Second Series of Henry Hugglemonster!

I am absolutely thrilled to announce that Disney has greenlit a second Series of Henry Hugglemonster! Our Roarsome crew are back together in Brown Bag Films cooking up new stories and adventures that will be ready by Autumn 2014. 

Nancy Kanter, Executive Vice President Original Programming and General Manager, Disney Junior Worldwide comments: “The incredibly talented team at Brown Bag Films has created an engaging series for Disney Junior that delivers everyday life lessons and models positive family and community relationships that are relatable to audiences around the world. A second season will build off of this terrific start and create even more connections with kids and families.”

Beth Gardiner VP of Production Disney UK, comments: “We are thrilled to be reunited with our ‘roarsome’ Brown Bag crew, and look forward to more stories about HENRY HUGGLEMONSTER and his monstery family."

Cathal Gaffney, Executive Producer & CEO, Brown Bag Films adds: "This second series sees Brown Bag Films create a further 30 jobs bringing us to 150 full time staff in our Dublin studio. Knowing that children around the world continue to watch and love HENRY HUGGLEMONSTER, which was originated, designed and animated in Ireland makes us all very proud."

Full Press release here. More news check out Brown Bag Films blog here. 
News on RTE here

Hugglemonster Monster Maker

Have you played the Hugglemonster Monster Maker yet over on Disney Junior Canada? Let me know what you think!

Offset 2013 in Pictures

OFFSET 2013 what an amazing event, I was honored to be up on the main stage talking about my work, creativity and my collaboration with Brown Bag Films on Henry Hugglemonster. I've made a lot of new friends and was totally inspired myself by the speakers. Especially wanted to thank the Offset team Bren, Richard and Peter for such a superb conference and making me feel so welcome. Big Thanks to Eamon, Amy Herron and Mario for photos available to see here.

Making Monsters Move...

Fantastic interview over on the OFFSET blog today with Norton Virgien director of Henry Hugglemonster.

Hugglemonster Giveaway

It's today Henry Hugglemonster official Launch day! I feel like a nervous parent sending my monster out into the world!

To celebrate the launch of Henry Hugglemonster today on Disney Junior I have 5 signed copies of my book 'I'm a Happy Hugglewug' to give away on my new Niamh Sharkey Illustration Facebook page.  Winners will be announced on Monday 11th February. Good luck everyone!

Have a Happy Hugglemonster Day!

Henry Hugglemonster

One week to go to the official launch of Henry Hugglemonster on Disney Junior UK. We are going to have a Huggleparty at Brown Bag Films with some monster munch to celebrate!

Henry Hugglemonster sneak peek on Disney Junior UK!

It's been a long journey from sketch to screen... but today, at last there's a sneak peek of Henry Hugglemonster at 5.50pm on Disney Junior.  It has been wonderful working and collaborating with Disney, Norton Virgien (Director) and Sascha Paladino (Story Editor) and the ROARSOME team at Brown Bag Films in Dublin to bring Henry Hugglemonster to life. The love, care and unbelievable creativity they have all brought to the project blows me away every day. I just can't wait for children all over the world to meet Henry and his Hugglemonster family!

I was really over the moon to have Brenda Blethyn, Brian Blessed and Geri Halliwell join the cast of Henry Hugglemonster too.

  Brenda Blethyn stars as Ernestine Enormomonster

Brian Blessed as Eduardo Enormomonster

Geri Halliwell stars as Isabella Roarson

Say hello to Henry Hugglemonster!

There will be a sneaky peek of Henry Hugglemonster this Friday 25th of January on Disney Junior UK at 5.50pm. The show launches on February 8th at 5:50pm. Come say hi this Wednesday on the Disney Junior Facebook Page from 1.30-2pm. I'll be doodling live and chatting about how I made Henry Hugglemonster with Disney and the amazing Brown Bag Films!

Huggletastic Holidays!

Hope you all had really Huggletastic holidays? It's going to be a busy few months; there's a sneaky peek of my show that I've been making with Brown Bag Films, Henry Hugglemonster in January on Disney Junior. Henry Hugglemonster officially launches in February, I will post up dates as soon as I can.

Some great Laureate events lining up for 2013; I will be touring with Pictiúr an exhibition of Irish Picture Book Art throughout Europe and I'm also really excited about appearing at Offset 2013 in April.  In meanwhile I'd love to wish you all a Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!

Attack of the 50ft Laureate!

Last night our Laureate's Christmas video was beamed onto Bolands Mills, Dublin...
Many thanks to the awesome Mags Walsh and Eamon Nolan for pulling this off!

A Very Merry Book Loving Christmas to you all!

Doodling on the radio is it really possible?

Do not be fooled. I will stop at nothing to get you doodling... I even attempted a radio doodle last week.

Myself and Gráinne Clear attempted a Live Christmas Doodling workshop on RTE Junior's Little Pages Programme yesterday morning. We even got a mention on Tubridy last Thursday.  Ryan called it  'The nations first live doodle! Thinking outside the box...' Thanks Ryan!

Our interactive-doodling and doodle dinodeers left a tail of glitter all over the RTE radio studio. And if you missed it don't worry you can now down load it On The RTE Junior Page.

So is it really possible? Please send in some of your photos of your doodle to info@childrenslaureate.ie so we can see! 

Eamon puts Mavis and Marge on stage!

Sé O'Donoghue sent me these amazing photos of his son Eamon who had to pick his favorite story book and make a model of it to bring in to class. Sé said Eamon spent the whole day reading, drawing and making the model. I think it's amazing! I LOVE them, especially the 3D one. When I asked Sé would it be ok if I post them on my blog he said that, 

'Eamon can't quite get his head around the writer of the book getting his pictures and replying !

But he is dead chuffed with himself.' 

Keep up the drawing Eamon they are really fantastic!

Window Painting at Hodges Figgis

I had a deadly time painting the Hodges Figgis Christmas Window yesterday and I couldnt of done it without the  help from Griffeen Valley Educate Together from Lucan! Thank you to David Maybury, Inis Magazine and Children's Books Ireland for the amazing photographs. And to Hodges Figgis for the amazing setting on Dawson Street Dublin. 

Hodges Figgis Christmas Window!

Absolutely thrilled to have been asked to paint the Hodges Figgis Christmas Window. I have been working away in my new studio. Its a massive undertaking as the illustration is over 8 foot long.  I couldn't of done it with out the help of my sister Emer who gave up her whole weekend and a day from Open Book Company (Thank you Brendan!) She was fantastic gessoing and helping me paint Dinotown. Thank you so much Emer! 

Here's a few images of the work in progress. I will be instore in Dawson Street all day Monday 27th painting the final touches and reading from Santasurus, and making stars to decorate the window with six year olds from Griffeen Valley Educate Together, Lucan.

Emer and Oscar roll out the gesso! 

Sketch up outlines

Niamh painting...

My painting Elf Emer! 

Conor has more info here. 

Leaves Festival

Here's some photos of the Monster Doodle form The Leaves Festival last Friday. The Monster Doodle is now hanging in Abbeyleix Library. 

Monster Illustrations at The Ark

As part of Telling Tall and Tiny Tales at The Ark, Dublin and as the Children's Laureate I was given a free reign at a GIGANTIC ILLUSTRATION WORKSHOP aided and abetted my three illustrators friends: Steve Simpson, Marie Louise Fitzpatrick and Michael Emberley to help create Monster pictures with children last weekend. 

We used huge rolls of canvas and acrylics to create huge panels that will be made into a giant picture book. The theme was Leggit! We created various creatures including hedgehogs, fish, Skeleton Detectives and Chesseburger eating robots legging it after each other.

Amazing creativity burst forth. I particularly loved the brainstorming session with Steve and the 10-12 year olds... And the limited palette of Ikea really suited the robot piece! 

The Illustrated Beatles

There is a lot of excitement about this show that launches tomorrow night at The Grand Social, Liffey St, Dublin on Tuesday 23rd October. 40 Beatles songs illustrated by members of Illustrator Ireland.  All songs chosen by all manner of creatives, broadcasters and writers 

You can join the Facebook group for sneak preview of what to expect...

 My Fab Four Prints are available at Fire Gallery

Hamburg Workshops!

I am just back from three days of doodle and painting workshops in the The International School in Hamburg.  I really had the most fantastic welcome and was given free reign. I worked with Children from 3-8 years and was astounded at the amazing work they produced.

Here's the monster recipe I used...

 Add lots of 3 years olds and a blank canvas...

 Choosing Colours! 

 Making circles!

Orange handprints!

 Painting Summer Hugglemonster in the Roaring Forest...

Hugglemonster Flowers!

Hugglemonster Roar! 

The teachers were SO enthusiastic and hugely encouraging to the children and to me also. I was given complete freedom and wonderful art materials...  Huge thank you to Joanna Mc Donagh who invited me to her wonderful school. I also did some fantastic Monster doodles on huge rolls of Fabriano paper with the 5-8 years olds which was immediately hung in the entrance hall as a celebration of Book Week...

 Monster banner in the entrance hall!

 
Henry Hugglemonster Art all over the walls!

Hamburg hugglemonster

 I was very, very sad to say goodbye!