Hi Chaps,

I've been recently working on a book that requires some crowd scenes, and groups of people. Sometimes I do find I can be tempted to let the figures in a crowd or group become a bit non-specific, characterless, loose, drones, who all look the same, due to the repetition of filling the space.
Rather than making them all being individual characters.
And the difference is the enjoyment in doing the illustration.
Whatever the picture, if I can find something in it that fires my interest/inspiration, and gets me engrossed, then I enjoy doing it more, and therefore it comes out better.
So, my first task when doing an illustration, along with working out the composition, is finding the route to being inspired.
So with these recent crowd scenes I'm working on, I blocked out the composition reasonably quickly, and then had a nice relax with my sketchbook and enjoyed myself trying to think up different characters to populate the crowds.
And here they are.

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Hi Chaps,

I have updated the shop on my website, where you can buy prints of work.
It's all a bit clearer and smoother now with a 'shop' page which has thumbnails on it.

Due to a lack of ability to create my own shop with payment process etc, I though the best approach would be to leave that to others.
Therefore, the thumbnails link through to a purchasing page which is actually on the sites Society6 or Etsy :) So all the payment and deliver processing is done by them.
You can get prints, framed prints and greetings cards from the images on Society6.
And for the Etsy images you can get a digital download to organise your own printing and framing at your leisure, as you see fit :)

Here are some of the pictures available.

Do have a wee look.
There's a link to my website on the right, or you can go directly to the shop page here

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Hi Chaps,

Every play date is different, but Ginger Green rules them all!
The first four of 'Ginger Green Playdate Queen' are now available.
Published in Australia by Hardie Grant Egmont, the books are 'New Friend', 'Fancy Friend', 'Crazy Friend' and 'Next Door Friend'.

They are written by Kim Kane and I can highly recommend them for early readers.
Considering the age they're aimed at, the text is deceptively simple, making it good for early readers but also conveying a decent amount of depth and emotion.
They are published in Australia only at the moment, but you may be able to get international delivery from some of the sites selling them.

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Hi chaps,

Well, I've my two reading spots of my book 'Small Blue' now.One in a shop, as in my previous post, and one in a library.
The way I decided to play the events was to do the readings first, and then draw sketches of characters from it, (usually pirates or witches).
It was fun and went down well.
Kids do seem to be fascinated by seeing a drawing actually appear out of nothing in front of them.

The shop reading was more freeform, with people drifting in and out, which had its own charm.
I ended up doing lots of individual readings to families there, while at the library there was more of a formal start and finish, and the reading had to be more of a performance.

I've been asked back by the library for another spot closer to Christmas, so I'll see if I can do even better with my patter for that. Any suggestions from anyone for tips and tricks would be much appreciated :)

I'll maybe try and employ my badges a bit more, and incidentally, more on those later.

All my equipment is set up for readings now though -
A3 sketchpad - check
Sharpies - check
Badges to give away - check

All ready for the next reading :)

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Hi Chaps,

Well, I had a great time at Waterstones in Carlisle last Saturday doing my author event for 'Small Blue and the Deep Dark Night'.
Lots of reading it to kids (and their parents) and doing drawings for them (the kids), usually of pirates. It fit in nicely on Halloween as it's sort of about scary things, and I ended up being there for about an hour and a half all in all.

It was excellently set up by the shop, especially thanks to Wendy in the children's department, with a window display, excellent chalkboard sign, and a lovely 'reading chair' and table.

I can recommend the children's section, if you want the good stuff, they've got it there :)

I'm looking forward to doing more readings, my next is at Twickenham Library at 3.45 on 10th November, in one of their regular story time slots.
There shall be reading, sketching, colouring sheets and copies of the book to sign and sell there too :)

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Hi chaps,

I've had a re-think about the 'Small Blue' badges and a bit of a look around, and I'm going to have a new and improved, better-value version available slightly differently soon, more info on it's way.
I'll post more once it's all organised and set up.
'Keep 'em peeled', as Shaw Taylor used to say.
They're rethought, resorted, reordered - and coming soon :)

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Hi Chaps,

If anyone out there feels like they're a bit of a fan of my book 'Small Blue and the Deep Dark Night' and they've got the book, and now they're wondering what else to do?
Well, now there's a way to show you are a fan as a 'Small Blue' badge is now available for you to pin proudly to your chest :)

It's available on the Zazzle site here, reasonably priced -
http://www.zazzle.co.uk/small_blue_and_the_deep_dark_night_badge-145985081026119308

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Dates for your Diary here Chaps :)
I have some readings of 'Small Blue and the Deep Dark Night' organised.
The first is in Carlisle Waterstones on 31st October.
And after that at Twickenham Library on 10th November at 3.45pm in one of their regular story time slots.
So do come along if you're about :)
If you already have a copy of 'Small Blue', bring it along and I will be happy to sign it for you, otherwise I'll have a few copies to sell and sign.
I'll also have some Small Blue and Big Brown colouring/drawing sheets to hand out.

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Hi Chaps,

I just recently spent some time in The Lake District and managed to get some sketching done, which doesn't tend to happen very often normally.
It does make a change to draw in real life with a real life pencil on a areal life paper sketch pad, rather than the ol' wacom tablet and pen that I normally do practically ALL my drawing on.
This is a sketch of a tree by a river.

Took about five minutes, and for anyone interested, here are a few technical details :)
I used a 0.5 propelling pencil with HB leads on an A6 Muji sketch/notepad, no rubber, and also no specs on which made it interesting. A bit like drawing with my eyes permanently half closed, so I ended up concentrating on the broad forms, and suggesting the flowers and grass, rather any than finickity details.

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Hi Chaps,

I've been recently putting some of my latest work up on Society 6, which I've just rediscovered.
If you don't know, you can buy framed prints of work on Society 6, (and t-shirts, iphone cases, cards etc), it's really good. If you or someone you know is looking for a framed print it's a good place to go, so do pass it on :)
But the work I've put up is available as prints, and some are also available as iphone skins and cases, and greetings cards.
Here's a link to it, do have a look http://society6.com/jondavis
I've got a set of Mice pictures up that I'm pleased with. I've been working on having more colourful line-work.
Here's one.

The plan next is to try and get some t-shirt designs up.
These'll have to be less Children's Picture Book in style, and a bit more Graphic Novel-ish, I reckon, so I'll see what I can come up with.

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Hi Chaps,

I've been doing a few drawings of foxes for a job just recently.
I've not had cause to draw too many foxes in the past, so it was fun to do this one.

I decided to give him a fine brush.
Here he is being caught by a lion. I'm not sure how much lions and foxes inhabit the same places generally, but that's what the story said :)


Here he is about to trick a rooster.

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I recently did this sheet to print out to be used as a basis for discussion at a local children's group, which was very interesting.
The discussion was about dealing with unkind comments, like "I'm more clever than you".

The idea was to think about the sort of comments and behaviour that may not be classed as bullying, that falls into a bit of grey area there, but that is still unkind and unfriendly.
The kids were asked to think of responses that wouldn't exacerbate the situation or get them in trouble, but that would be confident and assertive.
There was a lot of 'walk away', ignore them' and 'don't show you're annoyed'.

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Hi Chaps,

Well, I've been working on something a bit secret recently, I'll let you know more once the book's out, but it's a very nice book, for a good cause, with a couple of fun characters.
As a bit of a teaser, I can show yoiu a rough sketch from the early stages, that I was pleased with, but that wasn't used in the final book.

It gives a bit of a hint, though I'd be very surprised if anyone guesses what it actually is :)

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Mark your diaries for 1st Feb everyone!
The first book in the new Penelope Perfect series is published, featuring illustrations by me :)

It's called 'Project Best Friend', and is published by the lovely people at Hardie Grant Egmont in Australia
It seems to be only available in Australia, but it is listed on the Book Depository here - 
Hopefully it'll be available to order/pre-order there soon, and it should be possible to post internationally from there.

The books have an interesting premise, about a girl who is quite anxious, and wants to be perfect.
Most of the time she is good, sensible and calm. But then sometimes she is bossy, angry and frustrated.
And the stories are written to explore these duelling presonalities, how she is never quite sure which Penelope is going to be stronger on any given day.  
And then, Penelope finds that the best moments in her life are when she actually forgets to try.

It was great fun to illustrate, and is a very smart book.
Look on the Hardie Grant FB page for updates here
I'll post more when it comes out.

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Time's up!
Here's the answer to the 'Small Blue' quiz from last week.
(Actually, I think this is a question rather than a quiz, as the word quiz implies more than one question :)

But anyway, on to the answer. If you know it, give yourself a pat on the back. If not, it's something to look out for .
But on each double page spread with the lights on, you will find, somewhere inthe picture, a red toy car.
Two in Small's bedroom, and then a different style of red toy car in the the hall and kitchen, 
right to the end, everytime the lights are on. 
Four double spreads in all.
Here they are.

But more info on new work coming soon :)

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Hi Chaps,

Happy New Year everybody.
And as a celebration, I thought I'd do something a bit fun and participatory.

So, as it's been a few months since 'Small Blue and the Deep Dark Night' came out, I thought I might do a little 'I Spy' quiz.

This is a quiz for people who have a copy of 'Small Blue', or access to a copy, say at a library or something.
But if you look through the book, there is something that appears on every spread where the lights are on.
Bit of a clue, it's a certain coloured toy, but see if you can spot it.

It's a sort of sub-plot I put in, if you can call it a sub plot.
Just sort of something to spot and look out for as you're reading.

But have a careful look through, see what you can spot, and I'll do a post next week with the answer, with pictures.

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Hi Chaps,

Well, "Small Blue and the Deep Dark Night" has been reviewed again, and this time in a real life actual paper that you can hold in your hand, which is cool.
Yesterday, 19th October, it was reviewed in the Book Review Section of the Sunday edition of the New York Times.
They say "It's a winning approach to fear of the dark: lots of physical closeness, a few flights of imagination, and a gentle dash of cold, hard logic."
See a scan of the review below, it also featured a section of the goblins spread, further down the page.

Just a small spot, but I do feel chuffed :)

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Hi Chaps,

There have been a bunch of really nice reviews of Small Blue and the Deep Dark Night on various blogs.
I've put a couple of them up on my website, but I thought I'd gather a bunch of them here.

A lovely review, and there was a give-away too, at the Good Reads With Ronna Blog here

A very nice review indeed at Jen Robinson's Book Page Blog here.

Another very nice review at the Books For Kids Blog here
You'll have to scroll down for this one, it was posted on the 6th Sept.

And a nice short review at the Feed A Reader Blog here.
This blog seems to be run by Kirkwood Public Library.
I checked the catalogue, and Small Blue is checked out at the moment :)

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Hi Chaps,

Well, 'Small Blue and the Deep Dark Night' has been published in the UK, so now it's all out there and available both in the US and the UK.
Get 'em while they're hot, I love a nice warm book, fresh out of the press :)

Apparently it's in actual book stores in the US, and is available on-line at Amazon and Barbes & Noble, and in the UK it's available on-line at Waterstones, Amazon, Books etc and Foyles.
And, I know my local libraries are getting a few copies in, so I'm looking forward to spotting a copy there.

And another way to get yourself a copy -
 I do know there's one up for grabs in a competition which is currently running at the 'Good Reads With Ronna' blog here.
There are three books to win, including 'Small Blue' and there's a lovely review of it as well, at the bottom of the post.

And, if you're after a few more reviews, there's one on Jen Robinson's Book page' blog, here, and another two, from Kirkus and Publisher's Weekly on my website here.

I've got a 'Small Blue' quiz in the works, so keep your eyes open for that in the near future here, too.

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Hi chaps,

I've updated my website with new recent work.
The new stuff includes, in the colour section, a squirrel from a recordable story book I illustrated, below.
Which is an interesting concept. This one is intended for a grandparent to record themselves reading the story, to then post to a grandchild who lives far away, so they can listen to it!!
I'm looking forward to getting my complimentary copy of this one.

And the black and white section includes a couple of pics of a dashing, well-dressed fox character for a chapter/older reader book age group, which I used tone with, along with the line.
Here's one that isn't on my website.

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Hi Chaps,

Look what just arrived in the post. Whole stack of Small Blue from the lovely people at Harcourt.

It's just over a month till it's out now, 26th Aug in the US and 1st Sept in the UK.
So mark the appropriate day on your calendar, depending on your continental location, or, indeed, your preference of international shipping or local post.
But in the meantime, here's Small Blue from the cover.

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Hi Chaps,

One of my pictures has been used on a cookie!
2 Mamas Baking in Iowa ( www.2mamasbaking.com ), licensed a sketch I did of a baby/toddler, to use as a design for a cookie decoration.
Well, the prototype has been made, and they've put a picture up on their Facebook page here -
https://www.facebook.com/2MamasBaking
It was put up on 20th June, so it's a few posts down now.
I think they've captured the illustration really nicely, and have used a lovely colour, I think it works really nicely.

But, here we are, here's my original, and then the picture they put up, so you can see it here too.

But have a look at some of their other posts too, there's some lovely looking stuff.

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Hi Chaps,

There's been another review for my new book 'Small Blue and the Deep Dark Night' out soon with the lovely chaps at Harcourt in New York.
This one is on Publisher's Weekly here
And I've got the text below, and a screenshot too, just to make there's no way you can miss it :)
But it's a nice review, I like the way they describe the book, I feel like they've got the hang of it and they explain it well.

In his first outing as both author and illustrator, Davis (Stuck with the Blooz) uses gnomish pen-and-ink drawings to conjure up the “Gremlins and goblins, with empty, rumbling bellies, licking their lips, waiting for me in the dark” that Small Blue, a rabbit, feels sure are lurking in her bedroom. Davis resists the urge to draw creatures as scary as Small Blue’s thoughts: the imaginary goblins are small, blobby creatures with mild expressions, clearly anxious to please. Big Brown—who’s precisely the kind of towering, furry bear one longs to take one’s nighttime fears to—doesn’t deny Small Blue’s worries (“There could be...”), but suggests another way to look at things: “How do you know it wasn’t a delightful doggies’ Saturday-night unicycle convention?” A visit to the kitchen for warm milk develops the idea: “I can imagine the kitchen playing host to a retired- pirates’ annual sock-knitting jamboree.” Soon, Small Blue gets the hang of this kind of thinking, too. A winsome, even poetic introduction to the idea of reasoning one’s way through fearfulness. Ages 4–8

But here are some sketches from the book, as a bit of a teaser, of the things mentioned in the review, Small Blue, Big Brown and a couple of Goblins.

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Hi Chaps,

Well, I've got a picture book coming out in August which I have written as well as illustrated.
Which is a tad exciting.
The book is called Small Blue and The Deep Dark Night, and is published by the lovely chaps at Harcourt in the US.
But, the reviews have started, and there's a nice on Kirkus here
I'll put the text below, and a screenshot too.

I'll post some sketches from it soon, and any other reviews too.

KIRKUS REVIEW

Small Blue (a little bunny) gets a bad case of the middle-of-the-night willies, imagining what spooky creatures might lurk in the dark corners of her home.

“Big Brown, Big Brown!” she wails, in a shrill pitch familiar to all parents. Small Blue’s caregiver, a lumpy, burly bear, offers reassuringly ridiculous counterarguments to assuage the bunny’s fears. Big Brown wonders whether those “[g]remlins and goblins, with empty, rumbling bellies,” weren’t there at all, and instead there was ”a delightful doggies’ Saturday-night unicycle convention” underway. It is dark, after all. Who can tell? Children will get the hang of Big Brown’s loopy logic quickly. The dark could harbor “giant hairy spiders and flappy bats” or, just as likely, host “a smiley spacemen’s zero-gravity birthday party.” Jittery readers come to see it’s probably neither; the dark is just that, dark, and nothing more. Big Brown’s enveloping brawn and fantastically implausible nighttime scenarios turn quivering fears into giggles. Mildly cartoonish artwork, in purply-blues (lights off) and cozy yellows (lights on), offers thick linework and lots of rounded edges, eyes, noses and mouths, softening Blue’s scary fantasies and rendering Brown’s imaginings all the more comical. 

Add this original, illuminating book to any stack of in-the-dark, nighty-night anxiety tales right next to the bed, alongside that last glass of water—but leave the door open a crack!

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Hi Chaps,

Here's an idea I've had for Twitter, which I feel worth introducing here.
But I thought I might do a daily feature of things I've drawn each day.
Sort of a single page with a few sketches/drawings that I've been working on that day, with notes or the odd thought included.
I'm sure I won't manage to keep it up being daily, but here's the first one .

Keep an eye on my twitter to see more of them.

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