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/

 

challenge success story - Belladonna Raudvee

Prior to 2014, I realised that I only had a few years left until my youngest child started school and it was time to think about what I wanted to be when I grow up. I had this childhood dream of illustrating and as I am still a child at heart, I knew what I had to do! As it so happened, a crafty friend of mine asked if I would be interested in joining a local Pop Up Shop she was thinking of starting, and display my originals. So I started there.

I came across the 52 Week Challenge at the beginning of 2015 and it had the perfect mixture of support, structure, inspiration and kindness. Without the weekly prompts, I would still be chewing on my pencil and wondering what to draw and how to draw it. By mid year, I felt a change (most likely sleep deprivation and caffeine addiction) and I knew I could do this. I could actually make a career from doing what I love. I began using my challenge illustrations on greeting cards.

My big break came about when my illustrations caught the eye of Dr Howard Gray, a local author and the Chairman of The Batavia Coast Maritime Heritage Association. The Batavia Coast, where I live, is named after this very famous ship, The Batavia. The absolutely terrifying true tale of the shipwreck and survivors is well worth reading about. I put together 26 maritime illustrations which are now featured on The Mariner's Astrolabe, in the centre of Geraldton, WA. I am hoping to start work on the next historical monument (a massive steel globe) in 2017.

With thanks to Heidi Cooper Smith, fellow challenge member with jaw dropping illustrations, I seen that she had successfully entered an illo to Avant Card, Artist Postcards. Avant is the media company that produces all those glorious free collectable postcards in museums, cafes, universities and galleries. I nervously gave it a go and within 6 months I had my Cockatoo printed onto 10,000 postcards, all over Australia. A week after that, on the same day that I wrapped up a workshop designing advertising for The Mid West RoadWise Program with 50 children, a reporter in QLD noticed my Estonian surname and suddenly I was doing a radio interview for SBS Estonia!

One week after that, I seen another challenge member that I admire greatly, Jolanda Jarman, share a competition that she had entered. Redheads 'Through The Ages' Art Comp. I decided to give up sleeping that week and got my entry in a few days before the deadline. I was in shock when I finally found out the I placed 2nd. The new collector's editions of Redheads Matches, featuring my design, are to be released late this year or early 2017.

So much has happened the past 2 years that I never thought was possible in a whole lifetime. These are just the highlights of those years and I still have my whole life ahead of me. I cannot emphasize enough how important this group has been to me. I have made close friends and I have made a career.

You can find out more about Belladonna's work:
Website: www.belladonnaraudvee.com

Etsy: www.etsy.com/au/shop/BelladonnaFineArt

Facebook: www.facebook.com/BelladonnaRaudveeArtist

Instagram: www.instagram.com/belladonna_raudvee

SBS Interview:  http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/estonian/en/content/how-get-your-artwork-postcard

challenge success story: Matt Glover

Shapes, Lines and Dots: Cartooning, Creativity and Wellbeing for Kids
byMatt Glover

On October 7th 2016 it finally happened. I held the first copy of my very first book!

I’ve had a variety of careers but a constant has been the freelance work that I have done in cartooning and illustration.

Five years ago, after an unexpected and traumatic change of life circumstances, I found myself back at Uni studying a Masters in Counselling and on the path to opening my private counselling practice in Melbourne’s Eastern Suburbs.

Around the same time I opened my practice, a friend suggested that I try my hand at running cartoon workshops in schools. These quickly became very popular and I found myself travelling all over Victoria feeling slightly guilty that I was getting paid to have fun!

I see lots of students during the course of a year - in 2016 I will see just over 10 000 young people! I always hope that the students and teachers will have a good time, but what I didn’t anticipate was the repeated use of a particular word to describe my cartoon workshop experience.

Repeatedly teachers have used the word “therapeutic”.

Suddenly I found my counselling world and my cartooning world on a wonderful collision course. Cartooning started to feature more deliberately in my counselling rooms, with very good outcomes. Counselling techniques (such as mindfulness and emotional awareness) started to feature in my cartoon workshops. I put together a course on “Cartooning and Wellbeing” for adults as part of a conference in Sydney and was booked out.

Then I started to get asked, “Where can we buy your book?”

In July of 2016 I started putting together what was to become Shapes, Lines and Dots: Cartooning, Creativity and Wellbeing for Kids. I used my school visits as a test run for the drawing exercises in the book and included all the favourites. I included mindfulness activities suitable for Primary aged kids and weaved them into the chapters. I pestered Tanya McCartney and Nicky Johnston about all things book publishing. I spoke to as many authors that would listen to me about the various aspects of writing a non-fiction book for kids. Against all better judgement, I decided to self-publish through my counselling practice.

While I can draw, I haven’t got an eye for design. I put out the call on Facebook for a designer and challenge member Cara King was the right person for the job. When it comes to patience, Cara is second only to my wife! Cara’s experience, knowledge, suggestions and design skills turned my idea into a reality, and I’m thrilled with the results.

I joined the challenge about three years ago and it has been instrumental in broadening my own artistic experience and has improved my skills more than anything else has.  Without the constant encouragement of the 52-week community, and some experienced and helpful individuals, this project would not have happened. Thank you to all of you!

Shapes, Lines and Dots: Cartooning, Creativity and Wellbeing for Kids can be used by schools as a fundraiser for their wellbeing program.

Purchase your copy HERE

Volumes two and three are in the pipeline and will be due for release in time for book week next year. Assuming Cara has fully recovered from this one…

challenge success story: Joanne Stead

I love being able to share Challenge Success Stories, thank you Joanne Stead for sharing your amazing journey and success with us all....

x Nicky

Challenge Member: Joanne Stead

When I joined the 52-week Illustration Challenge in October 2014 I had no idea it was about to turn my life around. 

I have been lucky enough to secure two solo-exhibitions just 18-months after joining the Challenge

Here I was: a single mum with three kids, two exes and a public service job - 2014 had been a tumultuous year for me with a myriad of personal dramas, health issues and work changes, and I was feeling burnt out!  I knew I needed something for me, and a link to the 52-week illustration Challenge popped up on one of Chantelle Ellem’s FatMumSlim blogs.  I think that link literally called my name, loudly! I put a shout out on my Facebook page asking for my arty friends to join me and jumped right in.

My first contribution was a pencil drawing for Week 46: Circus and I was absolutely overwhelmed with all of the positive feedback, encouragement and warm welcomes I received. I was instantly addicted.  The Challenge gave me permission to fiddle around with mediums and try new things.  Over the coming weeks I submitted in digital, pastel, collage, fluoro party hairspray and ink (I didn’t have any spraypaint!) and coloured pencil.  The constant stream of amazing, inspired and inspiring creativity, as well as the love in the group spurred me on, excited for every next theme. 

My first ever post - Week 46: Circus (2014)

In early 2015, after admiring Jason Philp’s Challenge posts for many weeks, I confessed in a comment that I had never heard of his medium – scraperboard – but I was totally in love with it.  He sent me to a blog on scraperboard that he had done for the Challenge, and I ordered some supplies.

My first ever scraperboard submission for Week 5: Kitchen (2015)

Scraperboard became my ‘thing’ between February and September last year and I created about 30 works in response to Challenge themes, sometimes two in a week.  I absolutely fell in love with the medium and I still can’t believe some of the images that I managed to create only a few months after returning to art, all thanks to the Challenge.

Scraperboard was my absolute turning point.  I so loved the medium and I loved the images that I was churning out, and was getting great feedback - so in April 2015 I started a Facebook artist page for myself.  A month later, still full of no idea, with a portfolio of original scraperboards tucked into a big padded envelope I made appointments with the Tamworth Regional Gallery and Weswal, a little private gallery, to show them what I had.  I went in hoping to get some great local advice on what professional development was available and how I could move to the next level and was utterly gobsmacked when they both loved what I was already producing.  Weswal wanted to take framed images on consignment and the Regional Gallery starting talking about providing some gallery space in the community gallery, and booked me in to run a class as part of their July school holiday program.

Week 21: Stripes (2015)

At about that same time I joined in with a group of Tamworth-based artists who were volunteering to create a community art concept as part of a local playground project.  Little did I know, that we would all get along so well that we would stick together after the project was finished!  The Tamworth Regional Art Collective (TRAC) was borne, and nine months later we are now creating our third paid public art installation together.

Some of the TRAC members and our children with a mosaic installation we finished in March 2016

2016 has really been my year - I have been lucky enough to secure two solo-exhibitions, something I never would have thought possible only a few ago.  Both exhibitions were opportunities that arose and I chose to say “yes” to despite being under-prepared.  The first was at a local café who had just created a gallery space and they were looking for artists who were ready to exhibit.  By this time I had upgraded from my big Australia Post envelope to an actual portfolio but I still took my unframed originals in, in the hope of scoring a solo show.  They asked for an opening date, and I chose my upcoming birthday (the big four oh!) and then with just three weeks to put the whole thing together, create a retail aspect, frame and hang, the rush was on! 

Having a show on my birthday was really the best present anyone could ask for.  A dream come true.  I couldn’t believe my luck, it was such a wonderful feeling to be putting my creations out there.  A mixture of bravado and vulnerability, pride and nerves.  But I did it.

Opening night of my Tamworth exhibition "Scraperboard and other amusements"

Then in June this year another opportunity arose for a large-scale solo exhibition in Brisbane.  They needed at least 50 pieces and the only opening in their schedule was 22 August to 30 September.  It was such a good opportunity I certainly didn’t want to turn it down, and so I said “yes” again.  And then I panicked…  To get enough pieces done in time I would have to be creating one finished, saleable piece every two to three days!  Well with inspiration from the Challenge themes and encouragement from my beautiful arty friends I did it.  I really don’t know how.  I was going to bed forcing inspiration to come, willing great ideas for an engaging image, and then jumping up out of bed to start as soon as it did. 

Behind all this I have been working with a business coach since May this year - Rachel Marsden from The Great Creative Life - and her business and marketing advice and knowledge has been indispensable.  In the lead up to my Brisbane show she guided me expertly through all of the things I would never have thought of, to hone in on my ideal target audience and boost the profile of the show.  After selling two original pieces at my café show in Tamworth in February, sales of originals at the Brisbane show are currently at 15 with still three weeks to go, and I am tripping over myself in amazement.

At my Brisbane exhibition "Choosing to Fly" with other 52-Week Challenge members and friends Vanessa Pritchard, Heidi Cooper and Bronny Boniface (my son wanted my attention!)

I am so grateful to the Challenge team and members for putting me on this path.  I feel like all I had to do was join the group and then, as a group, you have all invested so much in me.  Every member, every like and comment, every piece of advice and link to other opportunities, and best of all, the many friendships that have developed.  It is such an encouraging group to be a part of, and I truly believe there nothing else like it.  

I am so grateful for this new exciting life I have, to be connecting to my inner gifts and to have made the space in my life for constant creativity.  I would encourage everyone to embrace their talents, and to say “yes” to every opportunity that comes your way: - Life is for living after all, and I absolutely know that I will never look back.

challenge success story: Cara King

I began the 52 week illustration challenge half way through 2014: eye week. I was working 4 days a week with 2 small boys in childcare and not much time for anything. I was missing seeing my boys grow up and my passion for drawing and this challenge opened a door.

Cara King

I read Tania’s Fantastical Flying creator and quit my job. My husband allocated some of his shed for me and built me a studio. In 2015 I completed all weeks (except texture) and I’ve loved it and built up a fair whack of images. I have felt so encouraged along the way by all who are in the challenge, seeing their work and reading their lovely comments on each other’s pieces. It’s a wonderful hub.

Cara's studio

I heard through a friend that someone was looking for an illustrator and sent her some links to my Facebook page. I was thrilled to be asked to illustrate a book for these wonderful women (Roz Hopkins and Natalie Winter from Captain Honey Publishing).

Their book “Mummy and Mumma get Married” is a story about marriage equality and the excitement of the wedding day. I feel strongly about this issue and am delighted to be illustrating for this book.

This challenge has helped in so many ways, that I’m grateful to be given this platform to draw and to be among a community of art-loving like-minded individuals with astounding talent.

Follow Cara:

Website: www.caratoons.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/caratoonsdesign

Buy "Mummy and Mumma get Married" HERE: www.captainhoney.com.au

Buy from Amazon HERE

challenge success story: Tania McCartney

image by Penny Fisher

When I first conceived of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge in December 2013, I had absolutely no idea it would morph into the community it has today.

For me, probably the greatest ‘successes’ I’ve achieved since the Challenge began on 1 January 2014, has been the deep friendships I’ve developed, the group's divine sense of community, and the overwhelming satisfaction of watching so many members achieve so very much.

And when I say achieve, I mean anything and everything from changing jobs, starting a business and having books published, to finally following their calling, healing relationships and changing their life’s direction. Like, completely.

All this has brought me much personal joy and has changed my world in ways too numerous to mention. I would definitely call that a success!

As for the direct opportunities and dream realisations that have arisen since the Challenge began, again—where do I begin?? Here are just a few:



My First Exhibition
52 Challenge members, including myself, exhibited for Arts Brookfield in Perth in March 2015. Arts Brookfield is one of the world’s largest public exhibitors of art, and I have long-admired their world standing. To have our work exhibit for three weeks at Brookfield Place was a phenomenal experience—and curating the works with Challenge Director Nicky Johnston was also a career highlight. Image above is my exhibited piece.


Print Appearances
Again, along with other Challenge members, it’s been such a pleasure to have my work featured online and in several magazines, including Tickle the Imagination magazine. This has definitely upped my profile in terms of accessing an entirely new demographic that my writing/books may not have secured. Image above of my cocoon girl.


A Picture Book Collaboration
Last year, I put the call out on the Challenge Wall, offering the opportunity to illustrate one of my books. We had many wonderful entries, and Jess Racklyeft won this opportunity. Our book, Smile Cry, is out this March in the UK, US, Canada and New Zealand, and this April in Australia. Working with a Challenge member, and now dear friend, was the most glorious experience and I am so in love with this book!

This will not be the first picture book collaboration I'll enjoy via the Challenge.

Picture above is Jess's original entry in the picture book call-out--an illustration she aligned with a sentence from my book text. Below is the cover/s of the book (it has two stories that meet in the middle!).



My First Grant
The Challenge is directly responsible for my very first grant, thanks to the ACT Government’s ArtsACT programme. I was awarded $12,000 to work on my illustrated book, which meant I could focus most of my time on the book, and be able to put in the many hours I would need to complete it.

New Genres
Since posting my illustration works consistently online, I’ve been approached by other publishers—one of them interested in publishing a new genre of children’s book I’d like to work in. This would not have happened without the Challenge, and I hope to sign for this amazing opportunity soon.

And the biggest 'success' of all ...



First Self-Illustrated Book
The Challenge and its supportive environment was fertile ground for re-igniting my long-lost love of illustration (something I enjoyed prolifically as a teen and young adult). Weekly prompts and the lessons I learned from Challenge members, and the saturation of constant creativity and inspiration, was enough to develop my skills quite rapidly.

As you can see from the image below--2014's Week 1: EGGS, I had certainly lost my mojo.



As the Challenge went on, my style started to emerge and improve:



Within 18 months of commencing the Challenge, and dedicating myself to re-honing my craft, one of my publishers contracted me for my first illustrated book—a 96 page children’s picture book on Australia. The book is out November 2016. To say this is a life dream realised is an absolute understatement. I am beyond ecstatic (and terribly nervous!). This would never have happened without the Challenge.

There are many more indirect opportunities and successes that have come from The Challenge. And I know there will be many more. It just goes to show that when like-minded people come together in the spirit of creativity, anything—truly anything—can happen.

You can follow Tania online:
taniamccartney.com
taniamccartney.blogspot.com.au
kids-bookreview.com
facebook.com/pages/Tania-McCartney/319138241060
twitter.com/#!/TaniaMcCartney
instagram.com/taniamccartney
pinterest.com/taniamcc

challenge success story : Suzy Houghton

Suzy Houghton

I first began the illustration challenge in 2014. I watched for a few weeks, worried that I wouldn’t be good enough but finally jumped in for the week of 'cross hatching'. I can honestly say I am embarrassed to look at that piece now but it was the start of everything so I have to give it some credit.

It was around this time I decided to teach myself to use watercolour paint and the challenge was the perfect outlet for that. Several months into the challenge, I got up the courage to enter my first show and was shocked to win the watercolour section. A direct result from being in the group.

Magnolia by Suzy Houghton

I spent the remainder of that year improving my skills and by the end had confirmed what I already knew, that this is what I wanted to do with my life.

During the Christmas break, I made a plan of what I wanted to achieve the following year (a huge part of that came after reading Tania McCartney's  brilliant E-Workshop Fantastical Flying Creator). The 2015 challenge would be used to create a portfolio of work that could be sent to a publisher, which meant approaching each week’s theme as more of a book idea rather than drawing the first thing I thought of.

Week one was 'fairy tale' and my illustration of the ugly duckling sold the day I posted it. My first Challenge sale. Then came week two which changed everything.

Ugly Duckling by Suzy Houghton

The theme was 'Italy'. I had lots of ideas but I decided to use one of my favorite places from my travels, Venice. Two things came to mind, the beautiful masks and the pigeons. I decided to combine them.

Fairy tale by Suzy Houghton

It was one of my best illustrations up to this point and because of all the challenge support, I decided to enter it in my first illustration competition. I was shortlisted. I came runner up to the amazing Heidi Cooper Smith (a fellow challenge member). I was over the moon and once again, this confirmed I was on the right track.

Just to go on a tangent for a moment, the previous year Tania had announced a side challenge to illustrate an alphabet book, which later got scrapped. I had created two food-related images for this and decided that I would continue this challenge in my own time. I did a letter whenever I could fit it in, and suddenly towards the middle of the year, I realised I was actually going to finish it. So I made the decision to self-publish my own book.

I also entered my challenge piece 'summer' in a local art show and won viewer’s choice.

Summer by Suzy Houghton

During this time, I was made aware through the Challenge of another illustration competition with The Five Mile Press. I thought why not give it a crack. Heidi was in the process of illustrating her first book which meant she couldn’t enter, so my chance of winning had greatly improved!

I looked through all the illustrations I had done but kept coming back to my pigeons. For the competition, they needed to show a bit more context, so the original image was slightly adjusted.

Suzy's entry for The Five Mile Press illustrator competition

November 2015 came around and things panned out like this:

3rd: I pick up my self-published book Eat Your Words from the printers.

10^th: Get a phone call to say I have won the Five Mile Press Illustration Competition.

11^th: Get a call to see if I will be the artist in residence for the local art show I had previously entered.

29^th: Have a skype meeting with The Five Mile Press to discuss my book deal that was part of the prize. It’s here I discover I will also be writing it! My cheeky pigeons will be appearing in a store near you later this year.

I can honestly say not one of these things would have happened if I had not joined the Challenge. Taking the first step to join this group of amazing and talented people has truly changed my life.

Suzy Houghton

Suzy Houghton wins The Five Mile Press Illustrator Prize 2015

You can follow Suzy online:

Website: www.suzannehoughtondesigns.com.au

Facebook: www.facebook.com/suzannehoughtondesigns