The Big Picture Awards Party
Last night was the official launch ceremony for the winners of THE BIG PICTURE award, the campaign to find the Best New Illustrators, see my previous post.
It was held at The Illustration Cupboard in London. I was there as a friend of the gallery owner who, years ago put me in touch with the first editor to say the magic words I like your writing and lead me to my first picture book contract.
The work of all 10 illustrators was on display at the two-floor gallery where familiar faces and names(thanks to their name-tags) gathered to enjoy this first ever BIG PICTURE awards presentation by The Booktrust.
Canapes were thrust under our noses several times a sentence. I had already eaten so I wasn't tempted until I was offered ricespoonfuls of Banoffee pie arranged in a circle like a child's drawing of the rays of the sun.
A few years ago, this event would have been too intimidating for me to attend. I had illustrated my first picture book and was keen to be an illustrator. Now I prefer to focus on writing and am happy to enjoy the work of the more accomplished illustrators around me.
Now, it's just occurred to me that perhaps these are not the 10 best Illustrators.
Alexis Deacon, Polly Dunbar, Emily Gravett, Mini Grey, Oliver Jeffers, David Lucas, Catherine Rayner and Joel Stewart are all Authors and illustrators. 8 out of 10 owners of the Best New Illustrators Award are authors too. Only Lisa Evans and Vicky White are exclusively illustrators.
Vicky White wins this award on the back of her first picture book, Ape
Of all the pictures in the gallery, the ape constantly caught my eye with its Mona Lisa smile. Or perhaps it's more reminiscent of Anthony Browne's The Mysterious Smile in his book Willy's Pictures. My all-time illustrator hero is Anthony Browne who also happened to be one of the judges.
One other particular picture was a topic of discussion at the end of the evening - Alexis Deacon's beautiful oil pastel picture from While You Are Sleeping
Someone thought there were touches of Michel Angelo in the picture, though Jacques-Louis David's, Death Of Marat Sade was the painting that sprung to my mind!
Congratulations to all new illustrators and the Book Trust for launching such a brilliant campaign to put children's picture books in the public eye.
Just a thought, how about a different angle next year, say - THE BIG STORY - to give dedicated authors a chance to promote children's picture books?
I didn't take photos of the event but about-to-be-published illustrator, Sarah McIntyre did. So have a look at the splendid silver award - I suggested the photo of Oliver Jeffers sporting his silver star on his lapel!
Sarah took this photo of me with David Lucas. See my previous post - hee! hee!
