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I am so pleased to be able to announce today the arrival of my new book Print & Pattern Nature published by Laurence King. This is the fifth book in the P&P Series and focuses on design using flowers, leaves, birds, trees, butterflies etc. 101 fantastic designers have kindly submitted their work and given an insight into how they create their works, their inspirations and influences. Just some

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Woodland Mouse, Woodland Nutcracker

Sharing crumbs of kindness, for day 23 of Advent here are the woodland mice - and Mouse King - from Woodland Nutcracker.

Woodland Mice say "Thank you", Woodland Nutcracker

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Coming soon to a screen near you: animation from Ghana.

The post Meet the Passionate Artists Who Are Building An Animation Industry in Ghana appeared first on Cartoon Brew.

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An animated short about growing old and the fear of losing the beauty of youth.

The post Annecy 2016 Student Winner ‘Depart at 22’ Debuts Online [Exclusive Premiere] appeared first on Cartoon Brew.

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This was a rough year for many of us, crazy election, many beloved famous people gone, and I think it is fair to say we are all ready to wave 2016 good-bye. For me, personally, this has been a pivotal year  in terms of my illustration work. I am currently illustrating my third children's book in a row and have discovered that I love the entire process of both writing and illustrating children's books. The story telling aspect is so challenging and rich and exciting whether through words or art or both. Here is another sneaky peeky into my illustration process for Hidden City which I believe is going to be released Spring '17. I thought it would be appropriate to post this tiny wintry scene which is cropped from a much larger illustration. Here was my sketch idea and my color version.

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LITTLE ONE
by Jo Weaver
e: What is your medium?
Jo: I generally work with willow charcoal and a putty rubber on slightly toothed paper. Willow charcoal is very soft which makes it difficult to get crisp lines, but it has a wonderful texture to it and is great for tonal work. I love the earthiness of charcoal. And there is something deeply gratifying about producing a whole artwork with only one little stick of burnt wood! e: What do you think makes an illustration magical, what I call "Heart Art” - the sort that makes a reader want to come back to look again and again?
Jo: This is a tricky question and I’m not sure I can answer it very eloquently. I think that the emotional response an illustration provokes in the viewer is what makes it magical, rather than any specific technique used to create it. For me, one of the most important ingredients of a truly magical illustration is relationship, or rather the depiction of a connection between characters. This could be between two or more characters in the illustration or between the reader and a character. I consider the environment, the setting for the story, to be a character in itself. Because often books are about the relationship between a character and their environment. Certainly this is a big theme in my own work. A magical illustration, I think, often has a strong sense of relationship in it. e: What was your path to publication?
Jo: My path to publication probably began way back in my childhood with my absolute adoration of AA Milne's Winnie the Pooh. The joy I experienced in pouring through those books and copying E.H. Shepherd's drawings sparked a life-long love of illustrated stories. But it took me a while to turn my hand to illustration professionally. In my teens I turned down a place at art school because I couldn't visualise where it would lead me. I never wanted to be a fine artist and somehow illustration had never occurred to me. Throughout my twenties I worked in international development and as a support worker for homeless people. I loved my job, but had always had a quiet desire to follow a creative path and had started painting pictures for friends and family. My brother picked up a leaflet in a local cafe advertising evening classes in children’s book illustration with the artist/author Claire Alexander. It was the first time that book illustration had entered my mind as a possible career and it was a bit of a lightbulb moment. I took the class and loved it so much I decided to apply for an MA in Children’s book Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art. I had no formal arts training and my portfolio was pretty meagre at this point, so I was astounded to be accepted. The course completely transformed my artwork and story-telling capabilities. For my final degree project I began to work in charcoal for the first time. Up to this point my work had been very mediocre watercolour, but the moment I picked up a stick of charcoal, it took on a life of its own. My editor at Hodder Children’s Books, the lovely Emma Layfield, happened to visit the college towards the end of my time there. She had a look through my portfolio where she met my charcoal bears and offered me (and them!) a book deal – a very exciting moment! e: Is there something in particular about this story you hope readers will take away with them, perhaps something that isn’t immediately obvious?
Jo: I hope that that book has a meditative quality about it. When I was creating it, I always had a sense of quietness in mind as something for the reader to take from it. I believe that there is magic to be founds in stillness, and in maintaining a strong relationship with the natural world. So aside from the story about a mother and her little one, I hope that the book promotes a sense of calm and connection to nature. Jo's studio...e: What are you working on next or what would be your dream project?
Jo: I’m currently working on two books - one is the follow up to Little One, for Hodder Children’s. I’m not sure I can say much more about it yet but I am enjoying it enormously. The other is a very different project. Endorsed by Amnesty International UK, its a novella by the wonderful writer Gill Lewis about the power of music to overcome oppression. Its protagonist is a young Syrian refugee. Its a deeply moving and important story which I feel honoured to be illustrating. It's wonderful working on two such different projects and between them I think they pretty much cover what would be my dream project.

e: Thanks Jo! Can't wait to see them both!

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Dreamworks continues to revamp its operations under Comcast-NBCUniversal's ownership.

The post Breaking: Mireille Soria Out As Dreamworks Animation’s Co-President appeared first on Cartoon Brew.

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This is a my final post on Christmas designs for 2016. (Although I do have something different to share tomorrow for P&Ps final post.) But for now we round off this current holiday season with a last look at some fab festive designs. We begin with The Art File where this colourful Christmas Tree pattern on cards and wrap was one of my absolute faves this year. Below : Two gorgeous

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Snow Birds, Frances Tyrrell 2015

For day 22 of Woodland Advent, two visiting "snow birds".  And from Woodland Nutcracker, here are the guests arriving at the home of the Bear family.

Visitors, Woodland Nutcracker

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Summary: Volunteer work with a bike charity in Ohio, and the gift of a new logo illustration.

via Studio Bowes Art Blog at http://ift.tt/2h2X5mO

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Wes Anderson officially announces his return to feature animation!

The post Wes Anderson Is Returning To Feature Animation With ‘Isle of Dogs’ appeared first on Cartoon Brew.

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"Mulan" co-director Tony Bancroft directed the film.

The post Google To Premiere Animated Feature ‘Bunyan & Babe’ For Free appeared first on Cartoon Brew.

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America’s public schools are underfunded and teachers are often lacking essential tools to effectively do their job. To address this, Brad and Krystal Woodard of the design studio, Brave the Woods, created Artists For Education (AFE). The artist-led initiative aims to produce posters that educate and inspire students. To support these efforts, a fundraising campaign has been launched as well as an open call for designers to submit art. Submissions that are accepted will be available for teachers to download free of charge. In addition, giclée prints of the designs can be purchased, with a portion of profits benefiting educational programs. Participating artists include: Invisible Creature, Eight Hour Day, Mary Kate McDevitt, Justin Pervorse, Tuesday Bassen and many more.

To contribute to AFE, please visit their Indiegogo campaign.

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Thanks to this week's Sponsor // Foto Sushi

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Vanja Golubovic is a graphic designer that splits her time between Geneva and Berlin. Having an affection for music, film, and theater, she often collaborates with cultural institutions. I’m especially fond of her work for Tresor, a Berlin-based techno club and recording label. Fusing dynamic photography, neon colors, and dense textures, she creates posters that express the music’s pulsating rhythms and the venue’s lively ambiance. Uniting these elements is a rigid grid system that provides a visual hierarchy and represents the illustrious cage that the DJs perform in.

In addition to the club’s posters, here are some of her other projects:

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Also worth viewing:

burkhardthauke
Louis Reith
Mike Cina Interview

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Thanks to this week's Sponsor // Foto Sushi

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Seems I've developed a habit of drawing Santa puppies each year.

Last year, we adopted a gorgeous puppy from the RSPCA and my brain had turned to puppy pulp from adoration. So, it was only natural I would draw a Santa puppy.

This year, I'm illustrating a picture book, featuring the cute fur-character above. Everyone else was wearing Santa hats and I didn't want the puppy to feel left out. This sweet, heartwarming Christmas story, written by Lili Wilkinson, will be published in time for Christmas 2017 by Allen and  Unwin.

I'm currently up to the exciting colour stage of the picture book and have spent this week preparing and experimenting. Ignorant onlookers may call this part of the process, procrastination.

I've been working out my character colour palette, making my own texture brushes using pastel, pencil and watercolour, and experimenting with some new brushes I recently purchased from Kyle T Webster. I'm having so much fun procrast... I mean, preparing.

The deadline is fast approaching, so I'll be busy working on this book for the entire school holidays. My children have had to make their own fun at home so far. The inside of our house has turned into a paper jungle of lanterns, snowflakes and streamers dangling from windows, ceilings and fans. My husband and I pretty much have to crawl around on our hands and knees, so that we don't tangle ourselves up in it all. FYI - children design Christmassy lands for child height people only.

Our house is feeling festive at least.

Merry Christmas!

A small section of some final drawings from the book.

A small section of my children's paper jungle.

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Kristiina Haapalaisen and Sami Vähä-Aho of Polkka Jam have produced another beautiful Christmas collection for 2016. This Finnish based studio work on their own ranges and take on all kinds of freelance projects and collaborations. This year Polkka Jam's Christmas designs on cards and wrap feature colourful little houses, trees and cities set against starry skies, mountains, and islands. Also

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My next Christmas post features packaging design. The "Sweet Snuggles" collection is a gift range created for UK high street retailer Superdrug. It features a selection of sweetly illustrated creatures such as bears, reindeer and penguins. The packaging is a mix of boxes or wrap around cards and products include ear muffs, gloves and hats, mugs, and beauty gifts.

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And we end today with a look at a small selection of Christmas cards from stationery store WH Smith. They generally specialise in the more traditional card designs but I was able to pick out some interesting design work.... Read the rest of this post

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Drum Major, Woodland Nutcracker

For day 21 of Advent, here is the proud tartan-wearing Drum Major from Woodland Nutcracker, leading the parade of pipes and drums, dancers, skaters, performers and friends.

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Discover the art of Vic Chhun, Cartoon Brew's Artist of the Day!

The post Artist of the Day: Vic Chhun appeared first on Cartoon Brew.

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