Rabbityness

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending my lovely friend Jo Empson's very first book launch! Her book, Rabbityness, is a beautiful picture book which tenderly explores the pain of loss but also celebrates the joy of uniqueness, creativity and just...life.

I studied with Jo on the MA, so I was lucky enough to see Rabbityness develop from its early stages right through to the wonderful end result. I know Jo has a fantastic career ahead of her - but I also know that Rabbityness will always have a very special place in her heart.

The launch party went swimmingly, with Jo signing books the whole evening...

She even managed to snare a real, live didgeridoo player...

The younger generation took to the didgeridoos like ducks to water...

But others only managed pathetic raspberries....


Martin Salisbury braved his toothache and did a grand job reading the story...


And here's a very proud friend with the author illustrator herself.

Congratulations, Jo. xxxx

Doings

Just a little model I've been experimenting with!

Why are there always

things I want?

Just in Case You Were Daft Enough To Miss It...

...in London, our MA show has shuffled along to the Ruskin Gallery in Cambridge. Here's my work on display there...
...and this one was taken with the specially installed MavisCam.

Thank you to the lovely Ed Oliver for taking these pics. Whilst mounting our work ready for the show, Ed spotted me in my exhausted state just about to stick a piece of work FACE DOWN onto a piece of foam board. Heroically, he leapt across the room and threw himself in front of the foam board. Then, after I cut myself, stuck a piece down at a jaunty angle and another with 85 creases in it, Ed said "Er...I think I'll stay and help you."

So I think the least you can do is go and look at his website. What are you waiting for?

In other news, I had a ukulele lesson yesterday! The lessons take place in what used to be what Newhaven laughingly called a "night club". When I arrived for my lesson I had an immediate urge to dance like a maniac and be sick in the toilet. Now, though, it is used as a church, so luckily I fought that urge.

What a mixed bunch there are in the class. I think I'm going to like it...

Put Something on the End of It and Get a Damn Job.

In between watching Jeremy Kyle and doing the ironing, I made a body for Olive.

Intelligence

I drew this character last semester and thought I'd make a model of her. I could only go this far though, because for reasons best kept to myself, I have of late been avoiding the International Headquarters of Fluffycloud Studios.


The Intelligence dept has now deemed it safe to return, so watch this space for more Olive action.

In other news I am discovering more and more things I can do now that my MA is over. Today, for example, I had lunch with an old friend and a very enjoyable chat. Is this what it's like to be...normal?

Things You Can Do When Not Doing An MA

1. Washing

2. Ironing

3. Make your family breakfast, lunch AND dinner, all on the same day

4. Walk the dog

5. Read a book

6. Watch brilliant telly (Being Human)

7. Watch crappy (but in brilliant way) telly (Desperate Housewives)

8. With no particular purpose...doodle!

Two things I want to spend more time with now I have finished my MA.

Well, at least one of them looks enthusiastic.

I got the ukulele from my thoughtful son for Christmas and am very much looking forward to impressing everyone with my until now undiscovered musical talent. I have already learnt one chord, and spent rather a long time playing it, which is why the dog looks so depressed. But I learnt a chord! (OK, so it only involved putting one finger on one fret, but still...)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Well, the degree show comes down tomorrow afternoon, heralding the beginning of the end of all official uni shenanigans. (The show moves to Cambridge on a smaller scale now.)

It has been wonderful to catch up with all my classmates again and to see their fab work. We alternate between punching the air, whooping with joy at our new freedom, and clinging to each other sobbing.

Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day to one and all. Here's the card I made for the Mister...
...who made me a lovely 3-course dinner today. (Of course he's listening to the football now, but the romance was good while it lasted!)

Oh, and we've got a website...

Click here to see it!

That's Liza Smith MA if you don't mind.

I passed, thank goodness.

If you'd like to come to my graduation exhibition, here
are the details:

MA Children's Book Illustration Graduation Exhibition
8th - 15th February 2012

The Gallery at FOYLES(Third floor)
Foyles Bookshop
118 - 119 Charing Cross Road
London
WC2H OEB

Mavis in the Hood

If you are ever tempted to do a Children's Book Illustration MA, let me tell you...it's stressful. I'm not saying you shouldn't do it, because on the whole it's amazing. But be prepared for headaches, mouth ulcers, hair loss (but ironically weight GAIN) and quite a bit of poverty. Oh, and give your family photos of yourself looking happy and relaxed, because they will forget what that looks like. It will all be worth it in the end though. Please tell me it will be worth it in the end...

Pondering

I've been pondering (in a Laura Marling style of course). Not known for my good decisions, I am pleased to say that changing my job last year was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I moved from the sometimes futile-seeming world of retail, to working in a nursing home for the elderly. The work is emotionally draining and physically back-breaking - but it's so rewarding, and a privilege to work with the residents. It has broadened my horizons and challenged my views. I'm now proud to say my oldest friend is 103.

In our society the elderly can be at best invisible and at worst treated with contempt. But once, they were just like you. They were bookbinders and soldiers, bank clerks; headteachers and ballet dancers. Inside, they're still the same.

Anyway as you may have guessed I'm keen to have an older character in my work. Here's the latest on Mavis...


...who I hope will also star in my puppet theatre piece for children.


That is all.

Goings On

So, I'm back. What's been going on since I've been away? Stress and more stress? Hurricanes and general disasters? Jeez, I leave you people alone for five minutes...

Anyway I have been taking part in an artists open house during the Artwave Festival. It's the last weekend coming up so don't miss the chance to buy some art, post your wish in the magic Wishing Tree, or sample some delicious home made cakes and tea! Here's a taster...






In other news, I haven't just been panicking about university and faffing about with Open House stuff, oh no. I have made a cover for my Kindle. (Now named "Mindle" for reasons I can't be bothered to go into.)

Beauty and the Beast!

Here are a few sketches and a model I made for the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast. They are for a competition. Wish me luck!

Printmaking

Well the massive news is that after 3 years of longing, complaining, hinting, making do and general miserable failure, Fluffycloud Studios finally sports a PRINTING PRESS! Albeit a tiny, bench top one - but it is mine! I had a very quick go today and printed the two plates above - not as dark as the presses I used to use at the BIP studios but only to be expected I suppose. The woman on the left was etched using environmentally friendly materials which so far are as rubbish as I expected them to be - but I will have to persevere and get to know how to use them, because I can't bugger about with nitric acid in my studio with no fume cupboard etc.

The top prints are just experiments to try out backgrounds. Oh I really need to get this project underway and stop faffing around!

I've also been making some 3D models, but those projects are so new and may not even go anywhere, so I won't post them up just yet.

Enough about me. How are you?

Tayori - Postcards for Japan - Put The Date in Your Diary!

Buy a postcard sized piece of ORIGINAL art in aid of Teachers For Japan.

Tayori - Postcards for Japan

Michaelhouse Cafe
St. Michael's Church
Trinity Street,
Cambridge CB2 1SU
01223 309 147

Dates: 5th - 11th September 2011

Opening times: 8am – 5pm Monday – Saturday


The title of this exhibition can be interpreted two ways: Tayori, ‘便り’, means letter or tiding, and interpreted with different characters '頼り', it means help or reliance. Our intention for this exhibition encompasses both.

We present a collection of original work submitted both by student and professional artist/illustrators, some already established, some at the beginning of their careers. Each piece takes the form of a postcard: individually and together, they are intended as a message of hope and good wishes for Japan.

The work will be exhibited and sold anonymously and at the same price. In this way, anyone may become the owner of a piece by a well-known illustrator, and everyone will be able to buy original artwork to enjoy!

Teachers For Japan is a nonprofit, all volunteer charity initiative dedicated to the cause of rebuilding education in northern Japan in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami of March 11th, 2011.

Visit our website here.

Postcard

It's hot and sunny in this neck of the woods, and I wore the fewest ever clothes to my studio today. (Normally I feel daring if I take my gloves off).

Our uni group is organising an exhibition/sale of original art on postcards to raise money for the Japan Tsunami survivors. This might be my offering (or might not if I have time to do another one!). There will be loads of people taking part, some of them dead famous and everything. Watch this space for details!

Another Pigeon Post

After a key-losing drama ending in a tearful flounce to the clifftops, I finally gained entry to Fluffycloud Studios. When I proposed my new project to my tutor I suggested that I went out sketching so that I could include more backgrounds in my work. As you can see, I have really succeeded.

I also did a bit of 3D modelling which I'll put up when I remember to take my camera down to the studio with me...

Nostalgia

Well now that my dissertation has now been dissertated, I can move joyously onto my MA project - the grand finale. I definitely want to have some sort of three-dimensional aspect to it and gearing up to that has meant looking through all my books about puppets and dolls. My friend gave me some old toymaking books a while back. This is a page from a 1970s volume which made me feel very nostalgic.

We live in a throwaway society nowadays... I don't even know if people make their children soft toys any more. I hope they do. I would have very much appreciated a Humpty like this, being an avid watcher of Playschool! (And look at that groovy fabric!)