Self Belief

"The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it"
(J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan)

It's been a jam packed few weeks since the release of my first illustrated children's book "The Day Jake Logan Robertson Ran out of Hugs" (written by A.Nicky Hjort). As the publishing company (Jetblack Publishing) is a relatively new and smaller publicity house much of the promotion and sale of the book comes back to the author and the illustrator letting the public know about it. I have spent as much time as possible over the last few weeks talking to people about the book face to face, through emails and on social media. I think when you are proud of the work you have done (and have spent so much time and energy on a project) it's easier to gather your own sense of pride and belief and tell as many people as possible about it!

I am trusting more and more in my dream to live off my art and to make not just my living as a creative but to make a GOOD living as a creative. It's a large leap of faith (and a challenging road to be an artist!), but the signs are all there that it is possible if I just keep working at it every day and back myself. I must say in following this path I am truly the happiest I have ever been. Backing myself means looking after myself. Speaking kindly to myself, eating healthy and delicious food, exercising regularly (I started jazz dance classes last month!) and continually working on my art and my creativity. I am filled with purpose on a day to day level. I think having purpose is one of the keys to having a full life. So is gratitude. The smallest blessings become more and more obvious. Gratitude is the measure of a rich heart and a joyous spirit.

After sending out some publicity emails I was contacted by a reporter from "The Weekly Review" - a Melbourne weekly full colour magazine. The writer - Sarah Harris - wrote up a lovely story of my creative journey.

"The Weekly Review" also has an online editorial. Which in terms of getting a story out there makes it easier to share around in this digital age! You can read the little feature here: Feature Article

THE DAY JAKE LOGAN ROBERTSON RAN OUT OF HUGS (And the day a dream came true for this illustrator!)

"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them"
(Walt Disney)

So today, the 13th of February 2015 marks an important day in my journey as an illustrator and creative business. 
After perhaps six months or more of hard work, my first ever children's eBook "The Day Jake Logan Robertson Ran Out Of Hugs" by  American author A. Nicky Hjort and illustrated by yours truly goes on sale on the publishers bookstore!  The book explores the power that a hug can have. It's a touching and sweet story centreing around a little boy named Jake who inherently knows about the magic a hug can create.

An author (of another book) originally contacted me in June last year after seeing my work on Illustrators Australia and then reading my blog. She passed my details and portfolio onto Jetblack Publishing who then contacted me to ask if I would be interested in working on this lovely book. Jetblack Publishing is a relatively new publishing house based in Melbourne but works with illustrators and authors from all over the planet. One of the reasons I was quick to say yes to working with Jetblack Publishing is that they donate 20% of the price paid for each eBook to the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation. ALNF is the first independent charity in Australia dedicated to raising national language, literacy and numeracy standards especially in remote in marginalised communities. 

Having been a performing arts teacher to young people for well over a decade I couldn't refuse. I agree with the ALNF in that reading and writing is a basic human right. To know that my work may assist children who perhaps would not be allowed this right fills my heart with hope and pushes my pencil on the paper with much pride.

Visit the ALNF website to see their great work!


And Check out my book in the Jetblack Publishing Book Store!

OTHER EXCITING NEWS
Today is also the day I officially launch my very own website!
The task of creating a website is one I think I have avoided for the past year since graduation with a diploma in design. My web coding classes were the hardest out of all my classes. Codes, numbers and logical thinking has never been something that I excell at. However, after much discussion with fellow creatives and small business owners I knew that a website was imperitive to create one single online hub for all my online avenues. With a website I could link my online shops, have a little gallery of my favourite pieces, introduce who I am with simplicity and of course link my blog!

I used the web builder Weebly for my website. And I must say - the process was very straightforward and enjoyable! No coding was needing. The templates that Weebly offer are easy to use and allow for creative flexibility so that you can create the exact look you are after. The result is a website that I think is both easy to navigate around and stylish.

Visit Lou Endicott Illustration & Design Webpage

I am so exicited to have louendicott.com.au as a hub for my work and for a place for people to contact me for commissioned work.

Needless to say, the heart is filled with much gratitude right now :-)

I hope wherever you are today you are dreaming big!
Creatively yours
Lou

Art 4 All!

"The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls"
(Pablo Picasso)

So I have been busy this week on several projects. First I have had pencil to paper drawing rough sketches for the e-book "The Day Jake Logan Robertson Ran Out of Hugs" by A.Nicky Hjort (to be published by Jetblack Publishing). I have been working on some smaller isolated images for the picture book. I am loving working on this project and using the beautiful manuscript to create visuals that will hopefully delight and bring the lovely story to life.

Here are a couple of sneaky sketched rough work-in-progress pics:

The Melbourne sunshine has taken my office out of doors a few time to snatch a few precious rays - sometimes on my lunch break, sometimes to draw and reset the creative mode. I have been scheduling regular times to go out hiking and walking in the majestic beauty that this corner of the world holds. Here I am last Friday hiking in the Dandenong Mountains (with jasmine flowers secured to my hair). One happy soul right here:

And here's a faery I drew when I found a glorious spot in the sun on a green slope to rest my hiking legs (jasmine in HER hair too):

There is something breathtakingly beautiful at this time of year in the air here in Melbourne (except for those with hay fever!) For me I just have to get out and breathe in the air. And there are moments when everything just makes sense. The trees, the plants, the light and everything in between just seems to sparkle. Like this moment, standing still in the forest by myself feeling all my senses come alive as the sun dappled through the trees…..

It's been so re-energising going on these hikes. When I get back to my studio I am ready to make manifest my dream life and get back to the drawing board (literally).

Tonight I have been going through all my current print in stock as I prepare for Art 4 All - an art show hosted by Fairfield Primary School. I will have two framed prints on display to celebrate Spring at the show. I will also have a variety of prints for sale in the art shop. The weekend looks to be nothing short of fabulous with a grand opening night, silent chair auction, feature artists, a children's gallery and a designated family day as part of the event.

My studio table is filled with colour as I choose prints for the Art 4 All shop!

I hope this week fills you with creative joy and you find time to let nature share her secrets with you.

Dream big,

Lou :-)