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LOOKING AT THE WORLD OF BOOK PRODUCTION

FOXES... THEY’RE SMELLY THIEVES!

The ‘Knitmore Farm’ series of books presents readers with a simple story, funny cartoons and a thought provoking overall message.

In this particular book the author sets out to encourage children and adults to question sectarian, ill-informed and biased thinking. Mutual respect and practical action is promoted in a child-friendly way.

You may be surprised to hear that the inspiration behind this book was the Bible story about the ‘Good Samaritan’ who helped his ‘perceived enemy’ - the Jew.

Ask the average child what it’s about and they might say - “It’s about a young fox who gets hit by a car and is helped by some farm animals.”

The story in brief:Autumn had arrived and the animals at Knitmore Farm were not happy with the news that their new neighbours are foxes. But that is understandable after all - no-one likes a fox!

They share their exaggerated horror stories about bad foxes even though none of them have actually met one.

When a car hits a fox cub a hen surprises everyone by helping him.

THE FOXES ARE PORTRAYED AS ‘BAD TO THE

BONE’ EGG THIEVES WHO AMUSE THEMSELVES

BY TORTURING HELPLESS HENS.

THEY ARE NOT

WELCOME AND

WILL NOT GET

ANY HELP OR

SYMPATHY FROM THE OTHER ANIMALS

‘NO-ONE LIKES A FOX!’ BOOK PLANNING SKETCHES

ARTWORK BEGINS

WITH SKETCHES AND

WATERCOLOUR,


THESE TWO DRAWINGS

(ABOVE AND LEFT) WERE NOT

USED IN THE FINAL STORY

ONE OF THE FOXES HAD BEEN IN THE

HABIT OF STEALING EGGS


AFTER SKETCHING,

THE SHARPER

FELT-TIP OUTLINED

VERSIONS WERE

DRAWN AND

SCANNED IN.

THE COMPLETED DRAWINGS WERE CREATED

USING ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR ON AN APPLE

MAC COMPUTER WITH THE AID OF A

WACOM DIGITAL PEN AND TABLET.

It takes a special person...It takes a special person to show kindness to his or her enemy.

In this story a hen sets the good example and offers practical help to the injured fox cub.

THIS AND OTHER STORIES LIKE IT CAN BE BOUGHT ONLINE AT

WWW.REDGREENPUBLISHING.CO.UK OR IN LOCAL BOOKSHOPS.

LOOK OUT FOR THE LOGOS SHOWN BELOW

HERE’S SOMETHING FOR CAT LOVERS

“When I first read this manuscript I thought the cats would be the main characters throughout, but as I began to prepare the early sketches I soon realised that their eccentric owner, and the people she interacted with, would be equally important” (Martin Kenny - the illustrator)

A SLEEPY

VILLAGE

GETS A

SURPRISE

AT THE

CONCERT...

The story in brief:Mrs Holmes-Seedley is a retired music teacher who lives alone with her six cats to keep her company. The villagers look upon her as talented, with a heart of gold, but quite eccentric.

When she hears that her local church is struggling to raise funds to pay for roof repairs, she suggests a concert night with a difference. The musicians would be her trained cats!

‘MRS HOLMES-SEEDLEY’S CAR AND HOUSE HAD TO BE UNUSUAL

“I used a digital airbrush pen to create this artwork. I wanted the images to be semi-realistic rather than cartoon in style.” (Martin Kenny - the illustrator)

‘MRS HOLMES-SEEDLEY’S MUSICAL CATS’ SKETCHES/ARTWORK

‘MRS HOLMES-

SEEDLEY’S WOULD

NEVER BE PART

OF THE FLOWER

ARRANGING CLUB

‘‘HEAVEN FORBID!’’

WOULD BE

HER RESPONSE

The minister calls at Mrs Holmes-Seedley’s House. There are many weeds in the front garden and the ivy is takng over. The letterbox has junk mail and a free newspaper in spite of warning signs. The milk has not been taken in and the bell is out of order.

It was felt that it would be better not to reveal the cats too early in the story but instead

concentrate on Mrs Homes-Seedley and her concert planning.

‘MRS HOLMES-SEEDLEY’S MUSICAL CATS’ SKETCHES/ ARTWORK

‘MRS HOLMES-

SEEDLEY COULD

NEVER USE AN

ORDINARY CUP

OR TEAPOT

MUSICAL ITEMS

WERE ALL

AROUND HER

UNUSUAL HOUSE.

THIS CLOCKWORK

METRONOME

SAT ON THE

MANTLEPIECE

Many hours were spent researching and gathering reference images.

“I couldn’t resist - I just had to include a dog or two in this story.” (Martin Kenny - the illustrator)

NEIGHBOURS WONDERED

WHAT WAS GOING ON


THE MUSIC ROOM IS WHERE WE FIRST SEE THE MUSICAL CATS IN ACTION

THE OLD

WOMAN

DRAWING

ABOVE WAS

NOT USED

IN THE

FINAL BOOK



PHOTO

REFERENCE

IS VITAL IF

A PICTURE

IS TO BE

CONVINCING

YOU CAN SEE HOW

SOME OF THESE

IMAGES WERE

ADAPTED TO SUIT

THE STORY

‘MRS HOLMES-SEEDLEY’S MUSICAL CATS’ ARTWORK/REFERENCE

‘MRS HOLMES-SEEDLEY’S MUSICAL CATS’ ARTWORK/REFERENCE

COMICS FOR PRISONERS

The thinking behind the booklets:Christian Prison Ministries have been giving out free comic booklets in prisons, and to those who have been directly affected by crime, as part of an ongoing outreach initiative throughout the United Kingdom.

This modern illustrated format gets a more positive response in comparison to the traditional style of religious literature offered.

These A5 size booklets contain a selection of true life conversion stories told by either criminals or policemen who have become Christians. The story featured here was about an ex-prisoner, Joe Turner, from Belfast Northern Ireland in the dangerous times known as ‘The troubles’.

ABOVE IS SOME OF THE PHOTO REFERENCE USED

THE HEAVILY FORTIFIED LOCAL POLICE STATION

WAS REGULARLY ATTACKED BY GUNFIRE, BOMB,

MORTAR AND EVEN PAINT.

THE TYPFACE USED FOR THE

LOGO WAS BASED ON THE WELL

KNOWN GAME (SHOWN LEFT)

‘COPS AND ROBBERS’ ARTWORK AND PHOTO REFERENCE



BACK PAGE SHOWN ON RIGHT

MARTIN KENNY DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION

www.mart inkenny .co .uk / in fo@mart inkenny .co .uk

Graphic Designer/ Illustrator BA (Hons) DESIGN

SPECIALISING IN: ILLUSTRATION & CARTOONS

028 9050 4575Follow me on Facebook:Martin Kenny Artwork

Slf Promo Mag Gen ad.indd 1 19/07/2011 13:39

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