Ladybird's Flight: February 2017

Tuesday 28 February 2017

52-Week Illustration Challenge: Week 8

Week 8: Pastel

Sturt's Desert Pea (Alice Springs, N.T., Australia)

I have never used pastels to create a whole picture before. When I saw this week's topic I knew that I wanted to challenge myself and keep my skills growing. So I chose the medium of pastel rather than pastel colours. I used many techniques that I learnt from the tutorials for pencil drawings; blending using a blending stump and adding colour to make sure to fill the paper tooth with pigment all the while trying not the burnish the paper.

See the 52-week Illustration Challenge page for more information about this art work that I have created.

Wednesday 22 February 2017

52-Week Illustration Challenge: Week 7

Week 7: Botanical 

Eucalyptus gumnuts. (Alice Springs, N.T., Australia)

Just as I was about to print the photo that I was planning to base my illustration on when I saw a gumnuts photo and decided that it would suit the 'botanical' theme well.




See the 52-week Illustration Challenge page for more information about this art work that I have created.

Saturday 18 February 2017

Pencils, pencils and more pencils!

I needed pencils to do my 'Botanical' gumnut drawing. Thank goodness for Eckersley's Art & Craft store and their wonderful staff. I am now ready to get colouring in my illustration!


Friday 17 February 2017

Balcony Studio

This is where my drawing for the 52-week Illustration Challenge began this week. My balcony studio in the city!


Wednesday 15 February 2017

New art supplies.

Getting ready for 52-Week Illustration Challenge week 8 theme Pastel.
Any excuse to buy more supplies - I do already own some pastel crayons from 18 years ago.


Monday 13 February 2017

A weekend of book launches.

Friday Jack Heath launched "Countdown to Danger: Deadly Heist" at Dymocks Belconnen.

Sunday Tania McCartney launched "This is Banjo Patterson" in the foyer outside

The National Library of Australia Bookshop.

Congratulations to you both!






52-Week Illustration Challenge: Week 6

Week 6: Garden

It has taken me quite awhile to decided on the subject for this week's topic, many ideas were sketched and discarded. Finally I chose the Manchurian Pear blossoms with a bee - I photographed the blossoms in the Spring of 2015. The biggest decision was how to represent the generally white flowers? Gouache with Watercolour in a variety of tints. I made the decision to leave the background white and gave it a black boarder.


See the 52-week Illustration Challenge page for more information about this art work that I have created.

Sunday 12 February 2017

Happiness is visiting your local library.

One of my goals this year is to spend more time at my local library.
Now that I live in an apartment I don't have room to buy all the books ðŸ“š I want to read so borrowing books from now on is really important.
Ok I'll admit I have bought some books this year that need book shelf or bedside table space;
  • local children's author new releases
  • "I don't have time" 
  • some books short listed by Independent Booksellers Association (?)
  • travel books
I won't promise not to buy books but in short Civic Library and I going to get to know each other really well by the end of the year because I ❤️ ðŸ“š

Saturday 11 February 2017

I don't have time!

I'm reading "I don't have time: 15-minute ways to shape a life you love." by Emma Grey and Audrey Thomas
I just completed the 1st 15-minute experiment of soaking my feet in hot water. Wonderful. Cannot wait to read more.

   

Tuesday 7 February 2017

52-Week Illustration Challenge: Week 5

Week 5: Peacock

This week I have chosen the medium of 2D collage to create the peacock illustration. While I originally thought i would use a range of tissue papers that overlapped, upon entering the art store the potential peacock papers called to me and the illustration became a paper piecing collage rather than a see though layering illustration.



See the 52-week Illustration Challenge page for more information about this art work that I have created.

Sunday 5 February 2017

Book Launch

At Cate Whittle's book launch this morning. "Trouble and the New Kid"

Fabulous to see such a great size crowd and a variety of people attend the book launch at Harry Hartog Bookseller.

Saw a few extra authors; Tania McCartney, Kerry Malone and Jacqueline de-Rose Ahern


 

Saturday 4 February 2017

‘Coincidences’ Exhbitition Opening


‘Coincidences’ Opening
Exhibition by John Wardle Architects
@ Nishi Gallery, New Acton until Friday, 17 February 2017

Wow what a wonderful and inspiring exhibition of photography, art and models exploring the buildings of the firm John Wardle Architects. The exhibition brings together so many fields of creativity. I could resit buying their light but comprehensive book "This Building Likes Me".
Great to see some of the National Centre for Australian Children's Literature Board Members at the opening plus a few CBCA Members too. Another link to lovers of creativity.

John Wardle

NCACL Board Members - Belle, Julie, John and Peter

Wednesday 1 February 2017

52-Week Illustration Challenge: Week 4

Week 4: Ode to favourite children's book


It took me a little while to decide which story and then I had even sketched an illustration onto watercolour paper for "Where the forest meets the sea." and then changed my mind to Rapunzel. 

This is the moment in the story when the prince hears Rapunzel sing and asks her to let down her hair. 

The trees probably need more light and shade but I'm not sure if that will just lead to too much reworking? This is something that I will work on in my next illustration.



See the 52-week Illustration Challenge page for more information about this art work that I have created.