Bee My Baybee

I illustrated the poem as an assignment for Wayne Harris's picture book workshop at a final week at WestWords. First, I played around colours and composition. “Fresh! So fresh!!” Wayne gave me very positive feedback to the bee. He used my rough to explain about the features of watercolour painting and printing. Second, I put a curious boy in the illustration. Here we go!

Bee! I'm expecting you! Emily Dickinson

Bee! I’m expecting you!
Was saying Yesterday
To Somebody you know
That you were due—
The Frogs got Home last Week—
Are settled, and at work—
Birds, mostly back—
The Clover warm and thick—
You’ll get my Letter by
The seventeenth; Reply
Or better, be with me—
Yours, Fly.

Re the second image, below, Wayne praised at the boy’s body language, composition and light. Then, he suggested me not to put too much information and reduce blue in a sky, when I would illustrate this boy. Wayne defined an appropriate target group age setting, 6 to 8 years children, middle age. Little children will not be able to understand why the bee looks bigger in the foreground, while the boy is smaller in the middle ground. Also, in my rough, I put colours on only the necessary area, around the boy's face.  Thus, this image well sends the message of the poem and the curiosity of the boy. Wayne liked this style. 

Thank you very much, Wayne Harris! Each student enjoyed his feedback. He taught us with care and kindness. It's so useful to join workshops run by such established and experienced artists.

This class will keep up friendship and study about picture book workshop, regularly, at WestWords. I’ll learn more. Many people, publishers and the acclaimed give sweet comments on the bee's image on my facebook. Thank you. 
You, too, enjoy illustration and life! 
Friends, Happy Painting!

Bee My Baybee

Let's Seize the Day

Luck is not luck, I feel in fine art and publishing industry. Build it and use it = Seize the day. 
Two years ago, I found Columbian Press at TAFE college in the City, when I was studying the "Art Marketing" course suggested by Accessible Arts NSW. The course was a first attempt and temporary set. All students, emerging or mid career artists were selected from various art areas. We learned about strategy, planning, use of social media etc or marketing from A to Z. Great course! Today, most of the plan I set is coming true step by step. I've learned the importance of panning. *This video shows how to use the hand press. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofMJ6NcEM58

Another bonus is that WestWords has fallen love with my sketch of the Columbian Press.  When WestWords and I had a meeting about the illustration of primary school children's writings, the staff accidentally noticed my sketch of the Columbian Press in a sample work folder. Newly born WestWords was searching for the emblematic image of literature and publishing industry. A fresh, unique, yet permanently symbolic image for WestWords' new office. Then, my sketch won their heart! We made a contract of my commissioned work. The developed art work has become a permanent collection at a stairwell, as you know. My story sounds like all lucks. *This is the original image and sketch. I sketch something all the time. My mentor calls me, "You don't waste time." 

But if I turned down Accessible Arts NSW's kind advice, did I make it? 
If I just passed by the press without sketching, could I get this chance? 
If I excluded the sketch from the folder, could I get that contract? 
It looks like luck, but it's not luck. All the time, keeping an antenna high and well preparing are essential. It often needs courage, because it takes a risk, too. It sounds tricky though, luck might visit us quite equally. The point is if we seize it or not. Once, our psychology lecturer celebrated my work and added, "I do not say good luck. It's not good luck." Close friends call me a "Very hard worker" and that's all. Make the most of the present moment, I try and appreciate a third party's support.  *This image 2.8m x10,45 m covers the stairwell. 

Now, three projects have been occupying me. Busy. Yesterday, I submitted 9 images that included the hand press image for new ASA Stylefile designed to reach out quality Australian Illustrators. It will come up in Sep. Last year, I became one of the illustrators mostly visited from all over the world. Thank you very much, Friends, ASA and CAL Fund! Your strong support allows me to go forward. 
Friends, just do it before the present will be gone! My accumulated sketches are great references and good art work. Thank you for reading. 
Happy Painting!

Let's Seize the Day

Creating a Picture Book is a Labour of Love.

A wonderful workshop on creating picture book was run by WestWords and Parramatta Council. What is required from a children picture book illustrator? Guest speakers : successful author Sue Whiting, established illustrator/book designer Wayne Harris. His say echoes in my heart. “Creating a picture book is a labour of love.” 

Wayne's answers to the question are below.  

•        Warmth. Always warmth.
•        Authenticity. Authentic voice.
•        A child centralised view.
•        Narrative ability, thus, no need to be technically brilliant.

A book designer and an editor do a similar job in a picture book publishing team. They make a text and illustration sing well. Yes, publisher/editor Helen Chamberlin's work amazes me. With her, I've learned/ am learning how to do layout, the importance of page turning and everything about picture book illustration and designing. More importantly, an illustrator needs a third party's calm eye to examine her own illustration. 

So, another recommendation is "Work with a great editor. Even once is fine, work with a great editor! They answer all your questions. From their answers, you’ll learn a lot pricelessly." Yes, I perfectly agree with the above from my working experience with Helen Chamberlin. Also, Wayne said, "A great editor does a psychiatrist! Who says to desperate creators, “Calm down. Go outside and have coffee,”?" I solely appreciate Helen's support and guidance in my illustration work. It'll be a so precious life experience as a professional. 

Regarding an author, Wayne suggests, when an author hands over a text to an illustrator, give up the holding visual images of the text. An illustrator will create a totally different image from the text based on her own concepts. But paradoxically and magically, a good picture book, the beautiful marriage between a text and illustration will be born from the completely different thoughts. Yes, a great and experienced editor is the matchmaker between a text and images. 

Wonderful to catch up Sue and Wayne. From time to time, Sue and Wayne have been encouraging me since I started a career. Wayne taught me illustration with Donna Rawlins at Sydney uni. Both celebrated the achievements in my career. This is from facebook. 

Sue Whiting Thanks Sadami. Always important to encourage talented new creators! It's been wonderful to watch your developing career.

Sadami Konchi Thank you very much, Sue Whiting! I hope I'll create good picture books. Please guide me.

Sue and Wayne generously talked about a process of making a picture book and a publishing process. We all enjoyed the workshop fully. 

Wayne and Sue gave me big hugs at the end of a workshop. Thank you very much, WestWords and Parramatta Council for the freebie workshop. I've been proud of being taught by Wayne and Donna. Lots of study about picture book illustration is necessary as well as drawing and painting skills. I want to tell a story with/from love. I want to tell a story from a children’s point of view. Friends, joining a workshop is helpful. 
Wayne will run a 3 weeks workshop of creating a picture book at WestWords. 
Let's enjoy learning. Friends, Happy Painting! 

Creating a Picture Book is a Labour of Love.

School teaching becomes a great success!

A fresh air comes from WestWords, an "Art Attack" lesson! My 6 weeks school teaching project turns out a great success. All the students enjoyed my class. They did not want to wrap up and spent an extra time in the last class. The students said, "Thank you for teaching. We wish we could have you for our school art teacher!" Principal/school and WestWords are so pleased with the favourable outcome of my work. I'm honoured.  

In the project, the students, a teacher and I visited WestWords, their brand new centre in Parramatta! The tour excited the children very much. We looked around wonderful facilities, a rich book collection and original illustrations created by professionals. Yes, the children saw my picture books, art works and the huge image of a print press around the stairwell. In the beautiful room, I had a class. We learned about dot painting and the children developed their own styles. Fun!

Teaching is learning, I believe. I've learned a lot from this school residency. I greatly thank for WestWords and the staff. I also thank for uni lecturers, an art supply and National Association for the Visual Arts that gave advice to my research. Each week, I did the broad and deep research on materials, techniques, styles, etc, etc. Then, handouts were organised. Our hard work led to success. Very happy to facilitate my skills and the knowledge learned from uni study. 

Some students followed me on the school play ground, even after the last class. They wanted to chat over drawing with me, endlessly! A smiling teacher said to me, "Oh, they will do art (class) all day long!" Yes, the children love art. I was very blessed to have such good students loving art. 

Thank you, the Principal, the school, WestWords, for giving me the fabulous opportunity. I appreciate the backup from WestWords. WestWords team, you're the real heroes! I hope the students will enjoy art more than ever. I'll use this experience in upcoming projects. 
Friends, thank you for your cheers. I'll keep up good work. You, too, enjoy art. Art is joy. 
Happy Painting!  

School teaching becomes a great success!

WestWords New Centre!

WestWords launched a new centre in Parramatta. A key person, Libby Gleeson appreciated my image at a stairwell and encouraged me, "Go on, Sadami!" I did a tiny thing. A printer did it!(*He stands besides me in a photo).  Printing took 7 hours and pasting took 5 hours. The amazing staff worked carried it out. I admire the staff and my lovely little authors! This centre will nurture talents in Western Sydney. Special thanks to Helen Chamberlin, Ann James, Ann Haddon and Margaret Hamilton for the text analysis and the illustration of students' writings!

This image, a print press and a storm of papers, stands around the stairwell across four walls.  

My super hero, Libby! She lobbied, fought for WestWords and sets it up to a current level. Libby made a change! Her speech really touched my heart. She moved a politician and found a break through. Then, she brought WestWords to today, the opening of a new office. Amazing. I'm sooooo proud of being taught by her regarding picture book illustration. Thank you for encouraging me and teaching me for ages.

Oh, you're my super heroes, too! How lucky I am to know you and have worked for this project! The staff worked day and night. 

Wonderful to see you, my little authors for an anthology, "The Writers' Club"! My used illustrations were all framed and displayed. Here's the photo! A principal, a teacher, parents and students enjoyed them all! 

Really lovely to catch up with Margaret Hamilton and Max after the mentorship program in Blue Mountains. You're so sweet and caring. Margaret asked me to sign the book.

When I left the centre, I donated the illustrations used for the students' book. WestWords greatly appreciated it. "Let's plant seeds. Make children happy," I said. I think that's all what I can do. Certainly the wonderful start. Now, from here, we have to make it happen. 

Like Libby encouraged me, I will produce good work in picture book illustration and fine art. I thank for all the people who have helped me. Yes, you, too, Friends.

Happy Painting!

WestWords New Centre!

A New Mural on the Walls and a New Book Celebrate WestWords New Centre Lauch

WestWords, Western Sydney's Young People’s Literature Development Organisation will launch a new centre on 28th Nov at 6 pm. I'll post photos in my facebook. A new cultural and arts hub. To celebrate its big step, WestWords will launch my illustrated North Parramatta primary school children's book (*not for sale, presents to the hardworking kids from non English speaking descendants), hang all the used illustrations and my image, below, enlarged will stay permanent on four walls, 2.8m x10,45 m, surrounding a stairwell. The staff has got so excited and me, too, in a frantically busy schedule! In the illustrations, I included children from any backgrounds. 

I really look forward to meeting my "authors," or the pupils. WestWords says that some children will read out the stories. Wow! WestWords ran a writing workshop for students and they worked hard in a writing club. An anthology book, "The Writers' Club" is truly a reward for a child. These books will be distributed to school libraries, too. 

Regarding a text analysis, Helen Chamberlin helped me, Books Illustrated (Ann James and Ann Haddon) gave suggestions incessantly and Margaret Hamilton AM gave me important feedback. WestWords staff has assisted me to create images. The students' writings are so precious in my eyes.  Any children are so gorgeous. They are our future. I hope they will remember this book in a tough time in life, get it through and reach their dreams. 

I deeply thank for anyone involved in this project and those who have supported me that makes my dream come true -- bring others love, hope and dream by my art activities. Finally, I quote the statistical data, a snap shot of Western Sydney people, culture and linguistic diversity, below. It clearly shows the importance of Western Sydney in Australia and indicates that young Western Sydney will have the great potential in rich cultural and socioeconomic phases.  

May this centre launch will cultivate Western Sydney and many talents will fledge out from WestWords!! Go, go, WestWords!! See you little authors at the party! 

Frineds, Draw On, Paint On and Create On!

WestWords demonstrates ; 

§  1% of Australia’s population live in the Greater Western Sydney (GWS) region.^* That’s 1 in 11 Australians.

§  7% of Western Sydney’s population is under the age of 35.^*

§  GWS residents come from more than 170 countries and speak over 100 different languages.^#

§  33% of people in GWS were born in countries where English was not their first language – with India, China, Vietnam, Philippines, Lebanon, Iraq, Fiji, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Pakistan ranked highest.^*

§  Greater Western Sydney has the third largest economy in the country after Sydney and Melbourne CBDs.^#

§  The majority of new immigrants (60%) that come to Australia settle in GWS and over the past decade 50% of these arrivals were from Iraq and Sudan.^#

§  One-fifth of the Aboriginal population is located in GWS, with the densest clustering being in Blacktown and the Macarthur region. Of these, 60% are aged under 24.*

*Source : 2016 Census
# Regional Centre of Expertise, Western Sydney University

Here's my research data from 2016 census, Australian Bureau Statistics. 

http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/SSC13156?opendocument#cultural

People — cultural & language diversitydemographics & education | cultural & language diversity | employment

Ancestry, top responses	Parramatta	%	New South Wales	%	Australia	%
Indian	7,885	26.9	211,927	2.1	619,164	2.0
Chinese	4,766	16.3	514,594	5.2	1,213,903	3.9
English	2,242	7.7	2,302,481	23.3	7,852,224	25.0
Australian	1,899	6.5	2,261,062	22.9	7,298,243	23.3
Filipino	712	2.4	117,356	1.2	304,015	1.0

The most common ancestries in Parramatta (State Suburbs) were Indian 26.9%, Chinese 16.3%, English 7.7%, Australian 6.5% and Filipino 2.4%.

Respondents had the option of reporting two ancestries on their Census form, and this is captured by the Ancestry Multi Response (ANCP) variable used in this table. Calculated percentages represent a proportion of total reported ancestry responses in Parramatta (State Suburbs), and therefore the total responses count will not equal the persons count.

View the data quality statement for Ancestry (ANCP)

A New Mural on the Walls and a New Book Celebrate WestWords New Centre Lauch

Great benefits of illustrator residency, illustrated writings to be published by WestWords

In the residency, I've achieved a lot with the strong support from Margaret Hamilton AM (Pinerolo) in beautiful Blue Mountains. I'll chat over,  
1) the finished up project.  
2) my huge benefits from the illustrator residency : skills, networking, social exposure by activated social media and set up future job opportunities. 
3) beautiful Blue Mountains tranquilised me. Plus, sightseeing. 
I could finish up illustrating of the 19 primary school students' imaginative and difficult texts from "rough" to "colour" in five days. The project aims at improving children's literacy and advocates students from non English speaking backgrounds. The publication is purely rewards for the children who worked hard to learn English writings = not for sale, to be published this Nov. I'll show my favourite illustration.  

"A human lived in a watch" 

"The Three Sisters" are just around a corner from Pinerolo.

Here's a post from Margaret Hamilton AM's fb. 

"Sadami Konchi's final day in residency. Here with the selection panel: Michael Campbell (WestWords), me (Pinerolo) and Linsay Knight (Walker Books) were the selection panel for this very successful project. On the table is the extraordinary amount of work she did during her week here: illustrations for childrens' stories to be published by WestWords. She's holding her gorgeous new book MY DOG SOCKS."  
So kind Mr, Mrs Hamilton promoted the mentree in lunch and the displayed the mentree's art work to the selection panel, WestWords and Walker Books. Margaret proudly displayed the art work and passionately spoke for the mentree. 

Photo courtesy credit on WestWords : Left to Right, 
WestWords, Sadami, Margaret, Walker Books. 

When WestWords selected me for Pinerolo mentorship program, the illustration project came to me. WestWords is the Western Sydney’s Literature Development Organisation for Young People. I worked day and night to finish up the project with Margaret's great support. 

I was privileged to use this whole house for residency. 
The right side has a great research library. 

Margaret Hamilton AM and her husband Max have led the mentree with deep and broad knowledge, care, sensitivity, experience, wisdom and enthusiasm to pave a way for the mentree to access winder audience and social exposure in publishing industry. Pinerolo has also respected the mentree’s automacy, privacy and her own thoughts as an independent artist. In order to support the mentree’s work and study, Pinerolo has abundant resources for research. Its collection of picture books and related books is more than a public library and no less than the curriculum resources in Fisher library in University of Sydney. 

I enjoyed a misty morning almost every day. 

The facilities in Pinerolo are well equipped for stay and study, particularly, the unlimited access to internet. Mrs and Mr Hamilton are the witnesses and the part of Australian and international publishing industry history. They well answered my questions. I could create the images in beautiful Blue Mountains. They celebrated my outcome.  

Margaret, Max and me. In front of the permanent exhibition of established illustrators. 

Photo courtesy credit on Margaret Hamilton AM. 

WestWords and Walker Books were so happy with my outcome and showed a great interest in my ongoing future projects. Because of a quiet nature and well-organised research resources, I could concentrate on the projects. I enjoyed the discussion with Margaret about my future projects, too. I deeply appreciate many people's support to carry out this mentorship project and I have developed my skills in a career.  

My case in Pinerolo will build a strong pathway and legacy for other emerging illustrators. It has proven that our publishing industry delightedly embraces anyone with the potential and nurtures them. Pinerolo residency will become a good role model for other mentorship programs in Australia. It will bring hope and dream for us : artists, their family and public people.

Now, WestWords and I are editing the images to make a book for kids. 

Friends, visit Pinerolo or try a mentorship program.  
Happy Painting!  

The world heritage, Govetts Leap is, too, very near to Pinerolo. 

Great benefits of illustrator residency, illustrated writings to be published by WestWords

Learned a lot from Lisa Stewart's Picture Books workshop

Lisa Stewart and Margaret Hamilton's Picture Books workshop was great. I studied collage and enjoyed established illustrators’s working processes. Lisa is, originally from "sculpture" in art. She weighs on the importance of 3D understanding of characters. (*Wow, I wrote it before!) The wishes to draw animals motivated Lisa to be a picture book illustrator, which has turned out a great success. Let's see her working process and tips together. I've bumped good painters converted from sculptors, btw. 

Participant 

Lisa presented her methods, "collage and drawing" and courteously and generously answered questions. It was very interesting to know how another illustrator responded to a text and organise visual images. Getting an idea is possible from anything, if we have a good antenna! She got the idea of a character owl from a chat! Her small sketch book fascinated me and inspired me. It's Lisa's small dummy and a play ground to develop ideas/characters. In sketches, she explores medium, too. When roughly ideas come together, she traces the black and white to real big watercolour papers. "Simplify subjects," Lisa advised us. Then, she layers papers with a variety of textures and colours. Another fun was to know an illustrator's little tips for effective work to meet a deadline! Wise Lisa well uses a planner to check a progress of illustration.

Lisa suggested the importance of space in composition and the continuity of a style though pages. Lisa's dummy already leaves an enough and essential white space. Her sense of designing or the balance of weight in an image was wonderful, I felt. When I asked Lisa when was the most difficult stage in a working process, Lisa said, "Just before colour." Yes, it's not easy. But her colours are so sweet and beautiful!  

Margaret, too, demonstrated each successful illustrator’s procedure with original art work. She often showed the drawing from Stephen Michael King and the "collage" technique from Patricia Mullins. Michael creates real size black and white roughs. Patricia is very famous and successful! Her collage work has very beautiful colours and a sophisticated composition. So, it was great to see the original in my own eyes. Margaret, indeed, published her many picture books by Hamilton Books. 

Tada~~! Lisa, multi-talented artist, played her violin for us! Wow!! 

The great bonus was the feedback on each participant's work. We showed our work on progress. Margaret and Lisa gave the candid, kind and useful critiques. Each of us learned a lot from the comments and other people's work. In addition, Margaret emphasised the uniqueness of each illustrator's working methods with respect, "Some illustrators try dummies and some do not." I make a dummy book and check an information flow. 
I sincerely appreciate Margaret and Lisa's generous help in the high quality workshop. I've deepened the knowledge of illustration processes and gained the insights of picture book illustration with other lovely participants.  

Did you enjoy the workshop with me above? You can come along to Margaret Hamilton's workshops! It's very helpful and practical. That workshop was the part of my education in the children picture book cottage, Pinerolo. In a next post, I'll chat over my residency, the mentorship of Maragret in Pinerolo. 
Btw, I'm working on the picture book of primary school children's writings to be published by WestWords this Nov. So, we're in a rush, rush, rush~~! But it's a great honour and fun. The publication is a reward and present for the children. See you soon. 
Friends, Happy Painting!    

Learned a lot from Lisa Stewart's Picture Books workshop