Cathy Eliot | United Kingdom
Blackberry Season tells the story of a family who move into a house with an overgrown garden and starts settling in. Then, sadly, there is a loss. But the garden continues to grow, and the cycle of the seasons provides a safe space to begin healing.
With this picturebook I hoped to explore the poetic, fragmented experience of losing someone important, and how going into nature can help us heal. The book explores the cyclical rhythm of a garden, showing us that as time moves forwards we can learn to cope with great sadness. I hope the illustrations envelope the reader in a dreamy beauty.
I created the illustrations by first drawing in Procreate, in three layers, coloured yellow, aqua and green. I then printed the image onto watercolour paper and added washes and brushstrokes of acryla gouache.
I hope Blackberry Season can help anyone who is processing grief to understand that they are not alone and that the natural world can be a source of strength and peace.
Education:
Anglia Ruskin
MA Children's Picturebook Illustration
Graduation: 2022