Happy or UNHAPPY Halloween?

Do you know what Halloween is really all about? Have you heard the saying “What begins in fun can end in pain”? All of us believe in something spiritual beyond ourselves and search for answers. We also look for direction in what can feel like a confusing and sometimes overwhelming life. If the spiritual realm has some power then realise that this means it has influence.

The other night I was looking up a passage in the Bible and stumbled on a networking website for the supernaturally inquisitive. The post I landed on was from a girl, who was attempting everything she could, to call up spirits and demons with no avail (or so she thought). She had even performed an extreme ritual of signing a paper that sold her soul to the devil. This poor girl craves to be special. We are all given gifts of some sort but she doesn’t realise this. This need has taken a very terminal path that only God can turn around. The problem is she probably cannot see that now.

If anyone is prepared to play with the spiritual occult world, why not risk the highest and safest spiritual authority - God? The spiritual realm is very real and does influence our lives but it can be to our detriment. Like electricity and air we cannot always see it but it is real. I can say this as I have seen both sides with my own eyes and I assure you I am quite sane. I didn’t go to the extremes this girl did, but unfortunately in my life I did see a clairvoyant, indulge in horoscopes, looked at numerology and alternative ideas. Later I had to get all that spiritual baggage cleaned up.

If you are unsure if God exists, what harm is there in asking Him to reveal himself to you? If this girl had asked God in her heart and to make himself real to her, I believe he would have and still would as it say in His word "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Mathew 7:7 But there is only one way to do this. I dare you to question the existence of Jesus face to face. If you are worried that God would reject you because of all you have done wrong (NO MATTER HOW BAD) please listen to this:

We have a fallen nature and God knows this. God is holy and cannot accept or look upon sin at all. The price we pay is death - not here but after we die. He doesn't want sinners in heaven however he loves his most special creation (us) so much he sent his only son to pay the price of death for us. Everything he created was for us including the angles. Our sin (past and future) was paid for in full when his son Jesus was killed dying a terrible death. Even if we were the only person on earth he still would have done this. This is why it says in the Bible.

"I am the way the truth and the life; NO MAN cometh unto the Father BUT BY ME." ` John 14:6 (Jesus talking)

This something we cannot earn, it is a gift and I believe that scripture is the most important words in the Bible. Weather we accept it or not is our choice.

The Bible clearly states that we cannot go to be with God when we die unless we accept the gift of salvation. This is non-negotiable and I can see why God thinks like this. We have to be acceptable to God to live with him. Unfortunately good people do not go to heaven – justified people do. These are not my rules they are His. Our creator went to a whole lot of trouble to set us free of our sin, so we can have relationship with him now and after. This demonstrates his love for you and me no matter what we have done. He is not stupid, he knows what we are capable of and the evil that influences or temps us but he has offers us an option.

Like millions of others, I do not believe the Bible is just a historical account of the life of Jesus (New Testament). Apparently in the old Testament, it has over 1800 prophetic references that point to a future saviour, what he will do, where he will be born etc etc. Think about this. This was written hundreds of years before Jesus was born. They didn’t have the Internet back then, but people from everywhere where getting that message from God. Before you doubt the Bible please read it starting where it applies to us now (new Testament). Even if you initially read one section – say Mathew, Mark, Luke or John it will give you some idea.

If you have read this post and you are feeling the truth in my words then I assure you that God is calling you right now. This is what you can do. Speak out to him out aloud. Think about the debt Jesus paid for you and ask Him to forgive you for all you have done wrong in your life. Ask Jesus to come into your life, change your heart and life for the better. Ask Him to reveal himself to you so you know He is real and accept the gift of salvation He offered you when He died on the cross with a grateful heart. No matter what words you use, if you communicate this to Jesus, he will transform your life for the better.

You then need to tell someone who will understand and help you. Find a Christian who has a strong relationship with God or a Bible believing church that will support you. If you don’t get the support at one church find one that that will – but tell them you have just accepted the gift of salvation through Jesus and they will help answer anything you need. I am not telling you, you must now go to church, but that is a place where you will get answers and support.

God is not interested in religion, he wants to get close to you and guide you. God doesn’t break promises or tell lies. It is not in His nature and this is His promise to you. If you do this you will still have challenges in your life but this time you will not be alone. You will also have someone with great power watching over you, someone who can change circumstances and lift you over the bumps in your road. God will fill the voids in your life and satisfy your heart. Even for Christians, the more authority you hand over to God the more he can transform and bless you. This is also true of the Devil but manipulates instead of blessing.

So what is Halloween about?......the thing God warns us against for our own spiritual safety.

The Cricket Art Prize 2009

Here is my entry for the Publishers Cup Cricket Prize 09. The inspiration behind this painting was not out of a passion for the sport, not in pursuit of any notoriety it had a bigger purpose. Initially I dismissed entering as I personally am not into sport though I do enjoy painting people in costume or uniform. My motivation came from personal passion, moving me to put in weeks of painting during a very hectic time in my life. I wanted the painting to communicate the following:

First and foremost I wanted to draw attention to the orphans in India and hopefully encourage additional support for the orphanages. I have a high regard for the valuable work our local church volunteers do in India. It is unmistakable the hope they bring with what they do there. If my painting had won or sold via the finalist exhibition, the funds were committed to sponsoring a trip to India, and financial assistance for the cause most on my heart right now.

Game plan 60 x 40 inches Oil painitng

Secondly I wanted to express the spirit of many fellow Australians that care about a relationship with India and India’s people. The entry specified the theme for the competition; the subject focused on the social game of cricket in its many forms and how cricket brings out both prejudice and unity between nations. The subject was perfect for the theme.

Sadly, most recently Australia has been represented in the media for the prejudiced and violent harassment of Indians. There is no denying there are people here doing the immoral thing however, we are not all of the same heart. There are people in all countries behaving terribly but that does not speak for any one race.

I felt the image represented the Australian who desired relationship with all people from all nations. The image was of a team of young Australians and adults from local churches who toured India to play cricket with the Indians. The trip called the Twenty 20 Tour, obtained special permission to play during a time where the stadiums were closed due to elections. The painting shows the team members grouping together both Indian players and Australians; not an Australian team in opposition to an Indian team. I loved the intertwined arms of dark and light skin in one big group hug. I gave it the title ‘Game plan’. My husband wanted to name it ‘Group Hug”. Both appropriate names for the captured moment although perhaps my husband’s title was more appropriate (don’t tell him that!).

I love how the viewer is made to feel like he or she is part of the moment. You feel like you are listening in on the team’s plans. The young man is looking around to see if anyone can hear what the team is planning and he seems to sense someone present making us as viewers feel a little tension as if we are eavesdropping.

Unfortunately my painting did not make the finalist list. It may be hard to believe but I never felt even a tinge of rejection from the rejected entry however I felt disappointed in what I saw as a great opportunity to make a difference. I still seek a sponsor to purchase the painting so I can assist more in India. This is not just a painting; it is my way of contributing. I am hopeful that writing about my Cricket Art Prize painting entry here, will draw attention to the work my local Church is doing, the message of relationship with our neighbours and if a sale is eventuates soon I can pursue the romantic but achievable vision I have on my heart. I believe everyone of us can make a big difference if we ask how.

Christmas Card Illustration

Mice on the Run

I am working on the first Christmas Card Illustration for 2009 this week. Using what ever came to be while sketching in Photoshop I came up with these cheeky little mice stealing the gifts. I think they must be on Santa’s bad list.

This illustration is also appropriate for this week's IF theme - pattern. This is my sepia drawing. I am working on the colour version and adjusting the sketch slightly as I go. I will publish the final this week on my illustration website: KWB Illustration

Infinate Creation by the Infinate Creator

Sketch for Infinity

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth
~ Genesis 1:1

Is there anything more infinite than God himself? Children are naturally in awe of the world.
Is it grown-ups that need to remember how incredible life is?

Click to see the final 2 illustration versions on my website!

Wrapped about Quilts for Orphans

Quilts for Orphans - Wrapped & Pattern

I have had a ball testing out the Cintiq and finished off the illustration above. I started it a few weeks ago ago for IlIustration Friday (Wrapped). I missed the 'wrapped' theme date so I have linked it for this week's theme 'Pattern'.

The illustration was inspired by Quilts for Orphans, a group of committed quilters. Experts and novices craft quilts from donated materials and ship them to orphans in the poorest parts of India.

This group of angels also create special quilts to sell to help purchase further materials for their cause. Apparently a quilt is somewhat a status symbol in India therefore the children feel very spoilt when they receive this precious gift. The quilts give the children something to lie provide a better place to sleep. Pockets are sewn on the back of the quilts and cards are sent in them with a note of live. Often school children make cards to send in the quilts.

If you love to sew and you can join up with this group or if you have any materials to donate for the quilts I am sure the ladies would love to hear from you.

Further information: Blog - Quilts for Orphans

Poetry and testing my new Cintiq 21UX

Through the quiet of the night,
Creative vision takes flight.

I couldn’t sleep Tuesday night as poems and stories flooded my mind. I got up and hastily jotted all I that came to me. I find if I leave my ideas until morning they fade. I switched on the light to scribble notes onto a pad beside the bed thinking it was a brief creative insight, but when I lied back down multiple creative ideas materialised forcing me out of bed. In the past my best ideas have come when I am about to go to sleep. Does this happen to you?

I would like to come up with my own entertaining text to make a book dummy from. I can then illustrate a few final samples for my folio. English was not one of my strongest subjects at school but I have always had a passion for journaling, poetry and reading.

Once out of bed I began writing a poem/story and by 2am I had the framework, of what appears to be an entertaining, but ethical children’s story in poem. I was surprised at what flowed off the pen and to be honest I don’t know if I really wrote it. God has been leading me down this path and I think He has quite a bit to do with the inspiration that night. After I polish it I will run it by an expert for criticism. Who knows it may be acceptable.

Testing, testing 1, 2, 3.....4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10/10

You could not have seen a more excited lady yesterday morning. While posting my entry for The Cricket prize competition, Rob my friendly post master handed me the parcels I was hoping for. I immediately unpacked my Cintiq, assembled it and took it for a test run. I worked on an illustration I was doing for Quilts for Orphans into the night. I cannot tell you how much better it is to work on one of these. I loved my little Wacom Intuos 3 but this is out of sight!

Space and Time to be Creative

The Cricket Prize

Hurray!.... the madness is over and I am free to get some book illustration happening. At 1.30am Wednesday I finally finished the large oil painting I was working on for The Cricket Prize competition. I sent the entry off express mail yesterday. Big paintings are usually a challenge but I really enjoyed this painting. It fell off the brush easily thankfully.

Book and more book..read, read, read

Now free to concentrate on children’s books, I took off to the Lilydale library to collects picture books I had ordered. Sitting on the kiddie’s beanbags, I poured through every children’s picture book in the library while I was there. I was searching for anything that was especially inspiring to read or look at. Picking though the best illustrations, poetry, drawing and comic strip books, I loaded up the checkout counter with my impressive paper tower. The librarians assured me I wasn’t cleaning the kids out and that they had plenty. These ladies were extremely helpful; scanning the computers for anything they knew I would be interested in. Thanks girls.

Oh the joy…I have until Saturday to totally absorb myself in books, writing and illustrating while the kids are away. The house will be quiet and I will be able to welcome all the creative inspiration I need to get something down on paper.

Now I have my own space back I am firing on all four cylinders!

Artist's/Illustrator's Model Release - Free Download

I have just updated my Artist/Illustrator’s Model Release Template and thought I would post a link for download. This is what I use and I believe it is appropriate for artists and illustrators. If you enter a big art show that involves a model and mass media exposure I strongly advise you to get permission from your model/s!

What is a Model Release?

A Model Release is basically a contract that says that you’re allowed to publish a photograph or artwork that has people or a person that may be recognise in it. It is a privacy liability waiver; a document that the subject signs to show that they are ok with their image being public. There are Adult, group and minor releases. The artist’s model release template I created covers Adults and minors. Group releases have added lines or separate models releases can be used for each individual.

When do artists/illustrators need to use them?

There is conflict of opinion in this area. Some will say you need one at anytime if a person’s likeness will be displayed publicly but most of us know our models are ok with it and we don’t bother with the paperwork. Any complication is rare.

It is my understanding that it is important to have a Model release if the painting will potentially be used commercially. If it is used by an art show to promote the show, a company to promote its product or a non-profit organisation to promote its cause, then it’s being use for a commercial purpose, and you need a model release.

I have read that your art can be used for the commercial purpose of selling your painting, art book, or the pictures themselves (in ads for the book, etc). Commercial purposes means to use to promote some product/cause other than themselves (the illustrations, the books they are in or the paintings) as art. I am not sure if this is accurate so better to be safe than sorry.

Download Artist/Illustrator’s Model Release template.

DOWNLOAD Word Document 13kb

Note: You are free to use my template however I need to advise you to seek accurate legal advice from a solicitor. I am an illustrator not a solicitor so please ensure you check out any concerns you may have in this area properly.

Getting It All Togeher

Hooray!
My new Children’s Illustration business cards are printed. It is exciting to get printed material back after deliberating over the design. Using some of my illustrations I overlapped them like a collage for back of the card using Photoshop. I used a simple cute illustration of a bird on the front. I wanted the information to be read easily but a more descriptive impression of what I can do on the back.

I have never seen an illustrator’s business card before so it was a personal choice. Fine artists are usually very minimal but I wanted this card to be fun so chose a pretty busy colourful back. I will lay bets in 12 months time I will want to make new ones but for now I have something in hand. With that taken care of and loads of studying this week I need to do some more hands on work....painting!.

Toys for Illustrators

I am so excited! I finally bit the bullet and purchased a Cintiq 21UX interactive Monitor. It is a big purchase for me but I really feel will be a valuable piece of equipment in my journey as an illustrator and artist.

Two things I have wanted for a long time is a full-sized weighted studio easel and a large interactive Wacom Monitor. I don’t have the easel yet but soon I will be the enthusiastic owner of a Cintiq. Prices have dropped considerably and I felt it was time to invest. After reading reviews and recommendations by other artist, I began shopping around. I found a good price at Gismomart in Sydney. I had to laugh when I saw it was listed in my history sidebar as 'Toys for Grownups'.

I have been content with my Wacom Intuos 3 (found on Ebay), however this monitor will make sketching and free-hand work much easier. Combining traditional art with digital has been a lot of fun and it looks like it is about to become even more enjoyable!

P.S: Gismomart is not an affiliate. I posted the link in case you are shopping around too.

Painting Commission, Competitions & the Business of Illustration

Commission
Although the past few weeks have flown by I have been far from idle. I completed a 16x32” oil painting landscape. I was commissioned to paint a client’s property with Mt Macedon in the distance, some of their house, his wife, himself, two children, 3 horses, a cat and a favourite tree. The painting had a very tight time-line and involved using the client’s photos and a 2 hour trip to the property for sufficient reference. It was very difficult to place so many elements in the composition but I did my best.

I forgot to photograph the final painting.
This photo is of the right half of the painting.

Competition - fingers crossed!
I am also working on a large 60x40” oil painting for a competition with a looming deadline. The painting needs to be completed this week. I will post the images once the show is judged.

SCBWI & Illustration
As for Children’s Book Illustration, I have spent most of my time reading, researching, and watching interviews by author/illustrators. I attended my first SCBWI (The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) meeting last Saturday.

The meeting was very informative and the members were friendly and generous with advice. We met in a restaurant in Carlton to listen to 3 speakers, enjoy a delicious afternoon tea and mingle. I was most interested in the tips from the literary agent Sheila Drummond. My main interest is in illustrating children’s books however I still want to know if I am capable as an author/illustrator and want to learn all it involves. It is in my nature to do things well so I like to gather all the facts carefully to ensure I take the most direct path to my goals.

Sheila’s direct honest advice was invaluable. I love a speaker who doesn’t waffle on and gets straight to the information. Member Anna Ciddor was still buzzing from her trip to the USA for the SCBWI International Conference and Author Dianna Lawrenson spoke on 'Writing and Life - A Juggling Act'.

Creative Space
It was interesting to note that life as a creative person either as an artist or writer had similar challenges and we work in a similar way. I remembered sighing under my breath when Dianna mentioned the importance of having your own creative space. My marriage earlier this year increased my family by 4 and as a result I had to share my working space. It has been difficult to accommodate the more boisterous activities and it has limited my working time enormously. I love my fun interactive family but I needed somewhere to concentrate as well.

As with any problem there is a solution and this week with a little help from the kids, we moved around 3 rooms, furniture and belongings, blocking a wall off to create a room for my office and studio. They still use this room but know to check if I need to be left to work – Nothing stopping me now!

I'm TRYING to walk the dog - Children's Illustration - Impatience

The digital sepia sketch created in Photoshop from my original pencil drawing.

Watercolour Illustration: I'm trying to walk the dog!

I can't leave this theme alone! It is one of the best I have played with. Yesterday I thinking about my silly Jack Russel when we try to walk her. She is so impatient to get going; she almost chokes herself. She pulls on her lead until she is out of breath and eventually realises we are not going anywhere until she settles.

Process:
I sketched the drawing in my sketchbook and printed it off, made some alterations and scanned it into Photoshop. Here I made a sepia tonal painting to get familiar with the subject and feel more confident before launching into watercolour. I traced the drawing onto watercolour paper before painting it this afternoon. Unfortunately the photo is not great being such dull light. This is one painting that actually looks a lot better in the flesh.

An Impatient Child - Illustration

With a theme like impatience the possibilities were endless. I thought of so many scenarios it was hard to choose. I settled on a little boy busting to go surfing. I was going to have his mother running over to him in a desperate panic, however because he is unattended (except for his little sister), this scene creates a bit more tension.

Process:
I sketched the illustration in grey lead in my sketchbook and then traced it onto 300gsm watercolour paper and painted it in watercolour. I played around a quite a bit with the background as I was not happy with it. At first I had very little in the background except for a overhanging tree. I then added more background and a darker sky. I scanned this into Photoshop and eventually took the branches out and replaced the background completely. I also decided on a think bubble to help paint the picture better and so painted this onto a separate piece of watercolour paper. I scanned the bubble with the wave and superimposed it on the digital painting. Finally I duplicated the boy and popped him in the bubble with the wave. If this had of been commissioned work I think I would now repaint the illustration again to produce a new fresh watercolour with no digital painting.

Children's illustration inspired by Mr Squiggle's method

Scribble Freakys

Do you remember how Mr Squiggle (a children's T.V character who drew with his nose) used to create a picture from a child's scribble? Have you ever looking at the clouds and visualised animals and shapes in them?

I finished this children’s illustration with fifteen strange characters I call my "Scribble Freakys". Their name derived from the process in which I created them. Most of these little characters evolved from scribbling on paper, looking at the scribble to see a face or shape of a character and developing them from there. In Australia we would call that "doodling". Four of the characters where created years ago when I was in my teens and the remaining eleven characters this week. The one at the back and the tiny red one in the front were inspired by a plant at the front door of a motel room I was staying in the other night.

I had so much fun with this illustration. After sketching the characters I made a groups sketch. I then copied the sketch onto a piece of paper and used coloured pencils and water to rough out the colours. I scanned the coloured sketch into my computer and repainted it in Photoshop over a couple of day.

3 more illustrations for kid's educational game.

Yesterday I finished three more illustrations for the game I posted about earlier. I have also altered quite a few of the earlier ones. It does pay to have a few days break and come back to revisit the Illustrations with a fresh eye. Some are quite different now. These cards are printed small and as a result the image lost some detail. I needed to print them out to see the impression reduced. This way I could tell that there was a problem with some in regard to contrast and the images or text standing out enough. I also felt the border need to be bigger so the final file has a wider border than those displayed here

I love this one in particular. The preps I teach just love the fact that God loves them and that they are most special to them. We visited the topic of Genesis and how God made everything just for us.

Guess who's come for dinner?
Here is the set so far however I am doing one more (insects) which will replace the rabbit one as i have 2 for animals. Click the image for a better look at the illustrations. I will post a file for CRE teachers to print and use when all done.