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I'm working on an italian edition of Black Beauty with Edizioni EL. I'm always happy when I have the opportunity to work on a classic I loved as a child. My dream project would be an illustrated edition of Watership Down (there's a pitch in the works in my spare time. I hope it will see the light one day.)
One of the reasons I enjoy working with Edizioni EL is that they leave me a lot of freedom. When I told them that I was tired of my usual digital work, they let me try something a little different - a graphite rendering and digital colour. It's a good way to step away from the computer and the final result is very appealing to me at this stage. Here's a little preview of the work and some sketches. As you can see, I'm still working on the layouts digitally. It's easier for me, as I know how much room I have on the page, but then I transfer them on Fabriano FA2 and use pencils. Follow me on IG to see more as I move along - https://www.instagram.com/gaiabordicchia/
In print this month, a fable for Storytime Magazine!
Issue 5 is on sale now and I have illustrated three double pages for the story "Fate finds a fish." You can order a copy as well as the previous issues on their website - http://www.storytimemagazine.com/
It's a lovely read for kids with contributions from incredibly talented illustrators.
Many of my friends and illustration peeps are posting about their new year's goals. Today I sat with a cup of coffee and realized I couldn't write my usual long list of resolutions! The truth is, I don't have any plans for the new year. Actually, I do have some, but they look more like a schedule and a way to keep my life a bit organized. This past 2014 was like nothing I expected. I can't really say it was all bad, but it certainly was in many ways disappointing. It was a good year for work though and this is what this blog is about.
Rather than resolutions, I have hopes for 2015 and it's a good way to start:
- I hope to be in Bologna for the Book Fair next spring and meet many of the illustrators I regularly talk to via social media or emails. Are you planning to go? Drop me a line or look for a bright red head in the crowd and say hi. Chances are, you'll find me a lot more shy and quiet than you expected!
- I'd love do illustrate a cookbook! Or any other format that will need illustrated food. It doesn't have to be for kids only. I will add a section to the portfolio, but while time for personal work is always limited, I'd be happy to work on samples if anyone is interested. So, get in touch if you have a similar project on the go (recipe book, food packaging, bento boxes ect.) Let's talk!
- I hope to finish at least a dummy book this year. I've never really considered myself an author/illustrator. While this is so important to many, to me it was always a secondary thing. I'm not sure I can be, to be honest, but over the years I've filled a folder with storybook ideas. It's time to find out if this is meant to be or not...
- I want to take a screenprinting class next summer. I don't know where and when yet, but it's a big hope. If you are taking a class or know of a good place for beginners, please get in touch. I will be able to travel around Europe for it.
Mostly, I will let 2015 open to possiblities. To good things, nice people, fun collaborative projects, unexpected and interesting ideas. Teach me something I don't know, surprise me!
Last summer I was lucky to work on a design proposal for Royal Mail and their Christmas stamps for 2014. It was a dream job!
Working in such a small scale was a real challenge for me as my work is so detailed. I was pleased with the final result, but my designs were not adopted in the end... Of all the opportunities and jobs that I have missed, this is one of those I still feel sorry for, even after a year. This is part of our work as illustrators though. Not every project and every sample is used or published.
Royal Mail gave me permission to include the illustrations in my portfolio. They own the full copyright to the images though, so please, share the link if you like them, but don't take them or use them in another blog post! Thank you.
In January I had the opportunity to work on a rather unusual project. This new editions of Goldielocks and the Tree Bears, published by Editions Fleurus, has a simple but lovely paper engineering. Each page is made by two rotating disks so the scene inside changes.
I'm very pleased with the print quality and how well the book was put together. One of my favourite projects this year!
Written by
Sandra Solinet and published by Editions Fleurus, this is one of the stories I enjoyed the most this year. It's fun and well written and it was joy to work on!
I'm especially happy with the house in the woods.
This past spring I've illustrated this lovely board book for Editions Milan. It was a nice challenge. Sometimes simple is not as easy to do as we imagine. This is also a reason why I do enjoy board books. Not only are the very first kids own, but they're a good design excercise.
La Petite Poule Rousse is an audio-book with tiny little buttons on the front so kids can listen to the story while reading each page. You can see a small
video on my Instagram!
A selection of illustrations from "La Collina dei Folletti" published in Italy by Edizioni EL
I've finished my commissions and summer break is around the corner. If I could build myself a huge paper crane, I'd fly away and explore new places. There are so many new and old friends I'd like to meet. Unfortunately, I have a lot of planning to do in the following weeks, both for work and for my future life. Planning, saving and dreaming things up!
I always fear changes, big and small, but I also hate being stuck. When something doesn't work for me, when I feel I'm out of place or held back, I become restless… This should be the last blog update for a while. I'm struggling to give my portfolio an update and a new look. Me and web design are not good friends and it's a frustrating process.
I leave with good news! I'm now represented in the U.S. by the super lovely Teresa Kietlinski at
Prospect Agency. This is a big change. I'm happy and very lucky. It's a new journey ahead!
By:
Gaia Bordicchia,
on 3/25/2014
Blog:
I Piccolini
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April 11th is the release date for my ABC book. Published in France by Fleurus Editions, it's the first project where I had the challenge of drawing different types of vehicles, including bikes!
It's the story of Adrien, a firefighter who helps saving a farm and its animals during a thunderstorm.
Each double spread has a letter of the alphabet with three little vehicles and a full page illustrating the story. It's very nicely printed and the die-cut cover makes it even nicer.
You can see more images from the book under Featured Project --->
Mon Alphabet des Véhicules
By:
Gaia Bordicchia,
on 9/10/2013
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I Piccolini
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Finally Autumn! The weather is now lovely in Italy as well. I couldn't be happier. I'm all for rain and woolly hats.
I grew up in a family of avid knitters. I went to school wearing jumpers with my initials hidden in complex and colorful jaquard patterns. I remember playing with my Mom's box of buttons and long hours spent choosing colors at the yarn shop. I loved it all... My only big frustration was that the ladies in my family are all left-handed, except for my Nan. Learning to knit from them was quite difficult for me and I often felt a bit left out! Now I'm not as productive as they are, but I do enjoy knitting, whenever I have the time...
This is the front and back of a notebook for knitting and sewing patterns that I have illustrated for La Marelle. If you are visiting the Fair Maisons&Objects currently in Paris, this is part of their new collection alongside several new cards I did for them. I will eventually update the portfolio to show all this new work.
Do I have time to knit these days? I wish!
I'm hard at work on new books again. I've just finished a little soft cover for Edizioni EL and I'm currently working on a new picture book with Editions Fleurus. I'm very excited about this new collaboration that will stretch until late April 2014. I can't say much yet, but the stories and books I am doing with them are varied and all very fun. Not to mention, very well printed!
I look at my stash of yarn and hope to finish at least that pair of mermaid gloves I've started in 2010 and left halfway done!
When the new stationery layouts landed in my mailbox a few weeks ago, I knew the "Thank You" card was trouble. I can't say why, but while the rest of them had little sparks of inspiration all over the edges, this card was a big, blank space. I left it for last and moved on with the rest of my work…
If you follow me on Twitter, you know I have a son, Elia or E. as most of my online friends know him. He will be 8 in July. He's curious, imaginative and won't take an easy answer. His questions demand spectacular revelations or something vague and mysterious enough to leave him thinking for a while.
You don't have to be a parent to work as a picture book illustrator. I've always lived the two things separately. For a long time, the illustrating process was just my own big ego trip. It was me, my 6 year old-self and sometimes, a more feminine version of Gaia appearing in my drawings. Then as E. grew older, I started to listen more. Not only he has a lot of questions, but has opinions, plans and most of all, stories!
Two weeks ago, I was finishing a big illustration and part of it was the image of a cycle. I won't go into details, but I had this flat circle and I was trying to avoid using arrows, while giving the idea of movement. Another blank space, no spark at all…
E. asked what it was and I told him the blue circle was water with different life stages of a sea creature. He looked at the screen for a while then pointing his finger and moving it around, said: "Like water in the bath tub". Boom! It was under my nose. A whirlpool!
As I solved this puzzle, I also had an idea for the Thank You card. The old robot needed new batteries and a new spark. A small explorer arrived to help. I had more fun designing this, than any other card in the group. I wasn't reaching out to the princess I've never been as a child, but to a little boy with golden wings.
There are so many things I don't do anymore, now that I am a parent. In the past I used to travel a lot and everything was a little bit easier and more adventurous. I could take risks. These thoughts only lasts a little minute though. Most of the time I'm too busy finding a good answer to the many questions I receive:
- Is a "brown dwarf" a sad star? The guy on tv says it's a star without light, a failed star...
- Is Mercury cold or entirely covered with olives? Not trees, just olives.
- If Mothra lands on our house, will my Flytrap plant be enough to fight it off?
- I think Dante the Elephant has a small phone book, do you know why?
- Do you keep cosmic piranhas in your socks drawer?
- Do you know the cartoonist who draws this comic? Really? Let's send him a note saying "Dude, you're awesome!"
- Would you rather have a daimon or a backpack with tentacles? Answer carefully, both are very cool, but you can have only one!
I don't think you must be a parent to illustrate or write picture books, but if you have one of these creativity bombs walking around your house, listen. Give answers, ask question, but mostly listen. They have opinions, unexpected solutions, silly plans and most of all, they love a good story as much as you do.
By:
Gaia Bordicchia,
on 5/5/2013
Blog:
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At the beginning of this year I was called for a very fun project!
Pandistelle, one of Italy's most famous cookies turned 30 years old. To celebrate, Barilla alonside the nice people of creative agency "I Mille", called 12 artists to illustrate every month of the new year for their online magazine and Facebook page. Mine was for the month of April.
After illustrating "Tartarin de Tarascon" for Eli Readers, this past November the publisher called me again. This time to work on "Anne of Green Gables." The cover was my favourite piece, but here is also a small selection of the interior pages.
I worked on the illustrations in a slightly different way. The lines you see on the characters are the actual pencil lines of my roughs. I wanted to use a stronger graphite rendering, but time was against me. Hopefully on the next book!
These are wonderful, Gaia! I LOVE them!