HAIRY BEAR - PICTURE BOOK TRAILER

Here's a trailer for my next picture book. I hope you like it!

You can find it on Vimeo and YouTube.

IMAGES 36

I'm thrilled to have had one of my illustrations selected for The Association of Illustrators' Images 36 competition! 

Here's my selected illustration and some close-up crops: 

(The guy rocking out with his walking stick is supposed to look like my old uni tutor, the lovely John Lawrence)

In other news, I've just heard that the Julia Donaldson illustrators exhibition should be on the road until 2013. More info and tour dates to come...

FRIMLEY GREEN, 1914

Part illustration, part photograph - this is the village of Frimley Green in Surrey, where I grew up. 

The place hasn't really changed much in the almost hundred years since this photo was taken. Add a roundabout, a few street signs and a police van instead of the horse and cart and you're pretty much there. I love old photos! 

I thought I'd submit this for Illustration Friday's current word of the week: 'fuel'. This is a bit of a stretch I know - but the picture does include a car, so I think I can just about get away with it. 

The writing on the bottom left is a typeface I made using my Great Grandad's handwriting on postcards he sent home during the First World War.

I haven't decided who the chap with the impressive handlebar tash is yet.

NEW WEBSITE AND TOURING EXHIBITIONS

I'm pleased to announce *after a celebratory toot of the trumpet* that my brand new website is up and running! Big thanks to my clever brother, Jonny for doing all the fiddly stuff and for helping me create the website I wanted. I'll... ahem... never call you a geek again!

www.sammccullen.com

In other news, I have illustrations in two touring exhibitions at the mo...

The first is 'The Illustrators', an exhibition of contemporary children's book illustration, curated by Julia Donaldson and organised by The Park Gallery, Falkirk and Artlink Central. The first venue of the UK tour is Shetland Arts' Bonhoga Gallery, and the exhibition will run until 25th September, coinciding with Shetland Arts' book festival, 'Wordplay'.

Find out more at www.childrenslaureate.org.uk

I also have work in the Association of Illustrators 'Images 35' awards annual and touring exhibition. Images, now in its 35th year, is the UK's leading illustration competition, annual, awards show, and touring exhibition, dedicated to showcasing the best in British illustration. It is unique in that it is Britain's only jury-selected illustration competition, judged by a panel of industry experts. The Images 35 exhibition includes illustrations by Jonny Hannah, Ian Pollock, Simon Spilsbury, and David Hughes.

Here's the tour dates and venues...

* Bankside Gallery, London: 26th Aug - 3rd Sept 2011
* Darlington Civic Theatre & Arts Centre: 26th Sept - 30th Nov 2011
* University of Derby: 5th Dec 2011 - 5th Feb 2012
* Viewpoint Gallery, Plymouth: 13th Feb - 14th April 2012
* Aberystwyth Arts Centre: 30th April - 10th June 2012
* Prescot Museum: 3rd Aug - 16th Oct 2012

Find out more at www.aoiimages.com

THE CRAMPED DAMP CAVE

Another illustration from my next picture book.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Here's the final version of the development piece from my ON THE ROAD post. I hope you like it!

THE LISTENING DOG

This is Danny.

Danny is a Reading Education Assistance Dog (READ) who visits schools and libraries, curls up beside the children and listens to them read. This novel idea is intended to help children build their confidence and overcome their fears of reading out loud. Kids who lack confidence in their reading are said to find it easier to read to 'listening dogs', because they are a friendly audience, who don't criticise, laugh, or correct their pronunciation. The dogs help to create a relaxed atmosphere, where anxiety is replaced with enthusiasm and an enjoyment of reading aloud.
The scheme is in its early days here in the UK, but has proved a huge hit in America, where there are about 1,800 listening dogs. After hearing about the success of the scheme across the pond, Tony Nevett, who has a degree in Animal Assisted Therapy, trained Danny as a READ dog and has been visiting schools and libraries across the UK.

Tony asked me to produce an illustration of Danny for a 'pawtograph' card, which will be given to kids taking part in the READ sessions. My illustration will be on the front of the card and Tony will put a stamp of Danny's pawprint on the back. I loved the idea!

Here's my illustration...

Tony hopes that the scheme will continue to grow over here. He said that although pupils with special needs, such as autism, can particularly benefit from working with Danny, any child can get a great deal out of the sessions.

When Danny goes to sleep, Tony tells the children that he's dreaming about their story - and some of the kids even show Danny the pictures in the books they read to him. Aww!

You can watch a news report about Danny here.

And here's a short film about READ dogs in the U.S.

BOD & BEAR

'Bod' is one of my first childhood memories. I love the little guy so much, I've included him in both my picture books.

He also has the best theme tune in the world!

THE ILLUSTRATORS

I flew up to bonnie (and snowy) Scotland at the weekend for the opening of The Illustrators. Despite a close encounter with a nunchucks wielding gang in Falkirk (really not as dramatic as it sounds) and an unexpected paddle in a slush puddle, I had a really great weekend.

The exhibition was fantastic and I had the pleasure of meeting Julia Donaldson and her husband Malcolm: guitar whiz and jolly nice bloke. I also got my Gruffalo book signed... though I did feel like a big meanie, as Malcolm pushed my book to the front of the queue, in front of all the excited kiddies! Boo hiss, Sam!

If you live in Scotland or fancy a trip up there, I urge you to visit the exhibition. You'll see gorgeous illustrations by Axel Scheffler, Emily Gravett, Joel Stewart and David Roberts (amongst others), along with illustrators' roughs, sketchbooks and artwork from forthcoming books.

The highlight for me (along with being included in the exhibition) would have to be Axel Scheffler's illustrated envelopes. Whenever Axel writes to Julia, he illustrates the envelope - often incorporating the stamp into the illustration... like turning Prince William into a giant or putting the Queen on a horse. Well worth a look.

You can download a flyer for the exhibition here.

Completely unrelated, but I thought I'd post this photo for its sheer creepiness. It's from the Museum of Childhood in Edinburgh and it freaked me out!

EXCITING EXHIBITION

I'm thrilled to be taking part in 'The Illustrators', an exhibition of contemporary children's book illustration, curated by Julia Donaldson. It runs from 12th March - 2nd May 2011 at The Park Gallery, Callendar House, Callendar Park, Falkirk, FK1 1YR.

Should be fantastic!

Find out more here: http://www.gruffalo.com/php/diary_display.php?who=Julia

and more about it on artlinkcentral.org