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.

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

Thanks so much for sending them in!

If you know someone who would like to have a go at drawing their own Night Garden – you can download them here . They print out at A4 size.

This Sunday is the day when we are going to randomly draw the three winners of my give-away prints! To be in the running visit my little online shop and create an account by midnight Saturday 11th December. (No need to buy anything.)

Oh and the goodies are… The Hot Chocolate print (valued at $85), a limited edition print from The Night Garden (valued at $165), and the Bad Tidings print (valued at $85).

Good luck

I have to tell you about a lovely new site that is providing children and families with fun things to do and share every day this December. It’s called Felicity from Thin Air and you can learn all about it here. It’s all about sharing creative ideas – there are crafty activities and fun things to do… no costs, catches or ads. Today they’re also talking about my book, The Night Garden. Lucky me!

I hope you check it out and enjoy it!

And the short of it was I forgot to do my drawing.

So here’s one I prepared earlier I think it’s alright to pull one from the vaults occasionally. This is a drawing I did when working on ideas for The Night Garden. I wouldn’t mind doing a book like this one day. Topiary is my friend.

AND now for my other news.

I’m pregnant. With twins.

There, best to come out and just say it. Which will mean… in February when they come, a little slowing down. (Understatement!)

But not yet. I have lots of work to do in the meantime! Lots of markets, painting, working on my graphic novel and, on Mondays, writing my children’s novel. And when they do come, doing my damnedest to keep working when I can. It’s not like the ideas will stop coming.

]]> http://www.elisehurst.com/journal/2010/08/mondoodle-big-news/feed/ 8 http://www.elisehurst.com/journal/2009/09/new-page-look-right/ http://www.elisehurst.com/journal/2009/09/new-page-look-right/#comments Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:28:00 +0000 elise http://www.elisehurst.com/journal/?p=764
Hello teachers, parents and kids.

There’s a new page here (top right) called SCHOOL THINGS. It has colouring-in sheets, a word jumble, the sheet of images of “Strange” the cat from The Night Garden, and a rogue’s gallery of some of the pictures I’ve created when visiting schools – as directed by the kids in the class.

They’re free to use but subject to copyright (so do let CAL know you’re using them and ask me if you want to reproduce them in a publication).

I’d love to know what you think and if you have any suggestions. And I’ll be gradually adding more things so keep coming back to check.

Also if your kids have used the material and come up with something special – send it in and we’ll make a gallery of their artwork. Then they’ll be famous!

And there’s a new thing…

I know how hard it is to draw a character over and over again in the same story, so I’ve put together a sheet of images of Strange, the cat from The Night Garden. So kids, how about you make your own stories about Strange? What adventures will you give him? What backgrounds will you come up with? Simply save the page to your computer, print it out, then cut and paste him into your own book. Maybe you’ll make your own front cover for the book? Don’t forget your teacher may be able to use a photocopier to make the pictures bigger or smaller.

And if you do use them I’d love to see your books! Maybe we can make a gallery of some of your favourite pages. Keep in touch

Prints are each A3 in size and from a series of 50. More details soon!