| Call Number |
PWC/261/1/01-10 |
| Physical description |
85 artworks : colour, ink and acrylic on paper, and ink on paper ; on sheets 32 x 42 cm or smaller. |
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10 sheets of notes on the artworks. |
| Medium |
paper ink and acrylic |
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paper ink |
| Access advisory |
Originals may be viewed by appointment, please contact the State Library of Western Australia. |
| Publications |
Reproduced in: Steve goes to Carnival, by Joshua Button and Robyn Wells. Broome, W.A. : Magabala Books, 2016. |
| Rights advisory |
Copyright or other restrictions may apply. For public use, contact the State Library of Western Australia. |
| Acquisition source |
Purchase; Robyn Wells; 20180430. |
| Biography/history |
Steve goes to Carnival is a collaboration between Robyn Wells and Joshua Button, who is descended from the Walmajarri people of the Kimberley Region in Western Australia. They first worked together in a literacy program at primary school that resulted in the picture book Joshua and the two crabs, published by Magabala Books in 2008. In 2006, through Joshua's love of gorillas and fascination with Brazil, they began Steve goes to carnival, a creative journey that lasted ten years. Inspired by 1970s Rio de Janeiro, Joshua's art style and Robyn's vivid textures and filigree transformed the city into a kaleidoscope of animals, colourful characters and urban streetscapes. |
| CONTENTS |
folder 1, PWC/261/1/01/1-15 Steve the gorilla (15 paintings : colour, ink and acrylic on paper, on sheets 30 x 42 cm or smaller -- PWC/261/1/01A Notes on Steve, by Robyn Wells, March 2018 -- folder 2, PWC/261/1/02/1-10 Antonio (10 artworks : 7 colour paintings, ink and acrylic on paper; 3 sketches, ink on paper, on sheets 31 x 23 cm or smaller) -- PWC/261/1/02A Notes on Antonio, by Robyn Wells, March 2018 -- folder 3, PWC/261/1/03/1-14 Rio de Janeiro zoo animals (14 artworks : 6 colour paintings, ink and acrylic on paper; 1 colour painting, acrylic on paper; 7 sketches, ink on paper, on sheets 30 x 42 cm or smaller) -- PWC/261/1/03A Notes on the zoo animals, by Robyn Wells, March 2018 -- folder 4, PWC/261/1/04/ Christ the Redeemer (1 painting : colour, ink and acrylic on paper, on sheet 30 x 57 cm) (note: Not in the folder - it is mounted on cardboard 61 x 82 cm)-- PWC/261/1/04A Notes on Christ the Redeemer, by Robyn Wells, March 2018 -- folder 5, PWC/261/1/05/1-4 Dancing girls and drummers (4 sketches : ink on paper, on sheets 31 x 23 cm) -- PWC/261/1/05A Notes on dancing girls and drummers, by Robyn Wells, March 2018 -- folder 6, PWC/261/1/06/1-9 Extra street characters (9 artworks : 5 paintings, ink and acrylic on paper; 4 sketches, ink on paper, on sheets 23 x 31 cm or smaller) -- PWC/261/1/06A Notes on extra street characters, by Robyn Wells, March 2018 -- folder 7, PWC/261/1/07/1-9 Jazz characters (9 artworks : 4 colour paintings, ink and acrylic on paper; 5 sketches, ink on paper, on sheets 42 x 30 cm or smaller) -- PWC/261/1/07A Notes on jazz characters, by Robyn Wells, March 2018 -- folder 8, PWC/261/1/08/1-8 Beautiful dancer (8 artworks : 5 colour paintings, ink and acrylic on paper; 3 sketches, ink on paper, on sheets 30 x 21 cm) -- PWC/261/1/08A Notes on the beautiful dancer, by Robyn Wells, March 2018 -- folder 9, PWC/261/1/09/1-8 Cityscape (8 artworks : 6 colour paintings, ink and acrylic on paper; 2 sketches, ink on paper, on sheets 32 x 39 cm or smaller) -- PWC/261/1/09A Notes on cityscape, by Robyn Wells, March 2018-- folder 10, PWC/261/1/10/1-7 Zoo cages (7 artworks : 5 colour paintings, ink and acrylic on paper; 2 sketches, ink on paper, on sheets 30 x 42 cm or smaller) -- PWC/261/1/10A Notes on zoo cages, by Robyn Wells, March 2018. |
| Summary |
Steve the gorilla The character Steve the gorilla and the story Steve goes to Carnival were created after Joshua had researched gorillas as part of his Year 5 classroom project on endangered species. Joshua and Robyn did a great deal of exploration and development for the illustrations of Steve, carefully examining the posture and characteristics of gorillas. Cardboard stencils were created for each illustration to put down an underlying layer of colour for the body, rough brushes and hair curlers were used to create a layer of hair and finally, fine brushes were used to portray the details of the face, hands and feet. Many pieces of art were created during the development of his character. However, most of the illustrations used in the final publication were produced in a short period in 2016, to achieve a consistent style. In early versions, Steve was disguised in a top hat, coat and mask, but in the final versions, a simple hat magically transforms him. The illustrations were scanned and then embedded into the background of the zoo, the carnival or the jazz club, as needed. |
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Antonio The character of Antonio and his friendship with Steve was described by Joshua in the first draft of the story in 2006 (see Notebook 1) In the initial drafts, Antonio and the saxophone player were two separate characters, but in the final publication, Antonio the zookeeper and Antonio the saxophone player were merged into one character, creating an element of surprise for the reader and giving Antonio a greater depth of character. The original inspiration for Antonio's look was Antonio Banderas. When Joshua came to illustrate the final pieces for the book, photographs were taken to achieve the right body language for each scene, with Robyn's friend Marcus Duncan posing as Antonio the zookeeper and Tim Malone, a saxophone player, modelling Antonio the saxophone player. |
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Rio de Janeiro zoo animals Most of the animals in the zoo are native to Brazil: the jaguar, macaw, three-toed sloths, ant eaters and spider monkeys. The elephant and lion, like Steve the gorilla, are from Africa. Each animal has its own characteristic. |
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Christ the Redeemer This critical scene shows Steve heading headlong into an unknown, mysterious world. The atmosphere for this scene was directly inspired by an image in the Time-Life book Great cities of the world/Rio de Janeiro (p. 17) This scene appears in all the early storyboards and drafts. In addition, several pencil versions were made prior to commencing the final artwork. |
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Extra street characters The illustrations of supporting characters reflect Brazil's rich history and the different types of people who live in Rio de Janeiro. Each illustration portrays an individual with a part to play in the story and particular character traits that give these supporting characters a great deal of depth. Steve meets with many acts of kindness from these characters and one message of the story is that of kindness shown by strangers. |
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Jazz characters The characters at the Blue Jaguar Jazz Club were well-formed from the first drafts of the story: the elegant hostess, the kind doorman, the waiter, the piano player, the jazz singer and cello player. |
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Beautiful dancer This character is a little like Beauty in Beauty and the Beast. She is a young woman without judgement and shows kindness to a stranger at a time when others may have chosen not to. The beautiful dancer's looks were based on Rachel bin Salleh, from Magabala Books. She went to school with Joshua's mother Dolores Button and has known Joshua all his life. |
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Cityscape These artworks were created as backgrounds for the favelas or the city. |
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Zoo cages These artworks were inspired by the style of the Madeline series illustrated by Ludwig Bemelmen. The cages are ornate and lovely, so that the zoo is not too grim for young readers. |
| Subjects |
Button, Joshua, 1994-. Steve goes to Carnival -- Illustrations.
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Children's stories -- Illustrations.
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Children's literature, Australian -- Western Australia -- Illustrations.
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| Genre/Form |
Book illustrations -- Western Australia.
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Works of art -- Western Australia.
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Book illustrations
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Paintings.
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| Subjects |
Art -- Western Australia.
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Children's literature -- Illustrations -- Pictorial works.
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Art -- Western Australia.
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Artists' preparatory studies -- Western Australia.
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| Related names |
Wells, Robyn, 1961- author, illustrator.
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| Found In |
Button, Joshua, 1994-. Steve goes to Carnival collection PWC/261 |
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