Mud & Magic

The opening of Ann James' exhibition Mud & Magic was on Friday 1 August, 1.30pm at Central Goldfields Old Fire Station Art Gallery in Maryborough central Victoria. The exhibition will run from 2 August - 7 September celebrating Ann James' 32 year career illustrating picture books for Australian children. Featuring 'I'm A Dirty Dinosaur' written by Janeen Brian and published by Penguin Books. 

Beginning with A Pet for Mrs Arbuckle, Ann's first book in 1981, the exhibition presents Illustrations and background process from many books including the Penny Pollard series, Lucy Goosey, Sadie and Ratz, The Butterfly, Shutting the Chooks In, The Way I Love You, It’s a Miroocool! and Bird & Bear, which demonstrates Ann's playful approach to making pictures with a variety of mediums and techniques.

Ann has painted a giant Dirty Dinosaur mural on the back wall of the gallery painted with mud from her dam in Central Victoria!. Over 700 school children will visit the exhibition through August adding their own magic to the swamp mural with creatures they have created. Ann will run a workshop at the gallery on Saturday August 30 for 8 to 12 year olds. Visit  Ann's page on Books Illustrated.

Kid's magic pencils and mud painting inspired by Ann's book

The Opening of Illustration House - a great step forward for Illustration!

After many years of planning, the first public gallery in Britain dedicated to Illustration Artwork in all it's forms opened on July 2.

While in London earlier this year, we were privileged to be shown through the new home for Illustration House - still in renovation mode. Even then, we could see the potential for exciting programs with flexible exhibition and workshop spaces. The location of the 'house-like' building is in the fabulous central location of Granary Square near King's Cross Station.

 Their inaugural exhibition Inside Stories showcases the work of one of the UK's most important and best-loved illustrators - Quentin Blake, who says -
The House of Illustration is about to do something remarkable. Illustration has been one of the most distinctive strands in the history of British art and I'm delighted there will now be a dedicated space where everyone can view, discuss or learn about illustration; British and international; past, present and future.

We'd only wish we were able to get back to see this important exhibition!

More details at www.houseofillustration.org.uk

Elise Hurst at Fed Square Book Market

Join us to celebrate the release of Elise Hurst's new picture book"Imagine a City" (published by Omnibus Books). 

Elise is famous for her moleskin sketch books which were an inspiration for this book. 

This is a chance to ask Elise about this style of working, watch her demonstrating and have a book personally signed. 

Imagine a train to take you away… Imagine a city and drops of rain. A world without edges where the wind takes you high where buses are fish and the fish fly the sky... We have signed copies of the book available.

Visit Books Illustrated's Facebook page to find out more. 

ANZAC Exhibition opening - today at Books Illustrated

Wondering what to do today in Melbourne?
Join us at Books Illustrated for the opening of our ANZAC exhibition and meet illustrators Craig Smith and Mark Wilson. 

Sunday July 6, 12noon to 5pm  
Books Illustrated Showroom Open Day
ANZAC exhibition
To continue our ANZAC theme join us for our second open day at Books Illustrated! Meet and have a chat with Craig Smith, illustrator of I Was Only Nineteen and Mark Wilson, illustrator and author of My Mother's Eyesand illustrator of A Day to Remember, from 2pm to 4pm - discover and discuss their illustration approach and techniques.
Click above to watch the book trailer for I was Only Nineteen based on John Schumann's song, powerfully illustrated by Craig Smith.
Visit the Books Illustrated Facebook page for more information about this event. 

Too excited to sleep?
If you're too excited to sleep from the anticipation of the next World Cup game read Lachie Hume's picture book"Banjo Bounces Back". Banjo is a Hoofball star. He and his friend Bella just love the game. But when Banjo gets injured, it's only too easy to stay in bed and play Haystation and suck on molasses. Can Bella help him get back on track?
Lachie Hume's books and original artwork available here.

The Bob Graham retrospective exhibition - A Bird in the Hand!

The Bob Graham retrospective exhibition A Bird in the Hand! opened in Canberra on Friday May 16 at CMAG (Canberra Museum & Gallery). It also celebrates the Lu Rees Archives in it's 40th year.

It’s been a dream of ours for years to mount a retrospective exhibition of the work of Bob Graham and this dream has finally been realised! A confluence of events made this a possibility late last year and we seized the moment! We thank our partners who made this possible - the Lu Rees Archives, (Canberra), CMAG and Walker Books (the major publisher of Bob’s books).

Since opening of the exhibition, which was part of the 2014 CBCA National Conference, we have been buoyed by positive comments from those who have seen and responded to it. The exhibition continues at CMAG until August 24, so we hope many of you may have the opportunity of visiting over this time.

Several galleries around Australia have expressed interest in exhibiting this exhibition so, with the Lu Rees Archives, we are now seeking funding to be able to prepare it for touring. More photos and details will be available on our website, and an article on the background and design of the exhibition will be published in the July edition of Magpies Magazine. You can also view photos on the BI Facebook. 

Post by Books Illustrated.

Post by Books Illustrated.

Post by Books Illustrated.

One Word One Day Melbourne 2014

Thanks to all of the illustrators who participated in the 2014 One Word One Day at ABC Melbourne.

One Word, One Day is a fundraiser event for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation in partnership with the Australian Society of Authors (ASA) and sponsored by Zart Art. These photos are taken in the foyer of the ABC building in Southbank.

Post by Books Illustrated.