A year of drawing

This year looks as though it is hotting up to be one of drawing, painting and writing. I can't tell you how exciting that is. I have my graphic novel to do with its intricate pen illustrations and I am also working on a proposal for another graphic/illustrated novel with a well known Australian novelist and it already has some interest from a publisher. I'm not sure whether these will be pen or pencil illustrations or some other drawing medium but it is a fantastic project.

On Thursday I start and online novel writing course. I signed up for this before I knew what else was happening. It is not the best timing but I intend to make the most of it.

In September I have booked myself an exhibition at the New England Art Society Gallery. I think I shall show small acrylic paintings and some drawings in a style that is influenced by certain women surrealist painters. The drawing above is an unfinished work that will hopefully end up in the show.

As a result of all my new projects I have decided to suspend my PhD until everything has quietened down. The novel part of it will be worked on in the online novel development programme though so it will be buzzing along in the background.

I love this kind of year but am sometimes so excited I can hardly breathe which doesn't help the work to get done.

Breaking News

I've just signed a contract with Sky Pony Press, an imprint of Sky Horse Publishing, New York, for my very first work of fiction, a graphic novel to be published in the Amercian Fall, so probably November this year. Needless to say I am very excited about this project where I get to write and illustrate my own story.  Sky Pony have said I can show the cover when it is designed (in the process right now). So stay tuned...

Until I can give a sneek peak of the cover you'll have to make do with a drawing I did late last year inspired by a book I bought on the works of Leonora Carrington. Leonora became linked with the Surrealists before the Second World War. She and Max Ernst shacked up together for a while. Leonora got separated from Max in the turmoil of the beginning of the war and she fled to Mexico.

In Mexico Leonora met Remedios Varo, a Spanish woman painter and together they experimented with their art. More can be read about both these women in a book called Women Artists and the Surrealist Movement.

New Year's Resolution

I do not believe my last blog post was so long ago. My New Year's Resolution will be to keep up to date with my blog.

And I didn't even blog about my new book: Gothic Knits published by the ever wonderful Search Press UK.

I'm so thrilled with the way it looks. It is available on Amazon.com or Amazon UK or Search Press UK. I can't wait to see someone knit one up. It was a really fun book to do.

I've just finished writing my social and cultural look at 1920s Britain and my brain is still rather stuck in that era. I was able to draw on family for this book too which made it really special. not sure when it is coming out but it is being published with Pen&Sword Books UK.

I did find some drawings I did when I was about 18 and I thought they didn't look too bad at all.

Makes me think I should do some more in this style. 

I've also been developing some medieval style dolls based on dolls from the period. It is a tricky thing to do: balance a 21st century aesthetic and playability with authenticity.

I have designed some knitted versions as well. There is no evidence for or against knitted dolls having existed in the middle ages. There are no examples known but then there are no cloth dolls either but there is no doubt they existed. Knitting was practised widely back then, usually stockinette in the round. Intricated patterns were knitted into socks and vests so it is certainly plausible that a mother may have fashioned a child's toy from left over yarn.

I'm hoping to be selected to have a doll stall at the Abbey Medieval Festival in July this year. The festival is held at the Abbey Muesum in Caboolture, near Brisbane. My son is with a re-enactor group that goes there every year. You have to dress up in authentic costume to participate. Fingers crossed.

Long time etc...

I've had terrible trouble trying to blog over the last couple of months but thought it was time to try again.

What's been happening?
I'm working hard to finish my 1920s Britain book for Pen&Sword. As always the problem is leaving stuff out and not finding last minute new stuff that is so fascinating that you just have to put it in somewhere.

My PhD novel is quietly and slowly taking shape, mainly in my head and note books but it is getting a definite form.

I have a proposal for a graphic novel in with a publisher in New York, so fingers are crossed and double crossed.

And I'm going to the Comics Masterclass in Sydney next weekend, can't wait.

Below are some pictures of assemblages I made years and years ago. I dug them out recently.

Back to the blog

Where has the time gone? Appologies for no recent postings. I have been busy finishing my book on highwaymen and women for the History Press UK, entering the three minute thesis competition at UNE, teaching, and getting ready for my Knitted Fairies' Book Launch.

Sunday, the 18th September at Chaucer on Bridge Street, Uralla, 3pm I will be launching the Knitted Fairies. At 2pm there will be a pantomime performance for young children at the gallery as part of a special Uralla open day. Hope you can come.

The End of July is Nigh

So much is happening I haven't had time to blog. The Doiley Birds are away for the weekend thank goodness. They are very sweet but quite demanding. I'm sorry I've been so slow with their caravan. I haven't said to them that I'm really reluctant to go and work in my studio because it is quite cold down there.

Anyway, they are packed off to Trish's for a fun weekend and hopefully will come back with lots of photos and stories.

I've been busy (so what's new?) mainly writing. I put in two manuscripts through the Queensland writers' centre: one for the Allen and unwin manuscript development prgramme and the other for Hatchette's ms programme. Fingers crossed. I've been thinking about writing my conference paper for 1 August. It is called 'Into the Woods'. If you think I have a thing about trees and forests you'd be dead right.

To cheer everyone up I'm posting some dragons. I haven't done a dragon for ages, maybe, while the girls are away...

Dragon Spawn- these are the size of a human baby

 A trio of mischief

 Double trouble

Play the blues

All of these were made for the Australian Craft Show back in 2000 maybe. I think it is time for another dragon session.

Work, work ,work- loving it

At last, lots of committments are out of the way and I can get down to real work. I've got a couple of book covers to do which is exciting but I can't say much more than that. It is so refreshing to get paid for drawing.

Yesterday I went to Stanthorpe with Carl to see Tom Spence's exhibition there. We know Tom from his time in Katoomba and the show was very inspiring. I wanted to get out a sketch book there and then. The trip from Armidale, up through Guyra, Glen Innes, Tenterfield and then to Stanthorpe was beautiful in that silvery grey winter bleak way. I didn't take the camera- big mistake.

Writing is rushing along: Gentlemen Rogues and Wicked Ladies, my first title for The History Press, UK is the dominant project this month. I love doing this kind of research.

I also have two fiction manuscripts I'm entering in development programmes and my PhD novel has started successfully (meaning it has the thumbs up from supervisors, colleagues and my agent).

Lots to keep me busy. Unfortunatley the Doiley Birds are a bit cross because I haven't got further with their caravan. I did explain that it isn't the best weather to be going on a road trip in Armidale but they said that would just make it more exciting. To make up for my slackness on the caravan front I'm taking them to Uralla to a very special shop to buy some supplies. I think they will be thrilled.

This picture is of Genevieve and Tilda's adventure in the forest. These two long time friends had to leave their home when they were thrown away in the skip by the new owner of their house. I must say that the photo looks worse than it really was and neither party was hurt.