NY. USA
New creative CV
Each year my agents at Painted Words NY USA ask me to send them an updated Creative CV which looks a little like this: Press here to see.
MY FIELD TRIP STINKS- the sequel
I've begun the illustrations for this next book and here our protagonist Stuart is taken on a very WILD field trip .... more to come soon.
MY SCHOOL STINKS
Published by Philomell books for Penguin Random House in June 2021 and written by the brilliant Becky Scharnhorst, here are some behind the scenes development work illustrations...
So let's start with our protagonist Stuart. Before & after character development sketches. These were the very first sketches I shared with the team. As you can see the title of the books eventually changed- that happens regularly. Stuart's school uniform and over sized glasses evolved but not so he wasn't unrecognisable.
Here are the stages of full coloured rendered characters from the initial sketches above.
After much discussion we decided that Stuart needed to be much 'fuller' so the next stage was this....
As you can see his hair was knocked back a little to more orange than bright red and his face is a little more developed. Here is couple of his wild friends ...
NUMBER 7 EVERGREEN STREET
I'm delighted to share with you some snippets of my newest book out soon available to order here: Published by Templar (Bonnier Press) Available from 19th March 2020. I may be a little bit excited to be working on the next two titles in 2021/2022 with the super team at Templar very soon.
Pea in transition form initial concept to final character design
JANUARY ADVENTURES
Here is the first pencil character sketch of Stuart. He's the protagonist of my newest picture book text called Wildwood Elementary Stinks written by Becky Scharnhorst and published by Penguin Random House USA- Philomel. The acquisition was negotiated by my incredible agents Painted Words NY, USA. More news to follow as I can share.
New year, new books, and well new almost everything....
I've been busy. Really busy. I've moved house, moved studios, started a new job, began two new books and finished one book. In fact so busy I've neglected updating my new work to share. My apologies. I've just completed another of my own author & illustrated picture books named No.7 Evergreen Street that I wrote a few years ago that is being published by the incredible Templar team very soon.
I can show you some older snippets of original work that was further developed and very soon I can show you the whole thing!
I can show you some older snippets of original work that was further developed and very soon I can show you the whole thing!
This is the very first original pencil concept of the book. As you can see I'm obsessed with detail, diagrams and gadgets. I think this was because I was surrounded by Richard Scarry and a little later on by Professor Branestawm chapter books illustrated by the phenomenal W. Heath Robinson. Their work has very heavily influenced my creative process to this day.
As you can see after the first edit the occupants of Evergreen Street was decreased to 8 from 12, which was a VERY smart idea as I'd still be drawing now... Their names and identities are starting to evolve here but still much more editing has to happen.
I have deliberately created a diverse cast of characters all based upon beloved friends and family of mine dotted all over the globe. Together through this book we get to celebrate their unique voices and individual characteristics. I'm passionate about creating books and environments that every single child can identify with. I love to write about and draw worlds where they can see and celebrate themselves through my characters. I love every single voice, however quiet or invisible they might feel. There is always a home for you in my books. Welcome.
I have deliberately created a diverse cast of characters all based upon beloved friends and family of mine dotted all over the globe. Together through this book we get to celebrate their unique voices and individual characteristics. I'm passionate about creating books and environments that every single child can identify with. I love to write about and draw worlds where they can see and celebrate themselves through my characters. I love every single voice, however quiet or invisible they might feel. There is always a home for you in my books. Welcome.
Here is one dear lady that unfortunately didn't make the cut. I do love her still. Maybe, she'll reappear in another book soon...
October snippets
Shhhhh! #WIP
THE VERY VERY VERY LONG DOG has been selected to be animated by Dreamscape USA
August/September sneaky-peaks 2019- New illustration work
I'm working on the final colour for my newest author and illustrated title No.7 Evergreen Street for Templar. So I can't share anything just yet as it's all top secret, well, apart from this chap. See you all in about 3 months! ....
#Happy #NationalPigeonDay
Can you spot the two pigeons in each of these spreads from THE VERY VERY VERY LONG DOG? Published by Sourcebooks.
Just to mention, all the final art for this book was completed in 3 weeks! ... #challenging #lifeofacreative Spot the typo?
Just to mention, all the final art for this book was completed in 3 weeks! ... #challenging #lifeofacreative Spot the typo?
#faceyourart challenge
This is a quick look at some of the characters that will be appearing in my new books coming in 2019/20 also an instagram challenge called #faceyourart where you share the faces of your characters as an illustrator. I also find it a very useful exercise to determine your 'creative visual vocabulary' AKA your style and especially your colour palate. It's great exercise for any illustrator new or old.
Hot-off-the-press
There is unfortunately so little I can share with you regarding my forthcoming books just yet, so here are a few of my insta and twitter 'shares' but here are some sneaky-peaks at my 'words meet pictures' sketchbook.
My new adventures into graphic novels...
My illustrated A-Z where seedlings are watered and even sometimes blossom...
One little girl, one big job...to fix anything that's broken. A true story.
Here's a little #dailyartchallenge I've set myself to create another bird everyday to join the little yellow bird in his tree. Everyday I'm going to add another character and create a narrative for the birds. It could get rather hectic rather quickly. Watch this space for updates...
#kidlit4climate #iamwriting
Introducing Chester. This little chap was created for a sample that fell through, but I feel he's got so much character in his cute pj's with monkey that I'm writing a story for him as we speak. Here he is supporting the #kidlit4climate movement which is very close to my heart.
Girl power!
A highlight of some of my female protagonists...
This is Charlie. Just wait until she meets Pip...
This is Penelope. Her friends call her Pea as she's very small and her favourite colour is green.
The illustration below is taken from THE VERY VERY VERY LONG DOG published by Sourcebooks USA 13 Jan 2017
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These two images above and below are taken from SNAIL MAIL written by Samantha Berger published by Running Press/Hachette May 1st 2018.
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This is the awesome Professor McQuark and The Oojamaflip written by Lou Treleaven and published by Maveric
This week I celebrated a YE HAR! YELLOW HALF HOUR!! #yeharyellowhalfhour over on instagram come & see what happened instagram julspatton
What’s yellow and dangerous? Shark Infested Custard....
#creativehalfhour #illustrators #kidlitart #picturebooks #raisingreaders #Colourpop #hellowyellow
What’s yellow and dangerous? Shark Infested Custard....
#creativehalfhour #illustrators #kidlitart #picturebooks #raisingreaders #Colourpop #hellowyellow
Happy #internationalcatday
Today has been #internationalcatday😺 so here are a few feline featured illustrations
This montage above is from my first author & illustrated book called DRAT THAT FAT CAT published by Albert Whitman & Co. which you can find here:
More fabulous felines? ok, here are we go, this furry chap is from STINKER written by David Zeltser published by Lerner.
"Please take this book home with you. It does not stink. It is irresistible." -Judy Schachner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Skippyjon Jones
"Please take this book home with you. It does not stink. It is irresistible." -Judy Schachner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Skippyjon Jones
No. 7 Evergreen Street
This lady and gentleman are two of twelve characters appearing in my new book commissioned by Templar which I'm currently working on called No. 7 Evergreen street
Now this story doesn't have a happy ending, and if you're the slightest bit squeamish this book is not for you. You were warned...
Whist we're on the subject of mischievous boys, are are a few more of my male protagonists...
This is Max, and as you may have guessed, he's UNSTOPPABLE. This was my first author/illustrated title published by Oxford University Press.
"It's time for Max to get ready for bed - but his imagination just gets in the way! Join this irrepressible new character in a high-energy picture book. Max is more than a character - he's an avatar on the page for non-stop children everywhere! A perfect book for all the 'unstoppable' little ones out there " The Bookseller
This is Max, and as you may have guessed, he's UNSTOPPABLE. This was my first author/illustrated title published by Oxford University Press.
"It's time for Max to get ready for bed - but his imagination just gets in the way! Join this irrepressible new character in a high-energy picture book. Max is more than a character - he's an avatar on the page for non-stop children everywhere! A perfect book for all the 'unstoppable' little ones out there " The Bookseller
This little boy and his father above are from a sample called "Sleepy? , not me!" which was the first time I started using my original pencil drawings to colour as I was trying to retain my freshness of line and expression that was getting lost by over-working the character. This remains to be my go-to way of illustrating to date which is a looser, more sketched style, which is much softer than the Unstoppable Max style further above.
This young man is the recipient of the SNAIL MAIL love letter that finds it's way across the USA with the help of our five slippery superheroes published by Running Press Kids
'A long, long time ago, before email and texting, the mail was delivered in a much slower way-it was called Snail Mail (because some thought it was delivered by a snail). Although it took much longer, everyone agreed that letters were a little more special when they were delivered by Snail Mail. They might be handwritten. They might include a drawing. They might even contain a surprise inside! One such letter was sent by a Girl to the Boy she loved, and it was up to four special snails to deliver her card across the country. The snails trek across the country-through desert heat and dangerous blizzards, across mountains and plains, through cities and forests-and along the way, they find that taking time to slow down and look around makes the journey all the more beautiful.' RP Kids
"Julia Patton’s rich illustrations showcase America’s diverse terrain and national monuments from coast to coast. Kids and parents alike will delight in this celebration of America’s beauty and the power of a simple handwritten letter." RP Kids
'A long, long time ago, before email and texting, the mail was delivered in a much slower way-it was called Snail Mail (because some thought it was delivered by a snail). Although it took much longer, everyone agreed that letters were a little more special when they were delivered by Snail Mail. They might be handwritten. They might include a drawing. They might even contain a surprise inside! One such letter was sent by a Girl to the Boy she loved, and it was up to four special snails to deliver her card across the country. The snails trek across the country-through desert heat and dangerous blizzards, across mountains and plains, through cities and forests-and along the way, they find that taking time to slow down and look around makes the journey all the more beautiful.' RP Kids
"Julia Patton’s rich illustrations showcase America’s diverse terrain and national monuments from coast to coast. Kids and parents alike will delight in this celebration of America’s beauty and the power of a simple handwritten letter." RP Kids
This lovely old chap is from a book named 'STINKER' written by David Zeltszer and illustrated by me.
From one smelly pup above to more canine characters below...
Some very woof sketches for you... sorry.
A small collection of canine characters in progress...
This little puppy below is called STINKER written by David Zeltser and published by Millbrook Press/Lerner publishing 1st September 2017.
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Meet Bartelby, he's a very very very long dog who doesn't always know where his bottom is...
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Happy #worldsmileday October 6th 2017
November news
It's elephant-tastic in the studio this week, here's a sneaky peak inside my sketchbook of some pencil and mixed media collage experiments.
Collage illustrations
I love nothing more than gathering found papers and creating illustrations in mixed media and collage. I love to integrate college into my picture book illustrations. Here are a few of my recent sketchbook experiments...
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This is my garden A-Z which I fill with everything flora and forna related. I especially adore typography and collect 'found' lettering
