Carousel Players, a theatre company for young people, commissioned me to create art for their 2018/2019 season. In addition to a new adaptation of Peter Pan by Fiona Sauder and Reanne Spitzer, Carousel is staging, Whole World by Sean Dixon, and The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito by Tomson Highway. Fifth House/Fitzhenry & Whiteside invited me to illustrate the picture book version of Tomson Highway’s wonderful play, and it is a pleasure to see it staged by Carousel Players!
Second Story Press commissioned me to illustrate the cover of A Cage Without Bars, a middle grade historical novel by Toronto author, Anne Dublin. It tells the tragic story of enslaved Spanish Jewish children on the island of Sao Tome in 1492. An inspiring read for all ages!
From the archives, something spooky for Hallowe’en, a wrap-around cover for Cricket Magazine. For the theme of Day of the Dead I created a hand-carved linocut print with digital color. BOO!
Aimee Reid, author of the enchanting picture book, Mama’s Day with Little Gray, interviewed me for her blog about children’s books. Check it out and read her other fascinating interviews with children’s authors and illustrators.
Just received a review from the School Library Journal for An African Alphabet written by Eric Walters, published by Orca Book Publishers. More to see at suetodd.com!
I was thrilled to receive a star Kirkus Review of An African Alphabet, a board book by Eric Walters, published by Orca Book Publishers. I am excited to be working with Orca and Eric again on a new picture book, The Wild Beast, coming in Fall 2018!
A good time was had by all on Fathers Day at Indigo Yonge and Eglinton, Toronto. Lots of budding artists of all ages stopped by to try their hand at printmaking and stamping characters from An African Alphabet by Eric Walters, published by Orca Books. Thanks to Christie Williamson, Customer Experience Manager, IndigoKids, for inviting me back and for making the event a huge success!
Coinciding with the launch of An African Alphabet, Orca Books has posted an interview about my linocutting technique, “Learning about Linocutting.” This board book, written by Eric Walters, introduces babies and toddlers to a unique collection of African animals.
Coming March 14 to a bookstore near you, AN AFRICAN ALPHABET, written by awesome children’s author, Eric Walters, published by Orca Books and Illustrated by me!
The final cover art is accompanied by photos of my process: the rough dummy, a collage of carved linoleum, my printmaking press, and some final black and white prints. The next step is to scan the prints and colour them in Photoshop.
Here is a montage of photos demonstrating my lino-carving technique. It is a relief printing technique similar to woodcut. The parts that are carved out are negative spaces and the remaining raised surface is the art. It is virtually the same process you used when making potato prints in kindergarten.
Excerpted from the wonderful cabaret by Cree playwright and musician, Tomson Highway, published by Fifth House/Fitzhenry & Whiteside.
Sue Todd Illustration 