About the book


Hi, I’m Bob Kerr. I wrote and illustrated Changing Times. 

I’d like to tell you about how the book was made. The first thing I had to do was start reading old newspapers. To do this I used the website Papers Past. On Papers Past you can look at issues of most New Zealand newspapers printed between 1839 and 1948. It is an incredibly useful research tool.

Then I started drawing the pictures. I draw in pencil first and when I’m happy with the pencil drawing I trace it onto a sheet of watercolour paper and colour it using good quality watercolours and brushes.  
Here is an example of a pencil drawing and the final coloured drawing.

From sketches to painted final art


Sometimes, to help me draw I used the computer and some free software called SketchUp to build the town. Using this software I can view the town from any angle. It’s easy to use, it's good fun, and it is free. You can download it here.
 
The town I made in SketchUp


When I had the whole book penciled up and a couple of the double page spreads coloured in I sent it to the publishers Potton and Burton. I thought it would be months before I heard back but Robbie Burton got back to me straight away saying they were interested. I was very pleased.

When all the drawings were finished they were scanned. The scans were made by New Zealand Micrographic Services Ltd. in Wellington where I live, this is the same company  who make Papers Past. Below is a picture of the big scanner they used.


An expert at Micrographic Services scanning artwork


School visits

I enjoy visiting schools to talk with students about writing and illustrating. If you want to arrange a visit please contact the New Zealand Book Council's Writers in Schools scheme here 


Talking to a school group


Here is a list of my other books.
  • Lucy's Big Plan. Collins 1977 
  • Lucy Loops the Loop. Collins 1978
  • Terry and the Gunrunners. By Stephen Ballantyne, illustrations by Bob Kerr. Collins 1982 
  • Terry and the Yodelling Bull. By Stephen Ballantyne, illustrations by Bob Kerr. Finlayson Hill. 1986
  • Terry and the Last Moa. Hodder and Stoughton 1999
  • The Optimist. Mallinson Rendel 1992 (Winner of the best first book award and an honour award in the Aim Children’s Book Awards)
  • The Day of the Rain. By Joy Cowley illustrations by Bob Kerr. Mallinson Rendel 1993 (Finalist in the Aim Children’s Book Awards)
  • The Day of the Snow. By Joy Cowley illustrations by Bob Kerr Mallinson Rendel 1994
  •  The Paper War. Mallinson Rendel 1994
  • Mechanical Harry. Mallinson Rendel 1996 (Winner of the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards Children's Choice Award)
  • Strange Tales From the Mall. Mallinson Rendel 1998 (Finalist in the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards)
  • Mechanical Harry and the Flying Bicycle. Mallinson Rendel 1999
  • After the War. Mallinson Rendel 2000 (Finalist in the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards and winner of the Russel Clark Award for 2001)
  • Waiheathens - Voices From a Mining Town. By Mark Derby with paintings by Bob Kerr 2011 Available from the authors
  • Field Punishment No.1 By David Grant with paintings by Bob Kerr. Steele Roberts 2008
  • Best Mates. By Philippa Werry and Bob Kerr. New Holland 2014.
  • Terry Teo and the Gunrunners. By Bob Kerr and Stephen Ballantyne. Earth’s End 2015






In the 1980s Terry and the Gunrunners was adapted into a six-part television series. You can watch it here. A new television series has been made and will be on TV2 early in 2016.

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