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! 

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. 

Happy Crimbo!

Robert Dunbar picked his top 30 children's books of 2008 in the Irish Times and Cinderella was one of them... Hurray!

Just wanted to say Happy Christmas to you and all my readers! I hope everyone has a Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.
Lots of love Niamh

Summer!

It is so hot in my studio, it's after eleven o'clock at night and I have both windows wide open. Is this Summer? It sure feels like it! I have been asked to do an illustration for the Argosy Christmas Catalogue so I have spent the evening thinking of Christmas, Santa and reindeers and cold things. This seems to be a recurring theme to my summers. I painted Santasaurus in the 'heat' of an Irish summer.  Another year I did a series of illustrations for the Ottakar's Christmas Window Display. Last year a Christmas card commission in July! Is someone trying to tell me something?