Early sketches for ‘How Billy Hippo Learned to Swim’.
It’s been a weekend of celebrations. Little Owl turned nine and it was my Mum and Dad’s ruby wedding anniversary. How on earth they’ve made it to forty years leaves everyone, including themselves, scratching their heads! This is a couple who can have a misunderstanding over something as simple as buying coffee and lose each other continually, even in their own house! It must be love.
But there’s one more celebration to come…on Friday How Billy Hippo Learned to Swim is officially out. There have been some lovely reviews of the book so I hope it does well. Here are some of my early sketches. It’s funny to look back and see all the initial thoughts swirling around in my sketchbook. There’s a whole page trying to work out Billy’s nostrils! And those long-legged flamingoes never made it beyond pencil lines.
Early character sketches for ‘How Billy Hippo Learned to Swim’.
Storyboarding for ‘How Billy Hippo Learned to Swim’.
Thank you for showing these sketches – it’s so important to keep sketches & ideas for you never know when they’re going to bear fruit. How delightful to be able to celebrate both occasions at the same time.