Thursday 17 April 2014

Book Cover Competition - "The Princess and the Stinky Cheese" , "Goldilockup" and Mongoose's Holi Party

Final re-work...

Bonjour, good day and hi,  
The lovely Susanna Leonard Hill is running a competition for illustrators this month and as you can imagine I jumped straight in.  Last month Susanna ran a short story competition and there were 10 winners, you can read their stories here. The illustrators competition is to illustrate an 8x10 book cover for one of those stories... or more...
I choose, actually the story choose me... "The Princess And The Stinky Cheese" by Lauri Meyers.   I love love love Princesses ( I am one ) and the gooyier the runnier and stinkier the cheese I'm your gal.  Laurie's story jumped up and down and waved it's arms about and shouted to me to illustrate it...it wouldn't take no for an answer.  So there you have it, my illustration of Princess Peabody and the stinky cheese. Then there was Mike Allegra who in the comments section, jumped up and down and waved his arm about shouting "pick "Goldilockup", MY, story to illustrate".  What could I do... I couldn't ignore a writers' desperate plea,  so I whipped out my box of paints and charged to the challenge.  

Goldilockup

Loved Darshana Khiani's Mongoose Holi Party...so couldn't resist doing the cover for this one too... :) 

Mongoose's Holi Party

I'd like to say that it is was all plain sailing but who would have guessed that illustrating a darn smelly cheese would be so difficult.  Have popped some of my re-works below.  Love painting brick walls,  very therapeutic. Fingers crossed that the judges like my artwork... :)

Original watercolour :) 

Re-work stinky cheese take 3... still not working!!!


The cheese just wasn't working...

I'm happy to say that Lauri and Mike both love what I've done...

That's my Fun and Nonsense for now....let me know what you think.. :)

58 comments:

somewhere on the avenue said...

This is just beautiful, as all your work is x

Annette G said...

oooh am sure they will love your artwork Catherine, its fab. Happy Easter, Annette x

Sandra van Doorn said...

Love it Catherine! xo

Angels have Red Hair said...

I think you are sure to win :0)

Mike Allegra said...

I love it love it love it! (And love it.)

Shabby Passion said...

I think: first: why did I discover your beautiful blog only now!? - nonsense! 2. you've done a great job, I loooooove your illustrations (I would like to be the princess there), 3. fingers crossed for youuu,
I'll be a pleasure to follow you!
ciaoo
Lisa

Sandra Busby said...

I absolutely ADORE this one! It is perfect! I really hope you win and have EVERYTHING crossed :0)
Tell me, how do you make those perfect little sparkles???

Anonymous said...

Very fun! I love both of the princesses. Nicely done!

Anonymous said...

Love them both! Poor Goldilocks....

Susanna Leonard Hill said...

These are wonderful, Catherine! Please be sure and put your post-specific link in tomorrow's official contest post (Thurs. April 24) so that everyone will be able to come visit and see your art, and so that the judges don't miss you! Thanks so much for joining in the contest fun!

CA Clark said...

Your princess is gorgeous. :) I like the tilt to her head and her lovely green dress and shoes. Well done.

Unknown said...

Thank you Cecilia, love your illustration...the worm has a brilliant expression :)

Unknown said...

Thanks Susanna for the opportunity :)

Unknown said...

Thanks Rosa Lily, love your name btw :)

Unknown said...

Thanks Annette, fingers crossed. Hope you had a good Easter :) x

Unknown said...

Your a star Sandra :) x

Unknown said...

Thank you...fingers crossed. :)

Unknown said...

wow, that's a lot of love :D

Unknown said...

So glad you found me...love your blog too :)

Unknown said...

Hi Sandra, I would love to say that I'm a little sparkle genius...but I'm so bad at lying. I had a little PicMonkey help for the sparkle....love that Monkey :)

Unknown said...

Thank you Nancy

Unknown said...

I know, poor Goldilocks, at least the bricks to her cell are nice.. (in my opinion anway) lol. :)

Lauri Meyers said...

Catherine - She looks spunky and wonderful. I love that you included the royal dog who is a key player in the story (I think he's probably doing something very funny on every page even when he's not mentioned) Your Goldilockup is completely precious. She's sweet looking but has a little naughtiness hiding in her eyes:)

Unknown said...

I see that pooch on each page too...and totally agree, he'd be up to some royal mischief...as most pooch's are :)

heatherdent56 said...

Wonderful! There is such a childlike appeal to both illustrations. I really really love your style.

Unknown said...

Hi Heather, thank you. Love your illustration too :)

Unknown said...

Your princess is darling! I love that she's a brunette with a bob :) Love your work. Good luck!

Unknown said...

Thanks Dawn,
Brunette's rock... :)

Cheryl Secomb said...

These are adorable! Well done, Catherine!

Unknown said...

Thank you Cheryl :)

Cathy L Murphy said...

Your characters are charming, Catherine! I love your style!

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful blog you have here - and thanks to Mike, I have discovered it. Love how you illustrate for children - fanciful and light, pretty and yet there's meat to it. The colors all have a warm glow, which shoots your eye to the character immediately. I agree with Mike - (whose story was just so so great) - I love your covers!

Unknown said...

Thank you, love your Sweetie Witch too :)

Unknown said...

Thank you. My pleasure, so glad you like my Fun and Nonsense :)

Unknown said...

I love your characters! They have such charm and I think they are so enchanting. The characters have such a delicate elegance to them. Excellent work!

Teresa Robeson said...

Very cute princess and dog! Even the cheese is cute too. :)

Unknown said...

Thank you Ellen, I had fun painting them...love your Sweetie Witch too :)

Unknown said...

Thanks Teresa, that cheese was a real stinker to paint. :)

Anonymous said...

Catherine, I LOVE your illustration style! Now following :D

Unknown said...

totally in love with your book covers, a real touch of story book magic

Unknown said...

Thank you :)

Unknown said...

Thanks Heidi, I had loved doing them.. :)

Susanna Leonard Hill said...

Love that you added one for Darshana's story, Catherine! And it's so cute!!!

Cheryl Secomb said...

All of these are wonderful, Catherine! I love the feeling of sparkle and magic with the Mongoose Holi Party. Well done!

Nata Cynthia Artistadonna said...

LOVE your art! it's sweet and magical :)

Unknown said...

Thanks Susanna, It was fun to do.. :)

Unknown said...

Thank you Cheryl, you can never have to much sparkle, in my world anyway :)

Unknown said...

thank you Nata, :)

Unknown said...

Your art is beautiful and unique! Really loving the Goldilockup piece. That would make an awesome art poster when framed! :)

Unknown said...

Thank you Louis. Like your suggestion for a poster.. :)

Coleen Patrick said...

Love your art, Catherine. Really wonderful! :)

Unknown said...

Thank you :)

Joanne Roberts said...

I'm so glad you illustrated Darshana's piece too. It was my first choice, but I really wanted to do a piece with humans in it. Thanks for sharing your process - I love that behind the scenes stuff!

Laura Anne said...

Catherine, these are all so cute!! I especially like that your princess is younger and very whimsical--love the dog. And I like your final choice doing the smelly cheese.

Unknown said...

Hi Joanne, thank you. I like doing people too...oh and dogs.. :)

Unknown said...

Thanks Laura, I love doing whimsey...probably coz I like to live in a happy bubble and only venture out when absolutely necessary... :)

Anonymous said...

pretty nice blog, following :)

Unknown said...

Hi Skyline, lovely to see you here :)