I got the belly bug!

Bellyboarding bug, that is! What is a bellyboard? Simply put...it's a surfboard that you ride on your belly in the breaking waves. No tedious standing up required! (Much appreciated by less athletic types like me!)

Bellyboards have been around since the beginning of the 1900s in this country. They're designed to be ridden in shallower water than 'stand up' surfboards and are ridden by all ages. There haven't been many about for a long time, most people in the shallows have those new-fangled foam bodyboards, while bellies are made of wood, mostly marine ply. But recently the bellyboards have just started gaining popularity again. They ride lower in the waves than a foam board and much faster, which makes for lots of fun!

Anyway, here's mine:

Before I gave it a little paint job.........

...and after!

And in September I am entering the World Bellyboard Championships! (Just for the fun of it you understand, my surfing ability won't win me any prizes!) Wetsuits are banned for this event, so pray for warm waters for me! I'll let you know how I get on. 

The Outsider Folio Society Competition

I am never sure if entering competitions is a good idea, the risk of damaging a fragile ego is so great!  However as I get older I seem to be less upset by the results, so here goes.  This is my entry for the Folio Society's competition to illustrate "The Outsider" by Albert Camus.  I re read the book a while ago and have not been able to get it out of my head and this style (based on the art of Modigliani with a nod towards Schiele) was what illustrated my dreams,  Entry number 1,347 I think!  Fingers crossed!!

Yet another year!

Best wishes for 2011!

John

These are the lenticular images of Zac I have sent to some publishers with a card featuring the synopsis of the story. They are rather diminutive in size and might get mistaken for Christmas cards, but maybe this will work in my favour:)

Each publisher has a different policy when it comes to submissions, many asking not to be sent manuscripts. So I'm hoping these cards give a bit of a taster and beg to be followed up:)

Zac Spanner

Zac Spanner is a personal project I am working on at the moment. It is almost in a state worthy of sending out to Art Director's. I will be producing little lenticular business cards featuring Zac in an attempt to grab their attention:)

This is the basic synopsis of the story:

Zac is a genius inventor. His parents are dull and boring bird-watching enthusiasts. They don't approve of technology and have banned all gadgets from the house. Zac’s only refuge is his secret laboratory hidden in the attic above his bedroom.

Whilst his parents are out on a hunt to find a rare bird, Zac hears disturbing noises coming from the basement. He discovers something which also attracts the attention of a couple of aliens with a particularly bad attitude. Speaking in a strange mix of Shakespearian English and cockney-rhyming-slang, they explain to Zac their intentions to use Planet-Earth for a spot of target practice.
Zac is in deep trouble and his parents are due back at any moment….




http://www.storyportal.co.uk/zac_spanner.html

Quite printeresting?

 Away from the 'day' job illustrating, I carve at small blocks of wood with delicate cutting tools and when there are enough cut lines, I roll lots of smelly black ink on and print the result in an elderly proofing press that I've adopted.  I've just had two prints accepted into the Society of Wood Engravers annual travelling exhibition, for the third year running. It's the first time I've had BOTH entries accepted, which has really pleased me. Just a small fanfare, please....... ;-)

 The first is called 'Winter Walkies' and shows an old mine engine house local to us, this whole area is riddled with these solid, almost castle-like ruins.

The second is called 'Late Shopping' and shows a coastal village with a large and rather inappropriate supermarket.

Bologna Children's Book Fair 2011 - Illustrators Exhibition: submissions are now being accepted!

"Introduce your pictures to the world! Enter the most prestigious competition for creativity in children's illustration, the Illustrators Exhibition.

Submissions are open: the application form and the Rules of Entry are now available online at the BCBF web-site.

Participation is open to all illustrators - both established artists and new talents alike - who can submit five illustrations (unpublished or published from the last two years).

Furthermore, Schools and Academies of Fine Arts are invited to enter the most interesting and innovative projects produced by their students over the last two years.

Publishers are also invited to send artwork from illustrators with whom they regularly collaborate.

The deadline for the receipt of artwork is October 1, 2010.

Selected by an international representative jury of distinguished publishers, art directors, artists and academy head teachers, the winning entries will be exhibited during the 2011 Bologna Children's Book Fair and will be published in the Illustrators Annual, ensuring important exposure to the creators of this outstanding work.

Moreover, all young selected illustrators (under 35 years of age) will take part in the Bologna Children's Book Fair - SM Foundation International Award for Illustration. This annual award, founded in 2009, aims to promote and support new talents in the world of illustration; It is worth $ 30,000 (US)."