the light of day was on them

A photo from last year at the Bologna Children's Book Fair. The sketchbooks, and coffee cups, belong to Miguel, Anah and me. I shall try to keep making posts whilst my technical difficulties continue. These issues I'm having seem to have interrupted what I wanted to do, which was share some of my drawing aims for 2010.

One thing that I am definitely going to do this year is enter my drawings and book idea into Bologna's Book Fair Illustrators Exhibition for 2011. Last year being selected for the exhibition changed so much for me and I couldn't recommend it more for those who are interested in children's books. Plus, it's free to enter. What have you got to lose?

If you should be selected your work is featured in an annual that publishers and editors use all year round. After the fair, the work travels across the globe to be exhibited in all kinds of exotic locations. One of the most lovely things for me was getting a handwritten letter (how often do you get those, these days?) from a girl in Japan who had seen my work in the travelling exhibition. Getting selected doesn't end at the Fair, it goes on and on and on...

how soon is now?

For those of you who have asked, I will get around to reporting on my trip to Bologna Children's Book Fair soon. Really, I will.

One of the great things about the trip was getting to meet some fellow drawing-bloggers. I know, from being a part of the online drawing community, that quite a few people have met up with fellow artists. This was the first time I'd met anyone who I communicate with online. It's an odd experience, and one day as I was walking around a small Italian city with three bloggers, who all have the love of illustration in common, it struck me how amazing and weird and wonderful the internet is (daily, I'm struck by how mind blowing the internet is, it's just that sometimes you remember where you were when you were struck).

Of course, I've known Miguel, and his work, for some time. Also, we are both participants in the MoleyX 12 group (I say participant, but that's probably pushing it a bit when it comes to me). Meeting Miguel was like meeting an old friend. A lovely experience. I had never come across Anah's work before . And, even though we could not understand a word that each other said (!), she was such a delight to spend time with. Then, there was Lapin, whose work I knew vaguely. I certainly remember commenting on some of his gorgeous drawings in the past. It seems that every man, woman, child and (probably) animal that meets Lapin falls in love with him. And, I'm no exception. Have a look through HIS BLOG. You won't be disappointed. You might just fall in love.

I have uploaded a set of photos, from the trip, to Flickr. Every picture, apart from one, of the Fair came out blurred. True to form, I had the camera on the wrong setting. So, I have no pictures of my work at the Fair. No photos of me there. Maybe I didn't even go? Actually, there is just this one, thanks to Anah's old Polaroid and a passer by. Spot the Brit. The clue is you're looking for the self conscious, awkward looking one.

Take a stroll around Bologna with me HERE.

in a foreign land

Hey, folkies. Back from my trip. It's late and I'm very very tired. I just wanted to say Hi. I'll wade through all the photos I've taken (lots of photos) and fill you in on all the news over the next couple of days. And, I shall endeavour to reply to all the comments and emails. Thanks for all the encouraging words.

As I, myself, have not got around to any drawing, I thought I'd post this piece of gorgeousness. (I'm talking about the drawing not the model!). It's me, by the way. Me, by the amazingly talented illustrator, and friend of mine, Miguel Herranz.

like some kind of magic

Well, guys, I'm going to shut up shop for a week. I had been hoping to squeeze a cheeky one in(drawing, that is) before leaving for the Bologna Chilren's Book Fair, but that isn't going to happen. In fact I don't think I've drawn since finding out I'd been selected! I'm so excited about this trip. In fact, I feel really excited about things in general right now. It feels like something is happening, I don't know what. Some kind of shift.

My very favourite illustrated children's book is called The Red Tree by Shaun Tan. I've bought so many copies of this book for people (never for a child, though!) over the years. There cannot be another person on this planet who has bought as many copies of this book than me. It's beautiful and perfect. I can't recommend it enough.

Anyway, the reason I'm telling you this because when I was perusing the list of selected illustrators for Bologna 2009, for the millionth time, whose name do you think I found? Yeah. Shaun Tan. Only Shaun Tan. Me and Shaun Tan on the same list. My life is complete.

Some years ago, before I began blogging and drawing daily, I entered a drawing into a competition at the Sheffield Book Festival. You had to draw a character from a children's book. I won the competition, and amongst the prizes was a signed Quentin Blake book. The book is called Angel Pavement and is about a drawing competition! The book ends with this line, that never ever fails to make me feel totally utterly warm and fuzzy inside;

You can't though, can you?

Bye, folks. I'll try and post some photos from Bologna over the next week. And, maybe, I'll draw soon, too. Cheerio, my ducks.

all the weaving of my dreams

Well, sorry to leave you hanging like that. I've been a little busy. And, I've been struggling with this drawing. It's been a love hate relationship. I've given up on it a couple of times, then I've given in and worked on it some more, then finally, after a couple of weeks, I finished it. It's another drawing from, erm, 'my book' (!). Which is another reason I've been away for so long - getting ready for Bologna. Yikes, folks, it's getting close.

So, click on the drawing to get a better view. Go on, stick your beaks in.

dawn gives me a shadow i know to be taller

Well, folks. Sorry there's no new drawing this week (I've got one on the go) but I wanted to re post these and to share something with you, too. Yesterday I found out that I have been selected to exhibit at the Bologna Children's Book Fair. Anyone who's involved in children's books will know that Bologna is THE event of the calender. I am so excited, I still can't believe it. I keep checking the website to see if that really is my name. This has been a dream of mine for at least a decade. These are two of the drawings that I submitted.

Also, I'd like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who visits my blog. I wouldn't have realised this dream if it hadn't been for all the support and encouragement you give me on a daily basis.

Just one more thing, my email has been acting really screwy recently. For anyone who has tried to contact me and hasn't received a reply 'sorry'. I try to get back to everyone within a week, so if I haven't done it's my stupid email account not getting messages through to me. Either, leave a comment here or send me a Flickr mail and I will try and get back to you via my new account.