Her work: Northam artist Den Scheer with a copy of In The Beech Forest, the book she has illustrated.
YOUNG Northam writer and illustrator Den Scheer has been shortlisted for the Children’s Book Council of Australia Chrichton Award for her illustrating of award-winning author
Gary Crew’s book In The Beech Forest which will be released next month.
The daughter of local businesspeople Peter and Suzette Scheer, Den did her last two years of secondary schooling at St Hilda’s School in Perth and is now studying fine arts at Curtin University.
Den is a much awarded artist.
Early on she was disqualified from competitions because judges wrongly believed she was receiving parental assistance.
However her talent won through and she won the Young Australian Artist of the Year title three times running.
This award is sponsored by the Children’s Charity Network and Australian Scholarships Group.
The book has been reviewed by another well-known children’s author Sue Bursztynski.
“So, what happens when a well-known writer of dark YA tales combines with a young artist who completely understands his theme?” she wrote.
“You get a book that is beautiful to look at and teaches you something at the same time.
“Den Scheer’s exquisite sepia to colour pieces don’t simply illustrate the text, they interpret it.
“Computer game monsters that fight in the forest of the boy’s mind are nevertheless a part of the forest through which he is walking.
“The style suggests woodcuts.
“Each piece of text or art is framed in stone.
“Fossil leaves in the stone suggest the great age of the forest, a nice touch.”
Den worked on the illustrations for 18 months.
She believes the illustrations tell their own story.
“My art is a mixture of symbolism and surrealism with symbolism predominating,” she said.
“My ultimate aim is to write and illustrate my own books.
“I am also looking at concept art for games and movies.”