• cornelissen Having not painted much over the last three years, my paint brushes have fallen into disuse and become flabby and moth-eaten. I like a nice sharp point on my brushes.

    So I went to Cornellisen’s, off Tottenham Court Road yesterday. So nice to find somewhere that has never seen a whiff of computer graphics screens. They have everything you want in terms of old-fashioned art supplies. Ox Gall? Gold Leaf? Rabbit Skin Glue? No problem.

    Thank heaven’s they still stock my Da Vinci Kolinski Sable watercolour brushes. I suppose I should be a bit more adventurous and try other kinds of brushes, but I’ve got a job to get finished.

    Talking of which, here’s my ARTIST TIP OF THE DAY:

    My watercolours had dried up something rotten. I placed a large blob of water in each pan and closed the box up. The next day, they were all lovely and squidgey again. Bringing dried up tubes back to life is a bit more labour intensive. Dig out some of the dried paint from the neck of the tube and replace with a few drops of water and screw cab back on tight. You may need to do this often over a few days, but the tube will eventually soften up

  • MonsterdinoThe doorbell rang this morning and the chirpy post lady had a packet for me. “Have a nice day!” she said. It was from my publishers. I couldn’t think what it might be. probably some more copies of the re-jacketed Animal Cracker books I did with Rose Impey.

    But no! First copies of Monster Boy. I’ve been working on this series for the last year. The artwork has been a quite technical and has been quite exhausting. (I don’t suppose all the school visits have anything to do with that!)

    Any way. I’m thrilled. They look really great. I’m just about to phone Sara, my Editor and tell her. Hardbacks due out in August.

  • Firstly, Moira was sadly unable to attend her own retirement party, but lots of Authors and Illustrators made it through tube delays to the High Street Kensington party, yesterday.

    Peter Sheldon was his wonderful self. Peter and Moira have done wonderful work at Peter’s Bookselling Services, not only promoting the very best in Children’s books but also us authors and illustrators too. Many times Peter has phoned to see if I was available to visit a school or library. Somehow, He always managed to phone while I was feeding my chickens. Even now I don’t have chickens he’s convinced he can hear them in the background. We will all miss him in the business. He is a brilliant organiser of parties and events, making you feel special and instantly at home. I know many librarians look forward to their day or two at Peter’s showrooms in Birmingham, where they too are made very welcome and left to browse and choose among the endless shelves of wonders. It is a children’s book nerds paradise!

    Here are some pictures: right click on the pictures to make them a bit bigger