What's new?

I posted the finished version of The Junk Shop on FaceBook but here it is as well! It was inspired by a visit to a magnificent junk shop in Walcha. It was a rainy, cold day and the huge old shop was gloomy. It was chock a block full of stuff.

The little girls in this picture have wandered off the street from the picture in my previous post and are now playing hide and seek.

Other news is that I have just had official word that my application to do an M Phil in Creative Practice at UNE has been successful. I will be writing a novel/novella using Jenny Wren, the dolls' dressmaker from Our Mutual Friend, as the main character. The genre? Crime!

So lots of writing and lots of drawing coming in the next year. I will try to keep progress documented on my blog!

Finished!

New Drawings

Yesterday I began a new drawing, it will probably be the beginning of a series, don't seem to be able to do many stand alone pictures. This one was inspired by an article my lovely literary agent, Isabel Atherton of Creative Authors, sent me, knowing I would love the work of Domenico Gnoli.

I had to start a drawing straight away. The influences are: Gnoli, of course, Edward Gorey, a long time favourite, as well as the brilliant Paula Rego and one of my first artist loves, Balthus.

Below are three examples of Gnoli's drawings.

Forging ahead with my new epic!

I had a great response on social media to my idea of an illustrated epic story for older children based on a dream I had which was, and this is how the dream appeared in my head, 'Game of Thrones meets the Hobbit under the auspices of The Dark Crystal.

I am now forging ahead with the idea in earnest. Stay tuned, stay very tuned!

Game of Thrones meets The Hobbit under the auspices of The Dark Crystal

Some time ago I began making little gnome like creatures which were unofficially called Lumpies. Then after selling a few of them I had a dream in which I wrote a story about the Lumpies and other similar creatures. In my dream the book was hailed as 'Game of Thrones meets The Hobbit under the auspices of The Dark Crystal'.
The next day I began this picture which I have been posting updates of. A while after I began the drawing I sent a photo to my son, Gabriel Hooper, who took one look at it and said, 'I dreamt that last night!'. I have taken this as a sign that I need to follow through with this epic illustrated story for older children.
Here is the more, or less, finished first illustration.

I have an exciting announcement to make.

Little Pink Dog Books, Armidale, NSW, Australia are going to publish my very first children's picture book in which I am both writer and illustrator.

The book is called Edward's War and it will be hardback, full colour. This is their first book publication so very exciting for all of us.

You can read all about Little Pink Dog Books on their website: https://littlepinkdogbooks.com/
and their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LittlePinkDogBooks/

Edward's War will be published in 2017!

2016! What will it bring?

Ahhhhhh! Last year was really difficult, financially and emotionally. My elderly mother is getting very frail and losing her memory.

But, this year the show has to, not only go on, but grow and succeed.

Let's start with a finished pen drawing.

This is a triptych called The Doll Maker's Wedding that I submitted a week or so ago into the Art Takes Manhattan competition.