The outdoor movie season has started again in Perth. I love it, it’s a brilliant part of Perth’s summer culture. One of the cinemas is called Movies By Burswood– it’s entirely volunteer-run and has raised over a million dollars for children’s charities over the years.
I’m really looking forward to the film Where the Wild Things Are. Coincidentally, the film also comes out today. So I decided to put it on the screen- or at least an homage to the original picture book that the movie is based on.
A friend asked what the relevance of the hedge maze was in this cover. I wanted to say it was international hedge maze day, but really there was no particular reason at all- it was just a hedge maze. It was a fun cover to do… I got to think up lots of weird little situations, almost like a ‘Where’s Wally‘ illustration (but nowhere near as complicated).
They’ve certainly earned their badges.
I went to Narrogin library yesterday for a workshop with year seven students. Narrogin is about 2 hours south-east of Perth. I must thank the librarians, Belynda and Rachel, for inviting me- I had a brilliant time.
I gave a talk about the projects I’m working on and showed some examples of sketches and finished samples. Then the students got to do some drawing. Seeing as my visit was part of the ‘Finding MY Place’ program, where students are encouraged to think positively about their own futures, I asked the year 7s to draw a four panel comic about their dream job.
It was amazing to see the ideas that they came up with- one boy wanted to be a professional BASE jumper, another a sheep farmer, another an army officer; several girls wanted to become vets, another an Olympic horse-rider, another a police officer in the traffic division. With minimal instruction the students produced some really great comics. This proved to me that comics are an incredibly useful art form, one that people understand intuitively and can create instinctively. (at least, I imagine, in a culture where they are familiar with the art form already).
Here’a a quick demonstration comic I did for the class on my graphics tablet. Clearly my subconscious (in the form of a chicken) was telling me to get on with being a creative person. When I mentioned that I would like to be an illlustrator full-time, one girl in the class asked, “why aren’t you doing this full-time?” It was a great question and had me stumped.
I haven’t posted anything but Quokka covers for a while now, so thought I would show some other bits and pieces… here’s an ancient-Greek inspired character. I reckon he’ll be in a story some day.
The Quokka newspaper has been helping to promote the National Breast Cancer Foundation. The NBCF campaign materials are all coloured pink, hence the many different shades used in this week’s cover.
A marathon is held on Rottnest Island each year- competitors run four laps of the course, taking in the picturesque salt lakes and ocean views while gasping for breath and begging for water. My brother’s girlfriend did the course this year- she is an absolute trooper.
James Foley 