Experiments 1 & 2

I've been feeling lately that my work needs to go to that next level, and I'm trying to figure out if I can do that in watercolours. I'm not sure - I still get really frustrated with them sometimes, and I feel that I can't always get the effects I like. I looked through my collection of children's books and other artist books and all the styles I was really drawn to were more of an acrylic or oils look. I'm not giving up on them yet, but I'm trying my hand at acrylics to see if that gets me where I want to go.

I sat down and wrote out things that I enjoy doing:
- incorporating drawn patterns or collage
- simple shapes and characters
- limited colour palettes (complementary especially)
- lots of texture!

and I thought I'd try to redo this rather simple illustration I did digitally years ago, in a few different styles to see what grabs me:



this was the first one I did. still feels a bit too much like a child's drawing, i think maybe it's the outlines.



this one is getting a bit better... I like how with acrylics I can make the collaged paper part of illo as opposed to it sitting on top of the paint. I used coloured pencil for a few outlines, but only where they were needed. This is feels good so far - may keep going with this for a bit...

IA's Festival of Illustration

This past weekend was Illustrators Australia's inaugural Festival of Illustration. Hopefully it will become a yearly thing because it was hugely successful. Not only was there the 9x5 exhibition on Thursday night which was great for rubbing shoulders with other illustrators and members of industry and seeing great art, but then the weekend was filled with seminars and talks from interesting and talented people. I was happy to be able to help out with some of the organisation for the weekend, and below is a lil wrap up:

9x5 - some great work auctioned off and some still for sale! Check here if you want to pick up some original art at the bargain price of $195 (australian bidders only). I would have to say without a doubt that this one by Michelle Katsouranis was my fave:


seminars: 2 days of talks by some damn fine people

saturday first was Bill Wood who talked about his website and how he set it up to mostly target US markets. Interesting, but not very relevant for me personally I guess - he works in a very commercial world.

then it was Mark Wood who was a very dynamic and funny speaker, on all the legal stuff illustrators should know - mostly copyright and our rights. made me realise i should probably have better contracts in place for some of the stuff I do.

Next was Andrea Innocent of Otoshimono who was fantastic. She lived in japan for a while and has carried over a lot of that japanese aesthetic into her art, which of course I love. She also talked about how all her marketing has been online and she has gotten great jobs through doing collaborative projects like Mail Me Art or joining online communities like Illustration Mundo. Very comforting to know that you don't have to spend oodles on promotional postcards and folios (they just end up in the Art Director's heap anyway) - and that if you do something unique, and you put it out there, it's just a matter of time before it's discovered. one of Andrea's pieces:


Phil Small from Watermark talked about the brilliant artists' collective they have and how illustration is more respected and "everywhere" in NZ (and everywhere but Australia, apparently!)

And lastly but not leastly was Nigel Buchanan, a stalwart of Australian illustration. All he did was show and talk about his artwork of the last 30 years, and that was enough. amazing work, go check it out.

Today (sunday) I missed the first two speakers, Dean Gorissen and Beck Wheeler, who both have incredible work in their own way. Dean is quite commercial but incredibly refined and detailed, and Beck's work is innovative and quirky. I bought her children's book (below) which is just so fun.

Next was Barbara Kitallides from Pearl Creative, one of two illustrators' agencies in Melbourne. Interesting to hear her talk about what she looks for in a folio - more of a distinctive style than a diversity of styles, so that clients won't be 'surprised' at the outcome.

Then was an accountant talking about how to please the taxman but still have money for paint and brushes at the end of the day. never simple...

Lastly was a panel of people discussing the state of illustration in Australia, led by heavyweight australian illustrator Ned Culic. again the overarching theme seemed to be that you needed to have your own distinctive style, and once that is defined and unique, that becomes desirable, and I suppose, ultimately, successful.

So the whole weekend was extremely inspiring but at the same time has sent me into a total headspin and identity crisis about my own work. I feel like I need to enter into another stage of experimentation, as i did 2 years ago when I started this blog. (actually, Novemeber 8th is my blogaversary, perhaps I'll have to give it a cake.) Anyway, I think I reached a good point then with my style and have ridden that for a little while now, but I feel like it's time to take it to the next level.

so. deep breath. chin up. plunge.

I-F: Trick or Treat ( & Monster Mash)

Neat trick eh?

This is my submission for Illustration Friday's topic Trick or Treat and also Penelope's Monster Mash Hallowe'en contest. May the best monster win!

In the papers

If you live in melbourne and opened up your local Leader Newspaper this week, you might have seen some of my handywork....



This was a great job to do - the Leader approached me about doing a poster for Children's Week, and my only requirement was to incorporate 5 quotes which they supplied. It was great fun coming up with the composition and how to incorporate the quotes. I did lettering for the quotes and title which unfortuantely they chose not to use (a bit disappointing - i don't really approve of the font they chose but oh well!) Overall I am very happy with the way it turned out - the colour is great, and hopefully it means a lot of people will see my work!

I-F: Extremes

something a bit japanese inspired...

I can think of nothing more extreme than the contrast between pure black and pure white. Japanese and chinese art and calligraphy especially are so beautiful in their simplicity and use of black. I would love to study sumi-e someday, maybe when I GO BACK TO JAPAN! (no trips planned, but one day, I promise myself I will. I loved it and 5 days was definitely not enough there)

and while i was skulking around looking for some examples of sumi-e painting, I came across this woman's art that completely blows my mind. Her name is Susana b. Endo and lives in New York. I think this is my favourite.

Pixar: 20 years of animation

We went to see the Pixar exhibition today at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) - the last day - phew! It was mostly about the preliminary stages of creating their films, so more about the character development and general look and feel than the computer side of things. So very inspiring naturally. such talented people they are. the way they can visualise an object/person from any angle, get across a certain feeling with minimal lines or make an incredibly detailed painting. I think above all Pixar is great at creating (or emulating and romanticizing) worlds. They make underwater so magical or an ant's perspective beautiful.

it makes me realize that my work could really have so much more dimension - i really need to work on lighting and perspective to give them more feeling. Naturally there is always something to work on! I guess seeing an exhibition like that helps you look at your own work with a bit more perspective...

I-F: Open

It's Spring here and the nice weather makes me want to throw open the doors and windows, let the perfumed air in, the cat out, walk barefoot and wear dresses, plunge my hands into the garden and go for walks in the lengthening evening. i'm such a sun worshipper. bring on summer!

9x5

Every year, Illustrators Australia has an exhibition called the 9x5, where each member is sent a piece of wood (that is 9" x 5") in the mail to paint, decorate, deface, etc., and then they are auctioned off. This is the first year I'm participating, and the theme is Connected.

here is my piece, acrylics and ink on wood.



and I must give credit where credit is due, the idea for this came totally and completely from my hubby. Thanks, A!