Draw me a story

Rabbit island, 2016

I'm part of this exciting group exhibition Draw me a Story at Blarney Books and Art - annual exhibition showcasing Australian children's picture book illustrations presented by Customs House Gallery. I'm showing some of the original illustrations from Following book I launched with Jeff Maser Booksellers at Melbourne Art Book Fair earlier this year and some etchings.

Artists include Gaye Chapman, Dinalie Dabarera, Sarag David, Sandra Eterovic, Daniella Germain, Elise Hurst, Kyoko Imazu, Alison Lester, Andrew McLean, Lucia Masciullo, Leila Rudge, Craig Smith, Tull Suwannakit, Owen Swan, Shaun tan, Rita Voutila 

Sweeping, 2016

Draw me a story
28 August - 2 October
Blarney Books and Art
37 James Street
Port Fairy
VIC Australia
Thursday - Sunday 11am - 4pm

Melbourne Art Book Fair 2016

an illustration from Following, 2016

I'm launching a new book at Melbourne Art Book Fair starting Friday 29 April to Sunday 1 May at National Gallery of Victoria with Jeff Maser Bookseller from Berkeley, CA.

I have been extremely fortunate to be working with Jeff, Andrea (Jeff Maser Bookseller) and unbelievably talented graphic designer Stephen Horsley at Propellant in London.

The book is called 'Following' and is a visual book (with a short intro) with only images to guide the story through. Story is based on my secret experience of seeing a little boy who followed me when I was a child.

Jeff, Andrea and Stephen did such a marvelous job designing this book - when I saw Stephen's mock-up design, it was one of the most exciting moment in my work.

My huge respect to graphic designers.

I'll be there at NGV with Jeff and Andrea and there is an exciting launch event on 1 May, 2:30-3:00!

We'll be displaying original artwork and we'll say a few words...

If you are free, please come and we can chat too!

Melbourne Art Book Fair

29 April - 1 May

Free Entry

NGV International

180 St Kilda Road

Melbourne

Book launch, presented by Jeff Maser Bookseller

1 May 2:30-3:00

Discussion space, NGV International

Display of original artworks and a little bit of speeches :)

an illustration from Following 2016

Night Train

There are some stories that you read as a child and enjoyed but when you re-read as a grown-up, you find it's a whole new experience.
I think Night on the Galactic Railroad by Kenji Miyazawa is a bit like that. I really liked it as a child but now I feel there is something else profoundly sad and warm that's been staying with me after I re-read the book.

I made a print called Night Train. 
It's not based on the book but I kept thinking about it while I was sketching the image.
I hope I could make a series of prints to reinterpret this story one day.

Here the girl's not on a Galactic train but her cat can carry her through the night!

Manchot Adélie

Adélie II, 2014

I did a little sketch of a specimen of Adélie Penguin in the National Museum of Natural History in Paris in the beginning of this year.
I recently turned the pencil drawing into two versions of etchings.

First of all I printed Adélie for a print exchange project with Rona Green on the theme of animals and later I printed Adélie II with a second plate to introduce new and warmer colours.

Adélie, 2014

I remember watching a TV program about Antarctica as a child and saw the image of penguins sitting on the egg in the cold wind.
Male and female penguins take turns to incubate until the egg hatch.

It left me with a somehow strong feeling that penguin parents were the same as mine, keeping me in warm and comfortable place.  

Original sketch

Muséum national d'histoire naturelle

National Museum of Natural History was a beautiful place to be with lots of different animals including extinct ones. Lots of art students were drawing from the collection too.

I hardly buy any souvenirs for myself when I travel so drawing at museums and elsewhere is a bit like a memento. It's lovely to flip through the sketchbooks and re-visit the memory of the time and the places.

I could have easily spent another entire day or two here.

I have to go back to Paris and visit the museum again, along with so many other great museums!
I love to see you again soon Paris!

Tiny Universes

I'm very excited to be part of an exhibition of international illustrators in Adelaide this month!

Artist and curator Fruzsi has been showing a sneak peek of the works on the Facebook page.
I am very proud to be showing my work along with great illustrators!

For the last six months, fourteen illustrators from America, Australia and Portugal have been collaborating on Tiny Universes at the invitation of Adelaide artist and curator Fruzsi Kenez. Her vision brings together these artists in celebration of illustrative work that draws the audience into its own enchanting world. From the renowned speckled portraits of Allyson Mellberg (USA), to the dark and nostalgic portraitscapes of Daniel Moreira (Portugal), Tiny Universes draws together an eclectic and wonderful mix of artistic styles and methods ranging from pen on paper, watercolour and acrylic on wood, to intaglio prints, screenprinted tshirts and much more.

For most of the international artists, this is their first time showing in Australia. Please join us on Friday evening, Nov 8th for opening night celebrations, and a glimpse into fourteen TINY UNIVERSES. 

Tooth and Nail
22 - 28 Coromandel Place
Adelaide
South Australia

Opening Friday 8 November 18:00 - 21:00
Exhibition runs until 22 November

Participating artists:

Gary Seaman (Adelaide)
Allyson Mellberg (Virginia, USA)
Kyoko Imazu (Melbourne, AU)
Cat Rabbit (Melbourne, AU)
Malia Wearn (Adelaide)

Simon de Boer (Adelaide)
Daniel John Purvis (Adelaide)
Justin Brown Durand (Northampton, USA)
Anna Wanda Gogusey (Austin, USA)
Cathy McMurray (Portland, USA)

Daniel Moreira (Porto, Portugal)
Dom Sargent (Adelaide)
Meg Wilson (Adelaide)
Fruzsi Kenez (Adelaide)