iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

When mum gives you mushrooms… This isn’t actually a *new* piece for #colour_collective #CCDelftBlue, but I don’t think I’ve posted it before. It contains some blue. My to do list today contains multitudes. A bit of an update and voila. 💜 #kidlitart

A children’s picture book kidlitart illustration of Hokusai as a child in 18th century Japan, kneeling on the floor in historical clothing and looking with disgust at a mushroom that he has picked up from his rice bowl with chopsticks. A Japanese flying squirrel sits on his shoulder.

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Reposted by Alison Mutton

Tessa Cheung @tessacheung.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

It's the #MidAutumnFestival today! The Moon Bun Buns are back to celebrate 🌕 #CCHeliotrope #rabbits #moon #moonfestival

An illustration of three cute, cartoony white rabbits on a golden-coloured moon. One is carrying a lit paper heliotrope-coloured lantern; one is holding a moon cake about the same diameter as its head; and the final one is leaping across the top of the moon. Two clouds drawn in the style of traditional Chinese auspicious clouds partly cover the lower left and upper right parts of the moon.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Bringing back this old illustration of Myrna for #colour_collective #CCHeliotrope because I’m manifesting; poor Myrna has vertigo and is so nauseous she is refusing all food (we feed her via syringe) and I *really* want to see her demanding better dinner options again. 💜 #kidlitart

A kidlitart children’s book illustration of a tricolour cavoodle dog on a bright pink plain background, pawing at an aqua bowl, spilling boring kibble, and looking at you with outrage.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Earlier this year I had the honour of working on this special project for @raynatotten - a heartfelt tribute to her beautiful granddaughter Eden, taken from the world far too soon. I’m honoured that she trusted me to bring it to life. #picturebookillustration #illustration

A photograph of the picture book ‘A Gentle Journey’, by Natalie Otten, illustrated by Alison Mutton. The cover features flowers and a butterfly against a sunset background, and the book is photographed against flowers

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Dug this out of the archives for #colour_collective #CCFollyRed. Guess who spent all her sketching time today doing other, unexpected things, like fixing scanners? 🫠💜 #kidlitart

A vignette non-fiction kidlitart children’s book illustration of a gang-gang cockatoo sitting on a eucalyptus branch.

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Reposted by Alison Mutton

Childrensillustrators @cillustrators.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Watch out... there’s a crocodile in the sandpit! 🐊👧✨ Alison Mutton illustrated this fun children's book cover. Check out this artist's #portfolio 👉 childrensillustrators.com/aleneart/por... #childrensillustrators #childrensbooks #kidlitart

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

One day I intend to actually *finish* this, but for today it’s just a repost for #colour_collective #CCElephantsBreath because the to do list got away from me today and I thought I’d better be good and keep working. 💜 #kidlitart

A vignette children’s book kidlitart illustration of the bird woman in Mary Poppins - an old Edwardian woman in patched and fraying clothes, sitting contentedly with her hands on a basket, while pigeons fly around her.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Slightly updated repost for colour_collective #CCAvocado in the interests of getting back to the to do list. I’m feeling rather like these frazzled daffodils right now! 🤪💜 #kidlitart

A vignette kidlitart children’s book sketch illustration of a black cat, sitting in a pot full of squashed daffodils, interrupted mid-bath.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Babcia would like everyone to know that everything is better with a friend. And a good cup of tea never goes amiss either.💜 #CCHibiscus for #colour_collective

A children’s book kidlitart illustration vignette of an old woman with a pink headscarf and orange scarf, peeking at a mouse that is sitting on her shoulder.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

There’s some #CCCaramel in this old piece for #colour_collective. I did that thing when I bit off more than I could chew with my ideas so I didn’t finish the piece I’d planned. 😅 So instead I send good thoughts to all our native birds now that bird flu has made its way to Australia.💜 #kidlitart

A children’s book kidlitart non fiction vignette illustration of a Sulfur crested cockatoo sitting on a branch surrounded by kangaroo paws

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

I think I have a cold, so I kept it super simple for #colour_collective #CCMunsellBlue. Mainly because sneezing is not conducive to drawing 💜 #kidlitart

A limited palette kidlitart children’s book illustration in digital ink linework and solid blue colour of a small girl in a blue pinafore dancing away from the viewer along with a small black bird that is flying around her.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Beefed up the #CCFaluRed in this for #colour_collective - I created this sketch sample a while back, and it was rejected by the potential client for not being quirky or adorable enough. But I like it so I’m digging it out of the abyss of my Dropbox so you can see it! 💜 #kidlitart

A children’s book vignette illustration in digital mixed media, showing a small girl with tousled hair and an equally tousled black cat peeping out from under a pile of blankets and cushions.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Gave a bit of a facelift to this archive sketch for #colour_collective #CCPaleWedgwood. Personally, my life lacks a decent window seat from which to watch birds (I have the birds, but I watch them from my studio window, which is less picturesque) so this sketch can live out my dreams. 💜 #kidlitart

A limited palette children’s book illustration vignette sketch of a small boy in blue jeans and striped shirt, kneeling on a couch in front of a window and watching a blue bird eating at a bird feeder.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

When you want to blend in with the grown-ups. 💜 I didn’t have anything in my archives for #colour_collective #CCNickelTitanateYellow so here’s a super-quick sketch. #kidlitart

A kidlitart children’s book sketch vignette illustration of a baby emperor penguin wearing a yellow high-vis vest.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

It’s been over a month since I managed something new for #colour_collective so I thought I should carve out some time for the lovely #CCAmethyst. Comfy quilt and cuddly pet: the best way to nap! #kidlitart

A limited palette kidlitart illustration of a small girl cuddling a brown and white terrier under a purple quilt.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

The weeks continue to get away from me so I have edited this mermaid for #colour_collective #CCArsenic. I have fellow feeling with her this week, anyway; replace frogs with work projects and this has basically been me! 💜 #kidlitart

A limited palette linework and digital watercolour children’s book illustration of a purple-haired mermaid sitting on a rock and trying to comb frogs out of her hair.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

I did a sketch for #colour_collective #CCAmbredebirmanie but I didn’t like it (probably due to guilt because I knew I should be working, did I sabotage myself? 😬) so here’s this weather-appropriate schnauzer again. 💜 #kidlitart

A children’s picture book illustration of a schnauzer in a bright yellow-orange raincoat, standing on a wet pavement and sniffing tentatively at a snail.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Obviously we need some sashiko for #colour_collective #CCIndigoDye so, in the interests of speedily returning to struggling with this work rough that I should be doing (send help!), I’ve dug into my archives again. Sending my UK & EU friends the relief of some rain! 💜 #kidlitart

A children’s picture book kidlitart illustration of a little traditional Japanese boy standing in the rain, holding a straw hat over his head and looking unimpressed. A Japanese dwarf flying squirrel sits on the top of his hat.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Back to the archives for #colour_collective #CCMonaLisa. The day (week) *completely* got away from me (well, we can blame my inbox for that, my original schedule was quite reasonable). One of my favourite colours, too! #kidlitart

A limited palette children’s book linework illustration of an old man in grey cap and trousers with a pink and orange knitted vest, peering at his knitting needles as he knits a very, wry long pink scarf. An orange cat sits on his shoulder, watching too.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Back to the archives for #CCShadowGrey for #colour_collective. It’s been wild and woolly here this week, so I’ve felt rather like this getting from house to studio. You can’t really put up an umbrella for 3m, but I arrive with more (slightly colder) tea in my cup than I started with! 💜 #kidlitart

A children’s book illustration in digital watercolour, depicting a grey mouse with a blue scarf in a boat made of half an orange and a leaf looking ahead while being tossed about on rough waters.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

It’s been ages since I drew Myrna, so I gave her a #CCRoseBonbon party hat to wish Penny a happy birthday for #colour_collective. Thanks for organising CC, Penny! 💜 #kidlitart

A vignette children’s book illustration of the head and shoulders of a smiling tricolour cavoodle dog wearing a bright pink party hat with a yellow pompom, and pink collar.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

I actually remembered #kidlitartpostcardday on the 5th anniversary! I’m Alison, I’m a Western Australian #kidlitart illustrator working in picture books and middle grade (plus book design) and I’m seeking representation! 💜 www.alene-art.com #kidlitartpostcard

A middle grade book cover showing a shocked Asian girl with purple hair holding a wired game controller and falling through a vibrant blue circuit board into a fantasy game world, startling a blonde girl with a magic sword and a black boy who is preparing to throw a fireball. The title text reads ‘The Glytch: This Game Just Got Real’ and other text on the image says ‘Alison Mutton, children’s illustrator’ and leads to a website, Alene-art.com

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Thought I’d better finish off May with another mermaid for #colour_collective #CCFernGreen. I did some walking in humid swampy areas this week, so that inspired this lurking swampmaid. 💜 #kidlitart

A children’s book illustration of a swampy area full of broad- and strap-leaved plants and purple taro, in which a small mermaid with green hair is lurking with her eyes just above the surface, watched by a friendly frog and dragonfly.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

There’s some #CCchefchaouen in this character study, and it’s not technically from the archives (I drew it in January but hadn’t posted it before)! Wow! I’m off to Singapore in a few days so I shall be seeing lots of monitor lizards! #colour_collective #kidlitart

A children’s book illustration vignette of a small Asian girl with pigtails bending down to look, slightly apprehensively, at a friendly monitor lizard.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Digging into my archives again for #colour_collective #CCPrimrose. We have so many new holland honeyeaters in our garden, I love watching them through my studio window when I should be working on all these deadlines. 💜 #kidlitart

A children’s book vignette illustration of a small black and white Australian bird - a new holland honeyeater - sitting on a branch of yellow wattle flowers.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

An old favourite for #CCMocha #colour_collective because I’m very fond of this Pygmy possum (and also I had a flu jab today and am disinclined to be productive) 💜 #kidlitart

A children’s book illustration in digital watercolour of a small western Pygmy possum hiding behind leaves.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

The feminine urge to get stressed and just draw a Really Ridiculous Hat. #CCNadeshikoPink for #colour_collective 💜 #kidlitart

A limited palette (black, white, pink & peach) children’s book sketch style illustration of an angular medieval woman in a large horned hennin, blowing away a small black spider that has taken up residence.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Back with another repost for #CCDeepAqua. Sorry, #colour_collective, I’ve been SO BUSY! 💜 #kidlitart

A limited palette children’s book sketch illustration of a mermaid with flowing dark green hair, surrounded by a shoal of orange fish.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Another sneaky updated illo for #colour_collective #CCVibrantOrange, in the interests of maintaining my sanity amidst rather too many things on the desk at once. 🫠 #kidlitart

A children’s book kidlitart illustration of a young Indian girl in orange sari leaning out of a decorative window into the sun, holding a lassi in a takeaway cup.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Sometimes life is stressful and you just need to draw some messy hair, right? Or is that just me? #CCNyanza is the type of colour I don’t gravitate to, but it was fun for some eggs; I went from there, inspired by a Masato Yoshikawa fashion photo on Pinterest. 💜 #colour_collective #kidlitart

A limited palette line work kidlitart illustration of a girl’s head and shoulders. The girl has messy dark hair flying off to the side, filled with green eggs and green and red flowers and leaves. A red bird is sitting on her head.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

Added colour to this middle grade character sketch I did a while ago for #CCStudioViolet - this little dragon trainer has appeared on my feed before, aged up. I wanted to be efficient with my time but also do a little personal work; 30 minutes colouring seemed ideal. 💜 #kidlitart #colour_collective

A middle grade children’s book illustration of a young girl in Viking dress running along with a small purple dragon on a leash flying behind her.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Bringing back this happy corgi for #colour_collective #CCAndroidGreen, this time with added cheeky seagull. If one is slammed by to do lists of doom, keep the personal art quick and holiday-themed, right? #kidlitart

A children’s book illustration of a corgi lying under a green beach umbrella, upon which stands a seagull that has just gone to the toilet.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Haven’t had a moment to do a new piece for #CCYonder (the moment I had was lost to a migraine) so here’s an old piece that contains at least some of the colour. 💜 #kidlitart #colour_collective

A children’s book vignette illustration of a Muslim woman in pink headscarf carrying her child, in blue shirt and red overalls, on her hip and laughing with them.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Added a bit of extra #CCSulfur to this old cloud kitty for Colour Collective this week because I feel a bit under the weather and decided to be lazy. Down here the summer sun is unraveling like a ball of yarn and hopefully will soon not be quite as brutal. 💜 #kidlitart #colour_collective

Against a blue sky a giant kitten formed of fluffy white clouds is playing with the sun, which is unraveling like a huge ball of yellow yarn.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

Welcome back for 2026, #colour_collective! I felt like going a bit retro for #CCPeachBud 💜 #kidlitart

A mid-century style children’s book vignette illustration of a green caterpillar hanging upside down off a branch of pink leaves, waving at a ladybug.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

Hello #kidlitartpostcard! I’m Alison, a #kidlitart illustrator from (currently very sunny) Perth, Western Australia. I love all forms of illustrating for children: picture books, chapter books, book covers, fiction, non-fiction, I love it all! 💜 #kidlitartpostcardday #childrensillustrator

A vignette children’s book illustration of a small Asian girl who has just run towards her grandfather and leapt up to give him a big hug.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

Bringing back an old favourite for #colour_collective #CCSilverBirch so that I can continue being very lazy while I’m on my holiday break. (I’m actually being pretty busy but let’s avoid drawing to deadline, at least, right? 😉). Are you having a break too? 💜 #kidlitart

A limited palette children’s picture book traditional sketch style illustration of a small 19th century girl in a white dress and blue cloak standing on the edge of a footpath with a poodle on a red lead sitting beside her. The background of the image is pale grey.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

And to all my #kidlitart and #kidlit friends, let’s bring joy and success into 2026!

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

Wishing everyone a peaceful and joyful festive season, whatever and however you choose to celebrate. 💜 This is our family Christmas card. 2025 has been A Year, so I kept our card very simple, rather than spending time I didn’t have creating something really spectacular. #christmascard

An illustration of a simple green Christmas tree with a large gold star against a deep night sky. The tree is covered baubles, flowers, foliage and spangles in red, green and whiten

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

A compilation of the carolling mice I’ve drawn over the past few Christmasses. I thought I had enough for a nice little group by now, but I’m sure I’ll keep adding more! 💜 #kidlitart

A children’s book illustration of four mice, all dressed in winter coats and scarves of varying colours. Three mice hold blue songbooks and are singing carols, while one holds a crook with a lantern hanging from it. The sky is dark and snow is falling.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

Reposting with #CcPhthaloGreen because no one else was using the underscore 😬

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

Should I have spent all evening adding a mouse to my collection of mouse carol singers for #colour_collective #CC_PhthaloGreen? No. But I had fun anyway. 💜 #kidlitart

A children’s book illustration of a small light brown mouse in a green coat and hat and huge red scarf, holding a pole with a lantern, in the snow.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

A redo of an old #colour_collective for #CCOldGold - a core memory of seeing the 🎄lights in S’pore when I was about 4. 90s Perth didn’t have that kind of spectacle; though I don’t remember very clearly it started a lifelong love of twinkly lights. Do you go in for lights at Christmas? 💜 #kidlitart

A digital vignette kidlit children’s book illustration of a blue Christmas bauble upon which is drawn a small girl with short brown hair and a red tshirt, holding a parent’s hand and gazing in wonder at yellow fairy lights overhead

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

This is was not my plan for #CCZaffre but this afternoon I opened my Christmas card list & discovered the app had stopped working with no way to extract said database (I tried *everything*). It was a DAY. 😭 So I decompressed with the symmetry tool & vintage baubles. #kidlitart #colour_collective

A graphic illustration of three decorative vintage baubles in red, gold and blue against a Christmas tree background. At the bottom, of the illustration a curious cat’s paw reaches towards the lowest baubles.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

Let’s all have a moment of serenity before December starts. An afternoon nap, maybe. 💜 #CCBurlywood for #colour_collective, inspired by a 19th century photo I found on Pinterest. #kidlitart

A limited palette (black, white and tan) kidlitart sketch illustration vignette of an elderly 19th century woman with her eyes closed, holding a white cat that is asleep on her shoulder.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

A quick little sketch for #colour_collective #CCPeacock - it’s been pretty humid here today so tropical leaves seemed the perfect subject. 💜 #kidlitart

A children’s book illustration sketch vignette of a small girl with black hair and red bow and shirt peeking out from behind a selection of green tropical leaves.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

There’s a bit of #CCOyster for #colour_collective in this piece from ‘Little Dune’ (written by Lisa van der Wielen). Hopefully I can be back creating new pieces for CC in December - right now my nose is firmly to the grindstone! How are you going with the November to-do list? 💜 #kidlitart

A children’s book vignette illustration of a small girl in pastel-coloured bathers and rashie, sitting cross-legged on the beach and cuddling a small scruffy dog.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

I’m doing digital linework with a multicoloured gradient clipping mask to get some subtle magical colour and I can confirm it’s *really fun* to just draw lines and watch random colours appear from nowhere. It’s like the multicoloured pencils and scratch art activities I did as a kid. ☺️ #kidlitart

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

Dug into my files for #colour_collective #CCDarkCharcoal and I admit it’s probably cheating to just how use black and white but I am BUSY. 🫠 Anyway, it’s ages since my little ghost Mariella has appeared on my feed. 💜 And I’m late for #kidlitartpostcard but…hello! I’m Alison! #kidlitart

A black and while middle grade novel illustration of a boy holding a torch in the dark, while a small girl ghost of the 17th century and a ghost dog flit about him.

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Alison Mutton @aleneart.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

Not very original for #colour_collective #CCPersimmon but it is new! Still busy, but I had an iron infusion today so I feel a but meh… so what better time to draw a small cat with a white sock? 💜 #kidlitart

A sketch children’s book style illustration of a small black kitten with white sock and tail tip sitting on top of a large orange pumpkin

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