Art Journal » events

Get your pencils out!

elise — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:17:22 +0000

Yes, it’s that time of year again when you feel strangely compelled to go to the Koko Black website and download the template for the 2012 Koko Black Drawing Prize… and get drawing! They’re calling for submissions now and they won’t be satisfied until they have your wondrous creation before them.

This year, artists are challenged to bring to life the quote “A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men”. Artists must base their creativity on the elements already drawn on the A3 template, which can be downloaded at www.kokoblack.com or picked up at a Koko Black salon in Melbourne, Canberra or Perth.

There is over $6,500 in prizes to be won across three categories; a Judges’ Prize, People’s Prize and Junior Prize (for artists 12 years or under). The Judges’ and Junior Prize winner will be determined by our judging panel and the People’s Prize winner, by the voting public.

The top 20 general entries as deemed by the judging panel will be professionally displayed along Melbourne’s Royal Arcade between the 6 and 29 March 2012. During this time, we will be calling for public votes to determine a People’s Prize winner. Votes can be lodged at Koko Black’s Royal Arcade salon and online at www.kokoblack.com

Entries are now open and will close on Monday 27 February 2012 at 5pm EST.

I’m one of the happy judges again so please enter – I can’t wait to see what you all create!

Awards night

elise — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 02:57:28 +0000

Saturday night was the gala awards night for the Young Australian Art Awards, and it was wonderful. Forget that these are kids – these are brilliant artists and writers from around Australia who were properly acknowledged for their talent. Which is a big deal for anyone! It was upstairs at the RACV club in the middle of Melbourne… Surrounded by skyscrapers shrouded in clouds. I half expected a zeppelin to coast silently between the buildings.

The kids came with their families from all corners of the country. They received their awards, saw their framed work admired, their printed stories and poems read, and basked in the open admiration of their parents. It was a tremendous night. And I loved meeting the artists whose work I had just judged and admired. Judges Craig Smith, Marjory Gardner and I can’t wait to see what is submitted next year.

Check out the work here and get all the kids you know to enter next year! Well done to the Children’s Charity Network for all of their hard work and the support and encouragement you give to the kids.
YAAA site

The show

elise — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:29:57 +0000

Yesterday was such a thrill! I had never been inside the Melbourne Recital Centre before. We arrived early with the boys and went to a backstage rehearsal room to feed them. It was fun to be back of house again – I’ve seen a few different spaces over the years through work and I love the rabbit warren feel and glimpses of lighting, instruments… The inner workings of it all. Then Pete took them into the foyer to sleep and watch the screens and I got to go inside (feeling guilty).

It is a beautiful space. It is lined with wood panelling in fantastic shapes – a little like those wooden dinosaur kits! It’s wonderful! There was a big audience of parents and kids and the orchestra up the front beneath the giant screen.

I sat at the back – the lights fell, the narrator came on – a wonderful theatrically-voiced man and the production began. I hope this is performed over and over again because it was fantastic. The choices of music were perfect. As the animation worked its magic, first with Sally and David’s Rainbirds, the music swelled and enveloped us. There was lightening and thunder, drama and suspense. Parts of my Night Garden were quite scary! It was just brilliant.

Afterwards I met some of the kids, saw their great colouring-in work and sold some books.

I have to thank everyone involved for such a brilliant performance of what was a real labour of love. Especially animator extraordinary Diana Ward, Jo Beaumont the musical director and MaryRose Harrison.

Big day for Sally & Strange

elise — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 23:10:04 +0000

Tomorrow is the big day for the performance of “The Night Garden” and “The Rainbirds” at the Melbourne Recital Centre! I can’t wait! It’s the beginning of the school holidays so if you’re looking for something to do we’d love to see you.

There will be beautiful orchestral music, animation and Sally Rippin, illustrator of “The Rainbirds” and I will both be there.

For tickets and info click here

Making sweet music with the Night Garden

elise — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 02:37:41 +0000

Here’s something very exciting coming up!

I have been working with the talented people at the Melbourne Recital Centre who are putting together a beautiful program for the next school holidays. They are putting two picture books to music – my book “The Night Garden” and “The Rainbirds” by David Metzenthen and illustrated by Sally Rippin. The books are being animated on a huge screen, and there will be musicians and a narrator… it will be gorgeous!

Sally and I got to see some of the animation the other day and it is looking brilliant. All hail animator Diana Ward!

And here’s a sneak peek…

One show only!

26 September 2011

ALEA presentation

elise — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 04:57:43 +0000

Friday is set to be an exciting day. I’ve been invited to be speak at the 2011 ALEA conference (Australian Literacy Educators’ Association) hosted at ACMI. My focus will be on visual storytelling in the digital world. I’ll take a look at where we are now and what opportunities are presenting themselves as digital media becomes part of the landscape. I’ll also be talking a little about the languages that illustrators use in their work… like colour, design and symbolism. And also the different ways we convey story. There will also, naturally, be a lot of pictures

Children’s festival tomorrow

elise — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 01:53:53 +0000

Head along to the State Library and Wheeler Centre tomorrow for their children’s festival. There will be heaps to do and see – performances, workshops, exhibitions, storytelling, authors and illustrators to meet and a petting zoo to boot!

I’ll be teaching crosshatching in the Experimedia room at 11.30 and then signing books at 12.10 in the Readings tent.

Love to see you there!

For details:

http://wheelercentre.com/calendar/event/childrens-book-festival/

Cross fingers for Shaun

elise — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 20:14:26 +0000

The brilliant and all around good-guy Shaun Tan is up for an Oscar for his short animation The Lost Thing, created with Andrew Ruhemann. It’s a gorgeous work and deserving of the win! Cross everything you’ve got for them.

Shaun, I hope you and Inari have a wondrful night. What an experience

Check out his work here: http://www.shauntan.net/

WOOOHOOOO!!!
OMG… He won!

Koko black drawing prize – is here again!

elise — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 14:58:57 +0000

It’s that time again everyone! Sharpen your pencils, whittle your quills and ink up your squids… This drawing prize is not to be missed!

Entries close on march 4.

Entry kits are available at their stores or online at:
www.kokoblack.com

Entries are open now, the template is on their website and there are two divisions to choose from… The Junior Award (for artists under 12) and the Judges Prize. And don’t forget the peoples’ choice award to be determined by the general public who vote for their favourite Top 20 artwork when displayed along the Royal Arcade, Melbourne. The prizes are fantastic – the top prize being $2500 towards art expenses, a years supply of chocolate (yes you heard right!), and galley membership of your choice… So give it a go

And the best news for me is that I have the huge pleasure of being a judge once again.

Merry Christmas

elise — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 22:22:51 +0000

Hello dear friends I just wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, a belated happy Hanukkah and wonderful festive time with friends and family (or perhaps a long-awaited quiet moment by yourself)!

You can’t quite see it but the baby bump is Big (4 more weeks I think) and the Christmas tree is all the best bits… but without the tree. Yep, I like to experiment sometimes

I’ll post something a little more exciting than this picture very soon… it’s just taking a little while to get it ready. But it was a great project and I can’t wait to share it with you. Talk to you all very soon!

x elise