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Recent Work:
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These, with a bunch of prints, and postcards are making their way to Malaysia to be part of some 'artists lucky dip' PikaPackages at Pikaland. How long has it been since you've had a lucky dip prize? All good fun! The items I mentioned were made exclusively for these packages. But once that's finished I'll be making some for everyone else :)
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I didn't see alot of Winter during June or July; tucked away safe and warm in my studio, busily working on new paintings. I've been invited to show 20 works in an upcoming exhibition at artstream studios in America in September and October. So the past few months have been absorbed with creating new work for the show. This being the largest body of work I've made for a single show in a very long time. I'm really excited about this exhibition! I'll share the details and images when it launches.
News: The fifth issue of Curvy hit the stands this month. Curvy is a limited edition art book released annually, featuring “100 of the most exciting female graphic artists and illustrators from over 20 countries around the world”. I am thrilled to have been recognised among them this year, with my ‘extreme up-doo’ illustration being included in Curvy 5.
The book is available from art gallery bookstores, good arty bookshops, and the occasional really good newsagent. You can also buy it online. Shop Update:
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My heart was stolen in April, by the vividly painted faces of the tribes people in Papua New Guinea, and although I have never travelled there, these folk have taken me to another place as my studio fills with brightly patterned faces. The commission I mentioned last month has arrived to its patron, and has been given to her best friend as a gift. Now both recipients have seen the painting I can show it without spoiling the surprise. It was a gift from one to another, to mark the pregnancy of her first child. Molly sent me the most beautiful email of thanks explaining her interpretation of all of the elements, and also sent me a photo of the work after she had it framed. It's so great to get feedback.
Also in April I contributed an acrylic painting to a local art exhibition. It's not my usual style or technique, but it's good to challenge the rustiness sometimes, and to break the "golden rule" of art teaching to never use outlines. Here's a little bit of it...
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This is a tiny little bit of a commissioned painting that I have been working on during March. I can't show you the whole piece yet as I don't want to spoil the surprise for the new owner. But next week this illustration is off to live in Minnesota. During March I have also been working on a couple of paintings on canvas for a few local art shows. So lots of work, but nothing ready to show yet. Next month's entry will be a biggen'. Hold tight.
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What happens when you mix a handful of charity, a couple of tigers, and a pinch of Valentines day? Another fun charity event that centred around Valentines Day was the “I Heart Mirabel” show held at Meet Me At Mikes in Fitzroy, Melbourne. I made a small bunch of retro jungle hearts that was displayed in their front window among loads of others. Each donated heart will be for sale from the 8th March for $10, and all profits will go towards the Mirabel Foundation (children who have been orphaned or abandoned due to parental drug use). I also finished a tiger in a tea cup for a commissioned illustration for two little boys who, I’m told, love animals. I hope they like tigers. (To view visit the commissions section of the portfolio page).
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January is not just the bringer of a new year and a new calendar, this year it brings a new look for this wee site too! There's all sorts of updated doo-daas; nothing too different, just a little bit more, done a bit better, a bit clearer, and a touch more fancy too. Go ahead take a browse, let me know if I can help with anything. Enjoy :)
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I spent December working on another commission. The briefs I've been getting for commissions have been amazing, and each time I feel lucky to be entrusted with something so personal and satisfying. It's great getting feedback too, so nice to hear how the work was received and where it's going to be living from now on. There's a new commissions section in the portfolio area of this site, each one with a testimonial from it's new owner. Please feel free to contact me if you're interested in having a commission made of your very own.
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November saw the release of issue 2 of the Mix Tape zine. It's a great publication created in Melbourne, which focuses on making time for the small things. It has an environmentally green slant and supports a more crafty, hands-on approach to life. Issue 2 includes one of my paper-cut illustrations, along with an article I wrote about developing friendships on the other side of the globe with people who share a similar mindset. And how by doing so you can learn a lot about how your town measures up on the “greenness” scale, and can pick up tips to improve.
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October has been a month of newness, getting acquainted with my new home and new surrounds on the mid-north coast of NSW. It's warm, sunny, and filled with birdsong and sea breeze.
Now the dust has settled, my etsy store has been restocked! This time it's mostly filled with limited edition prints of my illustrations. Keep an eye on the store during this next week, as there'll be new prints added. A new batch of prints are now also on their way to My Messy Room, in Summer Hill. Plus Artstream Studios in NH, USA, is now selling my handmade handbags, as well as some of my original paintings. Now it's back to Spring and preparing to battle whatever it is that's been munching it's way through my herb garden. On guard!
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Designed by the ever talented James Norton, For added viewing pleasure, a red-hot-insiders-tip is to use your arrow keys for a bit of a play once you get there. Also try your page-up and page-down keys if you've always wanted to fly.
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Earlier in the year I created some custom-designed branding and marketing images for my Meerkat mates. Day of the Meerkat is a band, you see. And as all good bands do, they needed some graphics for stickers, posters, t-shirts, stencils, demo covers, etc. We came up with some great concepts, so now if you see these critters around the inner suburbs of Sydney, you'll be in the know.
The photo’s I took are now starting to appear in Drum Media promoting their gigs and recent EP release. So keep your eye’s and ears peeled for a sighting. To check out their music, or to find out when and where you can catch Day of the Meerkat play, check out their My Space.
News: My Messy Room (an amazing new children's store) is now selling signed, limited edition, framed prints of my illustrations. They are fine art giclee prints, printed with pigment inks, which means they are guaranteed to be archival for a long, long time. The prints themselves look amazing. When I look at them close up next to the originals I can barely tell the difference.
The shop is quite new, and is the type of place you dream about owning. It has the coolest vintage style wallpaper, and she had filled the shelves with amazing items from all over the world (some of it she buys straight from Etsy!). Clothing, decor, books, softies... unique, quirky, well made things. It's really a most unique store. And she plays good music too. If you're in the area, stop by and check it out. It's well worth a look. A couple of the prints have sold already, so if you're interested in any you see here, but can't find them in the shop, then go ahead and ask her to order one in for you... hint hint. ;D
News: The last few months have flown by in a blur of busy-ness. All of the work I was doing during that time is finally starting to see the light of day, so now's the time for some show and tell!
Jonathan Walker is currently showing an exhibition of his photography. The exhibition is titled "Let Us Burn The Gondolas; Venice as a modern city". There are over 40 of his photographs on show, along with a self published catalogue (which I designed), that provides insight into each image and the overall body of work. The exhibition is at: It's showing until 28th August 07.
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A few tiny portraits.
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Exhibition: My paintings are watercolour on paper and for the exhibition they all revolve around various ideas of connection. However, this new body of work also brought out a new technique for me; utilizing concertina cut paper-doll idea. I used to love making these as a kid, and just discovered I still do!
Commissions: The next painting I’ll be working on is for a baby girl’s nursery. Her mother has asked me to illustrate a song they sing to her each day: Gold Days by Sparklehorse. The lyrics are so visual, I just love them and can’t wait to start the painting. I really enjoy commissions, so keep me in mind next time you’re searching for a unique gift. ;)
Deck Design :
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The site is intended to be an extension of the world opened up by Jonathan in the book, offering more clues and extra information for readers wanting to delve deeper into the life and death of Gerolamo Vano (one of Venice's first spy masters). It also offers a sneak peak into Jonathan's upcoming fiction novel Five Wounds.
As I mentioned in my last post, I was thrilled to receive news that two of my illustrations, “Buzz” and “Whalesong Serenade”, were selected as part of an exhibition held in Rochester, New Hampshire, in America. The exhibition was a group show, bringing together artworks from around the world all about love; “love in all its forms”. The show ran throughout February, throughout the Valentines bonanza, and it’s now finished. Both of my works sold, and I was lucky enough to receive an email from one of the new owners. She wrote to me telling me that her husband bought Buzz for her as a Valentines gift, and that she loves it. I don’t know where Whalsesong ended up, but I’m hoping it’s as well loved.
Proceeds from the exhibition were donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
News: Happy New Year! I know exactly what you’re thinking. You’re thinking “Hey, January came and went and she didn’t update her website like she promised”. And you’re right. In my defence, my website build has been sidelined while I busily make one for someone else. I’m currently working on a freelance project creating a new website for author Jonathan Walker. Pistols! Treason! Murder! is the first of his books to be released in Australia, with the official launch on the 21st Feb. The past few weeks have seen Jonathan being interviewed by various TV shows, newspapers and journals, so keep your eyes and ears peeled. 'Jon Walker's Pistols deserves to be called our first true work of 'punk history'. Through the dank Venetian alleyways we pursue the elusive and dangerous spy-master Vano in a story that is as lustily exhilarating as the original Sex Pistols' - Iain McCalman Working on the site has been good fun. The brief was to create an extension of the book; keeping it mysterious, visually rich and punk-like (in a 17th century Venice kinda way). The new site is aiming for launch at the end of the month, so I’ll provide a link then. (Until then, my own website can patiently wait). 
What else have I been up to? I’m continuing to work on my illustrations, and have added a few more into my portfolio. Just this week I received exciting news that two of my watercolours have been selected for an exhibition in Rochester in the USA. Details to come... There will be a few new items in the shop this weekend, (although production in the workshop will be a little slow until after February).
News: I had a stall of childrens paintings at the Warrimoo Market yesterday (which was good fun). My range of childrens paintings feature fun characters from the lands of myth and legend: swimmy mermaids, shy unicorns, brave pirates, princesses and even a frog prince.  Acrylic paint on block canvases (so they can either hang on the wall or stand on a shelf or mantle). Quite a few people enquired yesterday if they were my own characters, the answer is "yes", I have quite a fancy for cuties with giant heads and little bodies. I'll be investigating postage costs this week, before listing a few of them in my online shop. Feel free to contact me with any questions, or if you would like to order a painting. 
News: I'm currently working on a range of paintings and wall hangings for children (I'm calling it Christmas Presents that won't end up on the floor!). These will be on sale at the Warrimoo Public School Craft Market, that's in the lower Blue Mountains. It will be on Saturday 9th December from 4pm-9pm. Any unsold stock will go into the online store, in time for last minute Christmas shopping!
News: Welcome! It's nice of you to pop in. This is my new home, soon to house a showcase of all it is that I do. An array of particles, all of them flossy in nature. New site on the way: Hopefully the site will be complete and full of goodies in January, so drop back in around then. Visit the shop: Just a couple of hors d'oeuvres to start off with. In the new year expect to see more, more, and even more. Bags, cushions, illustrations and more accessories. If you would like to be notified when new items are added to the store, sign-up to the list. Remember everything in my store is lovingly handmade by my very own nimble fingers. In fact, Etsy itself is a place where only handmade (and a few vintage) items may be sold. It's a wonderful place, I spend many hours there... and a fair bit of cash too! (Note: all costs are in USD. If you’re in Australia and don't like the idea of currency conversion, please contact me directly to arrange another form of payment). In store at the moment are a range of Christmas gift tags; ready and waiting to spruce up your gift wrapping this season. See them in store now! Illustration: Stitches: Geez, after all that hype the new site better be good eh? Gulp.
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August will see the launch of a few new things I craftied up, including keyrings (featuring my illos) and enviro encourangement card sets (more about those in the coming months). 
A couple of weeks ago I met up with some locals to help paint a series of murals for the upcoming annual fair of this little community. The paintings, that feature flora and fauna native to this area, will be displayed around the streets on the weekend of the fair at the end of May. It was a cool way of meeting some of the locals in my new town, not to mention learn about the native wildlife that I'm now surrounded by.
For the second year in a row the Lovely Hearts exhibition was on in America, raising funds for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. 
I am so hapy to be seeing the back of that pesky bird and her constant promise of a "new site".
A few months ago I created a whole bunch of very sketchy illustrations for a website. The Merryn Hughes event management site has only recently been launched, so now I can share it with you!
Then, a couple of months ago, on a cold, cold Winter's night, we all got together once again and remodelled a dingy old back-alley into an inviting, snug, bedroom setting, for a once in a blue-moon photoshoot. 
The website I've been working on for author Jonathan Walker, went live last week to coincide with his new book Pistols! Treason! Murder! 
