An illustrator friend, Karen Blair, recently had her first bub. So our local illustrator crew made a set of Russian nesting dolls for her, based on The old lady who swallowed a fly.
It was my job to paint the goat.
Here’s the sketch-
Here’s a great project I was involved in earlier this year.
The Better Beginnings literacy program asked a bunch of local illustrators to design a bookplate (one of those ‘This Book Belongs To’ labels that goes on the inside cover of a book).
The best part is, they’re all completely free to download and print!
You can download designs by me, Shaun Tan, Moira Court, Rebecca Cool, Karen Blair, Frane Lessac, Tracey Gibbs, Chris Nixon and Ambelin Kwaymullina.
Here’s my design (click to go through to the Better Beginnings bookplate page).
Back in April I participated in “One Word One Day”- a fundraiser for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, supported by the Australian Society of Authors and Micador.
We had lots of luscious Micador art supplies, 3 or 4 hours, and a one-word theme (‘nightly’). We made pictures, and they’ll be auctioned some time in July, with all proceeds helping the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
Most importantly: please check out the Indigenous Literacy Foundation website and register your interest in the online auction.
It’s a great cause, so get behind it 🙂
Here’s the main piece I made:
You can see rest of the pieces I put together (including my prep sketches) on the Micador website.
Here’s a worksheet on how to draw cartoon faces.
Available to download for non-commercial, educational purposes only.
Here’s how the picture book publication process usually works.
It’s oversimplified, and it’s not true of every book- but should be useful as a guide.
1. A writer writes a picture book manuscript.
A picture book usually has 32 pages. Sometimes a writer keeps this in mind, and divides their text into sections for each double-page spread.
Many people want to have their work published. Making it happen is (usually) not easy. The challenge can seem overwhelming and insurmountable. But many people have done it before.
I’ve pulled together some links, books and tips to help you on your journey.
Continue reading “Tips for aspiring writers and illustrators”
My first picture book The Last Viking (written by the great Norman Jorgensen) has won the 2012 Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ (SCBWI) Crystal Kite Award.
This is a members’ choice award. Writers and illustrators from each region voting on their favourite title for the past year.
Congratulations to all the other Crystal Kite winners around the world! And many many thanks to all the Australian and New Zealander SCWBIans for choosing our book; it’s very humbling to have your support.
The Last Viking has won the 2012 Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ (SCBWI) Crystal Kite Award.
This is a members’ choice award. Writers and illustrators from each region voting on their favourite title for the past year.
Congratulations to all the other Crystal Kite winners around the world! And many many thanks to all the Australian and New Zealander SCWBIans for choosing our book; it’s very humbling to have your support.
Here’s the cover of Janet Shaw’s new book, ‘Bit of a Super Hero‘. Janet is a Perth-based author, social worker, medal-winning ex-paralympian and motivational speaker. As well as these achievements, she has faced blindness and cancer. She is a definite hero.
I was very happy to get to work on the cover of Janet’s book, and to share the duties with two illustrator friends. I did the linework, Briony Stewart did the colour, then Shannon Melville did the layout and design.
‘Bit of a Super Hero’ is available online now.
[Addendum: Janet lost her battle with cancer in December 2012. It was a privilege to meet her; she was such a lovely person, such a strong character. Read her book to find out more about her extraordinary life, or read her wikipedia page.]
Yesterday, Peter Jeffery from 95.3fm interviewed myself and talented fellow Fremantle Press author/illustrator Sean E Avery about making a living as children’s book illustrators. Click below to hear the interview.
Audio courtesy of The World of Art, 6EBA 95.3fm World Radio (Perth, Western Australia)
James Foley 