Yoga stretch cat

Streeeeetch

Discover Centre, Stratford

Today I went to the Discover Children's Story Centre in Stratford. It's a really super and unusual place - a literacy centre and children's museum, with a story trail, crafts and lots of interactive play areas, a great adventure playground and a semi-permanent story installation downstairs (currently set in space and created by the talented Jim Field). They also run a regular programme of storytelling events, and host workshops with writers and illustrators.

I did two Toucans talks, and drew expressions with the children. They were attentive groups, although the afternoon gang were fairly disparaging about my snake AND my giraffe, labelling them both ducks. I tried to tell them how sensitive we artists are, but they seemed unmoved by this. So then I looked like the cat below on the left... just kidding!

It was a great day and I really recommend the Discover Centre for anyone with children in the area, or indeed as a destination - there is so much to keep children (and adults) happy and stimulated there.

Before the harsh and wounding critique of my giraffe skillz

Signing some Toucans!

Storystock, Saturday November 2nd, Bush Theatre

**EVENT TIME!!**

I'm going to be doing an event at the new Bush Theatre in Shepherds Bush on Saturday November 2nd. This is part of the first Angels & Urchins Storystock Festival, for which there is a great line-up. 

Tickets for my event, which is at 9.30am, are £6 and are available HERE.

I'm going to be reading from The Toucan Brothers, and we're going to draw expressions together and draw other things and generally make merry with animal characters! Please come down!

Cats with Attitude No 1

House of Illustration fundraising party

Last night I attended a super party for the House of Illustration, to raise funds for the opening of their permanent home next year in Kings Cross. It seemed to me that they raised a lot through their auction - I hope they felt it was a success. It was certainly a fun evening.

I did a small bit of drawing on the visualiser later on, which I'd never done before. My hand was a bit shaky, but not too bad!

Pig drawing

Leaning in, Sandberg style

Thanks to Andrea for the photographs!

Screen printing thinking

Some more thinkings for screenprints... not quite there yet! But nearly, hopefully, just want one to practise with! 

Flashy

Cat for screenprinting...

Screen printing again

I had an induction into the next door print studio yesterday. Although it wasn't that long ago that I screen printed, I forget things so quickly if I'm not applying them. But it was great to do this again, and I feel really excited to get started! I did these guys from a recent drawing - one colour, edition of six on nice thick cream paper (25 x 35cm) - I'm putting them in my Big Cartel shop in case anyone would fancy one! £12 each including postage! That's a piiiig bargain.

New Studio!

Yesterday I left Studio 24 in west London where I've been for the last two and a half years, and moved all my stuff across town to the east! Though I felt really sad to leave, I've been feeling that it was time for a shake-up, and I'm looking forward to getting to know a new area. The studio here is great; I'm sure it'll take me a while to settle in properly, but so far I'm very happy. Here's my desk up and running. There are two dogs here, one of them chases her tail in a cartoon fashion. It feels like the first day of school - but a million times friendlier!