Art Journal » the Little Bird told me…

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

You’ve always thought about it…

elise — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 08:21:41 +0000

Writing for children with Elise Hurst

11 October 2011
Whether you have a story you have already written or if you are just considering writing for children, this session will be full of practical advice.
Elise will talk about the process of crafting your work right through to presenting it to a publisher.

7.00pm – 8.00pm
Contact Person: Yarra Libraries
Contact Phone: 1300 695 427
Contact Email: yarralibraries@yarracity.vic.gov.au
Location: Carlton Library, 667 Rathdowne Street, North Carlton Vic 3054

I imagine you’ll need to book so they know numbers. It is only an hour but we’ll get through a lot. We won’t have time to workshop, most likely, but you may want to bring work so you can spend a little time rereading it yourself afterwards. These sessions are great to get you thinking!

I hope to see you there

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

We won!!

elise — Fri, 20 May 2011 02:00:33 +0000

Last night, at a gala event in Sydney, the results were announced by the Sultana of an exotic land from atop the back of a festooned African elephant. As she spoke the words – red rose petals rained from the sky and rivers of champagne flowed from all of the bathroom taps…

Lo and forsooth – The Moorehawke trilogy was the Winner of the Best Designed Children’s Series… specifically books 2 & 3 as designed by myself and the indomitable Bruno Herfst of Allen & Unwin.

At which point the elephant itself clearly said “woot!”.

Ok so I wasn’t there and may have a couple of details wrong but we most definitely did win! Huzzah!!! Learn more about the wonderful books written by Celine Kiernan here. And view the full results of the Australia Book Design Awards here.

Woot!

Gorgeous paintings

elise — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 11:23:22 +0000

I have a new website to share. It belongs to the woman who is most responsible for my being an artist in the first place – my mother, Jacqueline Fowler.

I have been fortunate, more than so many artists, to always have had the support of my family. And even better – to have had their example as artists themselves… of different types, different styles…

Jacqueline’s work is gorgeous – especially her traditional florals incorporating Japanese screens, beautiful antiques and cloths… I couldn’t be more proud.

She has a few shows coming up, the first in May in Sydney’s Wentworth hotel.

Jacqueline Fowler’s website

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/

Be in it to win it…

elise — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 02:56:29 +0000

Voting is now open for the People’s Prize in the Koko Black Easter Drawing Prize. The work of the 20 finalists can be seen online here or in the flesh in the Royal Arcade, off Bourke st, Melbourne. Which one will you choose?

By voting, you go into the draw to win an indulgent Koko Black chocolate hamper valued at $100. If you needed any incentive!

The artist who wins the People’s Prize receives a $1000 art fund, lots of chocolate and a membership to the gallery of their choice. There is some great work on display by some very talented people. Let’s support them!

Easter surprise

elise — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 02:22:37 +0000

Look what’s appeared in the Koko Black windows!

It’s their new beautiful Easter Box and yes, that’s one of my paintings!

The original oil painting can be found in the Royal Arcade salon. During the Strangely Familiar exhibition I was commissioned to create a work for Koko Black based in one of their salons. I loved the idea of one of my characters wandering upstairs for an indulgent afternoon tea. And as I find that place quite magical – it was fitting that it be a white rabbit. Now, in the Royal Arcade salon you follow her up the stairs to that sumptuous space…