MA Children's Book Illustration

Hi all. Steve Rack here. I've not really been online lately, and it's fair to say that my work is going through a bit of a transitional period at the mo, so I haven't been uploading much new work in recent months. The recent change in my illustrative approach is 100% down to the MA in Children's Book Illustration that I am currently studying for at Cambridge.

Strangely, I have found it totally liberating working outside of my comfort zone and as a result I seem to be discovering a new, more real approach to illustrating that somehow feels more honest to me. It's still early days as far as my course is concerned, but I thought I would share with you some of my recent sketchbook illustrations that are part of the first module: Observation and Experimentation. In this module we have to draw, draw, and draw all things that we observe that relate to our chosen theme. My theme is 'Home'.

This whole creative process has also really helped me cope with watching my dad battle through cancer over the past nine weeks in hospital. Words can't even begin to express just what a journey it has been.

My new sketchbook blog is here.

HOHOHO Get a Grip

The spiffing Sam and Kay from Get a Grip asked four illustrators including little old me to create an A6 crimbo card for the first Get a Grip Christmas card pack, all Printed on 100% recycled paper stock using water based inks. They will come with 4 upcycled envelopes by d!rektrecycling made from maps.

You can pre-order the cards HERE for £5 including postage within the UK. Alternatively, you can wait until they are printed, and buy them directly from the studio at The Custard Factory (Birmingham) in a few weeks time (provided they haven’t already sold out).




The pack also includes work by Darren John (top left), Lee Nutland(bottom left), and Thomas Lacey(bottom right)
There will only be a limited number of cards printed, and will be available and posted out as soon as they are printed in the first week of December (if not sooner).

COMPETITION WIN!

HELLO PEOPLE JUST A LITTLE UPDATE ON WHATS BEEN HAPPENING THIS LAST FEW WEEKS. THIS MONTH STRANGER MAGAZINE  LAUNCHED A SERIOUSLY EXCITING COMPETITION WHICH GIVES ANYONE, INCLUDING NEW AND ESTABLISHED ILLUSTRATORS, GRAPHIC DESIGNERS, ARTISTS OR ANYONE KEEN TO HAVE A GO AT THE CHANCE TO HAVE THEIR WORK FEATURED ALONGSIDE SOME OF THE UK'S TOP ILLUSTRATORS IN A SPECIAL RANGE OF CHARITY CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR SHELTERBOX.

COMPETITION ENTRANTS ACROSS THE UK AND WORLD WIDE VOWED FOR THEIR DESIGN TO BE FEATURED AS THE SIX CARD ALONGSIDE FIVE HIGH-PROFILE ILLUSTRATORS CONTRIBUTING WORK INCLUDING JON BURGERMAN AND JENNY BOWERS. I WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT I WON THE COMPETITION!  ALL PROFITS FROM THE CARDS WILL GO DIRECT TO SHELTERBOX, THE INTERNATIONAL DISASTER RELIEF CHARITY BASED IN HELSTON, CORNWALL.

BELOW IS MY WINNING DESIGN. YOU CAN BUY PACKS OF THE CARDS AT THE SHELTERBOX WEBSITE.