Sue Rinaldi Illustrations

UK peeps... I voted this morning, have you??

Just a guinea pig off for a haircut, because he's worth it...

One of the cute characters in LENNY'S ROCKPOOL ADVENTURE.

This little lady is based on a lovely real-life child. She featured in the butterfly book we published a few years ago (link in bio).

It was so lovely to revisit Henny two years on. Not only had she grown up so much, but mine and the author's work had changed and grown too. I moved away from too much solid 'outlining' and tried using brighter, bolder effects with gouache paint. No doubt future books will try out new things too and keep growing like Henny.

Starting building the characters is daunting but so exciting! And I started this stage after a huge upheaval, moving from somewhere I'd known for years and figuring out how to adjust, not just to a new studio space, but a new chapter in my life. But I loved my quiet time settling in to my desk and finding my feet again 🥰

LENNY'S ROCKPOOL ADVENTURE
Written by Susie Brown () and available to buy from Amazon, see link in bio.

Lenny's Rockpool Adventure is live on Amazon! 🥳🐠🎉
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1399980149

Coming very soon! I will shortly be pressing the Go button on a gorgeous little book by local author Susie Brown. It's a sweet little tale about a blenny fish who finds himself a bit stuck and is helped along by three kind-hearted children. Susie and I collaborated on another title a few years ago and I was delighted when she invited me to illustrate her next book. We both learnt such a lot on our last endeavour and I'm really proud of Lenny's Rockpool Adventure. I'll be sharing some behind the scenes stuff this week so you can get a flavour as well as a link to buy.

Just a story I've been carrying around for a few years. About a baby, about being with your most-loved people, your 'home'. My boys were little when it first popped in my head, they're strapping lads now, ready to make their own way. And whatever version of home it is, it'll always be there for them ❤

I've been working on a project involving the sea just recently. And growing up in Clacton by the North Sea meant one colour, grey! 🤭🥴 When I paint the ocean there's always a bit of wishful thinking creeping in. But a few weekends ago I got to visit Dorset and was thrilled to see water in 50 shades of not-so grey 🤣 🥰

Just saw a dog in a rain mac...cheered up a rainy day 🤔😌

Four years ago I took a chance and said a big YES to an opportunity.

Emerging writer asked me to illustrate her book "Is That Really Santa Claus?" I was on the cusp of some pretty huge life changes and it felt brave and a little scary to accept. It was me standing up to be counted and daring to say out loud, "I want to illustrate children's books!"

Clare's story was gently magical. As children grow and navigate the world around them they might begin to notice the many Santas that pop up at Christmas-time. But which one is the real Santa? A little boy called Billy decides to find out, one snowy Christmas Eve.

I'm glad I was brave. Cut to now and writer Clare is represented by The Bright Agency and I've authored and illustrated my first picture book, Suzie Blush. Thank you little Billy 🥰

"Klondike trudged back through the garden. Rain began to dribble down."

Before Suzie Blush I was working on a story about a messy guinea pig called Klondike, who wanted friends so desperately he tried to change the way he looked. He had a truly Bad Hair Day and learnt a life lesson along the way.

He was based on a family pet, one of a pair bought for my boys. Klondike and Custard lived a free-range life in our small garden and brightened up a particularly tricky few years. You can't feel too down when you see a guinea pig flash across the garden at lightening speed or do their funny little skips and turns mid-run.

Both fellas have now gone to the big ol' garden in the sky but will always be fondly remembered 🥰

On Friday night I had a 'mini book launch' in the lovely market town I call home. I wanted to mark the occasion of getting my first book traditionally published in some way, rather than letting it slip by. You work on something so passionately for such an intense period and by the time it comes out in print, you're already moving on to new challenges. But I wanted my friends (not to mention my sister & sister in law) with me to mark the occasion, as I hope to soon with those other pockets of friends who live further afield. We looked through the book, drank some fizzy stuff and took the time to have fun together as mates. These same mates have watched me aim for this dream for years and years and knew exactly how much it meant to me. Here's to great mates 🥰

Happy !

Still finding it hard getting to grips with a new place and setting up a studio yet again. Challenges are such a great way to play and get the paint flowing. That's why I'm joining in with .

Prompt: INK.. a bit late, a bit rough and ready, but at least I'm here....

Joining in with

Friendships...

I gave my Year 2 class a sneak preview of Suzie Blush. Wow, they asked some fantastic questions! How did I paint it? How did I make the book?

Then someone asked...

"what are the names of the other children?"

What a great question! The other children in the book are key to Suzie being brave and managing her blush. When she plucks up the courage to talk to her classmates she finds a way to keep Blush from growing.

I hadn't thought about what their names are, but one of them has now been christened Lucy!

I wonder what the others could be?

How happy is this face?! It's the face of someone holding her first traditionally published book as author illustrator. My beautiful book baby has arrived 🥰🥳🤩

Thank you to Clavis publishers for the opportunity to have my story in print. It is printed sooo beautifully!

Available in Dutch in Belgium and the Netherlands, English version to follow...

As Philip Larkin (never) said... "They tuck you up, your mum and dad".

A night of being thoroughly looked after by my lovely parents, complete with numerous cups of tea, laughs with my sis, homemade cake, comfort TV and multiple hot-water bottles ❤️

"every time she meows she blows up"... It's joyful living with a cat again 🥰

How did he get to be 16? 🥰👶🏼🥳❤

New work.... Sailing into the Sun, one of my pieces featuring in Navistitch's Summer Exhibition x

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S T U D I O S A L E
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Having a declutter in my studio! DM for more details # # #

To all the dads, in all shapes and forms, but mostly to MY dad. Tipping into his 80s but like someone decades younger:
still going camping
still hiking
still helping me and my sis out
still being an amazing grandad
still pretending to hold my hand crossing the road (nice one)
still nearly ruining films with spoilers 🤣... TOP DAD! ❤

The 'LOUD' bit of my recent illustration... for Picture Hook's Quiet/Loud prompt . Who says galleries need to be quiet...

What a joy to be asked to paint friends and neighbours from my street, for a great friend who had a special birthday to celebrate!

Had the most wonderful catch up with my dear friend Tiff who runs a fabulous business Educational Help for Home. Not only great to chat as mates but to brainstorm... from the overlapping focal point of our small businesses, young children, to the trials and tribulations of making reels on Tik Tok! Go follow her now if you have primary-school-age kids, she's a gem...
https://teachertiff.co.uk/?fbclid=IwAR3ovDguyq7O6J6qc-oNU-ZYgegGDa_emNVur7WXa2ZjW3kUYXejlVpnVqs

I've sold several of this Miss Marple print on Etsy... I wonder, is it a love of Agatha Christie or guinea pigs that's prompting its success?! I'd love to know....

Mums make the world go round ❤ I couldn't post this on mother's day because my mum's card still hadn't arrived, eek. Anyway, getting harder to capture my boys these days as they've turned into strapping young men, so much easier when they were stubby little things! But the mother's day card I received proved my worth, I got thanked for 'clearing up and making cuppas'. I'll take that! 🤣

Soft floofy things, it's all there is currently....

It's sooooo long since I've posted so I've given myself a mental kick up the backside, to put something up, anything! Working on commissions is lovely but you can't always share stuff there and then... anyway, hello, I'm still here 🥰.