Research

Before Eric can begin the pictures for Zoom Upstream, he has to do some research. So, as he always does, he goes off to the public library where he spends hours looking at lots of books to give him ideas and to make sure he has the details right.

A book about the cats that chase mice on the docks of London gives Eric the idea of what kind of cat Zoom should be. This kind of cat definitely likes water!

For Zoom Upstream, Eric looks at lots of books on ancient Egypt, making copies of all the things you would find inside and outside an Egyptian tomb. His main inspiration came from a set of 200-year-old books called Monuments of Egypt.

He even goes one step further. He decides to take a trip to Egypt to see the things for himself!

Egyptian hieroglyphics. (What can you see in their stomachs?) Copyright/Source		The Great Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel. Copyright/Source
	This cat lived on this felucca (Egyptian boat) which took Eric across the Nile. Copyright/Source
Eric Beddows, Explorer of Egypt! Copyright/Source		"These pyramids should come in handy." Copyright/Source

(Of the three Zoom books, Eric enjoyed drawing the pictures for Zoom Upstream the best, because he loves to draw architecture. He was also happy for the chance to visit Egypt!)

With all his research done, the time has come to draw. Eric goes off to his studio, sits down with some inexpensive paper, and begins. He doesn't worry about making everything perfect right away, he just draws and lets all the ideas out.

Eric has two studios. One is in his attic and one is on the second floor of his house. He uses one studio for when he's being messy, and the other studio for when he has to work neatly.

Eric's attic studio Copyright/Source		Another view of the attic studio Copyright/Source
	Eric's 2nd-floor studio Copyright/Source

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