bibliography
The extraordinary true story of the weka of lake Whakatipu
Author and illustrator
Moving to Aotearoa New Zealand opened a whole new world of inspirations for me. I couldn’t help but wrote a full story about the little island near my new home, and all those fantastical birds that were new to me. Writing and illustrating this story, full of local faces and landscapes, was like a way to say thank you for accepting me here. This book was illustrated in full with watercolor and colored pencils.
The Uppish Hen & other poems
Cuba Press
Illustrator
This book is a previously unpublished collection of poems by Robin Hyde, written for her son, Derek Challis. I was honored to have been chosen for such a beautiful project, and did my best to make vibrant watercolor illustrations. The editor Juanita Deely had a very specific colorful atmosphere in mind, in honor of the author Robin Hyde, and we worked together on what she called once “clever colors”.
Each illustration here is very detailed and fun, to help the young reader to dive into this old whimsical world.
More Favourable Waters: Aotearoa poets respond to Dante’s Purgatory
Cuba Press
Illustrator
I loved the freedom I had to illustrate this cover. I choose to work with pen and ink, like in the past, to get that sense of old engraving while maintaining my own spirit. I felt like it was a good way to illustrate a book of modern poets responding an ancient topic. The past and the modernity together in harmony.
Dïne’s exquisite illustrations demonstrate so beautifully how images can transform a book into something even more special. The visual “rhyme” produces comfort and provokes interest. There is both action and movement, and the characters are so appealing.
Dïne’s illustrations match [the poems] nicely, with a palette of orange, soft greens and pinks, muted blues. Her images echo moods, reward with details: a hedgehog with a leafy umbrella; a centrifugal swirl of bulbs, lanterns, branches; a glimpse of glowing subterranean houses. They’ll delight multiple generations.