Lunch With Kids @ Bookfeast 2014!

Hi, Friends, first, a school holidays program! Come over my watercolour workshop. Children aged between 8 and 12 years @ Parramatta library,  on 1st October,11am-12pm. $3 per person. To book, please contact the library, 9806 5159. 
Now, this week's topic, Bookfeast! Picture book illustrators and authors had lunch with primary shcool children, teacher librarians and teachers. I had a wonderful time with them, talking over my published books, a sketch book, a dummy book for my picture book = a final stage of illustration. The most entertaning was my watercolour sketch demo! So quick and it captured the speaker, Marcell Bernard on a stage. It amazed all children. Thanks, kids, I love your "wows"!  

Children were very happy to know my books, the process of picture book illustration and the sample works. Primary school students asked me questions.

For example...
Q1) What is you're most proud? 
"Being what I am fully."   
Q2) How did you become an illustrator? 
The difficulty in my leg opened a door to be an illustrator. My story lit up the teacher librarians' faces and kids' faces. After lunch, a girl came to me and said how much it inspired her. Good! 

Kids made a long queue to get my autograph. (*In my mind, I really, really thanked for these little "big" fans...!!)  This is my autograph. One girl had difficulty in the legs and on a wheel chair. She came to me also asked me to pray for her. Another girl brought a huge orange canvas for an autograph. I could imagine she would hang it on her room, sure. I signed each kid's note, diary, etc, etc, thinking of their life stories. 

I also talked of my editor Helen Chamberlin and mentor Ann James, when I chatted over my to-be-published picutre book. Kids and some teacher librarians did not know the name of Helen, but they knew Shaun Tan. When I showed "Arrival", all got how blessed I was to work with such a great editor! Ann James is in Korea RIGHT NOW to bridge culture between Australia and Korea through picture books! What a fantastic mentor I have!  

 I really love these naughty pretty girls and boys. 

Look at this graffiti on a balloon! 

An organiser had told me four years ago, "You (=illustrators and authors) are super heros for children." I know this event would make children's dreams come true to see their superheros and give them hope. It is our real purpose of this project. Ever since, I've been joining this annual feast. 

Kids were kings and queens for me. So, I did my best to entertain them! I wanted to see their smiling and to hear their laughing! Sometimes, I came across children who were poor at using knife. I always cut their chickens. ​All the staff know me and appreciated my "extra" service for kids. I appreciated their hard work. "All children know you (Sadami)!" the staff said. Wow! It surprised me and made me so happy! 

This is Tasha's present for me. Thank you! 
So beautiful! 

Hey, Friends, ... that's my fabulous job, a picture book illustrator! It brings love and hope for children and readers. 

May all these children have wonderful bright futures.
Their futures are our futures and for our Australia and a world! 
The teacher librarian said, "We'll put your watercolour workshop on our school newspaper!" at a good bye. Yes, please! I look forward to see children again!!
Special thanks to the students and the staff. 

.. and a very interesting new project has come to me. 
Friends, you, too, enjoy drawing and life. Happy Painting!  

​. 

​

Lunch With Kids @ Bookfeast 2014!

1)Federal Election 2) BookFest

Hi, Friends, how have you been? We had a federal election last Saturday and now, have a new Gov. "The answer is blowin' in the wind," is my honest impression of political debates on tv. But chidlren's innocent smile makes us happy.

None of politician well answers the questions in the song, "Blowin' the Wind." Anyone will do. We need someone who really thinks of us and acts on behalf of us at parliament. Also, without art, our life will be so poor and no taste. But sadly, art is neither appreciated nor valued in society.

Voting at Town Hall

BTW, I've been busy with the picture book project, portraits and a book festival (*a charity work, We had lunch with pupils at school ). It was wonderful to see children's innocent and beautiful smile and laughter. Edensor Park Public School (School Newspaper p2). (thank you for including me in your school newspaper!! Honoured and so COOL!)  

A teacher said,  "Sadami, you have a talent to make us laugh!"  Hahaha, it could be!

Friends, let us bequeath a bit better world to our next generation, of course with art! 
Happy, Painting!!!

1)Federal Election 2) BookFest

Lunch with Children & Tobby Riddle at Book Fest

Hi, Friends, exclusive! 
I was invited for the lunch and enjoyed it with children at Book Festival today. 
We, authors and picture book illustrators met 500 children in a Hall. 
A panel discussion was a great fun. Authors often made us laugh. I sketched it. Can you see children looking at them with a great interest?

For children, we are super heroes --- I felt my responsibility as an artist. Kids took lots of photos of us.
 ...personally, I really love these naughty pretty girls ( I used to do it! and still do it!!), ahahaha!  

 

Friends, see this great talent! One girl, Lyn sketched me. It captures me very well and very cute and pretty! Thank you, Lyn! 

Ten students, a teacher and an author or an illustrator were at each table.  We had a wonderful time.

Many children made a queue to get my authography and a quick drawing with a message, "Love and Hope!" 
Often kids said, "Coool!" "Funny!" "Awesome!" Hahaha!  
Yes, my message is same as before and will be so in my artist life. I'd deliver children love, hope and dream.  

One girl talked to me at the end of the festival.
"Can you remember me?" she asked. 
Oh, flashback! I remembered her! Yes, the girl asked me to sketch her a year ago. She kept it for her treasure and showed it me again. Oh, Sweetie, lovely. Thank YOU for remembering me! 
Children, you deserve to be happy and beloved.
I heartily hope, one day, children will look back this day and this memory will help them get through a tough time.

A big bonus is I could meet the brilliant author and illustrator Tohby Riddle in person. I'm his big fan! His great surrealism, sophisticated humour and sweetness, very heartwarming messages are so lovely. Well, you can find Tohby's duck sneaking in my watermark!! Got it?  (*Yeah, I was nothing different from other children. I put myself in his queue to get it!)

I'd really appreciate organizers' hard work and other backstage players efforts for the event. Thank you for giving me the great opportunity to share time with kids. 

I certainly feel an illustartor is a wonderful job! I love it.
Have a wonderful weekend, Friends!!  
Happy Painting!! 

Lunch with Children & Tobby Riddle at Book Fest

My Wonderful School Visit

Hi, Friends, thank you for a great patience for a new post!

I visited Haberfield Public School, joined "Book Parade" and enjoyed 3 sessions with children.

Teacher

Tadada~~~, "Book Parade"!

Pupils dressed up favorite book characters and proudly marched in a hall to show off. Actually, so cute and funny. (*Don't ask if Bat man and Spider Man are in "literature" or not.)

What a great honour for 2 authors and me, an illustrator, we held a banner! All teachers turned out fairies, witches and wizards.

Teacher

Parents got excited and took photos. Of course, youngsters, too, got very excited. I wondered if kids would go wild? No. 2 speakers (older students) handled situations very well, which impressed me so much. Once, teachers asked children to calm down, they kept silent. Children behaved very well. We, grown-ups must learn it from kids?!

Before Parade

After enjoying the marching, I talked over picture book illustration and how to draw at the library. Regarding oral presentation skills, "Speak slowly. If you feel TOO slow, it's just good to hear for audience," was my sociology tutor's nice advice. And good eye contact! I really respected each child and tried not to talk to them from a higher position. (*I cannot bend knees well. Sorry, kids, but I wanted to squat in order to keep my eye position same to you.)

Hall

But above all, teachers' backup and children's cooperation helped me.
Unfortunately, I had a very sore throat and could not speak loud. Children listened to me very well. Again, their good manner impressed me so much.

Primary school kids had a great interest in illustration and drawings. Hey, Painting Friends, can you answer for this?
"How do you make 3D paintings?" "Value" is the topic. To explain about value takes time. I checked the time and illustrated a simple sample, an egg and a shadow. Then, "setting 3 simplified values (= high light, middle, darkest)." Hopefully it would help children enjoy drawing.
Another main question was how to draw figures. I took a face for an example and talked of the proportion. Yes, the proportion of a human head. BUT I used a more simplified ratio for children. Today, children were Queens and Kings. No big words. If they could not follow my talk, it's all my fault.
I carefully observed children's reactions, body language and chose very simple doodles. I asked children to demonstrate their drawings and to speak out. Kids must be centralized in class. I wanted children to have fun, interest and confidence in drawings.

After the day, I got a wonderful and priceless "thank you card." Here we go! In my eyes, any child is so lovely, a living angel on the earth.
Librarian, Mr Michael Fraser is so caring for children. Certainly, he is a hero and so popular. Many students are from Non English Speaking backgrounds. He passionately assists children to study and make them join the library activities. Children proudly and joyfully carry out rending and returning books etc. Friends, being a picture book illustrator is very rewarding! Let us bequeath a bit better world to a next generation.
Mr Fraser still seeks more illustrators to join it. If anyone has interest, please contact Mr Fraser. Michael Fraser Haberfield Public School
mjo51266@bigpond.com
Ph: 9797 6336 Fax: 9716 7315

Friends, happy painting!
I'll get back to the ongoing project.

My Wonderful School Visit

Exclusive! Great Time with Kids at BookFeast

I'm back from the Book Feastival. Great fun with children.

I wanted to show children that picture books = art is universal language. My original watercolours, quick sketches, a compact paint kit and Arche papers fascinated the kids and the teachers so much. In a few minutes, I made drawings of one child and a teacher by a pencil. Our table was full of "Ohhhh," "Waah!" and laugh. (I put on my fool's cap, but the little boy took it! Ahahaha!)

I also made "origami birds(=Japanese paper folding craft)" for kids and teachers. They followed me. Actually, a bird can move wings like flying. Children liked it! I wanted them to fly into their "bright future."

After the lunch, children freely came to any author and illustrator to get signatures. I found handouts did not print my face photo(I assume I was a new participant this year). So, I quickly added a cartoon Sadami waving at kids with words, "Love and Hope!" Kids loved my cartoon and made a long queue.

"A word, "Triumph" consists of two parts, Kids. 'Try' and a little bit 'umph!' and you will get it. Don't give up your dream. Please make your dream come true," I added.

(*Australian top writers and illustrators. Amazing... I was put on the stage...) You see how passionately children taking photos of us... Indeed, we are super heroes for them. I felt my responsibility as an artist.

I hope one day, children will look back this day and this memory will help them get through a stormy time. Children, you deserve to be happy and loved.
I'd really appreciate an organizer Michael's hard work and other backstage players efforts for the event. Thank you for giving me the great opportunity to share time with kids.

Ah! What a wonderful feeling!! How nice and what a blessing that I'm a picture book illustrator!!

I'm becoming very busy. I try to keep my usual update every Monday. Please turn a blind eye, if I cannot keep it. Friends, happy painting!

Love and smile,
Sadami

Exclusive! Great Time with Kids at BookFeast

BookFest for Children 2010 in Burwood

Hi, Friends,

I'm invited to join "Book Festival" in Burwood.
I asked Michael to let me help Non English speakers and young primary pupils. This is my first experience and I want to make pupils happy.

If you are writers or illustrators and interested in it, please contact Michael and spend time with children who have difficulties in life and help kids enjoy literature.
If you know any writer and illustrator, please pass on my blog to them.You’re Invited to Mr Fraser's Literary Luncheon
BOOKFEAST 2010!!
Lunch with your readers
WHEN: Thursday 16th Sept 2010
WHERE: 96 Shaftesbury Rd, Burwood NSW 2134
TIME: 11:00am - 2:30pm
Your attendance would be greatly appreciated.

RSVP: ASAP Please!
To: Michael Fraser Haberfield Public School
Ph: 9797 6336 Fax: 9716 7315
Email: mjo51266@bigpond.com

A map and outline of the day are provided for your
information and safe arrival! Please bring books to sell
Kind regards
Michael

I hope our little help can make a bit difference for children, our future.

Love and smile, Sadami

>>>>>>>>>The detail is below.
REQUEST FOR AUTHORS/ILLUSTRATORS BOOKFEAST 2010

Bookfeast is a Festival that celebrates the contribution of children's literature in facilitating engagement between the ideas and imagination of Australian writers and illustrators and young people. Through these interactions this Festival aims to encourage children from all over Sydney to enjoy and appreciate the written word. The young participants come from all nationalities and many have grown up with some very unique experiences and are learning to overcome difficult social issues. Bookfeast provides the space and creative opportunity for young people to come face to face with writers and illustrators, gaining an insight into their practice and also the world of writing.

This event is a NOT FOR PROFIT function where authors and illustrators are invited to attend and donate their services and has been running consecutively for the last 15years. Michael Fraser, Teacher Librarian from Haberfield Primary School has kindly donated his time freely over the past year, in the interest of children and books. Even though some Authors bring along some of their books to sell at Bookfeast, it is primarily an event focused at giving back to the community.

Bookfeast is an annual event which has grown to become extremely popular and highly valued literary festival for students from both public and private schools (including primary and secondary schools) in the South West Sydney metropolitan region.

The event aims to encourage young people to read and to recognise the value and contributions of Australian literature. It is a chance for more than 500 school children and their Teacher Librarians to share lunch and conversation with some of their favourite Australian authors and illustrators.

This year, Bookfeast is being held on Thursday, 16th September 2010 at 96 Shaftesbury Rd, Burwood . We hope to continue to attract over 30 authors and illustrators to donate their time between 10:30 am and 2:00 pm for the event. Each author will be seated at a table of 9 students, accompanied by their Teacher Librarian. We ask you to share your ideas and thoughts about your work, how you got started, and why you love what you do.

This is a non-profit event. As such, we consider every author, illustrator and publisher to be 'supporters' of Bookfeast - to promote literacy, education and awareness of Australian literature.If you are able to give us your much valued time and support on the day, or would like more information, please contact:

Michael Fraser Teacher librarian Haberfield Public School Tel: (02) 9798 8767 Mobile: 0402 296 664

BookFest for Children 2010 in Burwood