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Thanks for visiting and welcome to my art blog! I'm an Australian based artist specialising in children's book illustration.
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Seems I've developed a habit of drawing Santa puppies each year.
Last year, we adopted a gorgeous puppy from the RSPCA and my brain had turned to puppy pulp from adoration. So, it was only natural I would draw a Santa puppy.
This year, I'm illustrating a picture book, featuring the cute fur-character above. Everyone else was wearing Santa hats and I didn't want the puppy to feel left out. This sweet, heartwarming Christmas story, written by Lili Wilkinson, will be published in time for Christmas 2017 by Allen and Unwin.
I'm currently up to the exciting colour stage of the picture book and have spent this week preparing and experimenting. Ignorant onlookers may call this part of the process, procrastination.
I've been working out my character colour palette, making my own texture brushes using pastel, pencil and watercolour, and experimenting with some new brushes I recently purchased from Kyle T Webster. I'm having so much fun procrast... I mean, preparing.
The deadline is fast approaching, so I'll be busy working on this book for the entire school holidays. My children have had to make their own fun at home so far. The inside of our house has turned into a paper jungle of lanterns, snowflakes and streamers dangling from windows, ceilings and fans. My husband and I pretty much have to crawl around on our hands and knees, so that we don't tangle ourselves up in it all. FYI - children design Christmassy lands for child height people only.
Our house is feeling festive at least.
Merry Christmas!
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| A small section of some final drawings from the book. |
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| A small section of my children's paper jungle. |
By:
Amanda Francey,
on 6/22/2016
Blog:
Amalou Studio
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Another new video showing more of my illustration process from the picture book Take Ted Instead (written by Cassandra Webb).
This video shows my illustration process in fast forward. I scanned my pencil drawing and greyscale watercolour washes, then coloured in photoshop.
I originally illustrated this for the cover of, Take Ted Instead, a picture book written by Cassandra Webb (New Frontier Publishing, 2016). However, I had to change the orientation layout of the boy and Ted to standing position, so the illustration would fit nicely around the words.
Take Ted InsteadWritten by Cassandra Webb and illustrated by me.
It's bedtime for one tired little boy. Why should he go to bed when everyone else in the house is still awake? He has a plan to keep himself wide awake . . .Take Ted Instead is available to purchase from
New Frontier Publishing Store or your favourite Australian bookshop:
Boomerang Books,
Angus Robertson,
QBD,
Booktopia, just to name a few.
It seems so long ago since I completed the illustrations for
Take Ted Instead (way back in May last year). Here are some illustrations from inside the book . . .
And some of my very early sketches and storyboard layouts . . .
More illustrations and sketches from
Take Ted Instead are on my
website.
I was a little too busy leading up to Christmas to attend to my blog (that would include the 8 months leading up to Christmas, whoops), so I'm wishing you all a belated Merry Christmas!
Above is an illustration of my daughter (who had been wearing reindeer antlers since November) and our new puppy (who would much rather be bouncing out of the picture with Santa's hat secured tightly between her teeth!).
Now we're into our second day of 2016 here in Australia, so Happy New Year!
Things have been very quiet here, illustration-wise, for the last 8 months, as I've had a few personal things to attend to, and I've been busy moving house and settling back into the leafy edges of Brisbane, near where I grew up. It's so lovely to be among the gum trees once again. Being surrounded by nature fuels my energy and inspiration, so I'm hoping 2016 will bring many more creative projects my way.
I do have some exciting news to celebrate the New Year with however ~ my new
website is now up and running, I've given this blog a well deserved facelift (after being neglected for 8 months) and my third picture book is going to be released this year! Not sure on the date yet, but I will keep you posted.
And my New Year's resolution will be to update my blog more often then every 8 months!
Onesie Mumsie
Written by Alice Rex and illustrated by me.
A charming story about a girl who refuses to go to bed until she has tried on all of her onesies.
Onesie Mumsie is available to purchase from
New Frontier Publishing Store or your favourite Australian bookshop:
Riverbend Books,
Boomerang Books,
Angus Robertson,
QBD,
Booktopia, just to name a few.
Onesie Mumsie book reviews…
Aussie ReviewsBoomerang Books
Some of my pencil roughs from Onesie Mumsie (written by Alice Rex) due for release April 1, 2015.
I'm very excited to announce my second picture book, Onesie Mumsie (written by Alice Rex), is due for release April 2015. That's only a few weeks away!
Above is a video showing my illustration process in fast forward from pencil drawing to final colour illustration. The illustration took just under two hours to complete in real time. I scan my pencil drawings and watercolour washes, then complete the rest in photoshop using custom made brushes.
Jonathan!
Written by Peter Carnavas and illustrated by me.
I had a lot of fun illustrating Peter's story. It's about a boy who likes to dress up and scare his family, but they insist he is just not scary.
What happens when Jonathan is too scary?
It was such an honour to illustrate one of Peter's books as I'm a huge fan of his work. Check out Peter's books here...
Peter Carnavas Children's Author and Illustrator.
Here's Jonathan attempting to scare his sister without success.
Jonathan! book reviews...
My latest illustration was inspired by one of my favourite quotes...
"For me, the safest place is out on a limb."
~ Shirley Maclaine
My latest illustration was inspired by one of my favourite quotes...
"For me, the safest place is out on a limb."
~ Shirley Maclaine
To be honest, I think I'd happily settle for the energy of a five year old.
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| Do-Re-Mi |
Sweet Maria practising her Do-Re-Mi-s.
Inspired by a quote that I can totally relate to...
"Sometimes I'm so sweet even I can't stand it"~ Julie Andrews
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| Do-Re-Mi |
Here's my submission for this week's
Illustration Friday topic - Sweet.
Maria practising her Do-Re-Mi-s.
Inspired by...
"Sometimes I'm so sweet even I can't stand it"~ Julie Andrews
Inspired by the love heart I spotted in the clouds this morning and an old photograph I found of my toddler son and his little friend. They're big nine year olds now!
After a storm, we get these beautiful Storm Lilies sprouting up everywhere.
Happy Valentine's Day!
For every storm a rainbow... Inspired by the love heart I spotted in the clouds this morning and an old photograph I found of my toddler son and his little friend. They're big nine year olds now!
After a storm, we get these beautiful Storm Lilies sprouting up everywhere.
Happy Valentine's Day!There's plenty of artists kicking up a storm this week over at
Illustration Friday.
A little sketch of my children doing what they do best.
Merry Christmas!!
A little sketch of my children doing what they do best.
Merry Christmas!!
An illustration of a young Audrey Hepburn and one of many versions of her famous
I believe quotes below...
I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in pink.
I believe happy girls are the prettiest girls.
~ Audrey Hepburn
I believe a little bit of loneliness is good for one's imagination.
An illustration of a young Audrey Hepburn and one of many versions of her famous
I believe quotes below...
I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in pink.
I believe happy girls are the prettiest girls.
~ Audrey Hepburn
It's been a long time between sketches, thanks to some pesky winter lurgies who took up residence in our home. Now it's time to kick their germy butts back to Lurgiville! And get back to drawing. I can't wait to colour this one.
Raffi's extra long leg, twisted neck and faded freckles
are the signs of a child's true love.
Raffi the giraffe will be loved long after his freckles have faded.
I have a
couple of sketches to go with this illustration which I hope to colour tomorrow if time permits.
Illustration Friday's word prompt: faded.
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cute puppy!
I can see why your pup ends up in your art. My art is inspired by things in my world.
Thank you for stopping by so that I could see your charming art.
Wishing you the best with your project.
Thanks Tammie Lee :)
Hope you've had a wonderful Christmas! Thank you for popping in my cosy blog. x