PICTUREBOOK
We Live in a Bus
We live in a bus. She’s called Gracie Joy Rufus Bean (we couldn’t agree on a name).
Gracie Joy Rufus Bean has six wheels and a door that opens when you push a button, tic-shhh!
Life is full of surprises when you live in a bus. Everywhere is your home and every day brings something new. Join one family as they enjoy life on the road – camping under the stars, listening to nature, and making new friends along the way.
The beginning
The inspiration for the book came from travelling around the towns of Winton, Hughenden and Richmond (commonly known as the Dinosaur Trail) in a Toyota Coaster bus in 2022. During the trip I was talking with my agent, Annabel Barker about creating a new book (for which I didn't have any ideas yet). Annabel said "why don't you write about your adventures on the road?"
The inspiration for the book came from travelling around the towns of Winton, Hughenden and Richmond (commonly known as the Dinosaur Trail) in a Toyota Coaster bus in 2022. During the trip I was talking with my agent, Annabel Barker about creating a new book (for which I didn't have any ideas yet). Annabel said "why don't you write about your adventures on the road?"
So, the idea was born and I started putting together a list of all the things we had seen during the journey, from swimming in freezing waterholes and sleeping under the stars to playing on a musical fence. The Queensland wildlife featured prominently, too–Lizards, dragonflies, flocks of budgies and red-tailed black cockatoos, frogs and baby emus... I could go on and on. There was some much I could have added to the book but I only had 14 or so spreads to work with.
The Characters
They always start out looking funny but as I draw them more and more they start to develop and come to life on the page. It's a strange process–In a way it feels like they are born onto the page.
They always start out looking funny but as I draw them more and more they start to develop and come to life on the page. It's a strange process–In a way it feels like they are born onto the page.
Storyboarding
Storyboarding involves creating rough sketches of what the spreads will look like. They are great for exploring composition before diving into an illustration. Things like character placement, sizing and perspective can be "tested" and tweaked many times before the final composition is done.
Storyboarding involves creating rough sketches of what the spreads will look like. They are great for exploring composition before diving into an illustration. Things like character placement, sizing and perspective can be "tested" and tweaked many times before the final composition is done.
