challenge success story: Sally Fawcett

Hi I'm Sally,

                  

I started the challenge right at the beginning, Week 1 - 2014.  The prompt word was EGG.  I drew a baby in an egg shaped womb. Perhaps it was a premonition that I was about to begin a great creative journey.   I still like this drawing, but I can do so much better now thanks to practise, encouragement from challenge members and more practise! Oops it was a pretty dark photo too!

 

Since that first week I have experienced many exciting moments that have come from my involvement in this challenge.  In December of 2014 I signed a contract to have my first picture book ‘What Could it Be?’ published by EK BOOKS.  I was also asked to illustrate it, as the publisher had seen my illustrations in the challenge and liked my style. This was super exciting!!! You can read about my journey to publication HERE if you are interested.   What Could it Be? was published in June 2016!!

 

In 2015 I donated an illustration, that I had painted for a challenge theme, to a local art auction.  I was quite embarrassed to go and see my piece being auctioned, but with a glass of wine and a few friends dragging me into the auction room I sat down and cringed when they started the bids at $150 for my little A4 unframed illo!  I thought no one would bid and I’d be so embarrassed … My piece ‘Raining Sunshine’ sold for $385 and I won $450 second place prize in the people’s choice!!!!! How exciting!   

 

There was a local framer at the auction who asked me to exhibit in his shop.  I felt very nervous about doing an exhibition but I said yes anyway, pushed away my lack of confidence and exhibited in Nov 2015.  All the pieces were illustrations I had done for challenge themes.  I sold all except 2 pieces!!

Also in 2015 there was a BONUS challenge to feature in the creative 'Tickle the Imagination' magazine.  The theme was cocoon and with 20 others gorgeous illustrations my cocoon was chosen to be part of a story on the 52 week illustration challenge.

I spent most of 2016 illustrating my second picture book ‘Through the Gate’ also published by EK BOOKS ,and missed doing most of the challenge weeks—I was just too busy thanks to the opportunities I gained from being involved in this wonderful illustration group!!! Through the Gate was inspired by a challenge theme in 2014 - HOUSE I was doing the dishes and thinking about the house I had drawn for the theme and I got an idea for a story.  I stopped mid-dishwash and wrote the story 'Through the Gate!'  It will be available to buy in May 2017. 

 

This year I plan to contribute a lot more to the challenge than I did last year… I also want to write a lot more than I did last year.  I have a few cool story ideas, so fingers crossed I can get another contract in 2017

 

To inspire some creativity in you all, I would like to offer a BONUS CHALLENGE for members to win a copy of my first picture book ‘What could it Be?’  This is a book about geometric shapes and thinking outside the square to all the possibilities a shape can be. 

A CIRCLE … What else could it be? An eye, a ball, a part of a pattern… What do YOU think a circle could be?

Just draw a CIRCLE on a page and turn it into a wonderful illustration!  BE CREATIVE!!!  The CIRCLE can be any size you like, but it must be clear that you have included a circle.

I will send a copy of my book to the most creative idea.  I know this will be very hard to choose, so I might even give away two books if I just can’t decide!  Please see the BONUS CHALLENGE post on the challenge wall for more details.

Please write in your submission intro BONUS CHALLENGE: CIRCLE #whatcoulditbe

This bonus challenge will run for 1 week only. Entries close midnight Australian EST Sunday 22nd January 2017 I will announce the winner on Monday 23rd January 2017

Thanks so much for reading about my challenge journey and I hope you get involved in my BONUS CHALLENGE.  Sal x

You can find out more about Sally here:
Blog: http://sallyfawcett.blogspot.com.au/
Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/Salsillos/