I-Fri: Run

Last week was "Children's Book Week" in Melbourne (amazing that such a thing exists!) and the major event is on one day where they have face painting, readings by authors, and demonstrations by illustrators. It was quite cool, although they put the illustrators in a different place this year, and I didn't find them until the end. Still got to see Elise Hurst and Mini Goss in action though, so it was good.

Also, the illustrator who won CBCA Picture Book of the Year last year does all the artwork and promotional material. Alison Lester won last year (see a previous post about her winning book here-it's the last book) - and she has quickly become one of my favourite Australian illustrators. It's my dream/fantasy to have an apprenticeship with her. Too bad she lives way the heck out in the boonies. Anyway, I think one of the best ways to learn and to inform yourself in new things is to imitate the masters, so this painting of mine is my version of Alison's horses which appeared on the Children's Book Week poster, which I bought, and which now hangs in my studio (see portion of it below). Hers are infinitely cuter, but I still like my horses with their spindly legs, and the background really just 'happened' - it was quite cool...