Goldrush - Steve May creates comedy gold in a collaboration with Tom Mitchell

I had great fun visiting the Wild West in my recent collaboration with author Tom Mitchell Goldrush which is published by Big Cat Publishing. 

There's lots of humour in the text which was a delight to bring to life as I imagined what the characters would look like. I also got to draw donkeys, horses, rattlesnakes & bears (which is very nearly a quote from the Wizard of Oz! ; )

'Illustrated fiction, especially that with a comedic twist has reached increasingly elevated heights in terms of both popularity and visibility due to its benefits in encouraging reluctant readers to explore storytelling.

The insight and expertise of publishing houses such as Big Cat Publishing and Barrington Stoke have been trailblazers in terms of developing the perfect balance of text and illustration. So grab your lasso and buckle up because we thrilled to celebrate the publication of Gold Rush, written by Tom Mitchell and illustrated by illustrator, animator, and master of pen and ink, Steve May.

Gold Rush features a bright, engaging cover illustration as well as a host of entertaining internal illustrations, starring feisty and brilliantly entertaining Lily O’Connor and her gnarly gold prospector father. We know emerging readers are going to be drawn to Steve’s illustrations as the story unfolds and there are lots of fun details to spot along the way.'

More on my agent Arena's website

 

Flying things!

Pigs / monkeys /cheese might fly!

Pigs & monkeys!

All sorts of flying gubbins...

Oh my!

Postcard from the Oz...

Lions & Tigers & Bears (oh my!)

Detail from previous post - am most perplexed why more people don't want Wizard of Oz tattoos theses days

The Guardian - Michael Holden's All Ears 5th February

Ok, ok, it's a real curtain not a digital one, & nope, he's not a wizard AT ALL!
(we're definitely not in Kansas any more either - I'm sure they don't make masturbation references in illustrations there - no sirree!)
Read original article here

(Article by Michael Holden)
Two men in a pub – reassured no doubt by the physical nature of their conversation – were speaking loudly about the benefits of doing things in the real, as opposed to the digital, world.

Man 1 "What time are the band on?"

Man 2 "11.15 I think."

Man 1 "You think?"

Man 2 (wearily) "I asked the venue. They have a site and I sent an email saying, 'When are they on?' The woman emailed me back and said, 'Why are you asking – are you in the band?'"

Man 1 (half laughing) "Jesus!"

Man 2 "The band have a site as well – I emailed them – they didn't get back to me."

Man 1 "This is the problem with the internet: everybody's got a fucking site – but who are the idiots behind them? I mean, if you were running a real business and you heard someone not answering the phone – or delivering basic information – you could step in."

Man 2 "You do wonder how much of this is driving the recession – digital idiocy, dressed up as work."

Man 1 "True. It's incompetence veiled behind a virtual curtain."

Man 2 "You pull back the curtain – and there's nothing there. No one."

Man 1 "Not even the Wizard of Oz. Not even an old man who might apologise and give you something useful."

Man 2 "Not even. Pull back the curtain and there's just someone there wanking off – going, 'Why? Are you in the band?'"

Man 1 (excited) "The wanker of Oz!"

Man 2 (happy to have worked out a phrase that those around him would be hearing a lot more of) "Exactly."