Read: Myriad Possibilities 2016

Thank you everyone for a thoroughly enjoyable conference last weekend (Menzies Hotel, Sydney). Gail Erskine, Felicity Jagavkar-Baker, Margaret Hamilton, and all the volunteers, did a spectacular job. As a veteran of many science fiction media conventions (as an attendee or committee member), and a number of TL-focused PD seminar/conferences (sometimes as presenter, or attendee/volunteer/committee member) over the decades, “Read: Myriad Possibilities 2016” compared very well.

This was my first CBCA Conference. The two full days had wonderful variety and no dead spots at all (that I noticed), and it appeared to be very seamless. I loved that the early release of the "Notables" enabled publishers to have every shortlisted title available for sale on the day of the Shortlist announcement on the Friday. (I know there was some trepidation about this when first announced.) I ordered my school’s books from Paul Macdonald (Children's Bookshop, Beecroft) on the Friday, and they arrived at school today, a day earlier than promised.

The authors and illustrators at the conference made themselves very available to all, and autograph sessions were well timed and well promoted.The Committee appeared unflustered most of the time, and glitches were quickly addressed. (And in the timeslots where I volunteered, everything seemed to be set up for success. Much appreciated!)

I also attended the Leigh Hobbs’ Masterclass (see pic above) arranged by the Australian Society of Authors in Ultimo, on the Sunday after the conference! It, too, was excellent. Worth every cent.

And then, on the Monday, it was back to Week 2 of my school's Book Fair. Stop the world, I wanna get off! #CBCA2016

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 21

Week 21: Ink.

Black finepoint marker, graphite pencil and coloured pencils.

Update:

Week 21: Ink II.

Black finepoint marker, graphite pencil and coloured pencils.

Week 21: Ink III.

Inkblot male seahorse and his brood, enhanced with blue ballpoint ink and a hint of coloured pencil, white Signo pigment ink and watercolour.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 20

Week 20: Still life.

It's all I had in the fruit bowl. Bananas with lime and garlic. Oil pastels on black card.

Update:

Week 20: Still life II.

Black finepoint marker, graphite pencil and coloured pencils.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 19

Week 19: Adventure.

"Abseiling meerkat adventurer." Slightly 3D assemblage art, decorated with watercolours and sash cord on freecut corrugated cardboard. Collaged with natural shadows.

Update:

Week 19: Adventure II.

Sponged paper, newsprint and card collage, with a cartoon sketch of an alien adventurer. Stars in Kindy Glitz, moon is a prismatic sticker.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 18

Week 18: Grandmother.

"Nanny vs the Komodo Dragon." Charcoal pencil sketch with green watercolour pencil shading. Based on a vivid childhood memory, a family anecdote often recalled. My photo albums are in storage and the only reference photo I had of Nanny was tiny. I was almost tempted to do the scene from the other side of the glass. But I needed the two main characters to lock eyes. That's me to the left, barely able to see above the window ledge.