It took me many years to get used to drawing on any kind of large scale, especially anything larger than A2 size. Several different experiences helped free me up in this area; in particular, when I began running cartoon workshops in schools, drawing on large blackboards (remember them?) and whiteboards in front of a class. […]
Murals & public art Read More »
As described elsewhere in this archive, the 90s were a creatively prolific period for me, and I developed simultaneously in many directions, and through many different media. Most of my focus was on the four strands of esoteric art I was developing – Essence Portraits, Power Symbols, Personalised Mandalas & ‘cave paintings’ – but I
Cartoon illustration: Funky 90s Read More »
At various times during the early 90s, in an entrepreneurial effort to generate some income from my cartoon art, I designed and self-published several series of gift cards & cartoon art prints. Self-publishing, in this case, meant spending what little money I had on laminated colour photocopies (not particularly cheap back then), and hawking them
Cartoon illustration: Card designs Read More »
Even as a five year old I was a keen observer of human behaviour, often coupled with a sense of the absurd, so it’s not surprising that caricature became part of my cartooning repertoire from an early age. Comics and cartoons, to a child of my interests, were a form of sociological and psychological text,
Cartoon illustration: Caricature Read More »
Over the years my illustration has often found a home in various areas of health & well-being, with clients ranging from government health services, mental health organisations, educational ‘well-being’ projects through to private practitioners and community arts projects. My empathic nature, my sense of social conscience, along with my personal insights from lived experience (long-term
Cartoon illustration: Health & well-being projects Read More »
Community arts, health & well-being and education seem to be where I gravitate in my creative work. Over the last 20 years I’ve often been engaged by councils, usually via their Community Arts or Community Development teams, to facilitate workshops, youth or community arts projects, or provide illustration such as promotional art, logo design &
Cartoon Illustration – Knox City Council (2007 – 2016) Read More »
One of my most enduring creative relationships was as in-house illustrator & creative consultant for music education publishers Bushfire Press. Bushfire Press are a passionate team of ex-music teachers / musicians, who began writing & publishing Performing Arts resources for primary & secondary schools in the late 80s. My work for them has included a
Cartoon Illustration – Bushfire Press (2000 – 2016) Read More »
Just had a great couple of cartooning workshops at the brand-spanking new Moonah Arts Centre, which opened recently. The new MAC building is quite a departure from the old space – lots of post-modern concrete & steel, with that MONA sheen that’s become a popular aesthetic around town. The new design offers much more space
April 10 & 11, 2015 – Cartooning @ Moonah Arts Centre (Tas) Read More »
Every holidays I get mothers asking why I don’t run Holiday Workshops for under 9s. Most mums are understanding when I explain, but there is always a percentage who insist their 7 or 8 year old should be an exception, and some who just outright lie about their child’s age in order to book them
Some Reasons Why My Holiday Workshops Are Only 9+ Read More »
A fine selection of creative cartooning workshops on offer these Spring holidays, using drawing games & “experiments” to get the kids thinking in new ways about drawing technique, and to push them into new areas of their own creativity. The focus is on fun skills, new perspectives, and creative inspiration. Warning: your children may want
OCT 2014 HOBART HOLIDAY NEWS!! Read More »
Another workshop in my whirlwind mini-tour of Glen Eira! This one came about after a suggestion by Philippa from the Glen Eira Adult Learning Centre, where I was also running workshops this week. Cheltenham Community Centre run a school holiday care & an activities program, and the program co-ordinator Tammy invited me in to be
Melbourne Holiday Workshops, Sept 2013 – Cheltenham Community Centre Read More »
Each year Glen Eira Council runs SCHOOL’S OUT, a fantastic youth-oriented school holiday program with a focus on creative skills, thanks to the efforts of Arts & Culture officer Tori Hayat. Tori invited me to run a day of 2 x 3hr cartoon workshops for the program, as well as create the image for the
Melbourne Holiday Workshops, Sept 2013 – Glen Eira Town Hall Read More »
These holidays I trialled a couple of holiday cartoon workshops in the cozy quarters of the Glen Eira Adult Learning Centre in Ormond. The Centre runs fantastic life & work skills programs for adults, especially working with the local migrant community, and GEALC Manager Philippa Caris is clearly a passionate teacher who cares about her
Melbourne Holiday Workshops, Sept 2013 – Glen Eira Adult Learning Centre Read More »
Sept 12, 2013 After my 3 days up in Penguin, it was time to head South, halfway back down the state to Waverley, near Launceston. Tony Brazendale, the exuberant principal of Waverley Primary, had been very excited about his students having some Creative Communication workshops. Waverley PS works with one of the most challenging demographics
Northern Tasmanian Tour, Sept 9 – 12 – pt 4: Waverley Primary School, TAS Read More »
Sept 9, 10 & 11, 2013 So after the morning session at Penguin High, I scooted 20 mins down the road to Burnie, to spend the rest of the day cartooning at Montello Primary School, at the request of the wonderful Josie Courto. Josie had invited me to be artist-in-residence over 3 days, working with
Northern Tasmanian Tour, Sept 9 – 12 – pt 3: Montello Primary School, TAS Read More »
Sept 9 & 10, 2013 For the Mon & Tues of my visit up North, I began each day with a 2-hour workshop at Penguin High School. The focus was Creative Communication, and I was working with a small group of Additional Needs students, a mix of pretty high-functioning kids with various developmental or learning
Northern Tasmanian Tour, Sept 9 – 12 – pt 2: Penguin High School, TAS Read More »
From time to time I get to travel a bit further afield in my quest to inspire young minds, and in Tassie this usually means getting to take in a bit more of the amazing landscape of this beautiful state. This trip was definitely no exception, in fact for the whole week I felt I
Northern Tasmanian Tour, Sept 9 – 12 – pt 1: Penguin, TAS Read More »
Years ago I used to run a cartooning course for adults (5 x full day sessions) in Kingston, for what used to be known as Adult Ed (now Learn Xpress). Teaching adults is a whole other realm to teaching kids – insecurities & self-doubts are more deeply entrenched, as are opinions and habits of perception.
Cartooning For Adults, August 2013 – Kingston Read More »
The Big One! The Kingston LINC cartoon workshops have traditionally been the most well-attended, and this one was no exception. Most of the kids were old-timers who have been coming to these sessions regularly, and most of them went for the hardcore all-day option. But it was also wonderful to see some new faces too,
TAS Holiday Workshops, July 2013 – Kingston LINC Read More »
It’s difficult to have favourites with these workshops because they all offer up fresh delights, but I reckon this day at Glenorchy LINC was one of the most fun for me these holidays. The morning session was just 3 kids (!), but all 3 had booked in for the whole day, so I didnt want
TAS Holiday Workshops, July 2013 – Glenorchy LINC Read More »
After the morning session at Bridgewater LINC, I zipped into Hobart to run a Parent & Child cartoon workshop in Criterion House in the CBD, at the invitation of Amanda Midgley, for the Hobart City Council’s school holiday program. Amanda has been involved in coordinating youth services projects for years now, and we’ve collaborated on
TAS Holiday Workshops, July 2013 – Hobart City Council Read More »
I was invited back to run another cartoon workshop at Bridgewater LINC these holidays (I was there last January hols), thanks to the wonderful Jordyan Coombe! Jordyan really cares about offering opportunities to her community that they wouldn’t normally access, and she very generously subsidised my visit out of her own budget so she could
TAS Holiday Workshops, July 2013 – Bridgewater LINC Read More »
This was an all-day workshop with a busload of kids from the outlying rural areas north of Hobart, as part of the Southern Midlands Council school holiday program. Greg Hunt and his devoted crew do an amazing job of providing these kids with opportunities & experiences that they might not otherwise access. Many of these
TAS Holiday Workshops, July 2013 – Southern Midlands Council Read More »
Back home in gorgeous Tassie after my dash to Melbourne, and straight into a full week of cartoon workshops for the Tas school hols, mostly at southern LINC (library) centres – first stop: Huonville LINC, my local. A small but very inspired group with plenty of wacky ideas! We kicked off with a combo of
TAS Holiday Workshops, July 2013 – Huonville LINC Read More »
Flew back to Melbourne briefly to run a day of school holiday workshops for Eastern Regional Libraries, who cover libraries throughout the Knox, Yarra Ranges and Maroondah shires. Thanks Janet for inviting me to be part of the library school holiday program! It was a fantastic day, kicking off with a morning workshop at Lilydale
Melbourne July 2013 – Eastern Regional Libraries Read More »
In 2001, Wesley College approached me to design a cartooning workshop program addressing bullying, for inclusion in a Yr 7 Resilience Program the college was piloting, and which incorporated many other materials such as drama, video, discussion, writing etc. When Wesley approached me with the commission I had just completed my year-long residency at Pembroke
Melbourne June 2013 – Wesley College Read More »
Another really rewarding 2-day visit to Rowville Secondary, one of my favourite schools to visit (yes, I know, I’m not supposed to have favourites!). This is the fourth year running that I’ve been invited to run the Creative Communication workshops there, thanks to the wonderful leader of the Arts Faculty, Robyn Geake. Each year that
Melbourne June 2013 – Rowville Secondary College Read More »
A whirlwind visit to Upper Ferntree Gully Primary School in the morning, two x 1 hr sessions with Grades 5/6, thanks to their awesome art teacher Nikki Ashman! We focused on facial expressions, the kids were wonderful, really engaged with the process and articulated some great ideas about emotions. Whenever I commence a workshop, there’s
Melbourne June 2013 – Upper Ferntree Gully PS Read More »
Tues June 11 2013 – Landed in Melbourne from Tasmania on the ferry first thing in the morning (boat-lagged!) for a two-week teaching binge, and headed straight over to Yarra Rd Primary School in Nth Croydon to spend a fantastic day catching up again with Grades 3 – 6. But first…. Rewind to March of
Melbourne June 2013 – Yarra Rd PS Read More »
