sneak peek

Here is a sneaky preview of a couple of paintings I have finished.

They are from a set of (hopefully) 12 smallish - 25cmx30cm - canvases, inspired by stories and poems by Aman Kimiko and Niimi Nankichi.

This set is nearly nearly finished so I'm going to leave them for a bit, and tackle the larger canvases. I've only got a couple of weeks to go before I have to send all the artwork off...not sure how I will cope! I'm saying goodbye to sleep, the outside world and my sanity!

So much to do and so little time. I keep on finding lists everywhere - illegible frantic scribbles on bits of paper, envelopes, napkins, anything I can get my hands on. I can't wait to cross everything off!!

too many unfinished paintings for my liking

I've still got so much to do for my exhibition, and with less then 4 weeks to go, I am definitely starting to panic!!! Every day I'm faced with these canvases that refuse to do what I want them to. I wish I had more time. I wish I could do this all the time, so I could spend quality time exploring, trying new things, making mistakes and learning at my own leisure. But then again, I know by now that without a deadline I get lazy and things never get finished...

winter trees

I forgot to post these pics from some days ago when I went for a walk through the park, when it was still cold and grey.

I would like to make some black and white illustrations one day.

midnight bus

Here is the piece (in progress) I will be using for the postcard/invite for the exhibition at 14th moon gallery in Osaka this Spring. It is inspired by a story written by my favourite Japanese children's author Aman Kimiko, titled "Mayonaka no basu" (Midnight bus).

If anyone can read Japanese, here is a little info about me on the gallery's website.

The exhibition will consist of works by 3 Japanese illustrators who exhibited at the Illustrators Exhibition at the Bologna children's book fair 2009. They are Michio Watanabe, Masumi Furukawa and me.

felt toys

Here are some felt toys I have made over the years. It all started off with Onionboy, and the elephant is the latest addition born just yesterday :)

My village

I'm very happy to announce that the picture book I worked on for Gecko Press (NZ) will be available in the UK from the 9th of February!!

I really loved working on this book, which is a collection of nursery rhymes from around the world gathered by Dani Wright. I love seeing the rhymes written in their original language too. It's co-published by Frances Lincoln Children's Books, who I've not had the chance to work with, but have met in the past when I was a fresh-faced graduate about 10 years ago!

Today I am not so fresh-faced, as I am working for a double deadline for next week. I'm putting in a lot of caffeine-fueled hours, staying up till the early hours and going slightly delirious from lack of sleep!

more work in progress...

My studio and my head are a mess!

It's all a bit hectic and chaotic these days. I've got 2 months to bring it all together...fingers crossed!