Ivy Press
Ivy Press was a little publisher I worked with back in the mists of time…
I am not even sure if they are still around. Publishers, like Ivy Press come and go, as nothing lasts forever. They used to create these amazing 3-D pop-up books that were quite complicated to illustrate. I would be sent these intricate templates to work from. They were always very specific about where I could place artwork and where I must not! Apart from that I was free to create and put as much detail in as a liked. As I am sharing a nature inspired week on Facebook next week, I thought it would be fun to reminisce in this post. 
Through the fairy mists of time
Now the illustrations I am sharing today are really very ancient. Well over ten years, so my style has evolved since then and I genuinely think it would be impossible for me to illustrate like this anymore. It would be like asking Piet Mondrian to go back to how he painted, pre 1912/13! But I think they are quite sweet and so thought them nice to share today.
They were all hand-drawn and hand-painted using watered down inks. I had to give up drawing with a nib pen and ink many years ago when I developed a slight tremor in my right hand. It was the best thing that could have happened! I now work with pencil and it completely freed up my style and the result was a loser, more lively kind of illustration art. Hoorah!
Where’s the fairy?
Anyway, for the fairy lovers out there, see how many fairies you can spot! There are quite few and lots of bugs too. I do actually really enjoy illustrating nature and animals, and if I ever got a similar commission now, I honestly think the results would be far different and I’d like to hope fairy fabulous too!
Please contact me if you are seeking a fairy!
