The Magical Labyrinth - Book out soon!

Exciting news!! The children's book that I illustrated recently will be out soon. Here is the final cover design. This lovely story was written by Ruth Jacobs Weaver, thanks Ruth for giving me the opportunity to illustrate your beautiful story - I am truly touched. Thanks also go to the publishers - Brolga Publishing.

A delightful children's story that explores the mystery and magic of the labyrinth and fairy land.

As Joel and his mother venture into the forest and walk the winding labyrinth, the fairies are ever watchful that they stay safe and don't wander off the path.

When they reach the centre of the labyrinth, the place where all wishes come true... Can you guess what Joel wishes for?

This beautiful story gently shows how we can all be kind and loving to one another.

Author Information

Ruth Weaver is a first time children's author from Western Australia and currently works as an art therapist. Her interest in labyrinths as a metaphor for life's journey has grown over the years and was the inspiration for this book.

I'll be posting more on the book in coming months. Can't wait to open my box when it arrives!

Baking with paint and paper

Have been itching to paint cupcakes for awhile. I have lots of friends who are master bakers and I always envy their baking skills. So I was inspired to paint some cupcakes. Hmmm... feeling hungry now!

A Family Portrait

This one was a lot of fun to paint, using a few different family photos as reference.

Sneak peek

A snippet of what I have been working on recently.

My Illustration in Easy Living UK

Back in September I had my illustration the "Crow and the Peacock" published in Easy Living Magazine UK. It was around the same time I gave birth to Zoe so it missed a mention back then. I have finally taken some photos of the magazine. The issue was an Inspiration special, detailing where people got their inspiration for their various endeavours. My illustration was coupled with some of Alex Monroe's beautiful jewellery. He was inspired by the fable the Crow and the Peacock.

Polyvored

It was a quick drawing I did for Illustration friday for the topic "seed". Ethan was just a baby at the time so I went for a walk in the local park and drew it as he slept. A few months ago I found this on polyvore and was at first alarmed, then flattered, but now I am not sure how to feel about it. When I found it, it had been up there on Polyvore for a whole year. When I told my husband and my sister they said "that's great Anna!!". I am happy that the image is linked back to my blog, which is the way I found it in the first place. But then the artwork looks terrible cut like that. I do not condone the use of other peoples work, but I also like to do collages for my own scrapbooks and sometimes as inspiration for my artworks using photos I have cut from magazines. I also play around with fashion styling using pictures I have saved off fashion sites, plus I have dabbled with polyvore using fashion images. I assume that most of the collages on polyvore are done by young teenagers who have probably not even thought of the ownership issues. So where do you draw the line?

Blue Wren

Watercolour and Ink on paper.

I'm back!!

Willy Wagtail bird ( based on a photo I took back in Perth) with Flannel Flowers and butterflies.

I haven't posted artwork for so a long... What with having a baby and moving twice, franticly renovating to sell (twice) and renovating to live in, plus not having a working scanner for a long time. In the last year or so I have been doing lots of sketching and collecting ideas in my journals, but haven't done any finished artworks until now. I'm feeling very rusty, but I am really enjoying drawing and painting again.

Illustration Friday - Sour

I'm loving this brown paper! I thought I'd try my hand at a pattern. White conte pencil and coloured pencil on brown recycled paper. And Photoshop.

I love to eat lemons. Yes, I know that's kind of wierd but it was actually the first "real food" that I ate as a baby. A relative thought it would be funny to see my reaction, I actually liked it and still eat them if they are garnish on my plate or drink!

Illustration Friday - Hoard

Micron pen and acrylic paint.

This is a rough picture I drew and painted while the bub was asleep. I have been so frustrated lately because I haven't had time to paint or draw. This is the first time I have used a micron pen for drawing. I watered the acrylic paint down to create a blotchy effect. Watercolour paints would have been better, but I was using cheap paper.

My husband would say that I hoard art supplies. These are some things in my studio; my second hand drafting table, ikea tubs full of paints, fabric and paper(I have more), big ikea shelves that house a lot of stuff and my rolls of paper and canvas.

Illustration Friday - Seed

Conte pencils on brown kraft paper

Some new paper and pencils I'm trying out.

Family at Cottesloe Beach

I've been busy working on this comission piece. The concept was the idea of the client.

Illustration Friday - Plain

Mixed media (black ink, watercolours, tea and acrylic inks).

"The Crow and the Peacock"

[EDIT] I didn't realise that there was a fable about the Crow and the Peacock until Stephanie mentioned the fable in her comment. Or maybe I had heard the story before and it was somewhere in the corners of my mind.

I started out wanting to paint a crow in ink and then I thought I should put it next to something bright and colourful in comparison.

Inspire Me Thursday - Expand Comfort Zone

Last weeks topic was about being in our comfort zone. This week it's about expanding your comfort zone. I'm not confident with watercolours but I am having a good go with them lately... Here are some fish paintings in watercolour destined for the baby's room. These fish are varieties that inhabit the local West Australian waters. The one on the right is a Scribbled Angelfish, I'm not sure about the ones on the left.


I thought about this topic using the related articles and pretty much came up with some more new years resolutions! Here are some ways I can expand my comfort zones... I made a list of things that I put off doing or am afraid of doing. Goals that would make me happy or proud if I achieved them.

start donating blood
stop procrastinating
finish the baby’s quilt
visit some neighbours
join some mother’s groups
write / draw in a paper journal
organize my artworks
learn to speak Italian
study watercolour painting
enter an art show
try advertising with postcards / press
taste – cook some Indian food
read newspapers online

Inspire Me Thursday - My Comfort Zone

Coloured pencil over watercolour background.

Coloured pencil is a medium that I am fairly comfortable with, watercolour I am not.... I did this drawing several years ago, I haven't done that much drawing of late. I have been focusing on painting with acrylics and watercolours. Maybe I should start drawing again...

Inspire Me Thursday - Giving

I painted these canvases for my nieces and nephews in a bid to have at least a partial handmade-Christmas. The kids are always asking me for paintings of their favourite things.

Illustration Friday - the Zoo

Acrylic paint on watercolour paper.

This work was inspired by three photos of fairy penguins from a trip to Perth Zoo.

Inspire Me Thursday - Birds

Ink and acrylic ink on paper.

This is an ink scribble I did earlier this year, before I was pregnant. Steve calls it my "I want a baby" painting. I plan to develop it further sometime.

Water Goddess

Watercolour paint and white acrylic ink on paper

Illustration Friday - Juggle

Ink and watercolour on watercolour paper. I'm thinking about going over the brown ink with black.

From a photo I took in Paris of some kids juggling on a bridge at dusk.