A round up of 2012...

It's nearly over for another year, I seem to have let the side down on the aul blogging this year. A lot of excellent things happened to me in 2012, here's hoping that 2013 will be even better. The biggest highlight was getting a new job, which let me have more free time for personal projects. With all this free time I decided to volunteer my services:

First up was Darklight Film Festival, Irelands premier festival celebrating independent film and animation. It took place over the weekend of 23rd August. One of the highlights for me was Seamus McGarvey in Conversation with Kieron J.  Walsh what a talented and hilariously funny guy. It was so interesting to hear him speak about his career and techniques. My favourite film of the weekend was definitely Indie Game the Movie, a documentary about creating indie games. I met some great people over the weekend, definitely worth volunteering my services.

Next up was Mountains to Sea DLR Book festival, which took place from 4th-9th September. I worked at many events including Des Bishop & Tom Inglis (in the Maritime Museum) and Joseph O'Connor & Jonathan Dee (in the Pavilion Theatre), which I found really interesting. But the highlights for me were the family events. I worked with the fabulous illustrator and writer Sarah McIntyre on a comic book making workshop and the Picture Book Picnics (also with Irish illustrator Chris Judge). Sarah describes her adventures at Mountains to Sea on her blog here (which sums up the events better than I could!), where she also wrote the nicest things about me (below)! It was such a great programme of events, if you have never been, you should pencil it in for 2013.

Then in November I volunteered at The Ark, which is a cultural centre for children. The Telling Tall & Tiny Tales Experience ran for the month of November, where I was an invigilator. There were lots of workshops and an exhibition of Irish picture book artists. I hope to continue to work with The Ark over the coming year at their many events.

That's it for now, all the best for 2013!

New baby illustration...

Illustration for kids plate...

Popsicolor App...

I downloaded the Popsicolor App, here are my first attempts. It turns your photos into watercolours. Thus proving I am on my way to becoming Crazy Catlady Crowley™, all my photos on my phone are of the cat. Hmmmm.

Sketching...

Sketches...

I'm doing a bit of a spring clean and have found countless sketch books, so I aim to start scanning and uploading them over the next week! These are from ideas that I am working up for a picture book.

La Tranche Sur Mer...

I went on a family holiday to France, here are a few shots of things that I found interesting!

Berlin...

I went to Berlin for the weekend at Easter. What an amazing city, I really regret not moving there in my 20's! We started off with a really informative walking tour, followed by lots of museums, art galleries, and of course the nightlife. Here are some pics that I took while there.

Study morning...

I recently went to a study morning in the National Gallery; Fables and Fairy Tales in Art. A little bit of blurb about it from their website:

"This Study Morning will enable visitors to enter the magical world of Fables and Fairy Tales and see some enchanting images created by artists, poets, storytellers & illustrators in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Guest speakers will explore the art historical and literary backgrounds, together with a focus on the illustrator-creator of some contemporary images of fairies and fantastic creatures. It will conclude with a guided tour of the display Fables and Fairy Tales."

It was a fasinating way to spend a Saturday morning, I got loads of great ideas and learned of some new illustrators that I didn't know much about at all, including Richard Doyle and Richard Dadd. It was a great way to pair the study morning with the exhibition. And of course to see the Harry Clarke illustrations again (there was an exhibition of his on a few years ago that I attended). I love his illustrations and stained glass windows so much.

Doughal from Father Ted...

My very talented flat mate Alan Eddie painted this picture as a Christmas present for his lady. I love it. Have asked for a Ron Burgundy version for our house, but no sign of it yet!