I-F: Voices

This will most likely be my last post before Xmas so I just wanted to wish all of you a wonderful wonderful day - here's hoping you don't eat too much turkey and don't get too many presents that end up on ebay!

I usually make a non-denominational end-of-year card, but have found myself feeling unusually Christmasy this year (despite the fact that it will never quite feel like Christmas when it's summer) - Anyway I just want to wish Happy Holidays to those who don't celebrate the Xday - I hope you are getting a little break from real life too. :-)

these are happy days indeed.....

Stuck in February 2008

This year, Illustrators Australia made a fantastic calendar with members' illustrations to send out to clients for promotion. For the last few months I have had it permanently turned to February, because it is an illustration by one of my new favourite illustrators, Anna Walker, from a book of hers coming out next year, The Miggy Tree:

I have pre-ordered the book for its release, and as a little end of year splurge, I have decided to buy for myself a limited edition print from the book which I think is just gorgeous:

I also recently picked up some fun yuletideness from Anna.

But no, I'm not obsessed or anything.

Roughs, finished (again)

Well I finally finished the roughs for my 4-book series, again. (If you remember, I had to redraw the entire series because the original characters, elephants, were deemed 'unsellable' by the publisher's marketing team)

so, once elephants, they have magically anthropomorphized (OK, I know that's not actually a word but can you think of a better one?) all the way into humans.

Starting on all the final paintings now, but also looking forward to a bit of a break over this, the season of silly...... hope you get one too!

The End of the Internet

This made me laugh : click here!

it's probably right..... 

goodnight!

Awardfest

Thank you to my dear dear friend Alicia for passing along some lovely awards to me - I think the best part about these awards is you are introduced to new artists through peoples' links. So I would like to draw your attention to the following blogs that I have recently discovered and fallen head over heels for - please go visit them!

Deb's blog

Octopus Ink

The Frog Blog

Dada's place

Travel and Sing

I-F: Similar

These two guys are similar in style, but different in nature!

They are two acrylic + collage paintings I made to sell in my friend's store, but when I finished the giraffe I just loved him so much I couldn't sell him! So he's still in my studio, looking at me with his cheeky smile, hehe.

Doing paintings like this is so much fun and makes me think about doing more and opening an etsy store ... but it's a bit daunting.

isn't it?

More about me!

Okay I usually don't post this much personal stuff, but I was tagged ages ago by Edrian and Carli to post 7 random facts about myself, so here we go:

1. I am half Indian, half English, born in Canada, and living in Australia.

2. I prefer riding my bike to driving a car

3. When I was a kid I always wanted to do everything myself, was very headstrong and independent. I guess I'm still that way!

4. I am doing my dream job of illustrating children's books. I still can't quite believe it sometimes.

5. Every year around my birthday I contemplate getting my nose pierced.

6. I equally enjoy the opera and all-night raves, smoked salmon and greasy hamburgers, overseas travel and backyard camping, and feel so lucky I get to experience them all.

7. I eat exactly half as fast as my husband does, which is good because he eats about twice as much as I do so we usually finish at about the same time.

If you are reading this then i tag YOU to do this meme! If you do, please post a comment here so we can all visit :)

Just for fun....

I have done what is in bold.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

I go crazy over 20 "sleeping on an overnight train" - i loooove train travel
I regret 16 "having food poisoning" - who wouldn't?
don't ask about 87 "prepared an animal for eating" - a good experience, but not one I want to repeat any time soon!
I secretly fantasize about 3 "playing in a band" - anything can happen!
94 "having a baby" has crossed my mind - many a time.... :)

Thanks to Alicia for posting this on her blog. If you do it make sure to leave a comment here so we can all see!

I-F: Balloon

Didn't have much time this week -  so here are a few little doodles i did during a meeting (and yes, I was listening!)