A new children's book by Juliette Rajak

Juliette Rajak showing the work in progress on her picture book 

Fabula member Juliette Rajak took almost two years out from studying for her masters degree to go to Australia. But she didn't take any time out from illustration - while she was there she won the Wilson Vineyard Wine Label Design Commission and was shortlisted for the Five Mile Press Illustration Prize as well as having several exhibitions of her work.

It's great to have her back in Brighton again now and although she is currently completing her MA in Sequential Design/Illustration at The University of Brighton she still found time to  come to Hove Museum to be involved in our residency there. Here she is showing work from her MA project to members of the public at Hove Museum.

Juliette's MA project has culminated in a children's picture book about the importance of 'slowing down'  - letting children experience boredom so that they can start to use their imaginations.  The story she has written and illustrated follows the imagination of a child playing with a puddle of milk on the table while her mother is busy with the housework.  The child starts to imagine herself in the miniature world of germs and so begins her adventure! It is illustrated using textures that originate from print making techniques and Juliette got inspiration from maps to develop the beautiful colour scheme.  As well as tackling the subject of 'slowing down' it gives lots of scientific information about germs.

Here are some images from the development of her book.

Juliette's book will be on show at the MA degree show at The University Gallery, Grand Parade, The University of Brighton. The show is on from 16th September (private view in the evening) until 23rd September.

It is likely that she will also exhibit images from the book at our forthcoming exhibition at Hove Museum in December and so that will be another chance to see them.

You can also see more of Juliette's work at  www.fabulacollective.com