From the skyscrapers of New York and Tokyo to the jungles of Peru and Madagascar, the elephants are off to see some of the most amazing places in the world – discovering famous buildings, food, transport and activities in each destination along the way.
A puzzle book with travel, food and elephants? Yes please!
We were thrilled when Laurence King Publishing asked us to be part of the Elephants on Blog Tour -not only does it involve many of our favourite things in life, it’s also filled with the most amazingly intricate illustrations by Guillaume Cornet. We’ve spent the last week huddled over the pages, trying to spot the elephants and their signature objects in the detailed landscapes. Little M’s been obsessed with finding the Foodie’s tiny pink cupcake and I’ve developed an eye for tracking down the Athlete’s skateboard among the city streets, but despite some dedicated time with a magnifying glass we’ve only uncovered a fraction of the hidden items. There are twenty spreads of famous locations to explore, each with bonus finds and mini fact files. We were astounded by the level of detail in the artwork – you could spend hours just looking at the pictures – so we jumped at the chance to ask Guillaume few questions about his process and inspirations:
What inspired you to write the book?
My previous work often features Elephants, but the idea came after a Solo show I did in Hong Kong in March 2016 called Elephants in Hong Kong. Taking a group of Elephants through the Hong Kong skyscrapers and busy streets. After a meeting with Elizabeth Jenner at Laurence King Publishing, the idea grew from one city into a World Tour!
What’s your favourite place in the world?
Any French cheese shop.
How long does it take you to complete an illustration?
Each double-page (A2 format) from the Elephants on Tour takes around 200-250 hours.
What’s your typical day like?
I cycle to my studio around 8am and start the day with a coffee going over admin while sorting any visual research/inspiration for the day. Then I like to get in the zone and focus on one illustration for a few hours. I will typically work until 7 or 8pm.
What tips would you give to budding illustrators?
- When using Ink, always try to incorporate your mistakes. It will save you time and will make the artwork more unique.
- Get to the studio early and you will get more done!
- Don’t be shy to follow up with possible commissions, often clients simply forget to get back to your quote but it doesn’t mean they are not interested anymore.
For a better look at Guillaume’s art, you can download colouring sheets on the official Elephants on Blog tour page. You can also follow the rest of the tour on social media via the #ElephantsonBlogtour hashtag.
The detail in the illustrations, together with the fun travel facts on each spread makes this a truly special book with lasting appeal. Ideal for 4-7 year olds with curious minds!
