Jenny Capon

More Map Birds - South East London

2010-09-09T08:40:00.000-07:00

I am taking part in a little exhibition with my talented artist friends Freeda and Teresa in late September. It will be in the Oval Theatre Cafe and the the title of the show is 'Found'. I will be showing some of my Little Map Birds series, and have made a couple more of the South East area including the Oval for the show. These are slightly larger than the rest of the series, and I am hoping they will look nice when printed as I've had to send them off slightly blind due to printer problems! Fingers crossed. . The exhibition opens on the 21st of September.

The Laughing Problem by Jo Rivard

2010-08-20T03:20:00.000-07:00

William of Orange and his faithful citizens.

In trouble again...

A boy named Hogg..

I did a small set of drawings recently for a talented new writer called Jo Rivard, who has written a very funny series of books about a brother and sister called Max and Millie. In 'The Laughing Problem' Max and his best friend Colin have problems keeping a straight face in class when their wild imaginations run away with them... We've all been there. They get into all sorts of trouble with teachers and Mums, and worst of all, girls. It was lots of fun to illustrate - good luck with the book Jo!

A Little Book of Alliterations is here!

2010-08-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

A Little Book of Alliterations has arrived! I have received my proof copies and am very excited! These are my very bad photographs of it. It's amazing to finally see them in print. They are sweet and small - pocket size, with a lovely matte hardback cover. All in all, a very satisfying little object. Perfect for a little stocking filler or birthday present!!!

It is available to pre-order on Amazon, and is due out in September. You can order a copy by clicking here.

Hooray!

A spoke (?) of cyclists

2010-05-10T10:43:00.000-07:00

A few of the cyclists I have been drawing for the AOI Transport Museum poster competition. The bottom one seems to look a bit like me - not quite sure where I have acquired the toddler from.

Mr Elephant

2010-04-19T11:35:00.000-07:00

Visual Minutes at the Play England Conference

2010-04-15T07:24:00.000-07:00

I did some visual minutes with Claire Stringer at Play England's conference at the British Museum at the end of March. You can see these minutes, and some of the other work done by the Creative Connection Team that I sometimes work with at the Visual Minutes Blog.

A Little Book of Alliterations - A

2010-04-07T06:31:00.000-07:00

'Awful Auntie Agatha Ate All of Arthur's Available Apples.'

from 'A Little Book of Alliterations' by Felix Arthur, Inside Pocket Publishing

A Little Book of Alliterations - Bologna Book Fair and release date!

2010-03-22T08:32:00.000-07:00

I spent the last few months of last year working on this project with author Felix Arthur, and Inside Pocket Publishing, and I'm really excited that A Little Book of Alliterations will be available to buy from September 2010.

I made 30 colour illustrations to accompany Felix Arthur's tongue twisting journey through the alphabet. It was a really fun job, and I can't wait to see it in print!

The Little Book is currently en route to Bologna for the Book Fair with Inside Pocket Publishing and some other book friends. Click here to see the advance information sheet from Inside Pocket.

Here is the front cover - and I will be posting a few of my favourites from the book in the next few weeks.

Tee Hee!

New Website coming soon!

2010-03-12T02:01:00.000-08:00

My new website will be coming soon which I am very excited about. It will feature this little owl, and is being developed by the very wonderful Ast and Red. Thank you both!

Me focused, me not so focused

2010-03-12T01:42:00.000-08:00

Made the picture above as my profile picture for a collaborative children's book project I am working on with friends from college. And following a spectacularly distracted day yesterday, made the second picture of some of the many things that were conspiring to make me very unproductive.

Drawings for Clay Futures Report

2010-02-16T01:42:00.000-08:00

Drawings for a report about the development of eco towns in Cornwall, and some fliers for a workshop and seminar at the Eden Project, about community, services and eco towns.

Kitten Sketch

2010-02-09T11:34:00.000-08:00

Another one

2010-02-03T07:44:00.000-08:00

More Kitties

2010-02-03T07:06:00.000-08:00

I had the strangest dream..

2010-02-02T10:22:00.000-08:00

More Moggies

2010-02-02T09:24:00.000-08:00

Kitties mark 1

2010-01-26T11:08:00.000-08:00

Starting to think about pitch for a board book involving kittens... and wool. Here are some kittens.

Pots and Princes - Museum of Scotland Sketching

2010-01-26T07:01:00.000-08:00

Ceilidh 7 pm

2010-01-25T11:24:00.000-08:00

Some Ceilidh-ing for Burn's Night..

Ceilidh 12 am

2010-01-25T11:16:00.000-08:00

More Map Birds!

2010-01-19T09:36:00.000-08:00

Another little batch of map birds, some of which will be on sale from Potterton Books
in a couple of weeks time Once again, they are 10cmx16cm, archival giclee prints on Hahnemuhle German Etching Paper. They are an edition of 30.

Monkeys

2010-01-14T10:32:00.000-08:00

I'm working on my portfolio at the mo - therefore, monkeys.

Radio Eiffel

2010-01-12T10:42:00.000-08:00

Mmm. Bit random. 12th January 1908 - first long wave radio message was sent from the Eiffel Tower, which was obviously all about rabbits, peace lilies and sheep. And tea.

Reluctant Snow Cat

2010-01-08T11:05:00.000-08:00

The Battle of Nancy

2010-01-05T07:18:00.000-08:00

I was casting about for something for a warm up drawing this morning and thought I would look at past January 5th events. Wikepedia kindly informed me that the Dreyfus Affair unravelled; Erin - the largest dwarf planet in the solar system - was discovered; God help us the Daily Mail became the first transoceanic newspaper, and the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco Bay began.

Besides all this and much more, Charles the Bold was killed in the Battle of Nancy on this day in 1477, and Burgundy became part of France. Having eschewed drawing bridges, dwarfs, army officers, and battles, I then quite irrelevantly drew a picture of Charles the Bold as a young lad in tights, with his dad, the very dapper Philip the Good, also in tights, and a very fetching hat.

(It's from a painting by Rogier van der Weiden, 1447-8. )

A Fishy Encounter

2010-01-05T04:13:00.000-08:00

2010-01-04T10:07:00.000-08:00

Good grief, I've just realised that I actually drew 9 cats, not 7. That's a bit worrying in the whole counting department. Good job I don't have to do any proper counting at the moment, like for a tax return or something. Dammit.

Happy New Year

2010-01-04T06:10:00.000-08:00

2010 cats. Well 7 cats for 2010. Gently does it.

I want your Ice Cream

2009-11-05T09:32:00.000-08:00

Little spot illustration for the index page of a childrens book I'm working on with friends from college.

Little Map Birds

2009-11-05T08:32:00.000-08:00

For sale! Limited edition giclee prints 10cm x 15cm - edition of 30. Available from 17 November. Ish.

Pretty little map bird

2009-11-02T10:36:00.000-08:00

This is one of the little birds that will be on sale at Potterton Books. This little fellow was made a few months ago, and it has some friends in development that come from other parts of London.

A Little Book of Alliterations

2009-11-02T10:19:00.000-08:00

I've been working away on a series of little illustrations for a (possibly maybe hopefully!) book with 'Inside Pocket' independent publishers. This is a sneaky peek at one of them. 10 of the illustrations are going to be on sale for a little while as limited edition prints along with some pretty little map birds at the really very lovely Potterton Books in Chelsea from sometime around 17th November. Text is © Felix Arthur.

Visual Minutes for the NHS and the Eden Project

2009-10-29T15:05:00.000-07:00

These are Visual Minutes from a conference I worked at with Creative Connection, for the NHS (bit of a mouthful) sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia screening programme. They were looking at improving the process of diagnosis for patients, and I was one of three artists along with my friend Claire, and the very talented Chris 'visual minuting' - we work as a team to create one piece. This whole piece was about 10m long! It was a fascinating day, some really dedicated people. I learnt lots, both about sickle cell, and brushing up my visual minuting skills. The 'baby bit' is mostly where I was working!

About a week before this I went down to Cornwall to the Eden project to do visual minutes for the Eden Forum, which was looking at tackling climate change in the South West. There were some mind bogglingly big brains discussing some pretty terrifying issues, I felt like a very little fly on the wall. But a very lucky little fly.

The Eden project is really rather wonderful thing.

Catch Up..

2009-09-30T11:54:00.000-07:00

This is the stall at the Thames Festival that I had some work on as part of the 'Playroom' collective - a group of graduates and students from Camberwell College Illustration MA. And above, skateboarding pandas. A possible image for a book project in progress with some of the Playroomers.

Zoo Sketches

2009-09-30T11:46:00.000-07:00

Wickedest Witch & Wizard Colouring Competition

2009-09-30T11:38:00.000-07:00

A couple of drawings for a colouring competition running as part of the Big Draw at my library during October. Design an outrageous outfit for the modern witch or wizard. There are prizes! But mostly if you are at Primary School.

Masai Mara - too excited to do much drawing!

2009-09-23T06:10:00.000-07:00

More from safari

2009-09-23T06:09:00.001-07:00

Safari Capon goes Sketching

2009-09-23T06:02:00.000-07:00

Just Married!

2009-09-23T05:29:00.000-07:00

I'm back!

I've been a bit absent for the last couple of months as I've been rather busy having a lot of fun getting married and running away to Africa for some lovely honeymooning. But now I have shaken the confetti out of my hair, got the elephant poo out of my flip flops, and finally managed to use the words 'my husband' without looking like I'm going to choke on something, I'm back.

So, here are a few pages from the sketchbooks I took to Kenya. There was only a certain amount that I managed to do as I was quivering with excitement over all the animals, and trying to suppress repeated enactments of what I believe to be an extremely accurate impression of a wildebeest. Had to be reminded on several occasions that contrary to my own assessment of the situation, I was not, actually, Dr. Doolittle, and no, just going for a little cuddle with the lions was not such a great plan. This aside, Kenya was a wonderful country, beautiful, welcoming and wild, and I would go back like a shot for another dose of loveliness. Especially if I could just go and have a LITTLE chat with the giraffes. They'd understand, I know they would.

MA Degree Show

2009-07-13T06:09:00.000-07:00

I have gone a little bit quiet recently as I have just finished my Illustration MA at Camberwell College of Arts. After a fairly crazy couple of weeks finishing pieces for my portfolio, putting up the show and doing some quite spectacular running around in circles, it's up! And now that I have spent some quality time lying down / cleaning the flat which had (somehow) got rather covered in pieces of paper and half drunk mugs of tea, it's time for the show to open. Hooray! So if you are in London, come and take a peek. You can see the rather fantastic work of people from my course, and how to get there here www.camberwellmaillustration.blogspot.com
Think I will do a bit more lying down, then will hit the streets renewed and armed with my lovely new only just started sketchbook. Hooray!

Sergeant Brown's Parrot

2009-06-17T10:04:00.000-07:00

This is little illustration inspired by poem by Kit Wright, called 'Sergeant Brown's Parrot' and published in 'Poems on the Underground' in 1993. I think the Met might want to consider parrots for the forces. It lends them a certain pirate like je ne sais quoi.

Totally the last ones

2009-06-17T02:31:00.000-07:00

More Slow Food

2009-06-16T03:47:00.000-07:00

But maybe a bit much... Perhaps got a little carried away!

Go Slow, Slow Food Shoppers

2009-06-11T08:20:00.000-07:00

Sketches for pitch my very brilliant friend Claire is putting together, for window drawings and branding of a slow food company that is starting a not for profit, eco friendly, community focused supermarket. A fine plan. Go Claire go! But slowly...

If you go down to the woods today..

2009-06-02T11:47:00.000-07:00

Adapt - Illustration Friday

2009-06-01T14:02:00.000-07:00

My first Illustration Friday! Which some of my fellow MA Illustrators have been doing for a while. But I'm a little slow... UNLIKE the good sheep of Wales, and their buddies across the globe, who have been independently learning how to roll over cattle grids and make their bid for freedom. Go sheep go!

There was an old man on the border

2009-05-31T12:01:00.000-07:00

Last Haiku of the day

2009-05-28T11:32:00.000-07:00

Right at my feet -
And when did you get here
snail?

Yoshi Mikami Issa (1762-1826)

Had funny old day today - after some quite spectacular artistic block this morning, with much rambling around the house picking things up, and putting them down again, I made these. I wanted to do some poems, and after feeling bit intimidated by poems with lots of lines, haiku seemed like a good option. I found this site http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku
which is quite sweet, and finally after a last cup of tea, got going. Got a little bit carried away on the cherrie blossom one, but am quite pleased with how what looked like a bit of a disaster of a day turned out in the end.

Another Little Haiku

2009-05-28T11:28:00.001-07:00

In my old home,
which I forsook, the cherries
are in bloom.

Yoshi Mikami Issa (1762-1826)

A Little Haiku

2009-05-28T11:24:00.000-07:00

Night, and the moon!
My neighbour playing on his flute -
Out of tune!

Kojo

Amorous Dacentrurus

2009-05-19T02:13:00.000-07:00

Freddy and the Fairy

2009-05-14T08:22:00.000-07:00

This is my entry to the Waterstones competition 'Picture This' to find illustrator for new Julia Donaldson book. It's been really good to make an entry as it included character design - which after the Beast of the Thames 'pulling teeth' experience - I actually really enjoyed! The competition brief was for one double page spread (above) and design for the three main characters and some beasties (below). Despite the fact that I hate bloody fairies, I think Besse Belle turned out to be my favourite. If I had time to redo the double page spread -which, of course, I don't, that would be crazy, I would vary the scale of the figures much more, as I think they all look a bit the same. I would also change the perspective so that it looked much more like the fairy was about to be dropped from a great height, and possibly put a hedgehog underneath her. Did I mention that I hate fairies?

Freddie and the Fairy - Character Drawings

2009-05-14T08:11:00.001-07:00

True Stories

2009-05-11T04:49:00.001-07:00

Here is my finished entry for the Cheltenham illustration awards. Had lots of fun making this, especially with the dinosaur, which could become a new favourite thing to draw - especially as 'well, I do need to draw some dinosaurs' is just the best excuse to hang out in the Natural History Museum for a day. Or two.

Birds Sketch

2009-05-11T02:48:00.000-07:00

Disco Birds

2009-05-10T04:09:00.000-07:00

Pants.

2009-05-05T05:46:00.001-07:00

This is a bit of a picture I have just finished for the Cheltenham Illustration Awards . I have been using lots of photographed textures in my work. I quite like this, but am going to try and be a bit more free in my next one. I am now taking a run at another competition from Waterstones to illustrate a text from Julia Donaldson -she of the Gruffalo and other such lovely things. I will therefore, mostly be drawing fairys, before returning for a final spell with some pink capybaras.

Beastie goes flying

2009-04-27T00:53:00.000-07:00

Here is a page from the picture book 'The Beast of the Thames' that I have been working away on... When I first started doing this I had totally underestimated how difficult it is to make a children's book. I didn't think it would be a picnic, but, blimey! So far I've made stuff that's been too scary, too complicated, too childreny, not childreny enough, with weird colours, with very weird colours indeed, and with spectacularly inconsistant characters.... However. Having found a very lovely creature called a capybara in Bristol Zoo, and drawn it, alot, and quietly battling away with photoshop, I am starting to feel like I'm making some progress... HOORAY! Still got a way to go, but might have an idea of which way I am heading. Which is definately a start.

Knitted Rocking Horse vs Tin Zebra

2009-04-20T02:24:00.000-07:00

It's not going to be so much of a race, especially as my rocking horse has at least one really dodgy leg.

V&A drawings

2009-04-19T15:22:00.000-07:00

Another sketchbook sketch. Drew these figures in the V & A some time ago, and came across them hiding in an orphaned file on my computer. Thought they might like to come out to play.

Jumping at Shadows

2009-04-16T03:50:00.000-07:00

I am trying to use material from my sketchbooks more in my work, as I have lots of scribbly drawings like this one that never quite make it off the page. It's nice to set them loose.

A Very Lovely Dog in Bristol

2009-04-14T02:05:00.000-07:00

Paddling Sketch

2009-04-08T02:17:00.000-07:00

Uh oh.

2009-04-07T01:57:00.000-07:00

2009-04-01T15:50:00.000-07:00

2009-04-01T15:30:00.000-07:00

Seem to have been neglecting the ol' blog for a little while, so thought I would ease back in with some little sketchbooky bits and bobs from Bologna. Was out there last week for the Children's Book Fair, which was fascinating. Mental. But fascinating. Amazing to see what's going on in children's illustration all over the world, there's some really interesting stuff out there. Iran rocks, Italy is cool and France is rather lovely.
Bologna was a very welcoming city, especially our B&B, which was run by a gentle old lady who fussed over the small band of illustrators at the breakfast table as if we were long lost grandchildren. She was utterly unworried at our lack of comprehension as she talked away to us in rapid quiet italian, nudging more toast and coffee towards anyone who accidentally still looked hungry. The city was the colour salmon pink colour of one of my marker pens, and we eeked out coffee and hot chocolate to soak up some rays of sunshine on prized tables in the piazza.

A Very Modern Owl

2009-03-04T03:13:00.000-08:00

Beach Wander

2009-03-02T12:55:00.000-08:00

These are three small canvases I have made for an exhibition with my fellow Illustration students from Camberwell College of Art. The exhibition is called 'Play Room', and will take place at DreamSpace Gallery near Old Street Tube, London, starting on 10th March. The images are made up from a combination of photographic transfer and mixed media.

Sleeper

2009-02-24T06:25:00.000-08:00

Pigeons

2009-02-23T11:28:00.000-08:00

Under Milk Wood

2009-02-23T03:45:00.000-08:00

(Silence)

FIRST VOICE (Very Softly)

To Begin at the Beginning:

It is spring, moonless night in the small town, starless and bible-black, the cobblestreets silent and the hunched, courters'-and-rabbits' wood limping invisible down to the sloeblack, crowblack, fishingboat-bobbing sea. The houses are blind as moles (though moles see fine to-night in the snouting, velvet dingles) or blind as Captain Cat there in the muffled middle by the pump at the town clock, the shops in mourning, the Welfare Hall in widows' weeds. And all the people of the lulled and dumbfounded town are sleeping now.
Hush, the babies are sleeping, the farmers, the fishers, the tradesmen and pensioners, cobbler, schoolteacher, postman and publican, the undertaker and the fancy woman, drunkard, dressmaker, preacher, policeman, the webfoot cocklewomen and the tidy wives...
....Time passes. Listen. Time passes.
Come closer now.

From Under Milk Wood, Dylan Thomas, 1954

Trafalgar Square Penguin Party

2009-02-19T04:53:00.000-08:00

An invasion at Trafalgar Square. I still feel a bit confused about where I am going with my work - it's a bit amorphous, I don't feel that my illustration style has settled down into something instantly recognizable as mine. But now the Research paper is more or less finished, I am very happy to get back to the important business of drawing penguins.

Spirit of the Highlands, pursued by a research paper, and a small flock of tea cups.

2009-02-15T15:20:00.000-08:00

Valentines Cat Monkey

2009-02-15T15:12:00.000-08:00

Sheep

2009-02-10T15:09:00.000-08:00

Hickory Dickory Dock

2009-02-09T14:25:00.000-08:00

Office Gossip

2009-02-09T02:23:00.000-08:00

I have been picking this up, and putting it down again for a little while now. It is a college project piece of editorial illustration, to go with an article entitled 'Office Gossip'. It's been really interesting to work on imagery that I wouldn't naturally choose to draw. The birds, yes. The water cooler and office furniture - not so much. I am gaining a huge appreciation for the value of layers, for the purpose of corrections when things have gone a bit wonky.

2009-02-03T09:44:00.000-08:00

R.I.P
'Sketch With Two Faces'
Was sadly removed on this day,
Because it was annoying me too much.

2009-02-02T14:37:00.000-08:00

This was fun. But am being a little dull with my compositions at the moment. Will try and be a bit more adventurous in my next work, whatever that may be.

So much lovely snow in little London. I've had Belle and Sebastian songs in my head all day, so thought a Fox in the Snow would be nice. Mid way through making this I realized the sinister connotations of what I have done, given how the lyrics unfold. Mmmm... So much for making pretty things!

2009-02-02T11:41:00.000-08:00

Little Griffin got his first taste of snow today. A lot to take in for one so young , it was a cold pawed surprise as he sunk to his chin and then scuttled back inside. It tastes good though. Apparently.

2009-01-29T14:09:00.000-08:00

This is from some sketches that I did of skaters at Somerset House before Christmas, worked in to and combined with a painting / photograph I made last year of skaters at the Natural History Museum. It's a bit 'sweet' compared to a lot of my work, but given that I am trying to make things for children, perhaps that's not such a bad thing. I'm finding it hard to know when to stop with Photoshopping. Being able to go backwards can be rather time consuming when you're a bit indecisive.

2009-01-28T14:33:00.000-08:00

Dementia Poetry

'In the kitchen I used to ask
'Mother are you singing?'
And she used to say
'Yes Darling.
And it's all for you'

A snippet of poetry from Radio 4. Dementia poems were composed by John Killick from his conversations with dementia sufferers over a period of 10 years.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/youandyours/items/02/2005_46_fri.shtml

2009-01-28T14:22:00.000-08:00

'There was an old man with a beard,
Who said 'It is just as I feared;
Four larks and a wren
Two owls and a hen,
Have all built their nests
In my beard'

Edward Lear

Right. Time to get serious about this blogging business. I am going to aim to put a drawing up a day. No matter how finished. That's the plan. And if I fail, I will have to quietly come back in the depths of night and delete this post.

After years of resistance, I am learning Photoshop. And I like it. So much for a purist approach - for which read computophobic approach. I am facing the fear, and layering.

2008-12-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

2008-11-10T11:54:00.000-08:00

Who killed Cock Robin?

"Who killed Cock Robin?" "I," said the Sparrow,
"With my bow and arrow, I killed Cock Robin."

"Who saw him die?" "I," said the Fly,
"With my little eye, I saw him die."

"Who caught his blood?" "I," said the Fish,
"With my little dish, I caught his blood."

"Who'll make the shroud?" "I," said the Beetle,
"With my thread and needle, I'll make the shroud."

"Who'll dig his grave?" "I," said the Owl,
"With my pick and shovel, I'll dig his grave."

"Who'll be the parson?" "I," said the Rook,
"With my little book, I'll be the parson."

"Who'll be the clerk?" "I," said the Lark,
"If it's not in the dark, I'll be the clerk."

"Who'll carry the link?" "I," said the Linnet,
"I'll fetch it in a minute, I'll carry the link."

"Who'll be chief mourner?" "I," said the Dove,
"I mourn for my love, I'll be chief mourner."

"Who'll carry the coffin?" "I," said the Kite,
"If it's not through the night, I'll carry the coffin."

"Who'll bear the pall? "We," said the Wren,
"Both the cock and the hen, we'll bear the pall."

"Who'll sing a psalm?" "I," said the Thrush,
"As she sat on a bush, I'll sing a psalm."

"Who'll toll the bell?" "I," said the bull,
"Because I can pull, I'll toll the bell."

All the birds of the air fell a-sighing and a-sobbing,
When they heard the bell toll for poor Cock Robin.

2008-11-10T10:35:00.000-08:00

Poem On His Birthday

Dylan Thomas

In the mustardseed sun,
By full tilt river and switchback sea
Where cormorants scud,
In his house on stilts high among beaks
And palavers of birds
This sandgrain day in the bent bay's grave
He celebrates and spurns
His driftwood thirty-fifth wind turned age;
Herons spire and spear.

First verse of 'Poem on his birthday' by Dylan Thomas
taken from 'Miscellany Two'

2008-10-04T07:28:00.000-07:00

2008-10-04T04:59:00.000-07:00

2008-10-02T10:11:00.000-07:00

2008-09-17T03:55:00.000-07:00