Brooklyn Book Festival
I consider myself to be a pretty intermediate to advanced level traveler. I’ve been to so many developing countries, chaotic cities, and middle of nowhere icons. With this experience and my formative years spent growing up in New York City, I figured I can handle just about anything on a trip. Well my first trip back to NYC humbled me in many ways. This time I was older and had a one year old in tow. That certainly changes the vibe! We were traveling for 30 days straight. We were SO tired. We were SO depleted. We were so spoiled by the baby friendly city at home. My wishes for a highly productive NYC trip would not come true.
One of the highlights of the NYC trip that did come to fruition was being a part of the Brooklyn Book Festival! Of course there was climate change level flash flooding in NYC the day before it happened which was also the day we arrived into the city. However, the water cleared and the families flooded in to the festival!
Our activity was run by author, Dan Poblocki alongside illustrator Chris Danger and myself. Dan created a mad libs style story for the audience members to fill in the blanks. Along the way, Chris and I illustrated some of their wildly inventive scenes and characters.
After this illustrated story time was over, we signed books!
Of course, my number one fan was excited to get multiple books signed in person since it had been a while. <3
One of the best moments of this day was also when we went to Chipotle after. The burrito bowls had been missed, but the highlight was actually seeing a young girl reading a freshly signed copy of Big Apple Diaries at a table in there. I awkwardly waved to her and her family but she didn’t look up for even a moment. She was totally engrossed in my book, and I love to see it!
My nephew, Alex
Despite our absolute travel chaos, it was really special to be in NYC again
Art & Fashion Event Recap
First Art & Fashion event was a success!
In the Founder’s Room of the Salamanca Arts Centre, we had an absolute ball - sipping wine, nibbling cheese and drawing and painting the lovely models. Everyone warmed up with 2 and 5 minute poses, and then moved on to 10s and a 20. It was amazing to see everyone’s work, including those who weren’t used to drawing in that way before. There was a common thread amongst all of the participants - letting go and loosening up towards the 10 and 20 min pose. Everyone seemed to accept that there wasn’t one right or wrong way to do it and that the point was to have fun and try something new.
Participants frocked up and ready to create!
One of the unique parts of this event was that everyone could see what I was doing live on the screen. I drew and painted under a live camera feed and offered some tips for anyone who needed a little push.
The night also ended with prizes and a silly photoshoot on the chaise lounge.
Art & Fashion
As some people may know, I originally studied Fashion Illustration in college. If we go further back, I also wanted to be a shoe designer when I was a kid and I declared I would go to fashion school in New York from age 8. While I didn’t become a shoe designer, I did study figure drawing for fashion which has influenced my stylizing and technique. At the time Fashion Illustration/Lifestyle Illustration wasn’t being used as often and photography was more of the trend. A decade later I am seeing SO MUCH fashion and lifestyle illustration being bought again and I love it!
During quarantine I was able to join the Society of Illustrators fashion drawing evening and it reminded me of how much I used to love this. So I decided to run an event here in Hobart with the gallery/school I work for - Nolan Art Gallery & School of Art. Pairing up with Tasmanian fashion brand, Keshet Design, is the icing on the cake!
The fabulous models, Stefi and Marlin.
The Magnolia dress is one of Keshet’s most popular designs - suitable for ALL shapes and sizes, one of their core ethics.
Hope to see you there next week if you are local!
Tickets at www.nolanart.com.au/events