Genevieve Aspinall
Mr Bernard the Business Bear

A picture book project, hand painted in gouache about a bear’s adventure finding a new job

Children's Publishing

Un-commissioned | New Talent

Why did you make this work:
'Mr Bernard the Business Bear' was a project on my MA Children's Book Illustration course. It is a picture book about a bear who works in a job he doesn't enjoy and he sees a poster for talent show auditions. He practices through the night to prepare and his audition goes wrong but this isn't the end of the road. This story celebrates self confidence and picking yourself up again after a fall.

What materials and techniques did you use?:
The illustrations are all hand painted in gouache with details added in with pencil crayon. I made use of texture and brush strokes to add personality to the illustrations and the fur details are created with texture and small pencil marks. I used a yellow painted base for the bear character to create a more vivid and bright look.

How were your illustrations used:
The illustrations are part of a project from my MA Children's Book Illustration course, for a picture book which was displayed in my Degree Show.



Social Media:
twitter.com/genaspinall
instagram.com/genevieveillustration

Personal Website:
genevieveaspinall.com

College:
University of Central Lancashire


Currently Based:
United Kingdom (UK)

Biography:
Genevieve is an illustrator based in Lancashire and studied illustration and Children's Book Illustration at UCLan. She has had two books published, 'Cheesed Off!' and 'Percy the Post Penguin'. She was longlisted for the Klaus Flugge Prize 2023 and the World Illustration Awards 2022 and nominated for the Carnegie Medal. She creates illustration for children using paints and pencils.

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