Canvas and Thread Xmas Fair

I took part at the Canvas & Thread Xmas Fair yesterday at the Grange Institute and had a really good time. The idea of these events is to encourage anyone to get creative, have fun & make something - anything - painted, knitted, sewn, stuck together, etc. etc. It's all low-key & the whole idea is to enjoy making stuff.

The next event will be held in Spring. I will be going & hope you can make it too.

Christmas Card on the Way!

It's all starting to happen at last! I've been in touch with the people printing my Christmas cards (who have been brilliant, by the way) & they're sorting out my order. They will be ready for the Xmas Fair held by Canvas & Thread on December 1st at the Grange Institute in Grange Over Sands. You can click on the link below to find out more.

Also sorted out my copyright infringer. It all turned out to be a bit surreal (you can read what he wrote on Facebook) because he emailed to tell me that his ebook version of my book was only online because my "representative" (presumably my publisher) could only view it that way. Apart from the fact that this is nonsense, does he not realise that I am in contact with my publisher? They'd never heard of him, of course, & the YouTube video was promptly removed. It's good to know that YouTube take copyright infringement so seriously.

Christmas Cards- Wherever They Are?

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My Christmas card proofs haven't arrived yet & I can't wait to see them! Wish the printer would hurry up as I am fit to pop! Also getting some business cards printed for the first time in about a hundred years. For some reason, I felt I needed too. It feels so grown-up & so unlike me.

I've also been working on making this web site quicker to download. Hopefully the pages are appearing on your computer screen a bit faster.

Mess Monsters Birthday Cake!

After all that mess (pardon the pun) with the copyright infringer over my Mess Monsters book, it was really lovely to find out about this Mess Monsters cake.

Bespoke Celebration Cakes have done a fantastic job, especially as all they had to work from was one of my pictures. They've very kindly given me permission to post their photograph &, if you click on it, you can visit their site.

My Christmas cards have been posted to the printers and I should get the proofs fairly soon. Here's a one of them:

Clicking on the picture will take you to the Greetings Card page. Hope you enjoy.

Copyright Infringer!

I've been incredibly busy getting my Christmas cards ready. One of the things I like to do to relax is wander through the internet in the evening. I'll choose any random topic, like a colour or chocolate animals, & see where my searches take me. It's amazing what you can find &, most of the time, I learn or see something new.

A couple of nights ago I searched for one of my book titles, called Mess Monsters. Last time I did this I found some photos of a mural that some children had painted based on another one of my books, this time Snow Bear. It was all very sweet and flattering & it gave me a nice fuzzy feeling.

Unfortunately this recent search wasn't so enjoyable. Someone has decided to sell an e-book version of Mess Monsters (without my or the publisher's permission) & was advertising it on YouTube. Apart from the fact that this is illegal & very cheeky, it was so badly done! I think this has annoyed me almost as much.

He's stretched the pictures from the original square page:

To this - so it fits tablets:

How amazingly lazy is that!

I've emailed him twice - though still haven't received a reply. I wonder why? And I've also reported him to YouTube & asked them to remove the video. Hopefully that will be the end of it.

On a more positive note: my Christmas cards are almost done. I'll be sending them to the printers at the end of the week & putting pictures of them on this web site at the same time.

Cute, dark and Graphic Christmas Cards

I know that I've been going on about Christmas cards a lot recently, but they are nearly done now. There will be twenty designs in all & they fall into three groups - cute, dark & graphic. I suppose the image above gave that bit away?

Some of the cute cards will be in the Snow Bear style & the graphic ones will be crisp, simple designs that will look stylish on the mantlepiece. The dark cards are where I've had fun & turned Christmas cards into something a bit different. They're hard to describe & you'll either love them or hate them. I'll be posting all of the Christmas card designs on this web site next month so you can see for yourself.

Christmas Cards on the Brain!

All I am working on are my Christmas cards now. I must finish them soon, get them to the printers & sell them otherwise Christmas will have come & gone.

I've become strangely nervous about the whole thing. I'm used to sending children's book ideas & pictures to publishers but not to selling directly. It will be a new experience watching people buy them (or walk past) - hopefully the former. The closest I've had is friends phoning me up from bookshops whispering I'm watching someone buying your book. Whatever happens, I'm bound to learn something from it.

Kittens on a Sofa Christmas Card Idea

Getting very close to sending my Christmas cards to the printer. I'm now frantically drawing, revising & reviewing them in time for the end of October deadline & am in a mild panic about the whole thing.

The picture above will give you a clue to one of them as it gave me the idea. Think kittens on a sofa with Christmas hats on. I love kittens!

The Book of Bedtime Stories

This book was published by Walker Books today for the very first time. One of the prize-winning stories was by my sister, Kate Wilson, & chosen by Michael Rosen, no less. Couldn't be happier for her. I think the book looks great. Huge congratulations to her & look forward to my signed copy. Hint! Hint!

Clicking on the picture will take you to the Amazon page.

Hallowe'en Animation & Christmas Cards

I know this is a bit early, but I love Hallowe'en and I'm hoping that posting this animation on my blog now will remind me to do a better one in time for the end of next month. At the very least, the pumpkin should blink! It's been bugging me since I first did it & I've never quite found the time to sort it out.

My Christmas card range is rapidly growing. I've gone for two styles - graphic & darkly funny (often both). Hope they go down well. They'll be on sale at various fairs & also from this site. I'll post full details soon.

Mess Monsters

More good news! The Mess Monsters (& At the Waterhole) books are going to be reprinted by a new publisher - Albury Books. I couldn't be happier!

If You Love a Bear

Had some very pleasant news this week. I received a letter from Walker Books letting me know that If You Love a Bear is being reprinted. It's going to be part of a collection of ten bear-themed picture books and will be available from January 2014.

Here's a sneaky peek at the new-look cover. I love the new font and stronger blue.

Christmas Cards

This year I am producing my own Christmas cards. Finding printers & plastic bags to put the cards into was quite easy. I've been very lucky & found some places that have said they'll sell them & I've got plenty of ideas - although I wish they wouldn't ping into my head at three in the morning. But one thing I am really missing is an editor saying that it works or it doesn't.

It's surprisingly difficult looking at your own stuff objectively. I've tried the walking away & looking at the pictures a day or two later route, but that's just confusing me even more. All I can do is go with my instincts, I suppose, & see what happens. One thing I'm sure of is that I'm going to Christmasify the picture above. I think the grannies will look good with a Santa hat on!

Happy Fat Penguin

Just added a new link - Happy Fat Penguin! They make unique, handmade toys for children & each one is lovely. They're currently selling on folksy.com & you can go straight there by clicking on the penguin picture.

Viking Mice

Working on some new book ideas and this picture is for one of them. To be honest, it's actually one that's been knocking around for a few years. A friend prompted me to work on it some more - so I am.

The basic idea is Viking Mice, who go off to discover islands to find something - but I'm still deciding what exactly.

Cards and Gifts

Added a new page to my web site today - Cards & Gifts. You can see it by clicking on the picture.
But I do have to admit that, at the moment, there is only one card on it. This is because I only wanted to include my most recent ones - but more will be coming soon! And I'm also painting some pictures to give as presents to children. Will let you know more as soon as I can.

Sprites

Just updated my web site to include sprites. Just in case you don't know what they are - they change an image when you hover your mouse over them. You can click on the picture to see what I'm talking about.

I've fallen in love with them because they're fun - though I do need to tinker with some of them as they jog a bit on the page. Who'd of thought one pixel would matter that much? Computers are so fussy!

Mess Monsters Animation

I have so many card ideas on the go at the moment that my head is spinning. Thank goodness for my sketchbook - which is now full of ideas. Can't wait to show them.

Updated my animations page to show the above. The new plan is to have only one, but change it as often as I get chance.

Greetings Card Drawing

Still busy working on new card designs - my little sketchbook has seen a lot of use recently and is a mess of scrawls and smudges. I can just about understand them and they seem to be falling into two main groups - quirky and graphic.

Can't wait to put them on this site, which I will as soon as they are ready. As a little clue, some of them will be untraditional (if there is such a word - spell checker says not) Christmas cards with a slightly, hopefully amusing, dark edge.

Greetings Cards

Received some brilliant card samples from a couple of printing companies & now can't wait to get some made. Spent all week working on new designs, including Christmas ones. It feels very strange drawing snowmen and snowflakes in July (especially in such a hot one) but it makes sense to plan ahead.

Afraid that I can't show any of the new stuff just yet, but the picture is of a card I designed earlier this year. It's called Granny Mafia. Probably one of my better titles!

Aesop's Fable

30 degrees Centigrade and about a billion in Fahrenheit - is that spelt right? I'm too hot to care! Anyway, been busy looking at printing companies as I want to make my own cards. And also found a company that will print 3D models of things I build on my computer. So excited!

Becoming a Children's Book Writer and Illustrator

Added some more questions & answers to the Frequently Asked Questions section - about becoming & working as a children's book writer & illustrator. Click on the picture if you'd like to read them.

Also heard some very interesting publishing news yesterday, but can't say anything more just yet.

Mother Mouse

Piers Harper's News

This illustration is unpublished and I have just spent several minutes trying to remember if there was some kind of a story behind it. If there was, I honestly can't recall it. Mother Mouse is clearly sheltering her children from the wind but I can't help wondering if there is more going on. I'll have to put my thinking-cap on and see if I can come up with something.

Glass Art

 

Well, my last blog worked - I have remembered to add some links to other sites. One of them is Fran Brown's. She's a glass artist and I think her work is beautiful. I met her quite recently and was delighted to say that I already own one of her pieces - it's a bird, very like the one pictured. You can click on it to visit her site.

Christmas Cards

Piers Harper's Blog

There are two reasons why I chose this picture for today's blog: I'm currently drawing Christmas cards (this isn't one of them but it has snow at least) and I wish that I felt like this - very, very tired at the moment.

I must add some links to other websites here. Keep on meaning too and, as usual, get sidetracked drawing. Hopefully writing this will remind me.

Card Designs and Aesop's Fables

My Blog

Sent off the latest card designs to Phoenix a couple of days ago and am working on some new ones already. Will post if I hear any news. I'm also getting on with the presentation samples for Aesop's Fables book idea. The picture above will be part of it - though I need to space the text better as it looks a bit cramped. Think that I might change the font too. Wish me luck!

Cards and Aesop

Getting ready to send some card designs to Phoenix. Final revision tomorrow, then in the post to them. Wish me luck! Also preparing some book ideas to submit to publishers soon. One of them will be Aesop's Fables. The picture is from one of the pages - The Big and the Little Fishes.

Sleeping Cat

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I'm tired (hence the picture) because I'm working on greetings cards and a cutaway of the Great Pyramid. The latter is proving to be a real headache as I've quickly discovered that there doesn't seem to be an accurate plan (or detailed list of measurements) to work from. I have a pile of books on this subject and the only thing I can rely on is for them to contradict one another. Cards are so much easier - at the moment I'm drawing birds in a tree. Bliss in comparison.

http://www.piersharper.com/animations.html

I've added an animations page today. I have little time to do them (which is why they're quite simple) but I really enjoy making them. One day I hope to spend more time animating. I can't make any work on Blogger, but just click on the picture (or link) above and you'll go to them.

Finished my Portfolio

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Finished the portfolio section of my website this evening - all I have to do is the Books part (sorry if you've tried to use it). I promise to get it done ASAP. Oops! Just remembered that I also have to do the Favourite Books page too. Something else for my "to-do" list.

No particular reason for this picture other than it reminds me of the walk I did today through the Ornamental Gardens in Grange Over Sands. They have some beautiful trees there.

New-look Website

I haven't blogged for ages because I've been busy redesigning my website and working on 3D models of ancient Egyptian buildings. Can't say any more about the Egyptian stuff (except that it involves pyramids and temples) because it is secret - but I am loving every second of it! 

Clicking on the picture above (I call him Hypno-Bee - look at the eyes!) will take you to my new-look home page. I've added some new sections like Frequently Asked Questions about writing and illustrating children's books and a squid ink site map. Hope you like.

Bear Bearing a Gift (Awful Pun)

I have spent the whole day working on my Card Shop but, amazingly, I've managed to get it running quicker than hoped for. There are sixteen cards to choose from and I will be adding more soon. I'll also be building the Poster Shop page soon as well. All in all, it's been a rewarding and fun day.

You can click on the picture to see the card shop - and, I'm delighted to say, they are now for sale via PayPal.

Card Shop

I've been busy building a card and poster shop for my website in the last few days. Still working on it, but it's getting there. If anyone has suggestions for card and poster designs, please let me know.

You can click on the picture to see the card and poster shop - but, I'm afraid nothing is for sale at the moment.

Ancient Egyptian Temple

I'll be starting work on some 3D models of Ancient Egyptian temples tomorrow and I am really looking forward to it. It seems like a long time since I had the opportunity to combine two of my main interests.

The above picture is one I drew last year - it's the Hypostyle Hall from the Temple of Amen at Karnak.

You can click on it if you'd like to see some more pictures like this one.

Cupboard Cleaning

Here's another sketch - this time of someone cleaning out a cupboard.
I've spent a lot of time tidying things today so this picture seemed appropriate.
It's when I've reached that I wish I hadn't started but I have so I may as well get on with it stage.

Click on the picture if you'd like to see some more of my sketches.

Bear Eating a Sandwich

I'm terrible at giving my pictures good names.
This one is called: Bear Eating a Sandwich - see what I mean!
It was drawn in the days when I used inks mostly; these days I prefer

watercolours and digital. It also includes three of my favourite things -

trees, bears and food. Clicking on the picture will take you to my
Bear Gallery if you fancy a look.

Bring Back the Tank-Top

Just updated my sketches page. New pictures and a new look.
It made a nice break from designing greetings cards today.
Just click on the picture (called: Bring Back the Tank-Top) if you
want to take a look.

Rabbits Playing in Spring

Spring still hasn't arrived (it snowed again today) so I thought
this picture might add some colour to a cold, wintery-feeling day.
If it's sunny and warm where you are - hope you still like this

picture and lucky, lucky you!

Elephants Never Forget

Fancied a bit of colour after the black line sketches. I drew this picture,

called Elephants Never Forget, for a collection of short stories and rhymes ages ago.

I wish that I could remember what the book was called though.

Granny Mafia

I can't wait - here's the Granny Mafia sketch.
For some reason it tickles me.
It's one way to welcome Spring.

Cat in a Suit

New page added today. Click on the cat to look at my latest sketches.

See if you can spot the Granny Mafia and Eating an Iced Bun pictures!

Kangaroo

I have just finished updating my website. Phew!

Mouse in a Paper Boat

This is an early digital drawing of a mouse in a paper boat on a stormy sea.
I wonder if I can get a story out of it?

Frankenstein's Mouse

Working on the Mice Gallery now; this picture is called Frankenstein's Mouse. I had forgotten drawing half of them, but the minute I see each picture I can remember what I was doing that day.

Cat and Cakes

Here's a picture from my Cats Gallery - which I'm updating at the moment.

Please click on it if you want to see more.

Aesop's Fables: The Fox and the Grapes

More from Aesop's Fables. This picture is from The Fox and the Grapes. It's a bit blurry because I assembled all the acrylic and watercolour parts digitally and, for some reason, I only seem to have a low resolution copy of it. Must have been half-asleep that day.

Aesop's Fable

A bigger cat this time. It's a picture I drew last year (or so) to illustrate one of Aesop's Fables.

It's the story of the wolf who saw his huge shadow in the evening and got too big for his boots.