Kids' Book Review on Moon, my debut work

Thank you very much, "Kids' Book Review," for talented illustrator/author Penelope Pratley's wonderful review of my debut trade picture book written by Matt Zarbo. My mentors (Books Illustratred / Ann James, Ann Haddon), Helen Chamberlin (editor of Moon) and Matt, too, over the moon. My signed picture books and prints limited edition are available at BooksIllustrated. Dear friends share joy and my good news on Face Book. Thank you for warm cheers for ages. I'll keep up.  

http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2018/02/review-moon.html

Review: Moon

Moon is a tender story that

wraps its pages gently
around the relationship
between a father and son,
spreading the message
about the importance of our relationships with family and
providing a way we can
remain close, even when
we are far apart.

It is always difficult to say
goodbye, especially when one
of your parents must travel away
for work and you don't really
have an understanding of
how long they will be gone for.
By making the moon a central presence in this book we
travel across the land and sea
as Max and his Dad find a way to connect despite the distance.

The author, Matt Zurbo has given the moon a voice in this elegantly written story
that beautifully reveals the nature of the moon while reflecting the constant love
a father has for his son.

The initial pages sensitively depict the emotions of Max after he waves goodbye
to his Father and waits to hear from him as the sun sets and the moon rises.
Sadami Konchi's loose, sketchy, watercolour illustrations saturate every page
with colour and life. The double page spreads are breathtaking and
the captivating text succinctly portrays the moon's moods as it spreads
its soft light across the Australian landscape.

I have a special affinity for this story as my daughter loves the moon.
She is fascinated by the way it accompanies us when we are driving at night,
apparently travelling with the car, and she is always delighted when it is
waiting for us at our destination. There is definitely something mystical and
magical about the moon and this book certainly captures that and more.

Title: Moon
Author: Matt Zurbo
Illustrator: Sadami Konchi
Publisher: Windy Hollow Books, $23.75
Publication Date: 1st August 2015
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922081445
For ages: 5 - 8
Type: Picture Book

Kids' Book Review on Moon, my debut work

Signed Moon Prints and Books Available @ Books Illustrated

Signed Books "Moon" and Limited Edition Giclee Prints available @ Books Illustrated in Melbourne. For enquiries and orders,  

• contact Ann Haddon: info@booksillustrated.com.au
• Mobile 0439 031 915
• International: +61 439 031 915

In Sydney, contact, "skonchi1 AT gmail.com" 

• Illustrated by Sydney artist and illustrator, Sadami Konchi, written by Matt Zurbo and published by Windy Hollow Books. ISBN: 9781922081445
• Print, $120 each. Signed books are $25.99 
• http://www.booksillustrated.com.au/bi_prints_indiv.php?id=119

Two available prints are below. 

Misty Forest 

Owl and Moon

Special thanks to Books Illustrated (mentors), a book launcher, Margaret Hamilton, an author, Matt, an editor, Helen Chamberlin. Friends, thank you very much for warm cheers.

A big fan in Switzerland purchased "Moon" and sent me the so sweet comment. Really, Patrick's comment made me cry in joy. Patrick and I have been blogging friends for years. Oh, he gave me a very happy surprise!!! 

1. 
   

   
2. kieselsteineSeptember 10, 2016 at 8:06 PM

   Hello Sadami
   
   Your moon has arrived in Switzerland!
   We were very pleased
   about your wonderful picture book
   look here!
   
   http://kieselsteine.ch/MoonSadamiPatrickChristine.html
   
   Kind regards
   Christine and Patrick
   
   kieselsteine

   ReplyDelete
   
   

   Replies
   

   
   
   

   1. 
      SadamiSeptember 11, 2016 at 12:24 AM

      Oh, Patrick and Christine! Oh, oh, oh!!! Your photo and comment made me cry in joy. What a beautiful couple you are and Moon! I'm one of the luckiest illustrators on the earth to have such a lovely fan like you. Thank you very much.
      Best wishes, ((Hugs)), Sadami

Also, very happy and proud that Books Illustrated has included "Moon." The most prominent and celebrated Australian illustrators are on their list. It was one of my dreams to be on the site. A kind linguistics professor sent these photos from a bookshop. Wow, "Moon"! 

I owe this all to you, Friends. Thank you very much for your support. 
Have a wonderful and productive week. 
Friends, Happy Painting! 

Signed Moon Prints and Books Available @ Books Illustrated

Character Design in Children Picture Books

I enjoy developing characters in the current picture book story. The first image is one of main characters. Feedback is very good. Character design requires lots of work and research. An illustrator uses all what she has to create it. In order to set "telling" characters, these are essential : daily observation, profound and broad knowledge and the insights of humans and society.  They give an illustrator inspiration and an idea, which enables an artist to establish an interesting, adorable and distinct character. In me, each character has personality and begins to work or move. Characters are alive in me. I'd share my methods to illustrating Moon. If you could find something, I'd be happy. (*My writing on approach was submitted to a publisher. Sorry, if the style is too formal to bore you, please pardon me.) 

The text, Moon is very poetic, imaginative, emotional, yet realistic at the same time. So, it had many challenges to be illustrated. The most challenges of Moon were three tasks. First, give life to an inanimate moon life and set “her” into a protagonist as well as a boy, Max. Second, visualise invisible and visible elements together in pictures. Third, technical challenges in watercolour painting were to express the first and the second tasks on paper. Night scenes were not easy. 

In order to find answers for the first and second tasks, deep and broad research was carried out in a multi-dimensional way. For example, I checked beautiful Australian nature, classic literature, mythology, folk tales, songs, paintings, any English words related to the moon and so on. At the same time, Publisher/Editor Helen, Author Matt and Mentor Ann’s strong encouragement supported me so much. Helen sent me an old German folk song. I translated it and tasted it.  Then, to enrich my visual images, I went outside and observed the moon, from the evening to the mid night. The aim was to feel the sensations such as sound, silence, smell in an air, atmosphere etc as well as moon, light, reflections and colours. The collected data enabled me to establish the concrete image and the character of Moon.

When I developed the Moon's personality, this image, below, came up in my heart. This is a colour rough that won the publishing team's thubm's up. 

In order to achieve the second task, I played with children like Max’s age and read out the text for tens of millions times. I also reviewed my huge sketch references, focusing on Max’s emotions and inner world. I could build up his personality that convinced Helen, Matt and Ann. I confidently drew lines and put colours. When Moon was launched at Gleebooks, Margaret Hamilton AM said, "I don't know how much Sadami was led in her choice of how to interpret the story." Behind the good interpretation of the story, there was my profound and extensive research. It established the characters of Moon and Max. (*I'll omit the answers for the third task. It does not relate to character design.)  I could confidently draw lines and put colours.    

The illustration of Moon has become my very important experience to work on following projects. Before Moon, I tried another text for my study with mentor Ann (unpublished). It also became a momentous experience, particularly, to learn character design.  

As I mentioned above, character design is not an easy task, but its process is a great fun. Once, a character has been established and come to alive, s/he moves on papers and shows me how s/he behaves in scenes. So, I work hard on the study of a protagonist and draw lots. In addition, I know Shaun Tan did the huge research of Australian immigrants at State library. His talk of the massive and longitudinal research impressed me most at the book launch of "The Arrival." I've learned lot from Shaun. I thank for all the people teach me and lead me. 

Black and White Max and Dad 

Each illustrator or an artist is different. My approach is above. If you have any interesting and useful way to create a character and if you do not mind, let us share it. 
Friends, Happy Painting!  

    

Character Design in Children Picture Books

Sadami solo exhibition from 20 Oct to 2 Nov, opening 21 Oct @ Chrissie Cotter Gallery

Next Wed evening, from 6pm to 8pm, come opening of "Over the Moon with Watercolour!" exhibition to celebrate Sadami's best watercolour paintings and the original illustrations for MOON, a new picture book. Join free watercolour painting workshops! Materials are provided. 

Where: Chrissie Cottee Gallery run by Marrickville Council (map)
              Pidcock St, Camperdown NSW 2050

When : 20th Oct to 2nd Nov, every day from 10 am to 5pm.             
             Opening 21st Oct from 6pm to 8pm. 

Watercolour Painting Workshops : Open to broader community and people with disability. Booking essential.             

Tue 27th Oct 2-3:30 pm    10 adults            

Fri 30th Oct 10 - 11:30 am    10 adults    Fri  30th Oct  3:30 – 4:30 pm   10 children

Cost : Free  

Wheel access, accessile tolilet, 1 disabled parking spot is available. 

Contact : skonchi1@gmail.com 

Very happy. Many organisations promote my exhibition at local, state and national levels as well as some peak bodies that advocate people with disability.  

Accessible Arts NSW facebook

National Association for Visual Arts : What's On 

Ku-Ring-Gai Art Society October newsletters 

Marrickville Council Art Post facebook 

Gleebooks facebook 

I've activated my all main networks. I think I'm doing my best. 

My birthday 29th Oct is right in the exhibition period. My team and I are planning to have my own birthday party as well as book signing. My mentor Ann James is coming from Melbourne. My project is awarded by Accessible Arts NSW to advocate people with disability. I've been working with Wesley mission to assist people with disability to enjoy watercolour painting, the project called, "Building Dreams." I hope my project will bring love and hope for others, particularly, people with disability. If you know anyone involved with disability, please pass on this email. I warmly welcome anyone!  Thank you for your strong and support for ages. With your support, I'm making my dream come true. Let's have fun. 

Happy painting together! See you there, Friends!! Best wishes, Sadami 

Sadami solo exhibition from 20 Oct to 2 Nov, opening 21 Oct @ Chrissie Cotter Gallery

Moon launch tremendous success

What a perfect and heartfelt day, a trade picture book Moon launch at Gleebooks! Our publishing team was touched by all my mentors' and friends' love and support. It was the great launch that turned out very intimate and nice. Parramatta Council, CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia), ASA (Australian Society of Authors), Wesley Mission, Sydney sketch club members, former local life drawing class members and dear friends joined this event. 

People left to right : Sadami, Launcher Margaret Hamilton AM, author Matt Zurbo, editor/publisher Helen Chamberlin, Ann James and gorgeous two little fans! Photos are courtesy of Janet and Imma. 

Margaret's speech was fantastic. She honoured my work. It was very touching, spot-on, informative and so sensitive. I perfectly agreed her view of picture book industry, publishing industry in general and Australian picture book industry. Then, she talked of Moon. Margaret deeply analysed Matt's text and acclaimed its originality, descriptiveness in poetic language with a well developed structure. She also stated that close family relationships was very valued in the story. Her profound understanding of illustrations moved me so much. Margaret confidently claimed, "This is Sadami’s first picture book and it demonstrates her considerable talent with watercolours and pencil. Her work is luminous, moody and evocative." Furthermore, she praised at my work, "It features sensitive close ups of Max and his father, with Max’s body language reflecting his mood, beautiful Australian landscapes and the soft colours of moonlight." I became speechless. 

Author Matt and I made short speeches. In addition, good news is that Moon has already become "Lamont standing order in Aug 2015"! The quality teacher note is available for Moon. It means that Moon is a good teaching material as well as a fine art work.   

It took nearly two years to finish Moon. Because the beautiful text was very poetic, settings such as time frame and character design were challenging. I imagined hard, tried to feel the text and felt it day and night, while going outside and looking up the moon. Helen and Ann gave me freedom, whilst guiding me. Especially, Helen's way amazed me at first. Later I understood how much she respected this emerging artist and fully trusted in the artist's talent. Technically, my used watercolour paintings required quite sophisticated skills that fascinated Helen. In the process of illustration, I've learned lot about a picture book. 

Book signing was fun and a communication time with our supporters and fans! Fun! I wrote each message with all my heart. I sincerely hope readers will enjoy Moon. 

Yey, Matt and me! 

I asked Margaret, Matt, Ann and Helen to sign my own copy. "I want to keep this for me," I said. Each of them gave me fabulous and hearty messages with "This is the first of many!" Oh, that was so sweet! I owe all my work to our terrific publishing team : Matt, Helen, a book designer, all involved people and mentor Ann. They patiently assisted me, a novice and supported me with endless love.      

The launching date has become one of the best days in my life and for our team. Thank you very much, Friends! With your support, we could have a marvelous success. Particularly, Helen and I appreciate Sydney sketch club's great and warm friendship. After sketching the market in Glebe, some of the members remained there and celebrated the Moon launch. (*Helen clearly remembered sketch club members in a cafe in Glebe and told it with special thanks to Ann and Matt over dinner). Also, we, the publishing team members really thank for Gleebooks! I miss the publishing team : Matt from Tasmania and Helen and Ann from Melbourne. Sweet Matt said, "If so, look up the moon!" Clever! That's the introduction and the theme of Moon. 

Now, through the Moon project, I'm walking strong with others and making new friends and workmates. This is the beginning of my wonderful journey as a picture book illustrator. With this precious experience, I hope I'll make quality picture books onward and upward! Already, I'm working on next projects and developing my own stories. Like these established workmates say, I'll make this Moon "the first of many". 
Friends, Happy Painting! Make your dream come true! 

Moon launch tremendous success

Margaret Hamilton AM will launch Moon!

Woo hoo, Margaret Hamilton AM will launch Moon Sat 26 Sep @ Gleebooks! Another "guardian angel" of our Australian picture book industry. All the mentors suggested me to contact Margaret. She's Australia legend and a superstar!! Margaret is such a special person in the children’s book world - Author, publisher, cherisher of creators, promoter and The Children's Book Coucil Australia National Board Chair Deputy. She runs "Pinerolo", the Children's Book Cottage. ( *AM = Order of Australia. Awarded for achievement and merit in service to Australia or humanity). Publisher/Editor Helen Chamberlin, my mentor Books Illustrated, guests and I are dancing around!  

Close Up

This interview tells who she is about Margaret Hamilton AM. She's started from a librarian at Parramatta City Library. Yes, what a coincidence, my residential area. 

http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2010/11/interview-margaret-hamilton-am.html 

I always wanted to meet Margaret in person, but I could not, especially, go to snowy Blue Mountains this season. Now, my dream will come true. 
"I'm just a starter. Please help me and guide me," I wrote to Margaret.
Margaret says, "Moon is really beautiful and I will be honoured to launch it." What a humble lady! 
In response, "We're so happy and honoured to have you for a launcher," I say.

This is called a "near miss." It was not selected for a final image, but close.

Double spread on A2. 

You can see these near misses and dummy books at "Over the Moon with Watercolour! exhibition" 

(Oct 20 to Nov 2 at Chrissie Cotter Gallery). 

I feel I'm so cherished by topnotches. It amazes me, a nameless illustrator. My mentors suggested me Margaret Hamilton AM or an executive level of CBC, which very surprised me... I felt that they -- all of them are prominent authors, illustrators and editors --- highly acknowledged my ability and craftsmanship in drawing. I've blushed up to my ears and almost shed tears. I really appreciate it, beyond language. At a micro level, these established people want to help emerging potential illustrators. At a macro level, they really want to nurture new talented Australian picture book illustrators in a long term. Of course, ultimately, they want to bring children/readers quality picture books. I hope myself will respond to their support by my art work! I'm very happy to be surrounded such noble people with right hearts.  

Unselected roughs. We, illustrators make TONs of these tries

until we find a direction and narrow images.

Wow, like publisher/editor Helen says, my debut will be a "Party of Australian publishing industry superstars." Furthermore, NAVA (National Association for Visual Artists Australia) and ASA (Australian Society of Authors) and other peak bodies, too, are coming. Please come and meet them all.  

Btw, I've got a cold. I feel better today. Hopefully, I can prepare the book launch and the solo exhibitions with a sound body. Thank you for encouragements and a great support! You, too, please take care and make your dream come true!  
Friends, Happy Painting! 

Windy Hollow Books updated their cover photo.

10 hrs · 

Margaret Hamilton AM will launch Moon!