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Pigsticks & Harold and the Incredible Journey out now!

30 April, 2014 by Alex

Pigsticks and Harold cover

Good grief, it’s been a long time coming, yet here it is: PIGSTICKS & HAROLD AND THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY. Out today! Who’d have thought?

The idea of Pigsticks was born close to five years ago now. I don’t remember many things these days (my children have somehow demolished most of my faculties), but I do remember that date, as my wife was pregnant with our first child. I’d been thinking about creating some stories for very young children so that my soon-to-be daughter could read them. Obviously, I was thinking years ahead – but then that’s what all of us in the slow-motion world of publishing are doing anyway, right?

And so, on this most momentous of days, I thought it would be a nice chance to share some of the slow growth of Pigsticks, from a gentle little idea to an 80-ish page, full colour monster. And one with a TV show in development!

If there’s one of my characters that can be shouted about, it’s Pigsticks the ‘can-do’ pig! So here are some of his early moments from my notebooks:

Pigsticks-Origin-1

The first ever drawing of my pig – which admittedly isn’t much of a pig!

pigsticks-origin-3

It’s not very often that you’re able to point to the exact time that a name of a character or an idea comes into being, but this is one. The very page where I first wrote the word “Pigsticks”, and it stuck.

pigsticks-origin-2

This was the first story I wrote for Pigsticks, and by this time, the nature of the relationship between him and his best friend Harold was forming.

pigsticks-origin-4

Everything changed for me when Viv Schwarz told me to try using a brush pen, which I did with this picture. Suddenly the look of the characters became something unique. It needed work, and I needed to practise with the pen, but I really felt that I was getting somewhere.

And that’s about it, really. We put a lot of work into getting it right, with much debate on format – it was going to be a comic at one point! – but I think the final book is just right. The lovely folk at Walker have really got their teeth into it, and guided me to its conclusion. And I think it’s safe to say that getting involved with Jam Media also shaped its final form for the better. It’s amazing how far these things evolve and grow from their initial conception!

And now I’ve got to get ready for book 2, which is my attempt at a Pigsticks & Harold Miss Marple mystery, with a touch of CSI thrown in for good measure.

Filed Under: Books, illustration, Pigsticks and Harold Tagged With: pigsticks and harold

Pigsticks and Harold do some gardening

29 April, 2014 by Alex

It’s just two days until Pigsticks and Harold and the Incredible Journey is officially published, so, to get into the spirit, here’s the dynamic duo indulging in a spot of topiary. Yes, they’re adventurers, but they also dabble in some of the finer pursuits in life as well.

P&H-Gardening

Filed Under: Books, illustration, Pigsticks and Harold Tagged With: pigsticks and harold

Harold in a diving suit

16 August, 2013 by Alex

Harold-diving-suit

The chance came to draw Harold in an old diving suit, so here it is.

It’s an incredibly exciting time for Pigsticks & Harold. I’m not going to talk about why, just yet, but hopefully in time for the launch of the first book in May next year there’ll be some super amazing news.

Keep your ears and eyes open!

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: harold the hamster, pigsticks and harold

Pigsticks & Harold get a little bit closer

2 July, 2013 by Alex

p&H blad I went into Walker to talk about Pigsticks 2 today, and came home with this lovely little pre-pub blad of a section of book one. It’s always such a strange feeling seeing your book actually become a book, and while it’s not the finished thing, it’s edging closer.

Very exciting.

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: pigsticks and harold

Pigsticks & Harold do Sherlock Holmes!

24 May, 2013 by Alex

sherlock-pig

The colouring on Pigsticks & Harold 2 is under way!

Filed Under: Books, illustration Tagged With: detectives, pigsticks and harold, sherlock Holmes

Pirate Pigbeard

15 May, 2013 by Alex

I once wrote about a pirate called Mousebeard, so…

pigbeard

Filed Under: Books, illustration Tagged With: pigbeard, Pirate

Harold is Superhamster!

13 May, 2013 by Alex

superhamster

My daughter picked up Sarah McIntyre‘s new picture book at the weekend – SUPERKID! – which has a hamster in it. And it’s no ordinary hamster, either, it’s… SUPERHAMSTER.

So, of course, I couldn’t resist drawing Harold in a SUPERHAMSTER outfit!

Filed Under: Books, illustration Tagged With: harold, superhamster, superkid

Pirate George and Otterly do a little dance

10 May, 2013 by Alex

It’s Friday, I’m hard at work on the second Pigsticks book, and here’s a snippet from the last spread.

A hippo and an otter dancing! Only in a children’s book.

hippo-dance

Filed Under: Books, illustration Tagged With: otterly, pirate george

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