Bob, what was it like to work on this project?

"For me personally, it was an opportunity to get back to my roots as a pen & ink artist. I began using ink back in Jr. High School in the early 70's and pretty much built my reputation on my ability to create highly detailed intricate ink drawings. When graphics computers came along in the early 80's, I reluctantly jumped on that bandwagon and never got off.

I've became quite proficient with digital and 3D graphics, but I longed to get back to doing what I love most...feeling a quill pen in hand and creating something on paper.

When Kay came along and I was asked to do the artwork for her book, I saw the chance to go back to old school illustration. I have always loved the works of the classical book illustrators such as Maxfield Parrish, Clement Coll, N.C. Wyeth, Arthur Rackham and their amazing skills with pen & ink.

Since landing the gig with Kay's book, I've been offered five other book illustration projects by various publishers and I plan to use my old rusty trusty quill pens on those as well.

As far as the subject matter of Beauty & Her Beast, I found it fascinating. The dark half of nature and the universe is not necessarily the evil side, just the side that is not as clear to most people because mankind has spent so many lifetimes ignoring it or shunning it. Mankind tends to hate the dark side because he doesn't understand it. He doesn't understand it because he is afraid to look at it.

Kay is shining a big bright orange Home Depot flood lamp on it and daring you to look. "

--Bob Hobbs