Illustrations

Illustration of New Children’s Book “Tussen die lyne” by Jaco Jacobs

Illustrations

I had the privilege to be one of the illustrators of the award-winning Jaco Jacobs’ new book. He used characters from some of his other popular books to teach children in a playful way how to write. My task was to make the cover as well as some of the illustrations.

  • The layout was done by my late brother’s wife, Ilze van Houwelingen, in a fresh and playful way.
  • Some of my late brother’s Zackie Mostert illustrations were used in combination with mine

Illustrating my first picture book

Illustrations

The one book illustrated by my brother, the other one by me.

It was very exciting to hold the first picture book I illustrated in my hands. The book is a sequel to a book my late brother illustrated. I asked them if I could use my maiden name on the front of the book as a reminder of Alex. Nice to see them together. One illustrated by Alex van Houwelingen and the other by Jenny Boon-van Houwelingen.

The book can be ordered by info@fonteinuitgewery.co.za and costs R 150.

Illustrating two children books

Illustrations

My brother Alex van Houwelingen illustrated books for “Fontein Uitgewery” in the past. After his death, they asked if I would like to illustrate two books in his place. The one book was a sequel to a book about a little fat horse, Alex had already illustrated.  I had to look closely to the characters Alex had created to ensure continuity. The other book is about a cricket that got charged with electricity after living in a socket.  

On the one hand, it was a project I was eager to do and did not want to let go of. On the other hand, it was completely outside my comfort zone. But I really enjoyed it … how nice to feel like a child again and to be able to immerse in a story and shape it according to your own imagination.

The books will be published later this month.  Can’t wait to see them…

  • In the background a page from the book Alex illustrated.
  • Making sure the environment looks the same as in the first book. Alex worked digitally, but I did it in gouache as I don’t have the advanced equipment he had.

After reading the manuscript of “Fredderiek die elektriek kriek” I was quite worried. How on earth am I going to draw a cricket hiding, dancing, sleeping etc?. I then made myself a cricket character out of clay to get a little better understanding of how I would make this work. I think it did the trick.

  • The little clay cricket I made to help me with drawing the character.