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Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: Bears on the Stairs, Most Recent at Top [Help]

Results 1 - 25 of 68

1. Bears on the Stairs: Lights, Camera... Action!

By: Lynne Chapman, on 1/22/2015
Blog: An Illustrator's Life For Me! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: children, storytelling, school, workshop, Bears on the Stairs, Add a tag

When I read my picture books to children, I always add at least one fun activity, to make the experience even more memorable for them. Bears on the Stairs, written by my favourite partner, Julia Jarman, is the perfect book for all sorts of added-value fun, so I almost always read it at least once during a school visit.

I read it to a KS1 class in the lovely St Andrews Infant School in Brighouse last week. When we got to the end of the story, I asked the children if it was okay for me to be a bit silly. Luckily, they said yes. Even more luckily, one of the teachers filmed the next part of the session on her iPad, so I can show you exactly what I mean by 'added-value' and just how silly we can get!

I wrote the poem 'The Bear on the Stair' to fit with Julia's story and the whole class performs it together. Before we start though, I ask for volunteers. First, I need someone to be the bear: to roar and eat the children at the end of the poem. Then I need a volunteer to do a big burp (I once had a Head Teacher volunteer for this role!), so I asked the class at St Andrews what noise you might make if your belly was really, really full of children. Instead of a burp, one little boy rubbed his tummy and made a fabulously deep, bear-like 'Mmmmmmmm....' sound. So, as well as the burper, I added him to the mix.

I was delighted that it was this particular session which was filmed, because it was an especially good one. The children were so engaged and the 3 guys at the front really went for it. It makes me laugh every time I watch it, to see them making up all the actions to go with the poem. Watch for yourself and see.

After all the noise and silliness of the poem, I quieten things down with a mock-serious award ceremony, giving a little Bears on the Stairs badge to each of my volunteers. Unfortunately, I have almost used up all the badges that the publisher gave me - just a handful left.

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2. The 'Stars on Canvas' Auction Results - Wow!!

By: Lynne Chapman, on 11/25/2014
Blog: An Illustrator's Life For Me! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: illustration, painting, acrylics, Bears on the Stairs, Add a tag

Thank you SO much to all those who bid on my little bear canvas. On the final morning of the Stars on Canvas auction, I looked to see how it was going and he was still at £74, so I was blown away yesterday when I discovered that he finally sold for £296.45! That's fantastic, isn't it? It's loads more than I expected, as the last one I did, an illustration from Class Two at the Zoo, sold for £155, so I am delighted.

I don't know who got my little, growly bear in the end, but I am sure he has gone to a good home. If you bought him, thank you, and thank you to everyone who bid on all the various canvases. Let's hope The Willow Foundation made shed-loads of spondoolies!

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3. Auction: Your Chance to Buy my Growly Bear

By: Lynne Chapman, on 11/17/2014
Blog: An Illustrator's Life For Me! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: painting, acrylics, Bears on the Stairs, Add a tag

Remember, ages ago I showed you a canvas I had painted of the little, growly bear from Bears on the Stairs? Well, his time has finally come! He is being auctioned right now, as part of the Stars on Canvas campaign, to raise money for the amazing charity, Willow Foundation, which sends seriously ill 16 - 40 year olds on unforgettable Special Days out, to help them reconnect with their families, focus on quality time together and create positive memories for people to treasure.

Little bear is on Ebay here. It's only at £21 at the moment, so I'm sure we can raise a little bit more than that, as there's another 6 days to go.

Luckily for the little bear, and for the charity's coffers, he won't be alone - dozens of other illustrators as well as tons of celebs, have also created canvases to be auctioned.

So, this is your opportunity to bag yourself some great art, or a one-off special by that special celebrity you have a secret crush on.

Go get bidding right now! It for such a good cause and there's loads to choose from. Treat yourself, or get some very unusual Christmas pressies. At the very least, make sure my little, growly bear gets himself a good home!

If you're in London, there's a big Stars on Canvas exhibition on at The Hub, Heddon Street from 20th - 24th November (12 - 6pm, 4pm on the Sunday). I was invited to a posh private view evening, but I'm too busy to get down there, so will miss all the champers and celebrity-spotting. Hey-ho.

You could tweet the auction for me too, if you want to help a little more, and spread the word: #StarsOnCanvas. The event happens every two years and raises tons of money. Remember the Class Two at the Zoo anaconda I painted last time? That went for £155, which was great. Let's see if we can do even better this time round.

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4. Getting up Early to Visit Woodhouse West Primary School

By: Lynne Chapman, on 9/13/2014
Blog: An Illustrator's Life For Me! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: children, storytelling, school, drawing, Bears on the Stairs, Add a tag

I've had a lot of sleep to catch up on, after my adventures in Brazil, not just from the looooooooonnnng journey home (3 different planes, 2 cabs and a train to get back), but from all the late nights while I was there (one night we didn't stop dancing until 4.30am - yahoo!).

So, it was a bit of a struggle to get up at 6.15 on Monday morning, to get myself to a primary school. Although Woodhouse West is a Sheffield school, I needed to be there early, to set up for a pre-school book-signing session in the library. Before the children arrived, the Y1 teacher told me that they had been working from my website and had all done a portrait of me. Here are a couple of my favourites:

What do you think? Should I be worried?

I had a lovely time, working with the two Y1 classes, reading Bears on the Stairs, Class Two at the Zoo and Class Three all at Sea - all books written by my friend, the lovely Julia Jarman.

We were rather silly (I do enjoy reverting to being a child during these session with littlies). I did my Bear on the Stair poem and gave out badges to the best burpers and growlers in each group. Then we designed monsters. I had a new idea at the end. I got them to think about what kind of noise their monster might make. Then we formed a circle, facing in and holding up the monster drawings so everyone could see and, on the count of 3, made our noise - hilarious!

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5. A Bear on a New Stair

By: Lynne Chapman, on 3/27/2014
Blog: An Illustrator's Life For Me! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: painting, studio, Bears on the Stairs, Add a tag

Each year I do a painting for a charity called The Willow Foundation. It goes towards a project called Stars on Canvas: a London exhibition and on-line auction to raise money for seriously ill people and their families, providing them with much-needed, special days out to remember.

The charity send out 20cm square canvases to all sorts of people, some of them artists like myself, many of them celebrities from all sorts of fields. Everyone creates a piece of art on exactly the same format.

Last year I did a painting based on Class Two at the Zoo:

The first year I did it things started well, but then I got into all sorts of problems because I didn't really have the right tools for the job. These days I have acrylics, so it's much easier.

This year I thought I would do Bears on the Stairs, because the little bear would fit the square format rather well.

Acrylics are still an unfamiliar medium though, as I have just not had enough spare time to get to grips with technique. This little canvas has been a good way of helping me learn how the paint responds. It's very different from watercolour or pastels of course. I enjoyed playing around, trying to get the effects I wanted, without knowing for sure what I was doing.

This is how he looks, hot off the press:

I wanted to identify the book the character had come from so, like last time, I used the side of the canvas to write the title. The opposite side had a good space for my name. It was very tricky and fiddly doing the text though - in many ways the hardest bit!

If you would like to make sure you get the chance to buy the rude little bear, or want to see some of the other canvases that will be for sale, here's the info you need. Also, if you are a painter, illustrator or celeb and would like to have a go at doing your own canvas for the exhibition and auction, the deadline is not until August, so there's still time if you're quick.

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6. Picture Book Co-Edition Surprise...

By: Lynne Chapman, on 6/26/2012
Blog: An Illustrator's Life For Me! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Urban Sketchers, Bears on the Stairs, signed books, co-editions, Add a tag

Yes, my lovely postman has been at it again. Yesterday, quite out of the blue, I received a jiffy-bag containing...

...a new co-edition of my most recent book with Julia Jarman, Bears on the Stairs! John and I were not at all sure what language it was, but Julia assures me that it is Portuguese.

I don't like to hoard foreign editions of my titles on my shelves in the studio. Apart from taking up a lot of space, I firmly believe that books are for reading - especially children's books. So I try to give away my co-editions to people who speak the relevant languages. I find most UK libraries are crying out for Eastern European languages, as well as Arabic of course, so that's a great way to ensure those ones go to a good home.

However, I have another idea this time. As it happens, last year's Urban Sketchers Symposium was held in Lisbon (remember, when I went completely l

3 Comments on Picture Book Co-Edition Surprise..., last added: 6/28/2012
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Pedro said, on 6/26/2012 5:54:00 AM
Yes, it is portuguese. Congrats!
Jez said, on 6/27/2012 5:37:00 AM
Congratulations! And I love the illustrations. How about a Japanese edition, wouldn't that look gorgeous!
fados do lar said, on 6/28/2012 9:43:00 AM
That's Portuguese, but portuguese from Brazil, not from Portugal :)

For instance, "Papai" is a kind way to call "dad" - in european portuguese, from Portugal, it would be "papá" :)
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7. Public Talks about Children's Book Illustration

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By: Lynne Chapman, on 2/15/2012
Blog: An Illustrator's Life For Me! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: talk, exhibition, Bears on the Stairs, libraries, Add a tag

People sometimes ask me when I am doing events which are open to the general public, rather than in schools. Well, I have several coming up really soon: on Tues Feb 21st in Oldham, on the evening of Fri Feb 24th in Batley, and two on Sat Feb 25th: in Holmforth in the morning and then Huddersfield after lunch.

At 1pm in Oldham Library, I will be giving a 1hr lecture, 'A Life in Pictures', on children's book illustration and how I starting out. I'll also look at some of the other illustration work I've done before finding my way to books, and look in detail at my recent book Bears on the Stairs. It's like an extended version of the short film on my website.

This event is linked to the exhibition of children's book illustration currently in Oldham: Picture This! If you would like to attend, please contact Oldham Library on 0161 770 8014.

4 Comments on Public Talks about Children's Book Illustration, last added: 2/18/2012
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Julie Clay Illustration said, on 2/16/2012 11:59:00 AM
Hoping to make the Batley one Lynne, bringing a friend along too, hopefully I can get tickets! See you there. Julie. :)
Lynne the Pencil said, on 2/17/2012 2:34:00 AM
Great! Let me know if you have any difficulty getting tickets. x
Lisa Thompson said, on 2/17/2012 8:00:00 PM
These events sound amazing! Perhaps my cousin will have to visit on my behalf again. :) ...any chance any of these lectures will be recorded to be viewed later online?...I expect I'm just dreaming.
Lynne the Pencil said, on 2/18/2012 11:45:00 AM
Good idea, but we're not quite that clued-up yet unfortunately. Maybe next time John is with me, he might have a go.
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8. I'm on YouTube!

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By: Lynne Chapman, on 11/13/2011
Blog: An Illustrator's Life For Me! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: planning, characterisation, Stinky, Bears on the Stairs, finished book, hot tips, interview, illustration, authors, writing, illustrators, artwork, Add a tag

Remember our ill-fated trip to North Wales? Well, one thing that helped take our minds off our problems was the pleasure of spending time with Shoo Rayner, who was doing the same festival as me, and so staying at the same hotel as us for the 3 nights.

It was lovely to have breakfast and dinner together every day and chew the fat (though not literally I hasten to add - the food at the manorhaus is gorgeous). It's so rare to get real time with fellow authors and illustrators, we always have fun comparing notes (comparing 'horror stories' from dodgy school visits is also a fave!).

Shoo is very into creating exciting ideas for the web at the moment, and has for some time been making little films about how he draws. His latest project though is to create filmed interviews with other illustrators and authors he meets on the road. So, while we were together in Ruthin, he asked me if I would mind doing an interview. What fun!

The hotel let us use their restaurant one afternoon after our library events were over. Shoo set up a tripod and I collected all the bits and bobs I had with me for my talks with the children. Then we just chatted about them. All very relaxed. I drew 3 Comments on I'm on YouTube!, last added: 11/14/2011
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Julie Clay Illustration said, on 11/13/2011 4:20:00 AM
This is fascinating Lynne, thanks so much for sharing them, I shall be back to watch them again, Brilliant. It looked like fun too! You'll be on the TV next????
Sainz Design said, on 11/13/2011 3:30:00 PM
Hiya Lynne! I find your videos to be instructive yet fun. Thanks so much for sharing the creating process with us your readers. I find that when you show your work I am definitively all fired-up to go and do MY work.
PS You look great on camera!
Liz Steel said, on 11/14/2011 3:33:00 AM
hi Lynne - these are SO wonderful!!! So great to have you on video just in case I forget your aussie(!?) accent!!! So much fun and wonderful work!
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9. New Ideas for Children's Workshops...

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By: Lynne Chapman, on 11/5/2011
Blog: An Illustrator's Life For Me! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: children, storytelling, school, drawing, workshop, pencil, sketchbook, Stinky, sketching on the train, Bears on the Stairs, Add a tag

On Tuesday, I set aside my story writing, because I had an invitation to visit St John's First School in Stafford.

I've been to Stafford before and it's not the most direct journey from here by train, so I set the alarm early again, and was away at 6.45am (don't you just hate getting up in the dark?). At least I got lots of train sketching done, as you can see...

St John's was a tiny school, only 70 children in total, so we divided them into 2 groups. I started with a chat to the 28 children in Y3 and Y4. For the first time, I used PowerPoint on the classroom's interactive whiteboard, which meant I could show all my illustrations, without having to lug so many books on the train.

The same group then did an illustration workshop, drawing characters. Children often use rubbers too much, so 0 Comments on New Ideas for Children's Workshops... as of 1/1/1900

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10. Edinburgh Festival - Bears on the Stairs

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By: Lynne Chapman, on 8/23/2011
Blog: An Illustrator's Life For Me! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: storytelling, pencil, sketchbook, sketching, festivals, sketching on the train, Bears on the Stairs, Add a tag

I like the 'yurt' at the Edinburgh Festival. It's there for performers to hang out. It's such a beautiful construction and is a great place to chill, before and after your event, and to meet both old and new friends. We get complimentary food and drink in there too, and it even has a fire, for those chilly, Scottish evenings:

I took these early in the morning, before anyone famous was around to complain about being in shot...

My storytelling was last Thursday afternoon. The festival put me up the night before, so I got the earliest train I could bear on Wednesday morning, to allow me as much time as possible at to cavort at the festival.

I was on Sheffield station at 6.30am (ugg) but it was worth it, as I got to Edinburgh around lunchtime, ready to get stuck in!

It was really sunny and there wasn't a seat to be had outside in the garden area, so I decided to do a quick sketch of the inside of the Spiegeltent: a big cafe & performance space. Even in there, I had to share a table occupied by two elderly ladies. Unfortunately, they got very interested in what I was doing and we started to chat so I not only didn't finish it, but nearly missed the start of my 1st event - Maggie O'Farrell:

She was great - funny, really easy to listen to and very honest about how she writes.

It was still sunny when I came out, and I at last managed to grab a c

2 Comments on Edinburgh Festival - Bears on the Stairs, last added: 8/25/2011
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Miraculous Mosquito said, on 8/24/2011 4:47:00 AM
I don't mind the long post at all...it is really interesting reading all about the festival, I wish I was there. But reading your post I felt like I was there anyway :) I like all the little details, especially about the man with the tree trunk neck hehe.
Balaji said, on 8/25/2011 1:02:00 AM
A very interesting post, and wonderful sketches too.
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11. Edinburgh Festival

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By: Lynne Chapman, on 8/6/2011
Blog: An Illustrator's Life For Me! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: storytelling, festivals, Bears on the Stairs, Add a tag

Just to let you know, I am doing a storytelling session as part of the Edinburgh Festival again this year so, if you missed my Bears on the Stairs storytelling event at Hay, this is another chance to catch it.

I'll be strutting my stuff at 1.30pm on August 18th, in the RBS Imagination Lab. The event lasts one hour, costs £4.50 and is suitable for 4 - 8 year olds. You can book your tickets here.

See you there!
see more of my work at www.lynnechapman.co.uk

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12. Grand Opening Day!

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By: Lynne Chapman, on 7/31/2011
Blog: An Illustrator's Life For Me! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: illustration, storytelling, drawing, exhibition, pencil, sketchbook, artwork, Stinky, sketching on the train, Bears on the Stairs, Add a tag

OK, it's a bit of a cheat, as the exhibition actually opened to the public on July 16th, but because I had to shoot off for the Urban Sketchers symposium, we moved the opening day on a couple of weeks.

When the forecast said Saturday was going to be a gloriously sunny day, I was a little nervous that folks might head off to the park instead, but I needn't have worried - we had a great turn-out. We began at 2pm with 50 people, but they kept coming throughout the first hour.

I started with some signing (sorry about the 'posed' photo, but once people were gathered round, there was nothing to see but backs). As well as my books for sale, we also had some special badges, bookmarks and postcards the gallery had printed specially:

When everyone had gathered at one end of the gallery, I did my usual storytelling set and some drawing at the flipchart. I haven't got any photos to show you unfortunately, as we never got around to getting permission off parents for photos. By the way, these sketches are, as usual, the ones I did on the journey there and back:

4 Comments on Grand Opening Day!, last added: 8/2/2011
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Jacqueline Hudon-Verrelli said, on 7/31/2011 6:29:00 PM
Congrats on the show. I love the blue dress you're wearing in that top photo. So cute :)
Lynne Chapman said, on 8/1/2011 12:57:00 AM
Thank you! It was an impluse purchase last time I was in Covent Garden.
Katie W said, on 8/1/2011 7:29:00 AM
Yeah It was a great afternoon. You very kindly signed my book tho' I didn't get a chance to chat as you were so busy!! (You do a great warthog impersonation!)
Lynne Chapman said, on 8/2/2011 1:35:00 AM
Thinking about it, that sounds like my perfect epitaph: 'She did a great warthog impersonation'!

Sorry we didn't get to chat. Glad you enjoyed it and thank you so much for coming - much appreciated.
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13. Thank Goodness! (But There's Still More...)

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By: Lynne Chapman, on 5/25/2011
Blog: An Illustrator's Life For Me! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: digital, Corel Painter, Bears on the Stairs, co-editions, text overlays, hot tips, Baby Goes Baaaa, Add a tag

I am well and truly frazzle-brained after that marathon but, finally, all the digital cut-outs for Baby Goes Baaaaa! are now done. Phew. It took longer than usual, because every single page needed doing, rather than just the odd image here and there.

However... just when I thought it was all over, I remembered there are a couple of illustrations that need incidental text adding, like the paint pot you can see in this rough of page E, F, G. As any illustrator knows, you never draw wording on your illustrations, because of co-edition translations, but that means overlays are required, so the words can be printed on afterwards.

There are two little pots with wording on: one for the paint above, another for the anteater's sticky treacle (which I think will be syrup in the US):

Now, for most sensible people, who don't work in pastels, overlays are not something they need worry about: the designer is quite happy to take care of it. But, pastel illustrations look a bit weird with standard, hard-edged fonts on top - the wording floats above the surface of the drawing.

So, like the control-freak John is always reminding me I am

2 Comments on Thank Goodness! (But There's Still More...), last added: 5/26/2011
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Vivien said, on 5/25/2011 1:05:00 PM
I love the anteater with the treacly mess, and it will be a delight to children!
Aisling Kiernan said, on 5/26/2011 6:43:00 AM
I love your anteater and find the whole process fascinating and will view my childrens' story books with so much more respect now. Thank you for your generosity in sharing how you work. Amazing
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14. Gearing up for My Exhibition

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By: Lynne Chapman, on 4/26/2011
Blog: An Illustrator's Life For Me! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: exhibition, artwork, Bears on the Stairs, Kangaroos Cancan Cafe, Dragon's Dinner, Open Wide, Add a tag

Today John and I have been getting all the artwork together for my exhibition in Salford, which opens in July.

Many of the pieces I'm showing are the same as the Tameside show, so they are still in their mounts and just needed getting out of storage, but I wanted to update the show by adding pieces from two more recent books: Bears on the Stairs and Dragon's Dinner. I have substituted 4 images from each of these for older pieces (mainly from books like Kangaroo's Cancan Cafe and Open Wide, which sadly have now gone out of print).

I got John to dig around in my drawers (Ooo, Missus!) and find the relevant new spreads, then we gave them a once-over and he packaged them all up for me, ready for collection by a courier.

I don't generally exhibit my artwork, as the framing costs can be prohibitive, but the frames for this show have been provided by the original gallery in Tameside, so luckily that's one less thing to worry about.
see more of my work at www.lynnechapman.co.uk

4 Comments on Gearing up for My Exhibition, last added: 4/26/2011
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June said, on 4/26/2011 7:24:00 AM
Good luck with the preparations... so much work goes into an exhibition. I wish it was closer so that I could see it!
Lynne Chapman said, on 4/26/2011 7:39:00 AM
Thank you June. I'll take lots of piccies so you can see how it all comes together x
granny grimble said, on 4/26/2011 7:56:00 AM
Ooooh! I can feel the excitement starting to build up! What a good thing that you have a new PA to help you prepare.
Bethany Hissong said, on 4/26/2011 9:24:00 AM
I hope some of the local art teachers know about it so that they will tell (or bring!) their students to see it! Kids would just love to see your work in person!
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15. The Cover

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By: Lynne Chapman, on 4/7/2011
Blog: An Illustrator's Life For Me! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Baby Goes Baaaa, publisher, cover, artwork, roughs, characterisation, Bears on the Stairs, Add a tag

In February, I sent 3 possible designs for the cover of Baby Goes Baaaa! to Egmont. The various possibilities were talked through, not just by the Editorial and Design team, but also the guys in Sales, since they have direct and regular dealings with the booksellers, so it's felt that they have their fingers on the pulse of what will sell.

The upshot was that this was the fave design:

...but that it needed tweaking.

The process is very much a team thing, so it's interesting to get more eyes on my ideas. For instance, the meeting brought up the fact that the bow on the lamb's head made her obviously a girl, which would restrict sales for boy babies (precisely the same thought process that I had when choosing the hero of Bears on the Stairs).

The publisher also thought that a baby-grow would be more clearly 'young' than my T-shirt. Plus they realised the towed slug on the skateboard was crying out to be stretched round onto the back, to create a 'wraparound' cover.

Above is the plan the designer sent back to me after their meeting. As you can see, they have swapped the skates for a scooter. They also liked my baby monkey from one of the alternative designs, and having the back gives us the chance to sneak him in!

This is my re-draw of their version:

4 Comments on The Cover, last added: 4/8/2011
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Bethany Hissong said, on 4/7/2011 5:25:00 AM
I think your new design is successful! I did notice the text at the back of the scooter and thought that was cool! I'm always amazed at how you are able to take the criticisms and come up with even greater work every time.
Sarah Anderson said, on 4/7/2011 9:02:00 AM
what an interesting glimpse into the world of publishing! Love what you did with the adapted front cover, and think you're spot on with that hat...and the slug looks really worried being left behind on the back - fantastic!
TIM HOPGOOD said, on 4/7/2011 10:34:00 AM
The hat does it for me!
Sue Pownall said, on 4/7/2011 11:10:00 PM
It's good and as Tim said, the hat does it.
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16. Yesterday at Berry Hill

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By: Lynne Chapman, on 1/18/2011
Blog: An Illustrator's Life For Me! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: children, storytelling, school, workshop, Stinky, Bears on the Stairs, Class Two at the Zoo, An Itch to Scratch, Add a tag

Not a hill with berries, but Berry Hill Primary School in Mansfield. It's quite unusual for me to be doing school visits in January, yet this is the 2nd, not counting the lecture.

And what a lovely school! All the children were really excited in advance and so they were all smashing sessions. I spent the whole day with KS1, and we had great fun with the stories.

I read Stinky!, which is a current fave, as I love getting them all to be the flies - 60 kids all buzzing together! I did my latest, Bears on the Stairs too, complete with rap poem (I even remembered the words this time!) and, of course, Class Two at the Zoo to Class Two. Plus, with Reception, we read An Itch to Scratch: I get them all singing, and scratching different bits of their bodies, to the tune of 'If You're Happy and You Know It', but changing 'happy' to 'itchy'!

They did great drawings too - nice to see children who are happy to do big images that fill the A3 paper edge to edge. The drawings here are the ones I did one the journey to Mansfield and back.

So many children bought signed books after school, that we ran out, so I have to spend most of this afternoon signing loads more, ready to post back to school - how lovely.

Thanks to everyone at Berry Hill - really nice to meet you all!
see more of my work at www.lynnechapman.co.uk

3 Comments on Yesterday at Berry Hill, last added: 1/19/2011
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céline said, on 1/18/2011 8:01:00 AM
I really like these drawings!
Isaac said, on 1/19/2011 11:10:00 AM
Thank you for coming to my school on Monday. I really enjoyed Stinky and I'm looking forward to my signed book. Mummy likes the picture of Mansfield Railway Station.

Issac Hibberd
Lynne Chapman said, on 1/19/2011 11:14:00 AM
Hello Isaac! So glad you enjoyed my visit. I had a fun time too.

Tell you Mummy 'thank you' and say hello to your class from me!
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17. My Whirlwind Weekend!

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By: Lynne Chapman, on 10/13/2010
Blog: An Illustrator's Life For Me! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: awards, publisher, storytelling, workshop, Tony Ross, festival, Andersen Press, Red House, Bears on the Stairs, Cheltenham, Add a tag

At last: time to share some of what I got up to last week.

My run of school visits, all of which were good fun (especially the fabulous Sawley Juniors - hi guys!), were topped off with a weekend of family events at Grantham and then Cheltenham.

Saturday's Red House Book Award party was lovely: a gentle afternoon with some of the children in the Grantham Children's Book Group area. I got to meet two other author/illustrators too: Jonathon Emmett and Adam Stower, both Red House winners.

Adam Stower and Jeanne Willis won this year, with the very silly Bottoms Up! featuring the line: 'Do calves put on bras to hide their bazoomers?' We illustrators get to draw some daft stuff!

We three talked a bit about our work and answered children's questions. My most surreal question of the week actually came from a child at Ladygrove Primary on Friday: 'What's your favourite number?'. I think said '382'.

Then the children were divided between us and we each did a workshop. I practised my Bears on the Stairs routine: it takes a little while to really 'warm up' a book and I think I'm about there now.

Adam I had a bit of a wait at the station for our trains home and we spent a lovely half hour or so in the cafe, looking through each other's sketchbooks (his is BRILLIANT - often quite eerie and always beautiful).

On Sunday morning I was up early for a train to Cheltenham Spa for my Cheltenham Festival event to promote Bears on the Stairs:

It was a bit of a whistle-stop, but I still enjoyed myself enormously. I was relieved that it was really well attended (I think we crammed about 80 children in!).

4 Comments on My Whirlwind Weekend!, last added: 10/13/2010
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Lydia Monks said, on 10/13/2010 8:07:00 AM
Well done Lynne. It looks like the same venue I had last year at Cheltenham. My event had a poor turn out, which was a bit of a shame - and it's a big room!! x
Lynne Chapman said, on 10/13/2010 8:16:00 AM
It's so unpredicable, isn't it? At least with a school group you've a guaranteed audience (although I once had one where the teacher forgot to bring them, so it seems nothing's certain in this world!)
Bob Mrotek said, on 10/13/2010 9:50:00 AM
Lynne,
You are a nice lady!
Lynne Chapman said, on 10/13/2010 9:54:00 AM
Why, thank you kindly, Bob!
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18. How to Make a Book

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By: Paula Pertile, on 10/7/2010
Blog: Drawing a Fine Line (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: yarn, colored pencils, candy, Lynne Chapman, Bears on the Stairs, Tootsie Pop, Add a tag

I found a wonderful set of videos done by illustrator Lynne Chapman on how to do a picture book. She goes through the process of creating a book from start to finish, using her newest book, Bears on the Stairs, as an example. Informative and fun and entertaining, plus she has that neat British accent!

I'm not allowed to embed the actual video here, but you can click the links which will take you to her blog posts where you can watch them legally, and also look around at everything else she has going on (I love her sketches of people on the train!)

Her blog.
Blog post with first video.
Blog post with second video.

Thanks for letting me share Lynne!

~~~~~~
Also, I finished the orange Tootsie Pop.

Can't decide whether to do more candy next, or something more nutritious. Oh, I'll be doing lots more candy, yes, but I also have to get some 'real food' done, so may shift gears for a few days.

The weather is finally turning cool enough to really feel like Fall, so I'm happy. My knitting needles and yarn are beckoning so I'm going to try to work in a bit of knit and purling here and there. I like that it gets dark earlier - I get more productive in the dark evenings.

There's a new yarn - a Malabrigo Rios - which is 100% Merino wool, but also washable. If you know about these things, you know that wool usually 'felts' in the wash. So washable wool is a pretty cool thing. I may have to get some to play with. Oooh, a trip to the yarn store - sounds dangerous! to my checkbook, anyway. We'll see.

Today is a colored pencil day, so better get back to it.
Go watch those videos - they're cool!

2 Comments on How to Make a Book, last added: 10/8/2010
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spina said, on 10/7/2010 10:27:00 AM
Yummmm... The Tootsie Pop looks delicious! As usual, great shadows, Paula. You have such a good way with them. They end up looking REAL. Just in time for Halloween trick and treating!

Oooooo.... washable Merino wool. Now how did they do that? Merino is so soft; I love it. Will have to look around down here for that. Still haven't explored our new yarn store here. The note's still stuck to my monitor. Will get to it eventually.

Ear scratches and neck rubs to kitties! Happy Fall!
Fay Akers said, on 10/8/2010 6:49:00 PM
so how many licks does it take to get into a tootsie pop?

Well done makes me want one.
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19. The Nuts and Bolts of the Job

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By: Lynne Chapman, on 9/30/2010
Blog: An Illustrator's Life For Me! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: publisher, illustration, publishing, advances, artwork, pastels, roughs, characterisation, Julia Jarman, Bears on the Stairs, hot tip, Add a tag

Here is the 2nd part of the interview I did recently about illustrating picture books.

In this film I talk about how I plan a book and I look in detail at some of the specific challenges presented by my latest picture book, Bears on the Stairs. I also talk about how I am paid, explaining what 'advances' are and how they work.

(if you missed the first half of the interview, click here)

If you found this video interesting or helpful, there are two further filmed interviews coming up, about how I became an illustrator and about keeping a sketchbook.

If you are interested in becoming a children's book illustrator yourself, my post about how to create the best folio of work should help.

If you would like more hot tips on drawing, you might like this, about sketching people.
If you are a published illustrator looking for tips on doing school visits, try this.
see my work at www.lynnechapman.co.uk

3 Comments on The Nuts and Bolts of the Job, last added: 9/30/2010
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Caroline said, on 9/30/2010 8:21:00 AM
Wonderful - really liked this. Your blog has so much useful info - thank you so much! Will you ever do an e course in children's book illustration, I wonder? If you do, I'll sign up!
Swan Artworks said, on 9/30/2010 8:44:00 AM
Again, great stuff! Thankyou!
Carrie... :)
Lisa Thompson said, on 9/30/2010 11:38:00 AM
I don't know where I first found the link to you blog yesterday, but thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience! Your two videos are wonderful.
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20. I'm Doing Cheltenham!

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By: Lynne Chapman, on 9/26/2010
Blog: An Illustrator's Life For Me! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: promotion, festivals, Bears on the Stairs, storytelling, Add a tag

I'm rather excited, as I have never done the Cheltenham Festival before: I've done events for the Edinburgh Festival and at Hay-on-Wye in recent years but, up until now, Cheltenham has always eluded me.

It's a high-profile event, like the others two, and a good opportunity for celeb spotting: I was feet away from Desmond Tutu and Kate Adie in Hay last year! It's also going to be the first major festival where I promote Bears on the Stairs.

Mind you, I will have to travel all the way down from Sheffield on the train, for a single 45 minute slot, then turn round and travel all the way back - best make sure I don't forget to take my sketchbook, to keep myself occupied.

If you're able to make it to the festival, my event is on Sunday Oct 10th at 1pm: a storytelling for 4 - 8 year olds. Tickets are £4.50 (or £3.60 for members) and you can book here.
see my work at www.lynnechapman.co.uk

3 Comments on I'm Doing Cheltenham!, last added: 9/28/2010
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Nikira said, on 9/26/2010 2:22:00 PM
Very exiting! Will be waiting for sketches and good luck.
Lucy said, on 9/27/2010 6:36:00 AM
Aww how exciting! I live just near Cheltenham and the lit fest is always so much fun! I really love your work and look forward to reading more of your posts!
Jon Davis said, on 9/28/2010 2:10:00 AM
Ooh, well done, that's very exciting
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21. Marple Festival - Do Come!

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By: Lynne Chapman, on 9/11/2010
Blog: An Illustrator's Life For Me! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: storytelling, workshop, festival, Bears on the Stairs, Dragon's Dinner, libraries, Add a tag

My first event for the autumn season will be at Marple Library, next Saturday, Sept 18th. Do come along if you can - it's free but you need to book a place.

I will be doing a talk at 10.30am for 7 -12 yr olds, looking at how I created the artwork for Dragon's Dinner, followed by an illustration workshop and book signing.

Then, after lunch, there will be two storytelling sessions, starting at 1.00pm and again at 2.00pm, reading Bears on the Stairs. If you are lucky, you might even win one of my big flipchart drawings to take home!

It is all part of the 2 week Marple Festival, so the lucky folks in Marple will be having a great time. Contact the festival for more details.
see my work at www.lynnechapman.co.uk

4 Comments on Marple Festival - Do Come!, last added: 9/13/2010
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SKIZO said, on 9/12/2010 4:30:00 PM
Thank you for sharing
This fabulous work with us
Good creations
SKIZO said, on 9/12/2010 4:31:00 PM
Thank you for sharing
This fabulous work with us
Good creations
Katherine Thomas said, on 9/13/2010 2:58:00 AM
Your work is so vibrant and delicious. It inspires me!
Lynne Chapman said, on 9/13/2010 3:12:00 AM
Thank you guys!
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22. Help Choose a Winner!

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By: Lynne Chapman, on 9/3/2010
Blog: An Illustrator's Life For Me! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Anderson Press, children, publisher, drawing, competition, Bears on the Stairs, Add a tag

I'll not be announcing the winner of the Hairy Scary Illustration Competition until after the schools are back and I have given everyone a week or so to settle in. Which buys me a little time (phew), as I'm still vacillating.

I've narrowed the entries down now to 20 finalists from each age group, which are all especially interesting, clever, beautifully done or very scary. I need to pick a smaller shortlist of 5 plus an overall winner from each category.

Which is where you come in...

If you have, or are eligible for, a Facebook account, please take a quick look at both the KS1 finalists and the KS2 finalists, and let me know your personal top 3 in each category, by leaving a comment under the relevant images. If I get enough feedback from you lot, I will award a third prize: the 'People's Favourite'.

My publisher, Anderson Press are kindly donating the prizes: hardback copies of Bears on the Stairs for both the winning schools and the winning children, inside which, I will of course be signing my congratulations and drawing some pictures.

So come on, get yourself over there and vote for your faves!
see my work at www.lynnechapman.co.uk

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23. Growling in Waterstones

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By: Lynne Chapman, on 8/27/2010
Blog: An Illustrator's Life For Me! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: launch, Waterstones, Bears on the Stairs, signed books, Caryl Hart, book shop, children, storytelling, Add a tag

After a shaky start, the Bears on the Stairs launch in Waterstones went well.

As I made my way to the shop, I was a bit worried: not only were we bang in the middle of the holiday season but, having rained for days, Saturday was really hot & sunny (always tricky for events - who wants to be indoors?). Sure enough, come kick-off, I had only two little girls - oh no!! Fortunately,
several more arrived shortly afterwards, so it wasn't embarrassing. Quite a relief.

This is me preparing to eat a tasty-looking member of the audience...

Waterstones
did a lovely window display for me. Those with eagle-eyes will spot Supermarket Zoo alongside my books. That's the latest from my friend Caryl Hart, who is in-store next Saturday, so mark that in the diary.

At the end of the event we sold a surprising amount of books, which helped to offset the modest turnout. I was pleased we sold well, since Waterstones had been great and ordered in tons of stock, not just of Bears on the Stairs but quite a few other titles.

I sat in the shop for another hour, chatting to customers and gradually signing my way through all my stock, so they would keep the books in-store and not send the surplus back to the publishers.
see my work at www.lynnechapman.co.uk

6 Comments on Growling in Waterstones, last added: 8/31/2010
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sea-blue-sky & abstracts said, on 8/27/2010 1:50:00 PM
Glad that all went well for you Lynne - hope that you sell many, many more.
Vivien said, on 8/27/2010 3:44:00 PM
Glad it went well in the end. What energy you have! And wonderful lively and amusing illustrations.
Deborah said, on 8/28/2010 2:52:00 PM
Oh WOW. Our Big Bad Wolf is in a bookstore window. Hi BBW!

Great job Lynne. It's been Book Week in Australia this past week with national awards and dress-up parades at schools across the country. http://cbca.org.au/index.htm
aka Penelope said, on 8/29/2010 7:15:00 AM
Surfing into your blog recently, I’ve been impressed with your hard work and creativity. Please count me in as one of your many fans. When I read my book to school kids at the local library, it unleashed discussion and reinvigorated the tale. Kids are fabulously curious and full of fun. Your art seems to understand that very well. :)
Lisa M Griffin said, on 8/30/2010 9:46:00 AM
What fun! You can tell through the pictures how much you enjoy reading the story to your audience. I also LOVE the window display, thanks for sharing.
Lynne Chapman said, on 8/31/2010 12:36:00 AM
Thank you everyone - you're all very sweet to me! Great to hear the book went down well Penelope.
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24. Another Exhibition!

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By: Lynne Chapman, on 8/19/2010
Blog: An Illustrator's Life For Me! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: illustration, exhibition, galleries, Bears on the Stairs, Dragon's Dinner, Rumble Roar Dinosaur, Add a tag

Exciting news: I have just been contacted by Salford Art Gallery, who have decided to show my exhibition next summer - whoopee!

When Tameside Gallery did all the work on the original exhibition last year, designing the show and investing in the framing, activity centres etc, the idea was that they would hire it out, to tour other galleries, but because of things being the way they are just now, it got mothballed instead.

But it's back up and kicking! Looks like a nice space too:

We are talking about maybe updating the show, by including examples of my most recent projects, like Bears on the Stairs, Dragon's Dinner and Rumble, Roar, Dinosaur!, none of which were completed at the time. Early stages though. I'll keep you posted...
see my work at www.lynnechapman.co.uk

3 Comments on Another Exhibition!, last added: 8/21/2010
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Caroline said, on 8/19/2010 7:28:00 PM
Congratulations! I followed your link to read all about the last one. What a fantastic interactive exhibition and this is sure to be another success! I love your illstrations!
harry bell said, on 8/20/2010 7:08:00 AM
Congratulations!
Ira Robbins said, on 8/21/2010 4:33:00 AM
Congrats!
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25. Bears Launch at Waterstones

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By: Lynne Chapman, on 8/16/2010
Blog: An Illustrator's Life For Me! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: storytelling, Waterstones, Bears on the Stairs, signed books, Add a tag

Waterstones in Sheffield City Centre are helping me to launch Bears on the Stairs, with a Saturday afternoon storytelling in the children's department on August 21st.

I will be reading the book and doing drawings on the flip chart for children to win and take home. Kids can have a go at my chant poem too, and try their hand at designing something big & hairy to scare Mum and Dad!

I will of course be signing, and drawing in, copies of my book for you. I'm sure Waterstones will have a few of my other titles in store too. Feel free to bring along any copies you already own for me to sign.

The fun starts at midday, so why not break off from your shopping for an hour to come along and treat yourself and your littluns to an afternoon of furry frolics?

see my work at www.lynnechapman.co.uk

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