The Arts & Culture Journal

Clare graduated from University College Falmouth in 2007, since then she’s worked for various children’s publishers, magazines, charities and educational projects, whilst carrying out work as a freelance illustrator in the children’s market. The selection we have for you here reflect an ability that touches many elements within the children’s genre.

Methodologically speaking, Clare’s application is mixed-media, she employs elements of photographic patterns, especially through fabric design, alongside traditional drawing methods. This is most evident in her picture of the child battling the smiling dinosaur creature, who sits on top of a series of cushions. The colours particularly bring the toy out to the size of the physically larger boy, creating a neat and enthralling juxtaposition between the central characters,

Clare’s hand-drawn work shows itself most clearly in the characters and carries the child-like element that creates a sense of identity with the child. Being able to relate with the drawing style, a child can empathise with the image and, as an adult, be drawn into that world – one most symbolic and primitive that has the ability to infer a multitude of readings. It is that ability to manipulate multiple readings that really helps define children’s illustration; a classic method of ambiguity.

These two styles are layered on backgrounds, often 2 dimensional patternations that combine to create a classic, virtual motif. Clare uses the mixed-media to great effect in building up interesting layers in her image composition, the depth not only frames style differentials but also creates interest in the manipulation of those various patterns.