What a wonderful Kirkus review!
(Paired here with my favorite improper contraction.)
"A thoughtful look at life, in all its beauty and strangeness.
...
This delightfully deadpan musing on life urges compassion for others. Howden’s straightforward text is on the philosophical side, though also rooted in the absurd. Hahn’s spare black graphite pencil watercolor, mostly set against a white background, are imbued with humor and empathy for the pickle, with the foodstuff’s expressive eyes conveying many emotions at once. "
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/sarah-howden/the-wise-pickle/
THE WISE PICKLE
by Sarah Howden ;
illustrated by Sabina Hahn
RELEASE DATE: June 23, 2026
I drew it with "Derwent" a graphite pencil, the drawing is A4 size. Upon request, I drew the bunny based on a photo. I wanted to introduce the bunny personality traits, which I did. The owner was very happy for him. :)
Unfinished value study for a painting, worked in graphite on hot pressed watercolor paper. Drafted and rendered using the Bargue method. Hopefully, I got the photo oriented correctly so that the drawing will be right side up, once I upload it! If anyone has advice for photographing a heavy application of graphite, without getting weird reflectiveness, or speckled effects, I’m very interested!
A geometrically stylized Doe and fawn illustration intended for the purposes of a greeting card. Materials used: Water soluble colored pencil, graphite pencil
