Illustration Denise Durkin chlidren's books readers learning media realistic watercolour realism food illustration recipes still life painting quantas media award

Illustration

In life drawing classes at Inverlochy Art School, experimentation with painting colours reflected in skin has helped me develop a style of painting in pure colour to achieve skin tone. I have carried this over into my book illustration.

My watercolour style is underpinned by clear, realistic drawing, and is suitable for natural subjects and stories that need a sensitive approach. I believe that children appreciate well-drawn images, particularly animals. My last project saw the development of illustrations that were purely pencil drawings, for Learning Media's The Lighthouse People.

From 1996 to 2001, I worked as a graphic artist for the Dominion Newspaper in Wellington. During this time I was fortunate to illustrate their weekly Indulgence food page.

I have a love of both food and still-life painting and I relished the opportunity to set a style for content, production and quality in this feature. I prepared more than 60 dishes myself, and propped and styled each composition before beginning the watercolour painting. This body of work was recognised in the Qantas Media Awards.