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 :-)

The Shifting Seasons

"In the depth of winter. I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer."

- Albert Camus

So it has been a full season since I wrote on this blog. So much has transpired. Little things, like small crystal beads are slowly threading their way on a string to make up the life of dreams that I wish to live.

In between threading my dream beads via illustration and design, I have been seeking opportunities to be creative, get fit and healthy, earn a living, reconnect with nature and understand the meaning of life and happiness.
Yes. Just small things! I'm sure that they can be figured out in just one season? ;-)

The winter season brought many an adventure and many an opportunity. I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to direct a primary school musical with a beautiful school. As my first year as an illustrator, the opportunity to work in any creative field in tandem with my freelance work is a bonus (and also helped pay the rent!). The last three months I worked every week at a primary school directing the tale of Pinocchio. 

Here is a doodle I created during a train trip to rehearsals:

I enjoyed using my acting coaching and directing skills as part of this contract. It was a lot of fun and I relished the chance to laugh and create with kids every week and finish with an end result that we were all proud of! 








On performance day I presented my co-director (the school music teacher) with this gift of a framed original water colour illustration. 
I wanted to embody her joy of music and the ideas that flowed so easily from her soul. There needs to be more passionate, open hearted and joyous children's educators in the world, and so I wanted to remind her that her path is mighty, adds colour and meaning to the lives of children and is highly important. I think she liked it! I was reminded of how much I love to give hand made presents - and how much I love working with water colour. I still have lots to learn with this medium, but every project is a lesson in itself.

I am also teaching for musical theatre school on weekends and after school. We are currently working on Disney's "The Little Mermaid". I'm directing three casts aged between 6 and 17years on this musical. My script is filled with doodles galore of course. Here's a doodle from the front page!

 I spent the winter season getting fit and healthy and added regular exercise to my week in the form of jogging, dancing and aerobics. I might have worn my 80s style leggings more than necessary and teamed them with shoes OTHER than my trainers…. 

Apart from exercising I decided to embark on a diet change (a peskatarian version of a low carb high fat diet) that has truly benefited my dream path. Apart from losing over 7 kilos in two months, the true perks of this new diet has included my mind becoming sharper, my mood more elevated and levelled, enjoying energy levels I have never felt before and my health and vitality increasing (including losing swelling and pain around a thumb that doctors had said was "incurable arthritits"). As an artist, this last point needless to say is life changing.

I decided in early July to take a surprise trip up to my family in Brisbane to reconnect with those I love and come back to  my roots. My parents were both in joyful tears with surprise when I showed up (complete with flowers for Mum and whiskey for Dad). I was reminded of the love that is always there for me in my family. I also got to spend time with my gorgeous niece (aged 3 and a half) and have a drawing session with her. One night we went out to a family restaurant. I bought her a "kids activity pack" at the restaurant which included a puzzle, stickers and a colouring-in sheet. I put it on the table as a surprise when she went with her Mum to the restroom. Impulsively I took the back of the order receipt and drew some pictures for her to copy and put it on the table next to the activity pack. When she came back she sat down and within one or two heartbeats contemplated both the activity pack and the paper with my markings and picked up a pen and went straight into copying my doodles. It amazes me how she just trusted herself and didn't let herself double think about what she chose to do or how she chose to do it. Absolute confidence and absolute attention to the joyous task at hand. She is indeed a teacher for me.

Illustration wise, as an emerging artist I have been busy trying to get my work "out there". My Redbubble Shop has seen quite a few sales with some pieces I put up earlier in the year, plus a few new additions as well. Redbubble - Lou Endicott portfolio

Here are a few happy customers who were kind enough to send me pics of happy people wearing my designs! 

 

I can barely express the joy and gratitude I feel when I see these happy people wearing my illustrations! There is something so tangible and so measurable to know that someone chooses to wear your art… It is truly humbling and makes my heart sing. 

And here I am last week exploring the natural wilderness here in Victoria in my own designed hoodie (it's so comfortable - I'm wearing it right now as I type this post!):

And here are a few new designs I have put up over the winter months:

Last weekend I was lucky enough to hear about a workshop with the legendary Oslo Davis - illustrator and cartoonist extraordinaire. His satire, gentle musings and blatant truths have been a wonderful antenna of our society and a new inspiration for me of late. I took part in a workshop at Third Drawer Down in Prahran just over a week ago and was reminded of the power and humour that illustration holds. My friend Bekky Halls (aka illustrator Saint Damascus) joined me to learn some insights on the world of funny and drawing. Check out Oslo's awesome work here: Oslo's Awesome Work

I have also been fortunate enough to be featured in a beautiful Australian magazine "Bespoke" issue 14  that promotes artists and makers. I received a copy of this gorgeous magazine in my mail today!  This issue focuses on Spring and embellishments and adornments. I make mention of two of my favourite handmade jewellery designers in this magazine Tess and Trix and Emiti Order your copy of Bespoke Magazine here: Bespoke Magazine Number 14 

Here is my copy:

And here are my featured pages (I squealed loud enough to startle my cat when I opened the mail today!!):

So what's coming up this new season for this little artist? I have two pieces of work featured in an artshow called Art 4 All which is hosted by Fairfield Primary School (which by literally COMPLETE COINCIDENCE was the school I directed the musical Pinocchio for!! I love how the universe works!) I will be selling prints in the art shop at this event as well. 

I will have two print on show at this event: Here is a snippet! (you may guess that I am celebrating Spring here….)

In other news I am happy to report that I have been contracted to work on my first children's book with Jet Black Publishing. The book entitled "The Day Jake Logan Robertson Ran Out of Hugs" by A.Nicky Hjort explores the importance and the magic of hugs. It's truly a heart warmer (and might give you and your little loved one a happy tear or two). I am honoured and privileged to work with this fantastic publisher (who donate 20% of profits to charities that assist children to read and write) and to work on such a beautiful manuscript.

Here is a sneak peak of a work in progress:

Apart from all this, I am remembering to find myself in nature every week. Last week I took a trip with my partner to Apollo Bay in South West Victoria. Cape Otway and it's natural surrounds are perhaps my favourite place on earth…. Here is Hopetoun Falls (just one of the divine places I hiked this week). Hope Town indeed. Heaven on Earth!

May this season of spring spring forth your most heart felt dreams

xox

Lou

Rainbow-fro!

"Someday we'll find it
The Rainbow Connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me"
(Kermit the Frog)

I am a little obsessed with colour at the moment...

I was recently hired to create a logo and business collateral for a small business selling all kinds of art and homewares. The brief made mention to water colour paint. So I went and bought myself a new water colour paint brush and set up a station of exploration and play. I made quite a delightful mess splattering colour on the parchment. I ended up with dozens of splotches and splashes and drips. Was so much fun and the end result looked great! I was so taken with the process that I have spent the last couple of nights mixing water colour creations with my drawing. 


This picture was a late night doodle to unleash the colour within!




And here is another little illustration I created last night that also mixed my water colour drips with digital drawing:

I think the above was influenced by my morning exercise under the Autumn trees here in Melbourne! I am also reading Lord of the Rings at the moment and there is mention of an Elven kingdom where the trees turn gold and hold their leaves until the green new leaves are already in place. Only then will the golden leaves drop. Very fanciful!

In keeping with this new delight of colour, I have a new design up on my Red Bubble store!
Available on t-shirts. Organic, regular fit, babies, kids, v-neck, 3/4 sleeves - all sizes, many many colours to choose from too!
Also available on device cases (phones and tablets) and stickers and cards and prints.

I call it Rainbow-fro.

You can purchase your own copy here

Tee-Lightful

"You see things and ask "why?"; I dream things that never were and think "why not?""
(George Bernard Shaw)

So I have a line of t-shirts available via Red Bubble! I thought that perhaps the best way to promote them to people is to actually buy them and WEAR them myself!

I thought "why not?" Why not literally stand behind my art and put my work out there? After all if I wouldn't wear the shirt how do I expect others to see it's value.  So I put an order in just under a week ago for a shirt with my
CREATIVE THINKING design.  The t-shirt arrived on my doorstep today in a
cute cardboard parcel with a Red Bubble Sticker and a swing tag with my name
on it attached with a little wooden peg.

It was so satisfying to put on the t-shirt - the fit was right, the fabric soft and the design - well the last one I am so happy with! With the exception of some jewellery beads (which were more crafty than anything) I have never made wearable art before! 

What do you think?
Do you like the design?
Check it out at Red Bubble - LOADS of colour choices, sizes and styles!

Lou Endicott's illustrations - T-shirts and more on Red Bubble

Here I am in my new shirt! The cheeks of the design are hard to see in the photo due to the light in my backyard, so I am attaching a shot of the design.

Puntastic!

"Puns are the highest form of literature"
(Alfred Hitchcock)

Ok, so who am I to argue with Alfred Hitchcock?
Not that I would argue.
I am a fan of the pun. In fact I have said many a time that I should be put in a punitentiary. 
Pun ALWAYS intended is my motto.

Perhaps because I have worked with kids for many many a season, puns and lame jokes are one of my ways to engage kids in my classes - "edu-tainment" my partner calls it. Rope 'em in with a laugh then see what they can learn. With kids - engagement is the first and hardest obstacle to overcome. I get to test my pun and lame jokes out on the little people - and I admit I also get some of my material from them! 

Speaking of which, last Saturday as part of a weekly drawing challenge via twitter I set about thinking what I could illustrate under the theme of "food". As I teach drama to kids all day Saturday I thought I would ask them. "Draw your favourite food!" was the first response. Which had us all talking about our favourite foods. Being a vegetarian I said that my favourite food would have to be vegetables. So that started a conversation on what I could illustrate that involved veggies. There was talk of giving them faces, making them dance, putting them in shoes or clothes and putting them with their "best vegetable friends". There was even the suggestion of "put them inside your digestive system!" Which got me laughing. One little girl with big eyes just said "Make the vegetables really funny!"

So I went with that.
And for me punny is funny.

I remembered years and years ago walking through a fruit and veggie shop with my partner. We were just friends at the time and we would always try and make each other laugh.  My partner is probably the funniest guy I know. And together we laugh til our eyes leak, our cheeks hurt and our hearts are full. As we walked through the veggie shop all those years ago we kept picking up items and making puns. A tomato was picked up "Hey! You used tomato to me!" A bag of nuts picked up "You. You're completely nuts". A celery bunch in hand waved above heads "You're my best worker. I'm raising your celery!"

You get the picture.
Groans a plenty.
We even wrote a lame rap around veggies (which I won't go into here as we have a plan to one day release it under a pseudonym complete with animated film clip - so it will go viral and we will make gazillions. You know - real dreams).

So I decided to use my love of veggies and puns as stimulus for an illustration. But I got carried away and drew three. I will bring them of course to my class next week and ask the kids if they approve.

Endings and Beginnings

"For last year's words belong to last year's language.

And next year's words await another voice.

And to make an end is to make a beginning."

(TS Eliot)

IN A NUTSHELL
Well it's been quite a while since I sat here and wrote. Around 26 days ago I finally came to the end of my journey as a student of design and illustration. I think that the first week after finishing was one big let go as I allowed myself time to rest and regain my strength for the journey ahead. The next week became a planning week - figuring out what my next step was. I decided on the following things:

1. Illustration is my passion, my focus, my growing skill and my dream. I will pursue this until I can make a living off it (and then keep going).
2. See number one.

But to work as an illustrator full-time is a tricky business (see any three of my interviews with Melbourne illustrators at the end of last year for insight into this!) 
Interview with Andrea Innocent 
Interview with Laura Wood 
Interview with Elise Hurst


TRYING TO FIND AN AGENT - Staying patient!
A week before the end of completing my studies I sent off my portfolio to a selection of illustration agents. I have been continuing to send off folios to agents every week since then. Most of these agencies suggest that the volume of portfolios they receive every month is more than plenty. Due to the high numbers of hopefuls they suggest not to expect any feedback or even to hear from them unless they wish to represent you. This kind of hopeful waiting is comparable to my former career as an actor. After going to a casting/audition there's a window of time where I used to be hovering around my phone waiting. After many years of working (and not working) in that industry I became more relaxed about it with the notion of "if it's meant to be, it's meant to be". This action of letting go was not an easy one. But at least it's prepared me for this silence and reminded me to stay patient. 

REDBUBBLE - T-shirts and more!
In the meantime I have decided to just keep working on my craft. Gathering my supplies, making networks and creating my own opportunities. I figure the more seeds I throw into the soil the more chance of a harvest (and being able to pay my rent!) I opened a Red Bubble online shop so that my work might be available on t-shirts, hoodies, phone cases, cards and stickers. At this point I have three designs available on the Red Bubble. Check them out here: Lou Endicott - Red Bubble shop

FREELANCE - Wearing shoes at home!
Last week I decided to really go full time with this freelance life. So every day I have been waking up and getting dressed (including putting on shoes) and going to my home office. I have been making lists every day and ticking them off as I go. I have been lucky enough to drum up a few clients - through online channels and word of mouth. I am working on a logo/branding design for a corporate consultant who works to help people find presence and confidence in the workplace. I have also created a logo and business collateral for a young Mum up in Qld who is launching a kids lunchbox business. I also volunteered to design a poster for a charity fair to raise funds to build schools in Africa. And I am donating prints to this fair to be sold to help raise funds. 

Here's a snap shot of my "boss" - my cat Ruby.

MAKING A PICTURE BOOK - I do!
And I'm illustrating my first book! Well, it's not really a "book deal" as such. It's a one off piece in the style of a children's picture book that a client is going to present to his girlfriend when he proposes to her in a few months time. The book contains stories of their journey together. And I get to illustrate them. It's a small business deal but the stakes are high!  It's also a great tester to see how I work with a writer and their ideas. To be given the precious contents of a person's story with their soul mate is an absolute privilege. To be entrusted to create the visuals is a lot of fun - but big responsibility!! Let's just hope his girlfriend likes the book and she says yes! Here's a rough thumbnail of one of the illustrations:

APPROACHING PUBLISHERS - Crossing fingers!
Last week I was given a hot tip that the publishing house Scholastic were looking for manuscripts for children's picture books and also for illustrators! This of course had me LEAPING to the computer to redo my illustration portfolio and rework my illustrations to show just what I could do if I was commissioned to make a picture book for children. All my fingers were crossed when I sent that email out into the ether I can tell you! 

A little under a week after sending out the portfolio to Scholastic I decided to send a manuscript in as well. Three years ago I had a dream of illustrating children's books. I wrote my own book and even did a little mock up with illustrations.  I sent it off to friends and family for feedback. I wrote and rewrote the story over and over. I then enrolled in a short course to learn about illustrating books for kids. And three times the course was cancelled due to lack of numbers. I shelved the book and went back to my life before at the end of 2012 making the decision to study design formally. So last week I dusted off my manuscript and wrote and rewrote it again until I was happy with it. Then I sent it off for consideration. I have a feeling that manuscripts take even LONGER to be considered than illustrations. The illustration on the right I drew in 2011 - feels like an age ago! But the dream is still there….


This process reminded me how much I love to write. I write regularly for a music blog and review music, interview people and generally promote new artists. (if you are interested see here: It's My Kind of Scene - music blog)
I have been writing for this particular blog for the last year (as a love job - not a paid job). So I guess that writing has become a part of my life almost without me being aware of it. 

SUPERGRAPH - Prints still for sale!

On Valentine's Day weekend earlier this month I had my first professional art fair showing. I had three illustrations up on the 
walls at Supergraph Contemporary Art Fair. And those three designs were available for sale in A4 print form. It was so amazing to be there on opening night walking around the Royal Exhibition Building here in Melbourne and feeling like I was a part of the industry. My favourite part of the night was walking past my work and then seeing a couple pick up the little slip of paper and pencil in front of it and write down it's details - that's one sale there!

 There are still prints available on the Supergraph website. Check it out and share it around! Prints for sale - Supergraph website

DRAWING - everyday!

Of course with all of these opportunities and little bits of joy and lots of handwork I have been drawing every day!
I think though, I have written enough here for today.
So with this new beginning I am ending this post for today!

With much creativity and heart.
Lou