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illustration

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

Pigsticks and Harold at the Storystock Festival

15 April, 2014 by Alex

storystock5

I had a terrific time this morning at the Saatchi Gallery, reading and drawing Pigsticks and Harold for the Storystock Festival. It was the first time I’d read the book to an audience of children other than my own, and they didn’t want me to stop! I only planned to read a short section, but we blasted all the way through helped in no small part to the trusty Gary Northfield laughing at all the right places. What a guy!

So any worries I had about how it would go down with children have gone now. And it was liked by both the girls and boys. What a result!

Afterwards we drew some pigs and hamsters, and I thought I’d put a few up here.

storystock1

This lad could really draw Harold!

storystock4

I loved the colouring on this…

storystock3

Equally, this one was so bright!

storystock6

Now I can’t wait to get out there again and do more drawing!

Filed Under: Events, illustration Tagged With: pigsticks and harold, saatchi gallery, Storystock

Moomin Lego!

3 April, 2014 by Alex

It’ll be of no surprise to most of you that I’m a Moomin fan. Tove Jansson is a legend. And so, as I was idly building Lego with my daughter recently I found myself wondering if you could make a Lego Moomin. It turns out, with a bit of Fimo and a lot of thought, you can.

my hand-made heads, and Lego bodied Moomin
my hand-made heads, and Lego bodied Moomin

And of course, thinking big, I wondered if I could get a set approved on the fabulous Lego Cuusoo site . It took a bit of time and planning, and learning how to use the free Lego Digital Designer, but I’ve done it. To get a set approved, you can’t use anything other than available Lego pieces, so I had to focus on a set incorporating the more human characters of Moominvalley. All this led me to make Snufkin, and a set depicting this little bridge (The illustration is from Finn Family Moomintroll!) he and Moomintroll always sit on.

SNUFKINbridge

I went a bit Moomin crazy in the end – making the Groke out of Sculpey…

moomin-and-groke

…And creating a little bug hunting scene for the Hemulen. I think this is my favourite of all the little Lego models I made.

The Hemulen in Lego - the little satchel is perfect.
The Hemulen in Lego – the little satchel is perfect.

It was a struggle searching for all the right bits, but with The Hemulen, I think I lucked out. I love his little shoulder bag!

SO! If you want to see any sort of Lego Moomin kit in the near future, go HERE, join up and VOTE! You never know, we might persuade them to make little Moomin heads too.

Filed Under: illustration, moomin lego Tagged With: lego, Lego Cuusoo, moomin, moomin lego, snufkin camping

Piggy Stardust animated!

14 March, 2014 by Alex

I’ve been allowed to use some short animations made by JAM Media – the production company working on the Pigsticks and Harold TV show.

Now this won’t work if you don’t have Flash, sadly, but it’s a marvellous little snapshot of Piggy Stardust and the Hamsters from Mars.

Filed Under: illustration, Videos Tagged With: harold the hamster, jam media, piggy stardust, pigsticks

Back to the Future

24 February, 2014 by Alex

I’ve been practising with digital brushes in Photoshop, in an attempt to find a fully digital way of making pictures that I’m happy with. I need to play with it more, and a lot! But as I used to make oil paintings, and thoroughly enjoyed doing so, I thought I’d have a pop at recreating something like that.

Anyone who’s visited my house will recognise this, which looks a lot like one of the few paintings I still have left.

digital-painting-practise

It’s obviously not perfect, but I can see potential!

Filed Under: illustration Tagged With: digital oil painting

Viking doodles

7 February, 2014 by Alex

viking-smash

I’ve been practising drawing in full colour, full digital of late. Here’s one of my sketches, with an angry tree bear bursting out of the woods towards a little viking.

I’m loving doing these. It’s a nice break from all the other things I’m working on.

Filed Under: illustration Tagged With: Viking

Harold and his family

13 September, 2013 by Alex

A little bit of news slipped out this week about a Pigsticks & Harold animated series being in development. It’s a massive thing, for sure, but it’s currently at the beginning of a very long journey if it’s ever to see the light of day.

Jam media (who created the Tilly & Friends show based on Polly Dunbar’s books, among many other great shows) have already made some amazing animated scenes of the pair. Maybe one day I can post them for all to see. They look brilliant, and in a week’s time we’ll be pitching them and the show at the Cartoon Forum.

So, fingers crossed. We’ve worked incredibly hard on this, and maybe one day my assuming pig and unassuming hamster will get their own TV show.

So for now, here’s a picture I’ve done for the Cartoon Forum pitch of Harold and his Family. I love Harold.

harold-family-photo

Filed Under: illustration, News Tagged With: cartoon forum, jam media, pigsticks. Harold the hamster, tv

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Latest book out now!

Big Sky Mountain

By Alex Milway

Welcome to Big Sky Mountain: a home for everyone!

Rosa has come from the city to live with Grandma Nan in the wilds of Big Sky Mountain. And what surprises are in store for her! Grandma Nan is not exactly an ordinary grandma, and Big Sky Mountain is like nowhere Rosa has dreamed about before. Grandma Nan lives in an old wooden cabin with Albert the moose and Little Pig the pygmy owl, and spends every day out on adventures. From canoeing down rapids to making friends with the local animals, life never stays still for long on Big Sky Mountain!

An exhilarating new series set in the great outdoors, from HOTEL FLAMINGO author Alex Milway.

An excellent early reader book for children aged 4-8

Funny and charming; Alex Milway has made me want to fly right into Big Sky Mountain myself. – Andy Shepherd, author of The Boy Who Grew Dragons

I want to go to Big Sky Mountain! It’s the rugged wilderness, but much softened by a comfy bear who’s a travelling salesman, a moody architect hare and some busy builder beavers who still have to learn about how to get along with the rest of the community. – Sarah McIntyre, illustrator of Pugs of the Frozen North

This is a perfect, big-hearted adventure story, with pictures and laughs on every page and an environmental message delivered with the lightest touch. Once you have met the wonderful cast of talking animals, warmed to Nan’s peculiar ways and found your feet in the wilderness, like Rosa you’ll never want to leave Big Sky Mountain. – Clara Vulliamy

As a HUGE fan of feisty grandmothers I LOVED Grandma Nan in Big Sky Mountain! Wise, capable and fearless, she is the perfect role model for her granddaughter Rosa. A wild adventure with an important message, bravo! – Sophy Henn, author and illustrator of Bad Nana

The perfect adventure to rewild young readers – Benji Davies, author and illustrator of Grandad’s Island

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