Referendum 2023 First Nation's Voice

#sadamikonchi #Referendum #2023 A #child looks into the #future. The #Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander #Voice. #yes #no #sydney #australia #watercolour
今, 私たちの国は 10月 14日の #国民投票 で #オーストラリア先住民族 の #ボイス or #声 が #憲法に 認められるか否か ということで 揺れています. ここからは私は日本語では 書くことができません. 私の描いた #子供 は #オーストラリア を 瞳に入れて #未来 を見つめています. 良い未来へ 踏み出して行きたい と 心から願います. #firstnation #constitution
First Nations Voice 

Referendum 2023 First Nation's Voice

Every life is Precious

I am, you are, we are Australian. Parramatta Eel Festival 2020.

Although we are in the pandemic, 

Also highly contagious is-- 

kindness, patience, love, enthusiasm, courage and a positive attitude. 

Don't wait to catch it from others. 

Be the carrier, Friends!!! 

Happy Painting. 

Every life is Precious

Eel Festival 2020

An Aboriginal young dancer at Welcome ceremony in Eel Festival at Sydney Living Museum, Elizabeth Farm. Parramatta means "place of the eels" in Burramattagal language. So, this festival respects Indigenous people's culture and language and discovers the heritage. Lovely to see anyone hugging each other, having fun and smiling! 

The dance performers talked of the importance of equality and emphasised, "We're the same human beings." Yes, indeed. 

Thank you very much for modelling!
Your team's dance and music performance was great. Always people interest me most. A very hot day, but cool breezes were nice. 

Busy. Please pardon my laziness of blogging. But thank you very much for visiting and supporting. I've been working on the picture book projects, a book cover and portraits. Sketching like above is my break between projects at a weekend. They are my references at the same time. Also, very happy to see many blog friends have become big names in art industry. 
I'll strive for my own dream and want to achieve it. 
Friends, you, too, let us find our own ways and become "who I am" fully.
Happy Painting!  
    

Eel Festival 2020

Sketching Children@NAIDOC, Library

Hi, Friends, are you enjoying sketching children? All of us want to capture their innocent beauty, don't we? I love capturing emotional children. I hope it would be the quality of my picture book illustration. 

Capturing children is not hard, I've learned. First of all, I've realised the importance of trust in my own eyes. All of us can tell how old a child is and what feeling s/he has. If so, we all have wonderful knowledge about what children are. Just use my eyes' perception and depict kids on paper. But why and how? I've observed children carefully with Qs. Always have a Q is a good approach. Just looking is not looking (does it make sense?). I often set a theme in a time frame, for example, "movement for 2 months" and tried it. Answers have become my precious artistic assets. A child's face expression and movement interest me most.

A first sketch is an Indigenous boy dancing a traditional dance at NAIDOC week event, (="National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee") in Parramatta yesterday. His movement and body language was so strong and full of pride. It was really lovely to see Aboriginal people's languages and cultures.

This was a black and white sketch. Immediately, I got on colour. 

NAIDOC Week celebrations are held around Australia each July to appreciate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. If you have interest, please click their NAIDOC History Timeline that shows Indigenous Australians' hard and painful history, yet, full of their pride and fight for human rights. It is, certainly, our Australian history. 　

A second sketch is at a library where I go to study children picture books. A girl stood up and looked back for a moment, which was so charming for me. I could not resist it, although I did not draw the detail. A simplified drawing, in my view, can send a stronger message than complicated work.

A third sketch was a boy just standing. He was so cute! I simply like sketching and do it. Each child has a different age, a gender, body language and emotions. Furthermore, their human interactions always give me awe and joy in drawing and painting. These tens of thousands of sketches are my important references. I'd capture emotional moments and hope one day I can create it from my memories freely. Still a long way to go, but I love sketching children and people! In addition, please respect the privacy of a model and always gain permission from a model. I gain a permission from children's parents/care givers. 

BTW, I've just finished up the illustrations. Editor Helen, Author and Mentor Ann are very happy, which makes me really happy, too! Also, big names such as Libby Gleeson and Elise Hurst celebrate my illustration work done.
I'd come back to sketching. Although the hand still has a pain, it gets much better. Really thank you for warm cheers. I'll enjoy mentoring people with disability, too. I want to grow as a person and artist.
Friends, Happy Painting!!

Sketching Children@NAIDOC, Library

Get Inspirarion : Stop, Revive, Survive

Hi, Friends, are you enjoying drawing or sick of it? OK, the topic is how to get inspirations. When my brushes do not dance on paper and ideas do not come up for projects, it's a time to stop, revive, survive.

BTW, good news! Thank you for many warm cheers. I've finished up the work with Australian Council. A human rights organisation and I will work on a publishing project onward! Wow, exciting, a great honour and very happy!! Also, I've been working on the trade picture book. Now, I can get on portraits for competitions (*The picture books have occupied me too much.)  Regarding the work for comps, drawing freely is very refreshing! Ah, what a joy!!

Well, back to the topic, "Stop, Revive, Survive." Friends, have you ever dried up a well of inspirations in busy days? I sometimes struggle to get it for work. That's torturing!

First of all, put aside a half way through work. Smile. Coffee. Get out of a studio. Enjoy sunshine. I even smile at myself in a mirror.

These are my tips. Although they seem to have nothing to do with art work directly, I often "grab" inspiration whilst doing these things. If some could assist you, it would be my great joy. Go for it, Friends.
Here we go! "Feel happy. Forget job for a while," is the point.

I seek...
1) Third party's candid advice

● Suggestions from Mentor/Editor/experienced artists

● Chuck perfectionism. 

We all know pains in work and very nice to share them with wise people above. No one brings me down. (all know I'm a hard worker.) They give me great comfort, cheers and more time to finish a project. 

2) Put life back to a healthy life style or life cycle
● Lots of and regular exercises
Think nothing about ongoing projects. Move body. 
At least, do it until a body gets slightly sweat. I swim lots.
● Sleep well
Good healthy fatigue is best to go to sleep at once on bed. So, exercises are nice. Counting sheep makes nerve down, when an artist is in a sluggish time.
● Eat well and favorite ones
Give indulgences, not a carrot before a horse. A stoic attitude is too tough.

3) Do something different from drawing
● Sing loud, play music, dance, listen to favorite music.
● Read comic strips, watch comedies etc. What else?
Don't worry about a work deadline or a comp closing date. With a dried well and a weary heart, an artist only makes a dull and junk.  

4) Use net work / socialisation
● Ring up friends, have chat, chat, chat! Do "catch up."
Be honest with myself eg) swearing, chest off, cry, laugh, whatever, let emotions out. But don't do it alone. Do it with friends and family.  Yes, laugh well with other people. It's nice!
● Join group activities
Choir, bush walking, book club, fun events, shopping, church etc.  
● Do good things for strangers at random
This makes me happy, too.  
● Do something for community
As above. 

Now, after getting through it and when I feel like going back to work, I tell myself, "Be kind to myself." I do warm up sketching. The first one, a drum player was my warm up. Sure, I was ok! and a good idea for a portrait came up. Lalala~! I happily went home. You may say, "Ah, nothing special! This post is boring." But I've found too many of us cannot cut off a vicious circle and stay in blue. So, I dare to say, "Do relax!" If you have great tips to get inspiration, let us share them.
Friends, Happy Painting!! 

Get Inspirarion : Stop, Revive, Survive

Fundraising for Indigenous Literacy Foundation

Hi, Friends, exclusive! I joined "One Word One day" yesterday at ABC building (=Australian Broadcasting Corporation )!  It's a charity run by Australian Society of Authors. The created art in the event is donated for an auction in September in Melbourne. All monies raised are going to support "Indigenous Literacy Foundation." Sounds brilliant, doesn't it?

Artists are invited to participate in this annual event in each state’s capital city. You will be given a word and art materials (provided by Micador) to create an artwork inspired by that word. "Scratchy" was the theme for Sydneysiders. *Photos are courtesy of a lovely camera woman, Ms Emily Wiech at ILF.

All of us did our best. I created 3 works in four hours. I weighed on "Aboriginal people." Particularly, two of my works seem to have won ILF and staff's heart. ILF has twitted this work. Friends, do you notice I had put "greenish Australia" in the eye? I heartily hope Indigenous Australians will enjoy fulfilled human rights and see a bright future with dignity. 

I was in very high tension just before moving into colour, after the stage of black and white, peeling off a kitchen towel.

 

Ready, Set, Go!!

My another work that has become popular, is children sharing joy in scribbling English letters on papers. (*later, I added letters and some colours on this work.) Here we go!! 

Nice friends, Rob (Fledman, *right) and Ben (Wood *left) created very charming work. I'll show you them. Rob was working on a humorous and nice cartoon (thanks for invitation of your upcoming book launch!).

This is Ben's really a cute and pretty work. He's a wonderful and established illustrator. 

My "next door" Jill (Carter-Hansen) and other artists. 

According to ILF, this creative One Word One day or OWOD raised $13,500 last year and more than 70 artworks were auctioned. (*yes,  ILF bought my sketch of artists last year.)
If you follow One Word One Day Facebook, you will soon find all our work for auction (are on the way!). 

 ...yes, our message is printed on a cool T shirt! I love it!!
I hope we will directly contribute to society through art.  
Also, I'd say special thanks for backstage players and my linguistics lecturers warm cheers to ILF twitter and facebook. Oh, yes, thank you so much for Ben, you twitted my work!

 Friends, Happy Painting!!!... and happy reading picture books!!

Fundraising for Indigenous Literacy Foundation

1)Life Drawing 2)Indigenous Literacy Foundation Bid For My Work

Hi, Friends, did you enjoy a weekend? We're enjoying a long weekend. Come over NSW, Monday is our Labour day!

OK, a first topic, "colourful life drawing," a vivid colour use. Only primary colours -- yellow, blue and red are used. 
Technically, my life drawing should be called, "life painting," rather than drawing?! All work, paper size is A2. I love "big" papers for life drawing. (Sounds like stress buster?)

The model's face expression caught me. His image was "strong." Crayons were bright blue and green. A background was added later. Very dark purple, mixed with blue and red, works well. It looks like black. 

Below, contrast was the key. Strong and big brush strokes create the lively work. "Simple and bald" makes a drama. Always I come back to life drawing to get inspiration for illustration. (* I used Burnt Sienna a bit in this work.)  

 

It's a great virtue of an artist, particularly, for an illustrator, to have many styles in repertoire. Like these life drawing results, can I be brave and playful in other work? -- is a next challenge. "Be flexible and explore something new,"  I ask myself. Departure from the basics and create something unique -- is my quest. (*Not easy to achieve them all!)

 

Now, the second topic, "One Word One day,"  a charity auction for Indigenous children's literacy. All money goes to "Indigenous Literacy Foundation." 
Oh, my, Friends, "Indigenous Literacy Foundation" bought my work!! Wow, sooo happy! Great honour!! 

 Banner and My Work

The auction was really a fun. This guy entertained us so much to bump up bidding. Australian famous authors, foremost illustrators and their fans enjoyed raising funds in ABC building (=Australian Broadcasting Corporation ). The hall was full of laugh! (*NOTE: The auction, on it own was "silent.") Seeing is believing. Friends, next time, you have to come and join us. 
It's nice. I was so happy to know that we can make a change by art and through art.
...I believe in my illustration teacher's say,  "Children picture books can change the world!" Yes, we can.  

Friends, Happy Painting!! Have a nice week!

1)Life Drawing 2)Indigenous Literacy Foundation Bid For My Work

One Word One Day : Fundraising for Indigenous Children

Hi, Friends, exclusion! 

Yesterday, we enjoyed the fundrasing national project for Indigenous children, "One Word One Day" run by ASA  initiative at ABC building (=Australian Broadcasting Corporation ). ABC TV news and radio programs broadcasted this event!

Artists work on a given word and create images. We, artists offer 4 hours from 10 am to 2 pm. All art materials are generously provided by Micador. Later, created art work will be at auction to raise money for Indigenous Literacy Foundation. 

 The given word was "Teeter." 

I actually got there 10:30, a bit late, because hard to find a good parking spot in the CBD. To make up the late start, I worked hard on the word. In a "few minutes," I finished up two doodles for "warming up." Then, I started sketching artists working on a table. Title : "People are teetering!"

My work appeared to capture many people's attention. As I hoped the work would help an auction, the Indigenous Literacy Foundation banner and the ABC logo were woven into the work. When I finished it, the key person from ASA asked me to put the words, "One Word One Day." Done!! I heartily hope our work will help Aboriginal children.

I also enjoyed a chat with the camera woman from  Indigenous Literacy Foundation. We talked over Indigenous people's language rights and my linguistics professor, the expert of Aboriginal people's language. It was really lovely to meet such  wonderful people struggling on behalf of Aboriginal people.

  ...and after the event, I always appreciate the backstage players' hard work-- they were from ASA! I helped their packup.
...then, I popped up ASA office to have late lunch.

Creating a work in a limited time could be a good pressure for an artist. Daily quick sketch saved me. 

Now, my uni linguistics professors celebrate my contribution and hope the project will go well.  

Friends, Happy Painting! 

One Word One Day : Fundraising for Indigenous Children

Emerging Indigenous Authors & Illustrators Workshop

Hi, Friends! After the right hand surgery, I've happily come back to work. I helped an Emerging Indigenous Authors & Illustrators Workshop (Overview) in Glebe, Sydney. The Little Big Book Club and Allen & Unwin(*publisher) ran the workshop, funded through The Australia Council. This initiative has a focus on developing picture books by Indigenous creators. What a wonderful project!!
My mentor, Ann James was one of the presenters and ran a hands-on art workshop. Julie Vivas and I joined the event. (*Friends, think of it : "Ann James" and "Julie Vivas" are in our workshop = "The Rolling Stones" and "The Beatles" joint concert!! Got it?) On Sunday, the first workshop was on "process of publishing." The handouts were clear, concise and spot on. I fell in love with Allen & Unwin and The Little Big Book Club's ongoing project. Their goal is to promote the love of and importance of reading to children from a very early age, especially in families.

Friends, do ye know? An interesting linguistic research we studied at uni is "bed time story makes a middle class." The research revealed the influence and the importance of reading books for young children. It gives children lifelong literacy, success in formal schooling and improved life chances. Apart from socio-economic analyses, anyone loves listening to parents' reading at bed, don't we? It's nice and will be very sweet memories in our lives! So, I'd support The Little Big Book Club objectives.

Each presenter, Erica, Ann, Sarah talked on. Particularly, Ann's talk was practical and helpful to learn how to illustrate. She, originally dreamed of becoming a social worker, but chose an Art teacher career. She started,
"Draw from memory." An enthusiastic illustrator Ann was born!
Although the making process has no difference in general, each illustrator has a unique methods to develop drawings. Ann's way is just fit to me."Draw from memory" is a very useful methods to illustrate a text. It purifies visual information. In our memory, visual information gets through our mind filters. Only impressed info is left that responds to emotions well.
Another memorable Ann's say is "Lines and colours are different languages." Yes, I'd explore both more!

After the talk, participants enjoyed varied medias : watercolour, pastels, oil pastel and acrylics. Great fun to practise drawing and painting! We, mentors assisted students in person. I explained about "simplify info," "value study" for figurative drawings and a technique, "wash off & sedimentary pigments." One portrait demo for the student.




Ohhh, this is one of our students' hard work! She sketched me. Lovely!








Our great bonus was Julie Vivas, an Australian national icon for picture book industry. Julie, this humble superstar showed her fantastic work nearly at the end. Beautiful and so sensitive. All of us uttered, "Ohhhh!!! Waaaaa!!!!" Kind Julie explained another technique to use a pen for very detailed watercolour work. The lovely, lovely end for us.It was a great joy to meet youngish talents and see their wonderful work. I have no doubt about these talented Indigenous artists' bright future. They will crack into market. Hope we will see again soon.May many "Indigenous picture book illustrators" will come up from this project and gain a public attention!

Friends, happy painting!!!

Emerging Indigenous Authors & Illustrators Workshop