2015!

Happy 2015. This is going to be a very productive year. My first deadline is in ten days when I deliver the finished illustrations to Two Fearsome Fairy Tale From France, retold by Adele Geras and published by Christmas Press. I think it is coming out in May.

I am working hard on a novel for YA audience which will be out of my usual fantasy, however, possibly classified as sci fi. I have to finish it and see if a publisher wants it, but at least I will be writing.

My toy shop, Granny Fi's Toy Cupboard is moving from Uralla, NSW, Australia, to Armidale (all of twenty kms away). The grand opening is the 23rd January.

And I would really, really like to do some painting. The picture above is from the early 90s. I dug it out of a folder last year I think and actually quite like it.

And thank you everyone who makes these lovely comments about my work. I'm sorry I don't et round to publishing it sooner. 

New Drawing of Melusine reading, work in progress

Have I done any of the 101 things I was supposed to be doing this weekend?
Um, no.
But I did spend a lot of time working on a new pen drawing of my crab-clawed mermaid Melusine. I love the work of Edward Gorey and decided to do a full out, detailed piece inspired by his style.

Hoping to waste more time on it when I get home this afternoon.

Sneak Peek at sketches for Two Fearsome Tales From France, retold by Adele Geras, illustrated by Fiona McDonald

Two character sketches for Beauty and the Beast (top) and Blue Beard (bottom). Can't let you see anymore than this at the moment. Christmas Press is bringing out Two Fearsome Tales From France, retold by Adele Geras and illustrated by Fiona McDonald, earlyish in 2015.

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.

More pictures

Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleeve of care. This was a sletch for an idea of a child asleep with doll images crossing the floor in front of her, you can see the idea for the composition in the top of the picture.

I just love Rookwood cemetery. I haven't been there for years. I did this sketch years ago and based a large painting on it. It fitted in well with some short stories I was writing.

The pencil drawing for Melusine.

Bird in the Afternoon- another narrative without text, or rather to accompany text but not directly linked to that text. Would love to do a narrative in text and pictures where the drawings are part of the narrative, not just an accompaniment.