Learning to be a better writer and/or illustrator can be a tricky process. There are courses you can do, but a lot of the work ends up being self-directed, just you and your notebook or sketchbook, putting in the hours.
I’ve pulled together this list of books that have helped me along the way.
Continue reading “6 books to help you make better picture books”
I’ve been working on a great community project since April; I was hired by Yanchep Community Centre to redesign their playgroup outdoor area. It needed to be suitable for the 2-4 year olds from the weekly playgroups, and it needed to include a water play area and a music play area. it also needed to use as many upcycled materials as possible. Here’s what we did.
Every year since 2009, members of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) have gathered on Rottnest Island in June for a winter retreat. We spend four days writing, drawing, working on stories and learning from guest speakers. It’s my favourite time of the year.
Continue reading “The Rottnest Island Retreat, & other SCBWI news”
Subscribers of my email newsletter The James Foley-O will know that I have a new book coming out in October. It’s about a pet rabbit that dies and comes back from the dead as a zombie; it’s called My Dead Bunny. It’s written by Sigi Cohen and published by Walker Books Australia. I’m busting to show you the cover! I’ll reveal more in the next couple of months. In the meantime, here’s some pictures of other zombie animals …
Late last year I was feeling overworked; firstly I was working too hard, but secondly I wasn’t doing anything creative just for myself. Then along came an opportunity to do something different … Spare Parts Puppet Theatre was running a 6 week marionette-making course.
Spare Parts is an incredible company that creates original puppetry productions; they’ve also adapted quite a few children’s books for the stage over the years. They’re based in my hometown of Fremantle, and I remember seeing some of their shows as a kid. I signed up for the course straight away.
I’ve recently become a writer-ambassador for an NGO called Room To Read, who (along with kids’ author Tristan Bancks) is running a campaign called the World Change Challenge.
The aim is to raise money for school children in Nepal.
Continue reading “Room To Read’s World Change Challenge 2015”
Narrogin Primary School kids are creative legends. Last August I got to hang out with 20 of them, making a picture book in a day.
Impossible! I hear you cry. What form of sorcery is this? It cannot be done! Well, we did do it, and here’s how.
I made some kid-size Viking costumes for my talk at the Perth Writers’ Festival. Here’s how.
Continue reading “How to make Viking costumes for kids (or grown-ups)”
The Perth Writers Festival is over for another year. The weekend goes by so quick! I was very happy to be back this year as a presenter on the schools’ day and family day, and this year I also got to work on something a bit different – a massive mural.
Continue reading “Making a mural at the Perth Writers Festival”
Once or twice a year I get an email from an illustration student. They usually have an assignment to write, which requires them to ask a professional illustrator about their work. I got one of these emails last week, asking me for advice on how I got started, how I survive in the industry and how I self-promote. This is my reply.
Continue reading “How to survive as an illustrator: advice for a student”
