Children’s Watercolour Painting Workshop, Tue 03 Oct

I was given a wonderful opportunity to share joy with children in creating art! In the self intro, I'd chat over my disability and Japanese as a mother tongue so that I will encourage non English speaking background kids and boost up their self-esteem. 
Children’s Watercolour Painting Workshop. Tuesday 03 October 2017 / 10.30am - 11.45am. Eastwood Library, Cnr Hillview Road and West Parade, Eastwood 2122 View Map. Kids, (Age 8 – 12 yrs), come and have fun with the picture book illustrator Sadami! Learn how to use salt and crayons with watercolour to create a wonderful artwork of animals. 
Bookings essential. Cost $3.50. Contact : City of Ryde (02) 9952 8352. 
Part of school holiday program at City of Ryde libraries. See the full program(PDF, 385KB).

I'd respect each children and want them to learn new technique to paint animals. Any animals will do that include imaginative ones. I'd tap children’s creativity. I'm happy to chat over that the disability has turned to be THIS ABILITY which has opened a door to be an artist. Whoo hoooo! 

See you there! October will be a very busy moth for me. 
Friends, thank you for your strong support! Happy Painting! 

Children’s Watercolour Painting Workshop, Tue 03 Oct

My Dog Socks Launch Oct 15, Kids Dogs Drawing Competition

1) My Dog Socks Launch, Art Exhibition 
Sunday 15th October, 2 pm ~. Melbourne.  

Venue Ford St Publishing, 162 Hoddle Street, Vic (map).
RSVP Paul at info@fordstreetpublishing.com  
Please join us and celebrate My Dog Docks a new picture book by Robyn Osborne and Sadami Konchi to be launched by Ann James. Enjoy the art work exhibition, too. Ann is such a special person in the children’s book world - Illustrator, author, cherisher of creators, promoter, Pixie O'Harris Award, recipient of the national Dromkeen Medal, the Order of Australia and my mentor! She loves dogs, too! Yes, my mentors Helen Chamberlin and Books Illustrated (Ann James, Ann Haddon) are coming! Many peak bodies are celebrating my newly illustrated trade picture book. ISBN : 9781925272826, 9781925272833. 

2) Draw your dog and win a box of books that includes a signed copy of My Dog Socks!  
Call for kids's entries! School holidays are coming up. Get your kid's creativity happening to this COMPETITION! Great prizes including the illustrator Sadami Konchi 's latest book written by Robyn Osborne. Got to be in it to win it. Read below for details. 

About the author: Robyn Osborne is a Queensland author, teacher and animal fanatic based on the Fraser Coast. "Going Camping" is on the Qld Premier's Reading Challenge book list. Robyn has won a number of writing awards and been published in national journals, newspapers and magazines. In 2011, she was one of only eight participants chosen nationally to attend the prestigious Allen & Unwin/Qld Writers Centre mentorship in Brisbane. Robyn shares her home with an elderly canine and a not so ancient husband. 

About the illustrator: Yes, Me! Sadami Konchi is an enthusiastic children’s picture book illustrator, award winning portraitist and event/conference sketcher, based in Sydney. One of her greatest strengths is drawing/painting empathetic lively portraits. The BA from Sydney University in linguistics and sociology gives her deep text analyses and good research skills to illustrate a story. Sadami has been one of the highly commended artists in the Arts Access Australia Art prize, a Doug Moran semi-finalist (twice), in top 600 at a world watercolour competition. 

I deeply appreciate the support of peak bodies :  Australian Society of Authors, Accessible Arts NSW, Australia Council for the Arts, Arts Access Australia, National Association for the Visual Artists, Ku-Ring-Gai Art Society, Marrickvile Council, Parramatta Council, Westwords, Immigrants Women Speakout, Sydney Sketch Club and all the people who have encouraged me = YOU.  See you soon and there, Friends! 

Happy Painting!  

My Dog Socks Launch Oct 15, Kids Dogs Drawing Competition

2017 Semi Finalist of Doug Moran Prize!!

I've become a semi-finalist of Moran National Portrait Prize 2017 with the work, "Publisher Helen Chamberlin." Scroll down to "190" in 200 semifinalists. Doug Moran prizes recognise both excellence and creativity in contemporary Australian portrait painting with the world wealthiest prize. Works capture Australians from all walks of life.   
My statement of the portrait. 
The work shows the moment famous and experienced Publisher Helen Chamberlin returning manuscripts to an author. She always respects writers and illustrators at any level and keeps herself humble and quiet. She’s a mixture of shyness and determination for authenticity in work. When I suddenly got disability in a leg, Helen’s beautifully edited work has given me the hope and the dream to illustrate picture books at the bottom of life. Today, I’ve become a successful artist and Helen is my mentor. My dream is becoming true! Thank you, Helen!!  

I wrote about Helen in the blog, "Helen Chamberlin, my great editor/publisher."  

Publisher Helen Chamberlin 

A winner will be awarded by A$150,000 and A$1,000 is to every finalist. 

Moran is one of the most renowned and coveted portrait competitions in Australia and the world. Because of the very high level of criterion and many entrats's try, it is very hard to get in. An experienced art supply staff compares the difficulty to  "Jack Pot" or "Lottery." So, when the Moran notice came, I shouted in joy, "I made it!" and ..., sobbed. I've worked hard on both rehab and art activities. Big efforts slowly and steadily have begun to bloom out. All my supporters celebrate it. If you like, have a look of my Face Book. You can see many people and big names in publishing industry, too, showering me nice words. 

Libby Gleeson · 

It's turning into a great year for you, Sadami. Congratulations.

Love · Reply ·11 · 7 September 

Sadami Konchi Oh, so supportive Libby, thank you very much. My first Moran in was "Dignity." I'll keep up portraits as well as illustration.

I popped up an art supply to put perspex into the portrait for Moran. I met a man who told me, "1,100 entrants tried Moran." When I heard that number, my legs began to shake. The staff and I looked at "Helen." "Ah, beautiful!" "Very sensitive, soft portrait." Their say tickled me. I deeply appreciated their support.

This is my second time Moran semi finalist ( A first time Moran semi finalist mentioned above). A second time experience is not luck, we say. These Moran experiences give me confidence. It also encourages me to explore more and learn in portraits. Exciting! A big and beautiful new horizon comes up in front of me. Let's go! 
All the works of semi finalists look great and very unique. Wow, I'm among the big names. Anyone can be finalists and a winner. I'm ready to "heart breaking," though, I'm very positive and happy! 
Friends, Happy Painting! Thank you for support for ages. 






  

2017 Semi Finalist of Doug Moran Prize!!

Won WestWords Pinerolo Illustrators in Residency 2017!!

Friends, wonderful news that I've got WestWords Pinerolo Illustrators in Residency 2017!! Only two seats are available. Margaret Hamilton will mentor me, 23 – 27 Oct in the beautiful Blue Mountains. 
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In 2017 WestWords & Pinerolo have partnered to offer two emerging children’s book illustrators a week in residence at Pinerolo: The Children’s Book Cottage at Blackheath, in the beautiful Blue Mountains. The residency aims to extend illustrators’ knowledge of picture book creation and design, the process of publishing and the publishing industry, being mentored by Margaret Hamilton, a professional publisher of picture books for over thirty years. The self-contained, self-catering cottage offers tranquility and an inspiring working environment with electric blankets, a wood-burning fire and air-conditioning, for cosiness and comfort in all weather. Fully equipped kitchen for your convenience. 

Sadami studied sociology, linguistics and social work at the University of Sydney and specialised in the areas of the Medicare system, human rights and endangered languages and is an award winning watercolour portraitist. 

In her practice as a picture-book illustrator she seeks to bridge between the text, reality and imagination. Figures appear lively and emotional. Her style is broad, from whimsical cartoons to fine art for multifarious subjects. She was an Accessible Arts NSW grants recipient in 2015.

Her second book My Dog Socks, written by Robyn Osborne, will be published by Ford Street Publishing in October.

For more information click here.

This is a WestWords project in partnership with:

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When WestWords rang me up, I became speechless and trembled like when I had got Accessible Arts NSW grants in 2015. My mentors have celebrated my good news, Ann James, Ann Haddon and Helen Chamberlin. I'm excited to see Margaret Hamilton AM in the beautiful Blue Mountains! 

I deeply appreciate these people's support :  Books Illustrated, Helen, all established top Australian illustrators/authors who have encouraged me, Australian Society of Authors, Accessible Arts NSW, Australia Council for the Arts, Arts Access Australia, National Association for the Visual Artists, Ku-Ring-Gai Art Society, Marrickvile Council, Parramatta Council, Westwords, Immigrants Women Speakout and all my friends = YOU!  Whooo hoooo! 

Friends, Happy Painting! Let's make a dream come true. 

Won WestWords Pinerolo Illustrators in Residency 2017!!