Editorial Illustation Process | Frances Marcellin Art & Illustration

JOURNAL

The last 18 months have been a total whirlwind as I've been immersing myself in making as many illustrations with the maximum progress as is humanly possible. Pivoting careers is not an easy task I can tell you! Especially with four, how shall we describe them, 'lively' (and lovely) children to bring up in the process.

It was my goal to launch my online journal in Q4 2025 and I have reached my objective - but I also need to find time to keep it updated! The never-ending issue for most working mums.

THANK YOU for being here, for reading what I've written and please do leave a comment as I would love to connect with you and hear what you think.

Editorial concept illustration for the New Scientist, a mock up via Inkygoodness editorial illustration course, of people dancing round a maypole with DNA as the ribbons

Editorial Illustration Case Study: Conceptual Artwork for New Scientist Magazine

As part of Inkygoodness' Editorial Illustrator's Playbook course I responded to a mock brief for New Scientist where I produced a conceptual editorial illustration focused around longevity and how science, mindset and habits intertwine.

Frances Marcellin

Nov 7, 20253 min read

I’m not managing to keep up the visibility challenge from @inkygoodness and the @inkygoodnesscollective on a daily basis (life keeps getting lifey) but a “behind the scenes” post was something I really wanted to include - so here it is!

In a module on illustrating for children’s books for my illustration degree, we had to illustrate a nonsense poem, like Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky, which we could write ourselves if we wanted to! That’s like a dream project for me!

I decided to write mine and Sharky Cats and Slinky Sloos was born! Along with creating and illustrating new creatures it was so much fun inventing new words for kids like Carroll did. I think this was pretty much a perfect project for me and I got lovely feedback from my tutor which was really exciting too.

In terms of medium, I worked in @procreate with each creature build separately so I didn’t run out of layers on the page. The style mixes pen & ink,
watercolour, markers and colour pencil on @truegrittexturesupply textured ‘paper’.

I hope you enjoy this dip behind the scenes! Thanks for reading! xx

#inky14daychallenge #childrensbookillustrator #childrensillustration #childrensbookillustration

After a few ACEO sales, which I am so grateful for, I just posted this new piece on ebay “Spring Blooms in the Tarn, France” (spot the Madonna Lilies in the foreground which just appeared in my garden - so every time I look over the valley at the Black Mountains I see them! 😍). They’re my last seven pieces, some have sold & some are still listed.

I love making these, they’re pure joy - as are the transactions with the buyers who I’m lucky enough to say are, so far, all lovely! It’s a really wholesome experience and so I think if you’re an artist looking to find people who like your art it is a great way to build a community - and I’d say Ebay auctions are the best place to start! 🖼️🖌️

#ACEO #ACEOFrance #ACEOart #artfrance #ACEOartist

Jusy made this new mini ACEO painting of Carcassonne! 😍 La Cité in Carcassonne is one of my fave places, it is always extraordinary! I go as often as I can as I live about an hour away - and it is magnificent in the Spring. We’re lucky we can enjoy it very often out of season when it’s tranquil and there aren’t too many people around.

This gorgeous fortified city is just like a fairytale castle! Have you been? Would you love to go? I get excited every time I walk towards the imposing entrance as there are so many architectural, historical and tasty treats inside! 😍

#ACEO #ACEOFrance #ACEOart #Carcassonne #aceoartcards

This has been one of the most interesting and exciting briefs I’ve worked on so far. Thank you to Inkygoodness - @inkygoodnesscollective - and Victoria Escobar - @vescobar.studio of @nytmag - for this amazing opportunity working on this mock brief. Hearing Victoria speak about how she works at NYT and then to work across this brief with her and other mentors was an incredible experience.

This story, Death in Zitácuaro, hightlights the acute dangers of being a journalist, which is more relevant than ever today. Armando Linares López, the director of a news website called the Michoacán Monitor, was was shot in 2022 for reporting the truth about systemic corruption in his Mexican town. He and other journalists had described themselves as ‘soldiers of journalism’; he felt that his only defence was a pen and a notebook. I was very absorbed by this story and would love to work on more editorial briefs like this.

Thanks so much Lisa and Victoria for this amazing opportunity and to Molly - @mollymccammon_ - who helped me to push the concept further, I’m very grateful for the mentoring!

This post is part of the visibility challenge with Inkygoodness where I’m being brave :) and posting more intentionally about me and the illustraiton work I love to do. This post is about ‘a piece I am proud of’. Thank you for reading. X

#editorialillustration #thenewyorktimes #procreateillustration #inky14daychallenge

What is my ‘why’? For Day 2 of the Visibility Challenge by @inkygoodness Inkygoodness we’re looking at why and what motivates us to create.

For me, when I analyse all the work I love doing across client, educational and personal it’s about visually communicating meaningful stories and experiences that will make people think, feel or pay attention to something. A piece of work that feels healing in itself to create, even if it’s a heart-wrenching subject.

I’m struggling every day to cope with the terrible things happening in the world - while working, being a mum and all the other things - and creating art has helped me to deal with these difficult feelings as well as heal me. You feel as though you’re resisting the oppression through art, it can give you strength when there’s so much propaganda around trying to confuse, weaken us and make us hate. But I know love is the answer! Art is power, but it is also healing and joy, and I have learned that I need to balance these in my daily art practice. Sometimes venting through hard-hitting work, and other times retreating outside and filling the page with nature and joy.

I mentioned in the slides how honoured I felt that my artwork about Gaza was selected by @wildscapelit Literary Journal’s May issue. Please do take some time to read the whole thing (wildscapelit.com), it’s a difficult, but cathartic read during which you’ll likely need to take time to sit with your feelings. I’m really grateful to the editor Ophelia for her excellent curation and I’ll write a separate post about this soon.

Et voilà. My why - at least as it has evolved up to now. If you are reading this, thank you for your time, you are very much appreciated. Xx

#inky14daychallenge #illustrator #womenillustrators #childrensillustrator

Hi I’m Fran! Introducing myself to new followers (retintroing to existing ones - thank you) as part of the #inky14daychallenge challenge with @inkygoodness. The plan is to share more of my work, story and process over the next few weeks.

As a kid and even into my late teens, I was totally obsessed with drawing and art, but life reeeaaally got in the way of my creative path and I ended up working as a producer and then a reporter/news editor/managing editor as a freelance journalist for 15+ years. I wrote stories across B2B and consumer titles and was fortunate to build a successful freelance business with hundreds of bylines in titles such as the Telegraph, Evening Standard, CNN and the New Statesman, largely across transport, travel, technology and health/fitness. I even had my own blog/article column in ZDNet covering the French Tech (startup) scene for a few years.

A few years ago I realised I had to make a change and take a more creative path, return to my roots, my true self, and so I took a deep breath, started a part-time illustration degree and took many, many courses, including several with Inkygoodness.

I’m at a point where I think I want to specialise in children’s publishing and editorial and I’m looking forward to sharing more throughout this challenge, so stay tuned and thanks for stopping by.

@inkygoodness @inkygoodnesscollective
#illustratoroninstagram
#digitalillustration
#aceoartist
#childrensillustrator

Hey all! Just popping on here to share sketches from the Marché aux Fleurs I went to with my husband and kids last week in Revel (Occitanie). It was hectic so I started sketches and finished them at home - in the chaos I lost my small sketchpad 😭😭 which hasn’t ever happened to me before, I’ve looked everywhere.

This month’s #walktosee challenge from the lovely @helenstephenspal - one-third of Good Ship (who I’m doing a great self-study course with on the Business of Illustration) - is #walktoseepeople so I made a point of capturing a few extra random individuals at the end (as well as some fab positions and interactions). Thanks to Helen for another fun sketch challenge!!

Appreciate your time. ❤️

#artistfrance #sketchartist Franceart originalartfrance originalwatercolours aceopainting aceofrance originalpaintingfrance sketchfrance

Sketching and then a mini painting of the view which is always so replenishing and beautiful every single day. The state of the world causes me a lot of anxiety and this is my counteraction, pure joy from my heart and released into the world to yours (if you would like to receive it). ❤️🌳🏔️☀️🖼️
Sending love and joy.

#aceopainting #aceofrance #aceoartist #artistfrance #aceoart

I just opened an Etsy shop and this is the first mini painting for sale! I made it yesterday and today after we visited Saint-Ferréol in Revel (Haute-Garonne). Love it there so much, it’s always so beautiful - the tall trees are impressive every single time - yesterday it was a bit windy though, our ice creams almost blew away!

The link to my new (😍🥳) Etsy shop is in my bio.

Also if anyone knows which bird that birdsong belongs to in the video (slide 2) then I would love to know!! 🤔

Thanks for stopping by and supporting my art journey!! I appreciate you so much! 🙏❤️

#aceopainting #aceoartist #aceoart #franceart

Thank you so much to The World Illustration Awards 2026 – @worldillustrationawards – for featuring my ALBERT (@albert_lejournal) cover over the weekend, which I entered in the New Talent category.

My submission was a mock-up for ALBERT (www.journal-albert.fr), a French newspaper for 9-14 year olds, that I made as part of a 21-day portfolio challenge, in November 2025, held by Inkygoodness – @inkygoodness. ⁠

As the post said, one of my goals is to be hired in children’s editorial and as ALBERT is a dream client I created a cover that would form part of a pitch to the art director. ⁠
⁠
After studying its surreal covers, I understood that the illustrator finds a way to combine the main stories together on the cover, which are then cropped to support the news stories inside.

My brief re-created issue no. 147 (www.journal-albert.fr/numeros-a-l-unite/295-albert-n147.html). Subjects included: why the counterfeit market is growing, what happens to radioactive waste, how glaciers hold ice memories of our planet and Nelson Mandela’s tenacious fight for equality.

I’ve included some details from a presentation I made about my work on this editorial project in the carousel above, including composition sketches, colour palettes and research approach.

Thanks to Lisa at Inkygoodness who supported my work on this project, I really appreciate it.

Thank you so much again and I’ll keep my fingers crossed that this might mean I make the long list, which will be announced at the end of next month. 🤞

#worldillustrationawards #childrensillustration #childrenseditorial #childrensillustrator

Next up in the animals I illustrated for the Endangered Animals book cover is the Western Gorilla.

The Western Gorilla is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016.

Exact numbers aren’t known, but it’s estimated that numbers have declined by 60% over the last 25 years. Only around 20% of the population live in protected areas with disease, habitation loss and poaching posing the biggest threats. These beautiful creatures can grow to around 5.5ft tall and weigh up to 400 pounds (180kg).

I loved drawing these gorillas - it was the first time I’ve ever attempted them and I’d really love to draw more of them now as I enjoyed every minute of it.

I’ve included the image and process video.

Thanks for stopping by today. 💕

#Gorillaillustration #animalillustrator #illustratorfrance #animalart

Yesterday the ACEO painting (little trading card-size original painting) sold the same day it went up for auction. 🙏😍 So, I made another one this morning and seeing as I had a few people really kindly tell me that they liked seeing the process, I made another reel (for the love because I’m not keen on make reels! I’d rather be sketching) to show the process behind this little beauty.

The link is in my bio! 🏔️☀️🌳

I hope you enjoy watching it as much as I loved creating this little painting!! Thanks for stopping by, I know your time is precious and it is appreciated. 💕

#artistfrance #illustratorforhire #aceoart #watercolourpaintings

Just made a new trading card-size ACEO painting this morning inspired by the view from my studio in the Tarn. I filmed some of the process and made a reel, if you pause to take a look I thank you for your time. I know it’s precious!

Sharing my love of the countryside I live in brings me so much joy which is the reason for making these little paintings - a joy to make, delivering joy to their owners. What could be better? In our dark world joy brings light and love and love conquers all. ☀️🏔️💕

Also, the ebay link is in my bio. ☀️

#aceo #aceoart #aceoartcards #franceartist #aceoartist

The Kaluga is the creature I’m posting about today from my Endangered Animals book cover. Part of my illustration degree coursework, I thought I’d share images and process vids for the 13 beauties I featured before posting the cover.

The Kaluga is critically endangered according to the IUCN Red List. This massive sturgeon fish mostly lives in freshwater in Asia’s Amur River basin. I say massive because its max size can be up to 1,000kg (2,205lb) and 5.6m (18.6ft)!! They can live a long time - one source said around 55 years, another said up to 80! - but females can only breed once every four years.

It has declined by 90% in almost 100 years with the culprit being overfishing and now illegal fishing.

I better run now as I have work on and kids home (start of a two-week school holiday here in France). More endangered animals tomorrow! Thanks for popping in today! 💜

#animalillustration #fishillustration #childrensillustrations #oceanillustration

The polar bear had to make the front cover for the Endangered Animals book I illustrated as part of my illustration degree.

I already had my composition and colour palette rough ready, so I worked through creating each animal in a separate document. As I was working in Procreate this ensured that I had enough layers to create each animal because in the actual book cover document, which was pretty large, I wouldn’t have enough layers to create all the animals.

The polar bear’s biggest threat is climate change. Rising temperates are causing sea ice to melt and without it they can’t survive.

Did you know that in Latin, the polar bear’s name is Ursus Maritimus, which means ‘sea bear’.

I hope you like the sketch, there’s a few more to come, I’ll post one each day and then post the composition sketches and final cover at the end of this little posting project.

Thanks for stopping by.

#Animalillustrator #childrensbookillustrator #polarbearillustration #animalillustration

I recently completed a book cover for a children’s book on Endangered Animals as part of my illustration degree coursework.

It’s one of my favourite projects so far, so I’m going to be posting some of the endangered species I drew and include the process videos with them as I worked in Procreate.

My tutor gave me really good feedback for this project, saying she was impressed by the work I’d done and the result, which, after deliberating, has given me the confidence to post this series of illustrations.

We’re kicking off with the Hawksbill Turtle. This graceful, beautiful being is sadly listed as Critically Endangered at iucnredlist.org.

I’ll post the book cover at the end, as well as the initial composition sketches and colour palette thumbnails that I went through before reaching the final result.

Thanks for having a look!

#Illustrator #bookillustrator #animalillustrator #animalillustration #illustratorforhire

EDIT: SOLD! Happy Easter to you! 🐣☀️ I sketched the countryside yesterday from the car (very quick ones obviously as we were moving fast) on the way to taking the kids (and parents) on a little steam train for the afternoon. It’s the Chemin de Fer Touristique in the Tarn and for €10 you have a train journey through the countryside and museum entry.

Today I made one of the sketches into a postcard-size watercolour/pen & ink/pencil/acrylics painting and I’ve listed it on ebay (link in bio). There are two others there as the three previous ones sold.

I’ve also included an image of how I wrap them before sending - the paper is flowery and really pretty so these can make a nice gift for people, especially those who like the French countryside! ☀️🏔️🌳

That little steam train ride 🚂 is a lovely thing to do, but suddenly it’s boiling here after being freezing last week (I’d started to wonder if we needed to buy more wood for the fire, as our heating system broke months ago), so the heat took us by surprise.

I’ve posted some pictures of the ACEO, the train trip (one video of the bright yellow rapeseed fields which inspired many of yesterday’s sketches) and some of the sketches!

Today we did a little Easter egg hunt for the kids, which I posted about in my Stories 😍🥰🐣and I hope you’re having a decent weekend wherever you are.

Thanks for taking the time to read my post and stopping by.

💜🐣💜

#artistfrance #aceoartcards #ebayart #franceart #aceoartist

I’m intentionally making more time to sketch outside now it’s Spring, cultivating more joy and creativity into my life to help counterbalance how I’m feeling about what is happening in the world.

Are you taking any action to support more joy in your life right now? I’m three weeks into The Artist’s Way so this sketching was done after my three morning pages. I’ve definitely seen a boost in my creativity and setting intentions to be creative seem to be flowing more fluidly.

Note that I know I am privileged to have this choice when so may innocent people are suffering in this world. 😰😭

Thanks for stopping by.

#sketching #theartistsway #francesketch #sketchingdaily

I sold this ACEO (art cards, editions and originals) yesterday on ebay. It’s a postcard-size original artwork made from watercolour, pen & ink and Derwent Lightfast pencils. It’s the only one in the world so I’m glad I took a few pictures of it. I don’t know the buyer but in the messages we’ve exchanged they seem lovely so it’s been such a positive experience so far.

In this series of ACEOs I’m lovingly painting the landscapes from my local area in the Tarn, France. I moved here from the UK almost 20 years ago because I fell in love with the French countryside and it makes me so happy now to paint these scenes and share them with a community that appreciates the beauty of rural France too.

To see other ACEO pieces I’ve made, check the links in my bio, or visit: https://ebay.us/m/s0f2xz

#aceo #aceoartist #aceoartcards #postcardart

I've started selling ACEOs of original paintings on postcards and I'm listing them on ebay (see link in bio).

I've been out enjoying nature to the full, walking and sketching out on our local trails in the Tarn, France, and am creating a little collection of postcards from watercolour, pen & ink and Derwent colour pencils (sometimes acrylics too).

The French countryside is the reason I moved to France almost 20 years ago, my heart and soul are here and I'm loving this little creative venture - I've only just started so I'm sure it will be a learning curve. Currently I'm starting my listings at 99p (on ebay.co.uk) and offering free postage while I get it off the ground.

While I'm on a mission to bring joy into my life to help cope with this monstrous world, this is definitely ticking that box - sketching the trails then painting the scenes into postcards is wildly fulfilling! If you scroll to the last images you can see the sketch (watercolour and Derwent pencil) - I stopped to make it while I was walking Sunny, my Labrador - made him happy as he got extra running around time!

The link for this listing is in my bio. Thanks so much for taking the time to look at my art, much appreciated. x

#aceoart #aceoartist #artpostcard #artpostcards #artfrance

Are you out and about sketching yet? We’ve had a few decent days here in the Tarn recently so I left the kiddos with hubby for a few hours (they’re still on their 2-week hols from school) & set myself up in a local park to do some sketching.

It was blooming and blustery & I managed to sit for four hours moving round the table catching different angles and goings on.

This session was part of an project for my coursework at the OCA but I thought it also worked well for my first Walk to See entry, which is #walktoseegrowth for March. I’m on the Business of Illustration course with @thegoodshipillustration & one of the founders/tutors Helen runs this IG challenge so I thought I’d give it a go.

The trees and horses were a joy to sketch, the horses were a bit flighty from the windy & a bit fighty so it was fun to capture their interactions. I decided to play around with my glass-nib dip pen & ink.

I was pretty much left alone & could get into a lovely flow. However, at one point a lady came over to the table in a panic looking for a necklace she’d lost from the day before. She was visibly stressed & upset but she found it on the corner of the table I was sitting at right away. It was tiny & in a groove, so I hadn’t even seen it! We had a lovely interaction & conversation. She’d worn the necklace since her son was born. The previous day it had got caught up in her hair, so she’d taken it off, usually she keeps it on all the time, but at that moment her son called for her help at the playground, so she put it down & rushed to help him. Then they had to leave and she’d completely forgotten that the necklace was on the table.

She was so happy to find it and I felt really relieved for her that it was still there waiting for her to collect it.

Finding joy, positivity and connection in these small moments is so important I’ve found, especially as violence and war escalate in the world. My heart really goes out to those in Gaza, Iran, Ukraine and all the families & lives impacted by these unnecessary “wars”.

Here’s to more spring sketching outdooors!

Thanks for stopping by.

#walktosee #sketchbook #penandinkart #illustratorsofinstagram

I’m excited to share that my “Ice Ice Baby” design was selected as part of the “Good Things for All Minnesota” postcard collection at @anthology230 (a paper and craft shop in Madison, WI).

A month ago, a customer called the shop nearly in tears, asking for affordable postcards she could buy in bulk to send to legislators objecting to ICE. What began as 25 postcards from 25 artists grew into something amazing:

- 100+ artists contributed (including me)
- 120 postcard designs have been sent to Anthology
- 5 different postcard packs were created
- 4,283 postcards have already been sold

$3,000 has already been sent to Minnesota communities for mutual + legal aid supporting those affected by ICE, and donations will continue.

Anthology has also donated approximately $2,000 in time and printing costs to make this happen.

The postcard packs are designed for two things:
A) Raising money for mutual and legal aid.
B) Giving people a tangible way to use their voices - sending postcards to federal, state, city and county decision-makers about how we treat our fellow human beings and uphold the Constitution.

Each pack contains 25 different postcards and costs $25.

Shipping is $10, or free in-store pickup in Madison, Wisconsin.

Individual postcards are available in-store for $1 each.

My design is in Pack B and can be ordered via Anthology’s website - link in their bio. Navigate to the “$25 good things for all: Minnesota” and pick the pack you want (A-E).

Please note: postcard packs unfortunately cannot be shipped outside of the United States.

Thank you to Sachi & Laura Komai, the sisters running this unique project and the Anthology store.

Art is powerful as protest - especially when artists come together. Even if you’re not in the US and currently unaffected by ICE, being proactive matters. We are not truly free if our fellow humans are not free. Awareness and solidarity matter. Supporting those impacted by unjust governing and creeping authoritarianism is part of how we help turn the wheels of change.

#Fuckice #abolishice #Minnesota #Minneapolis #mnstrong

Hey everyone! What a year that week was (I know that’s a cliché thing to say, but wow, ww3 beckoning with French/German/European troops arriving in Greenland, Trump reminding people that whole milk is spelt with a w (we know he was surprised by this) 🙄, him falsely receiving the Nobel Peace Prize as a bribe from Machado for Venezuela rule (she left with a DT goodie bag), Minneapolis x ICE horror, the poor young man being blinded by ICE literally and the baby that was tear gassed and stopped breathing, the lack of ceasefire and continuing violence in Gaza, the end of hunger strikes for three Palestine Action activists as Elbit loses its UK contract…I mean and that’s just off the top of my head).

Finding JOY is a mission right now isn’t it, and so as part of a 10-day creative reset with the lovely people at @inkygoodnesscollective, I decided to draw dogs.

🐕 Me and my kiddos call my Lab Sunny ‘therapy dog’ as he’s always ready for a cuddle and senses when we need one - we’re so lucky to have him. 🥰

Dogs bring me joy, so this prompt was a mini collection, without any real planning, and a consistency like the same colour palette. So here are four doggies using the same colour palette.

You can swipe for close ups and a 30-second process video. I think each dog took about 10 minutes or so. I drew them while I was watching One Battle After Another, which I know everyone is praising, but I definitely have some issues with the way black women are stereotyped in this film.

Anyway, I digress. The dog breeds are (from L to R): Shorkie, Boston Terrier, Chinese Crested (I LOVE sketching these beauts) and the Jack Russell.

🐶And I think they need names, so if you aren’t running out the office door and can think of a name or two let me know as I can add them to the page. Thank you!! :) 🐾🐾

It is Friday, phew, but in Europe it’s also late afternoon when all the awful news starts beaming over from America so we’re bracing….

Hope you have a good one and can stay calm amidst the turmoil. 💜

#Dogillustrations #dogdrawings #dogillustrator #animalillustration #chinesecresteddog

My version of the Silver-eared Mesia for the @birbfest.challenge

As usual the process vid is in the second slide. Thanks for having a look. 💜

#birbfest2026 #illustratorsoninstragram #birdillustration #kidlitillustration

It was my birthday on Friday and after a beautiful long weekend of art galleries, delicious meals, flowers and hand-drawn cards, book gifts that I’m dying to read, art material pressies from friends, fun with the kids and a snowy thermal spa afternoon with my husband in the Pyrenees we’re getting back into normal life again.

I turned 50, which feels significant, and in my head I thought I’d share a reel of what we did and then I stalled after, partly because I felt pretty wiped out after such a busy few days, but mainly because it feels so difficult to show some good times when so many are experiencing such horror and when we’re so concerned about the volatility and cruelty of Tr**p’s regime, the gen*%ide in G*%a, and what will happen with NATO and in Europe. It doesn’t feel crazy anymore to question if we’re on the brink of WW3 (as I was pondering this six months ago).

My heart goes out to everyone affected. Also I’m pleased to see during this awards season - because I love film dearly & deeply but the pomp feels jarring in the US - some actors, like Mark Ruffalo, using their platform for the truth especially over the horrific murder of mother and poet Renee Good, along with so many other murders, detentions and abuses of innocent people by I*E.

I think the art gallery images of the Jean-Charles de Castelbajac exhibition I went to could bring some joy, which is very much needed at the moment, so I may still create a post around that. He’d even made a series of jackets out of cuddly toys which did bring a smile to my face, and he also has some wonderful collage pieces - especially “RIOT” which feels powerful and relevant.

Anyway, this is the Indian Paradise Flycatcher for #birbfest2026 - I’m enjoying making a little collection of poems and illustrations for children based around these prompts so I will continue as much as time allows around work and kids (three out of four were off sick yesterday)…. There’s a process vid on the second slide.

Thank you for stopping by. Sending love and light to you all. 💜

#birdillustration #kidlitartist #kidlitillustration #childrensbookillustration

The Golden-headed Manakin is the fourth prompt for Birbest and I guess that means I’m four days behind.

I’m going to stop beating myself up about this though because I’m back at work and have a sick kid at home, so just doing my best to muddle through as usual. I’m going to work at my own pace and be happy with that and simply focus on enjoying creating these birbs and not spend any more time worrying about the delay. There are enough things to stress about in this world right now without adding pointless worry.

Slide 2 has a process vid thanks to @procreate’s timelapse video feature.

This little birb loves to catch the eye of the ladies and also likes to pluck fruit as it flies past - how clever and productive! They’re also renowned for their madly enthusiastic mating dance where they hop from perch to perch - look on YT to see them in action.

Thanks for taking a look. 💜

@birbfest.challenge is hosted by @monkeymintaka #birbfest2026 #neurodivergentartist #childrensbookillustrator #childrensbookillustration

I’m very behind on Birbfest (@birbfest.challenge hosted by @monkeymintaka) and I should’ve just left this Razorbill prompt, but I was determined to finish it. One penguin cake and party later for my 5 year old, and I just finished it after work while waiting for my three big kids to finish swimming. It’s all mum fun.

Anyway, here’s the illustration with a silly poem as I am loving doing these, and then a 30-second process vid.

Thanks for having a look.
💜

#birbfest2026 #illustratorsofinstagram🎨 #kidlitillustration #birbfest

The Many-coloured Rush Tyrant is the second prompt for #birbfest2026

I really love making up poems for kids and I’m going to try and do as many as I can during this challenge - scroll to see a process vid.

Not sure about tomorrow as it’s my youngest’s fifth birthday party and I should be prepping pass the parcel instead of sitting here posting. Hope you like it and thanks for stopping by today.

@birbfest.challenge #birbfest #birdart #kidlitillustration #birbfest2026day2

Well, the @birbfest.challenge started today, which is hosted by @monkeymintaka, and it’s all about the Bronzewing Pigeon. 🎉

I loved participating last year and will join with as many as I can this time - my second Birbfest. The goal is to have fun with it as you can probably tell by my illustration and silly poem. 😆

I’ve included the final image as well as a process video - via Procreate - showing start to finish.

Here’s to birbfest2026 and I’m so looking forward to seeing what my fellow artists and illustrators come up with during this fabulous challenge.

Thanks for stopping by. 💜

#birbfest2026 #kidlitillustration #kidlitillustrator #childrensbookillustration

Happy New Year to you all. I am wishing you an enriching and peaceful year that bubbles with joy and love.

2025 was a very difficult year for me healthwise. At one point I didn’t know where to turn to understand what was happening to me. I’d understood 2025 was a culmination from my whole life that snowballed from when I first got noticeably sick in 2018. Over the last couple of years pushing through and carrying on like a train didn’t work anymore, especially after I had my fourth baby in 2020. But this year, after many dead ends, I doubled down on my research and commitment to understanding what’s wrong - and I succeeded. In December I had the answers I needed and the suspicions I had from my research were confirmed.

This year I’m going to share more about this journey and the answers I now have about why I felt so poorly and how and why the treatment I’ve found is working. It’s not going to be easy for me to open up, but I really want to because I think it will be helpful to others. I just have to find the right format and space to do so. With four kids, this is the first moment I’ve had for social media in a while, but once they’re back at school I plan to have more time to share what I have discovered over the last seven years.

After a couple of years of intense training, and passing the first unit of my illustration degree with the OCA, I’m planning on 2026 being the year where my illustration career takes off. I’m ready and energised and actively seeking opportunities for collaboration. Yes, AI is scary, but there’s enough people in the world who appreciate human connection and creativity and it’s that market we need to focus on. Real people looking for real stories in real life.

Fake is over. Real is in. Nothing beats authenticity, it’s just the world lost sight of this a little.

Self-care can be difficult, but in 2026 let’s take better care of ourselves and be strong to advocate for ourselves and those who are struggling or in need. The world is more divisive and fragmented than ever before, but love, connection, democracy, compassion, empathy and belief that good will overcome is more important than ever.

#happynewyear2026 #illustrator #love

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Editorial Illustration Case Study: Conceptual Artwork for New Scientist Magazine

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