Saturday, September 7, 2013

Baby Elephant Walk


Finally September has arrived and Baby Elephant Walk is in the bookshops! 




I feel like I’ve been working on this for so long, but much of that was the usual lag time in between the finishing and actual release date. In that space a month feels like about six.

I knew the tune, but before this but had no idea that it had lyrics, and absolutely no idea that it had Hal David lyrics. (If you aren’t sure of his song list just Google it, there will be more songs there that you know than you think.)

When it comes to talking about my artwork, words have a tendency to escape me. So here I’m going to tell you how the endpapers/first page came to be, but in pictures.

Make believe you’re in a jungle movie –

At this point all I really knew was that I wanted to page to be green and to have a big tree, so this was how I started . . .

Then . . .

Earlier I had done some sketches of plants and leaves, and after a bit of moving around finally decided which to use and where to put them . . .

. . . 


The view from here (some hours later) . . .

Until I finally had this . . .

And now all I had to do was add the animals.

I finished off the backgrounds of all the pages before I added the animals, while it meant that a few things got painted over it made for a better image in the end.


Wednesday, May 22, 2013

New Things


It's been too long

How did it get so late so soon?
It's night before it's afternoon
December here before it's June
My goodness how the time has flewn
How did it get so late so soon?
 - Dr Seuss


I didn't realise just how much time has passed since I was last here. A combination of working on a fairly large project and strong need to go to ground for a while had turned me into a bit of a hermit. 

But I didn't stop painting, I just kept forgetting the part where I share it with people! These are a few things I can share, some of the little things I worked on while working on the big thing;

My entry for the Illustrators Australia 9x5 show. The theme was 'Carnivale' and these are two little puppets called Twist and Turn - 



A couple of drawings for the A3 show, also an Illustrators Australia exhibition - 


 This one is just because I sat down in a park and had the idea -




The bigger project I can't share yet is a children's book, which will be out later this year. I can't give much away yet, but as soon as I'm allowed there will be pictures right here!







Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Kish+Co launch exhibition


This is one of my paintings for the Kish + Co launch exhibition that was held last Friday at their Hawthorn studio. It was a fun night with lots of great and very talented people. I feel quite lucky to have been asked to be a part of this show, the people over at Kish + Co are just awesome.

More info about the artists involved and photos from the night are all on their website, you really should go and have a look .

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Down the Rabbit Hole



Taking it's inspiration and title from the opening chapter in the classic topsy turvey novel Alice in Wonderland, the Down the Rabbit Hole exhibition explores themes and worlds where everyday things are not what they seem and even the sweetest, most childlike subjects can be dark and twisted. Curated by Jess Perlen, the show includes photographers Daniel Linnet, Otilee and Ron C. Moss and illustrators Brendan Ninness, Cally Bennett, Jane Reynolds, Jodee Taylah and Rhiannon Mowat, who have provided works that explore these themes.



If you are a fan of Alice in Wonderland or just like your art dark and a little twisted, you really should come along to the opening night of Down the Rabbit Hole at Brunswick Street Gallery on April 1st. I am so excited to be included in a show full of such talented photographers and illustrators. 

(If you end up locked in a cupboard because one of your friends played an April fools joke on you, don’t worry, the show is on till the 14th April.)

These are two of my artworks that will be in the show:
Tea & Sympathy
The Lion & The Unicorn








Thursday, December 9, 2010

Bob Boutique show




I have some work on the walls of Bob Boutique at the moment as part of their combined artists Christmas show! I looove this store, it's such an inspiring little place to be. It's full of art, jewellery, clothing and homewares, most of which are made by local artists and designers.

If you are near Bendigo you really should go have a look, the address is 17 Williamson Street (in the Shamrock Hotel building). Shop hours are Monday and Tuesday 11-3, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 11-5, Saturday and Sunday 11-3.

If you can't make it there, the website has an online store with lots and lots of pretty things.