- Impro drawing at the South Ken Kids Festival with l-r - Axel Scheffler, Delphine Perret, Bridget Marzo and Beatrice Alemagna.
- In the stratosphere after our joint drawings to Jazz at the South Ken Kids Festival - illustrators left to right: Emily Hughes, Delphine Perret, Claude Ponti, Bruno Heitz, Barroux, Benji Davies, Marjolaine Leray, Bridget Marzo, Beatrice Alemagna, Axel Scheffler..and jazz trumpetist Airelle Besson and guitarist.
I felt so lucky to have been invited by the French Institute in London to participate in the South Ken Kids Festival 2015 by the French Everything about it was a big draw - excuse the pun - not just the pictures! I met parents as well as kids who had come to it for the first time and found it truly inspiring - and others who had come year after year. It was inspiring too for us authors and illustrators - to see each other's work, draw alongside each other - and talk shop. With Quentin Blake as its patron it is not surprising it has a strong author-illustrator focus - though there were some wonderful authors like Marie-Aude Murail and artists like Barroux doing stunning work for older kids.
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The beautifully stocked book stalls - French kid's books from Librairie La Page and a big range of English ones from Tales on Moon Lane drew kids, parents and us book people too. Talk about cultural exchange! Plus, a chance to hang out a few metres away in the French Institute's well stocked cafe, talking shop with other faculty between workshops and signing sessions, and chatting with parents and kids of all nationalities.
- Group impro drawing to jazz - spot the two right-handers Axel Scheffler and Delphine Perret
- and two left-handers - me (drawing Tiz under the cake) and Benji Davies.
A big thank you to all the SKKF volunteers especially Rebecca Infield, Annabelle Royer for preparing the ground with friendly support for our events and school visits the preceding week. Overseeing this huge variety of events was the lively mind and charm of Lucie Campos, head of the French Cultural centre's Book Department.
Lucie set the tone with her sparkly wit and real engagement at the festival launch in the presence of Quentin Blake. She and all at the French Institute were absolutely determined to counteract the horror and fear of the Paris attacks the previous week with the best of what culture from both sides of the channel could offer children - creative workshops and play and making, meetings, music, words...and pictures.
Here are pictures which none of us illustrators would have dreamed of creating, except together. We were all on the same page in every sense - with the audience and the sound of the trumpet and guitar too. True synergy - and joy!
- Sam Usher, Magali Le Huche and Beatrice Alemagna drawing in response to Barroux's big yellow horn blower.
- Hilarious Belgian author-illustrator Michel Van Zeveren and I warming up on Saturday morning a drawing duo in response to children's requests.
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