Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 26

Week 26: Shoes.

"There was an old woman who lived in a shoe; She had so many children she... decided to renovate and add a summertime verandah." Cartoon in black finepoint Sharpie and watercolour.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 25

Week 25: Invention.

"Professor Pat Pending builds the better mousetrap." Black finepoint Sharpie with watercolour, based on several cels of the character from TV's "Wacky Races".

Update:

Week 25: Invention II.

"Invention in the arts." Freecut symmetrical silhouette in black card, plus ribbon scraps, collaged onto a mounted print-out from Wikipedia.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 24

Week 24: Birthday.

"Jack at 14." White Signo pigment ink sketch on red Quill Metallique card, with black finepoint shading and coloured oil pastel highlights. Based upon two photos from my collection.

Update:

Week 24: Birthday II.

"Happy birthday, Bert!" Oil pastels and gold glitter on black card, based on a photograph found in Google Images.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 23

Week 23: Zoo.

Freecut silhouettes in black card, and sketches in black finepoint marker on white paper with watercolour shading, collaged to either side of a translucent blue plastic stationery folder. Based on elements from several photos taken by me at Sydney's Taronga Park Zoo.

My blue cardboard had a bend in it, and I had to improvise. I had only found the folder on a forgotten pile last weekend. For me the exciting thing is how it photographed! Way more interesting and realistic than blue card, and the sea lions can be repositioned inside the plastic sleeve!

Update:

Week 23: Zoo II.

Freecut silhouettes in black card, and a sketch in black finepoint marker on white paper with coloured pencil and watercolour shading, collaged to either side of a mounted mesh baking sheet. Based on elements from a recent photo taken by me, plus a 1960s stock photo of Taronga Park Zoo's late feature attraction, King Kong.

It's as difficult to see the gorilla as it was at the Zoo in the 1960s. Infamously, Taronga's King Kong (and his partner, Mary Kong, in a separate enclosure) delighted in tossing sawdust and excrement onto the screaming human observers. Eventually, an additional perspex barrier had to be added. I thought people might like to see what it looks like inside the depressing 1960s enclosure, so here he is (below).

Week 23: Zoo IIa.

Week 23: Zoo III.

Freecut silhouettes in black card, and sketches in black finepoint marker on white paper with watercolour shading, collaged to either side of a mounted translucent green plastic stationery folder. Based on a memory of the original otter enclosure at Sydney's Taronga Park Zoo and stock otter photos found via a Google Image search.

This was one of my favourite Taronga exhibits as a kid (and featured in a favourite episode of TV's Catch Kandy), but in the late 70s, it disappeared off the official Zoo maps and I had to use an older map (in the Jacaranda School World Atlas) to find it each time I visited. It was like my secret rendezvous with the otters. The new maps and Zoo signage showed only a newer exhibit, around the corner.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 22

Week 22: Science.

Ida Lupino as the evil alchemist, Dr Cassandra Spellcraft, in the "Batman" TV series of the 1960s. Oil pastels on A3 paper, with watercolour wash.

Update:

Week 22: Science II.

"Periodic Table of the Elephants." White pigment Signo ink and collaged black finepoint sketch on black card.

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.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 17

Week 17: Collector.

Matryoshka Batman. Freehand sketches of "Batman" characters (based on photos of my action figure collection) in brown Slick Writer permanent marker, coffee wash, gold Kindy Glitz and watercolour pencils on watercolour paper Matryoshka shapes, collaged onto a separate sheet of watercolour card.‬

Update:

Week 17: Collector II.

"Reverse Santa." Climbs out of the chimney with your treasured collections. Sketch in black Sharpie and watercolours on watercolour card.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 16

Week 16: Mirror.

Freecut silhouette symmetrical collage using yellow and metallic purple cards. ‪Based on several photos viewed in Google Images.‬

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 15

Week 15: Ocean.

Sketches in black, blue and red Sharpie, white Puffy Paint, white opaque Signo, and gold Kindy Glitz on remnants of salted watercolour wash, mounted on black card. Inspiration from many pics in a Google Image search.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 14

Week 14: Camping.

Freehand watercolour on watercolour card, with coffee-stained, collaged newspaper.

Update:

Week 14: Camping II.

"One little spark..." Freehand collage using gold and red Quill "Metallique" paper and "Marbletone" cream card.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 13

Week 13: Movement.

Collage of the DC Comics superhero, Kid Flash, using gold and red Quill Metallique card and scraps of pink and orange paper. Freehand cut from life, using a posed 7" action figure from my own collection. Speed streaks in watercolours on watercolour paper.

Update:

Week 13: Movement II.

Watercolours on watercolour card, with silver acrylic and white opaque Signo highlights.

Ian's Batman action figures

Here is a PhotoPeach slideshow of my 8" Batman '66 TV series action figures from Figures Toy Co. (and a few customised characters by me).

Ian's Batman action figures

Requires Flash, so it won't work on iPads or iPhones.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 12

Week 12: Non-dominant hand.

"Komodo dragon." White opaque Signo ink on brown paper, with black ballpoint detail, drawn with my left hand. Based on my own photo of a garden ornament.

Update:

Week 12: Non-dominant hand II

"Easter Bunny". Watercolours on watercolour card. Based on my own photo of my grandmother's rabbit ornament. I am a leftie; his was also with my weak right hand.

Earth Hour 2016

Earth Hour

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 11

Week 11: Mother

Freecut collage using paper scraps and negative spaces. Based on a photo of my Mum.

Update:

Week 11: Mother II

Freecut mice collage with watercolour and cartridge papers, plus miniature tissue paper streamers, mounted on black card. Shading in watercolour and black ballpoint, white Signo whiskers.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 10

Week 10: Animal

"Koala". Freehand cut collage using a remnant of watercolour canvas, a scrap of Quill "marbletone" cream paper, and watercolour on grey card. Based on my own photo. I guess it's a reverse silhouette. The koala only exists as a negative space. The grey card is simply the back of a depleted watercolour paper pad and reminded me of the colour and texture of a koala's fur, so I searched my own albums looking for a suitable pic (actually Perth Zoo during the exhibition last year).

Update:

Week 10: Animal II

"Orange harmony". Sketch in black finepoint Sharpie on watercolour card, coloured with watercolours. Based on my own 1977 b/w photograph of pets Mac and Meggsie "frying their eyeballs" in front of a bar radiator.