HOW THE BOOK WAS MADE

New-LoveFromAustralia_FrontCover_RuthWat

The idea for Love from Australia came to me about 4 years ago when my family and I moved to Sydney. Over the next few years, we travelled around the country and discovered extraordinary creatures and landscapes. We saw creatures unlike anything else - anywhere in the world. And it wasn't just the animals we came across in the bush but also those in our own back yard: rainbow coloured beetles, flying foxes swooping overhead and the distinctive cry of the laughing kookaburra.

These experiences led me to create this book about a child travelling around Australia and writing postcards about all the animals she discovers.

The illustrations are made by hand in collage. Below are a series of photos and videos detailing the stages - from early sketches to final artwork.

Get crafty! Have a go at making your own collage creatures - see crafty ideas and download craft activity sheets.

Sketches and preparation

Character Sketches

Early character sketches. Copyright Ruth Waters

Sketching the front cover

Colour palette

Colour palette - Love from Australia

Character Sketches

Early character sketches. Copyright Ruth Waters

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First is to write the story! Next sketch the main characters and then work on the storyboard. I then decide on the colour palette and paint the paper that I will use to make all the illustrations. I paint with old brushes, rollers and sponges to make a range of textures.

Videos of the making process

Here are a series of videos of me making the characters from the book. During the entire process I send the publisher Little Hare Books regular photos of the artwork to find out what they think and whether any changes need to be made.

Working on the final artwork

Making a dingo

Making a turtle

Leaping kanagroo

Making a dingo

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For this book I created all the illustrations by hand using collage. I make each individual piece first and then the background and then stick it all together. It's definitely a labour of love!

Final artwork - close-up

Tasmanian Devil

Koalas near Melbourne

Turtles, sharks at the Great Barrier Reef

Tasmanian Devil

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Here are some close-ups of the final artwork. Once the artwork is finished, I send the illustrations to the publisher to scan, design and add text. The entire process takes approximately one year - from rough sketches to printing the books.

Final artwork - close-up with text

Love from the Great Barrier Reef

Love from Kangaroo Island

Love from Australia

Love from the Great Barrier Reef

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