Into the Greenwood Deep

I was really honoured to be asked to open Phil Mc Darby's first solo show at The Copperhouse Gallery last Thursday. His work is truly magical and leaves me almost lost for words (I did manage to find some on the night!) I work with Phil in Brown Bag Films, and it was fantastic on the night to see so many friendly Brown Bag faces in the crowd. If anyone has a direct contact to the film-maker Peter Jackson DO get in contact with me... he needs to see this exhibition in the next two weeks. 

Into The Greenwood Deep is open everyday so make sure to pop along to see it, childrens are particular welcome at Les and Maureen's AMAZING Gallery. Phil will also be giving an artist talk where he will shed some light on how he makes his amazing images on May 3rd, details here. 

WOW! 

Some more of Phil's Amazing work

PJ Lynch and Phil Mc Darby

Me and Phil Mc Darby

Me and my hero PJ Lynch!

Dicken's Doodlers

Google has a lovely doodle today to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens.

Rackham

Cruikshank

And a great article albeit controversial from The Independent which questions where have all the all the book illustrators gone? Wouldn't it be amazing if adult books were illustrated like they were in the golden era. As Alice said, what is the point of books without pictures?

"Charles Dickens enjoyed close collaborative relationships with the illustrators of his novels, 

but now it's rare to find a picture outside the world of children's books. 

Is drawing a lost art, or could we be on the brink of a new golden age?"

Tenniel

When I left college I really wanted to illustrate adult books.  My final project was a series of gritty illustrations based on Mikhail Bulgakov's The Heart of a Dog. I sent off my illustrations to Harvill straight after I graduated and got my first rejection letter; a charming rejection I do remember. I still have it, must dig it up.  But it's something that I always thought i'd go back to as there is so much scope for an illustrator in an adult text.  Dickens has been illustrated by some of the greats including George Cruikshank, John Leech, and our own PJ Lynch his version of Dicken's Christmas Carol is one of my favourites and refutes The Independent article. Here is a man who clearly knows how to draw and is up there with the classic illustrators of all time.

Lynch

Exhibition opens this Thursday

The Illustrators Guild of Ireland collection of Book Illustrations opens this Thursday at The United Arts Club. We are thrilled that Laureate na NÓg Siobhán Parkinson will officially launch the exhibition at 8pm. Featuring lovely originals by PJ Lynch, Kevin Mc Sherry, Steve Simpson, Annie West, and lots more of the IGIers. It runs until February 13th open 11am-11pm daily. Do pop by!

House of Illustration!

There has been a lot of talk lately about highlighting Irish Children's Literature at home. I have attended meetings in the Art Council as they are looking at developing a strategy for Children’s Literature. It is felt by all involved in Childrens Literature that we need more press space for children's Literature.

For the last couple of weeks the Guardian has run a series of articles in their review section last week was an article on Eric Carle. The week before there was Nicholas Wroe's article on Shirley Hughes. It is great to see such excellent coverage of these masters of Illustration in the mainstream press. Check out David Maybury's excellent site as he always does an excellent roundup of Book Reviews especially after the weekend.

Now it's up to the Irish Press and Media to step up to the mark. I think they should start with PJ Lynch and Eoin Colfer as it was great news to hear that this week, PJ Lynch and Eoin Colfer have been put forwards as the IBBY Ireland nominations for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal. Irish writer Martin Waddell won in 2004. It is the most prestigious Award in Children’s Books, the Nobel Prize of kids Lit! I hope PJ and Eoin Colfer get lots of press space.

I also want to highlight this site the House of Illustration set up by Quentin Blake. Quentin is just brilliant, he started the Campaign for Drawing in the UK. You may know it as The Big Draw.

'The House of Illustration is a vision being turned into a reality. We aim to be the world’s first centre dedicated to the art of illustration in all its forms and to create a permanent home for an enduring art. Illustration touches our lives every day. It appears in books, magazines and newspapers, on advertising hoardings, in comics and graphic novels. It's art on a human scale - and yet the history of these images and the artists who made them is rarely explored. The House of Illustration is here to tell those stories, as well as to enthuse, inspire and educate all those who visit.'

Quentin Blake has donated his entire collection to the House of Illustration!
This includes finished illustrations to over 250 books, as well as freelance commissions for magazines and posters over the past 60 years. They intend to introduce the world of illustration to the widest range of people running courses, workshops for schools, community groups and students. There will also be a programme of talks, events and workshops for the general public.
Good hey!

Whirly Wind Book Signing

Yesterday myself and PJ Lynch went on a whirly wind tour to all the Dubray Book stores in Dublin. Conor our rep drove us around Dublin in style. Thanks Conor! First stop off was Bray at ten in the morning, then we went to Stillorgan, Rathmines, Dundrum, Dunlaoighaire, Grafton Street and a few more places inbetween! The windows looked really fabulous, the staff had done a great job decorating them. I loved the addition of a magic shoe in Dubray Rathmines. It was lovely to meet all the book staff and have a chat. And to have a look at all the other pictures books out this year. I have made up a long wish list that I am going to leave lying around!

Window Display

Here is a photo of the Dubray Window in Bray, it's the book of the month along with PJ Lynch's The Gift of the Magi.
Sorry I've been so quiet I have been keeping the head down trying to rough up my new book for Walker Books, trying to figure the ins and outs of photoshop!

Book of the Month

Cinderella and PJ Lynch's Gift of the Magi are the Dubray Books of the month for November. Myself and PJ will be signing copies next Thursday in all the Dubray stores.

BookFest Photos

As promised some photos of the Bookfest from Saturday, including me showing how to draw a Hugglewug step by step to the kids and myself and PJ Lynch signing in the National Gallery Shop afterwards. Thanks to Conor Hackett for the photos!

Autumn Evenings

A big thank you to all the children who came along on Saturday to the National Art Gallery to draw Hugglewugs! PJ Lynch gave a drawing session after my one, he had both children and adults drawing a spooky castle. I will post up some photos soon I promise. Meanwhile is it just me or has the autumn come in fast? Swirling leaves dancing in the wind and it's pitch dark early too. Oh and our heating is broken maybe that is adding to my autumnal feeling.