There are two colouring sheets free for visitors to take at the reception featuring the Welcome swallow.
FOLLOW THE SWALLOW
(Freedom, Homecoming & Belonging)
-BANYULE LIBRARY & CULTURAL HUB-
Earlier this year I visited the newly built Banyule Library and Cultural Hub in Ivanhoe. I was immediately inspired by this new space - the many facilities it held, the light the building captured and of course - the large glorious WINDOWS! I spent time in the hub dreaming up ideas for how the windows might be activated to engage the local community and celebrate the new space. What followed was a proposal that I was delighted was picked up and put into action.
Follow the Swallow (Freedom, Homecoming & Belonging) is a temporary large hand drawn installation that flows throughout many of the wonderful windows in this hub. The Swallow motif is repeated throughout the installation as it flies through the building comfortable and freely in its local home. There swallow motif was chosen for this installation as it is the bird featured on the Banyule logo. Accompanying this trail of swallows are two larger scale pieces that are featured on the large windows in the cafe and lounge area. These pieces depict both a local urban garden as well as a vista of Banyule indigenous plants. The Welcome swallows fly over these pieces as well leaving little dotted air trails to follow throughout the rest of the installation.
This artwork is currently on display for a limited time at the library. I highly encourage you to visit this lovely new space, sit down for a bite and a cuppa in the cafe and maybe even pick up one of the free colouring sheets I have illustrated (avaialable at the front library desk) and have some creative quiet time of your own.
Here's a little video reel of behind the scenes of this installation:
FOLLOW THE SWALLOW (Video reel)
(Freedom, Homecoming & Belonging)
-BANYULE LIBRARY & CULTURAL HUB-
Earlier this year I visited the newly built Banyule Library and Cultural Hub in Ivanhoe. I was immediately inspired by this new space - the many facilities it held, the light the building captured and of course - the large glorious WINDOWS! I spent time in the hub dreaming up ideas for how the windows might be activated to engage the local community and celebrate the new space. What followed was a proposal that I was delighted was picked up and put into action.
Follow the Swallow (Freedom, Homecoming & Belonging) is a temporary large hand drawn installation that flows throughout many of the wonderful windows in this hub. The Swallow motif is repeated throughout the installation as it flies through the building comfortable and freely in its local home. There swallow motif was chosen for this installation as it is the bird featured on the Banyule logo. Accompanying this trail of swallows are two larger scale pieces that are featured on the large windows in the cafe and lounge area. These pieces depict both a local urban garden as well as a vista of Banyule indigenous plants. The Welcome swallows fly over these pieces as well leaving little dotted air trails to follow throughout the rest of the installation.
This artwork is currently on display for a limited time at the library. I highly encourage you to visit this lovely new space, sit down for a bite and a cuppa in the cafe and maybe even pick up one of the free colouring sheets I have illustrated (avaialable at the front library desk) and have some creative quiet time of your own.
Here's a little video reel of behind the scenes of this installation:
FOLLOW THE SWALLOW (Video reel)
FROM MY WINDOW - Window art in Banyule
I was overjoyed to be an artist selected to participate in a new project called FROM MY WINDOW - initiated by Banyule City Council. I put a pitch forward to help reactive shopping and retail strips as Melbourne slowly opens up due to the Covid-19 pandemic. My idea was to draw directly onto shops and services window fronts with white chalk paint in a theme of "New Gardens of Growth". This theme reflects the feeling of a new season of growth and prosperity as we shop local and support the many business' that make up our community. I was asked to create ten window art pieces for this project and immensely enjoyed working with local business' to produce eye catching Bespoke Window Art. You can look at all the lovely art, artists and business' involved HERE and also a little bit about each piece of art. There is also a beautiful, easy to follow MAP by local artist Jodi Wiley to help get you out and exploring the art!
I was overjoyed to be an artist selected to participate in a new project called FROM MY WINDOW - initiated by Banyule City Council. I put a pitch forward to help reactive shopping and retail strips as Melbourne slowly opens up due to the Covid-19 pandemic. My idea was to draw directly onto shops and services window fronts with white chalk paint in a theme of "New Gardens of Growth". This theme reflects the feeling of a new season of growth and prosperity as we shop local and support the many business' that make up our community. I was asked to create ten window art pieces for this project and immensely enjoyed working with local business' to produce eye catching Bespoke Window Art. You can look at all the lovely art, artists and business' involved HERE and also a little bit about each piece of art. There is also a beautiful, easy to follow MAP by local artist Jodi Wiley to help get you out and exploring the art!
BANYULE CITY COUNCIL - Banyule Flats Treasure Map - IT'S HERE!!
To view the full two-page map click HERE
When I first got the invitation in my inbox to apply to be one of the artists to encourage people to explore significant outdoor green spaces I got tingles all through me. I put together the application with all fingers crossed feeling that this was an aligned project for me. It blended all of my favourite things - nature exploration and art! You can bet your life I was jumping up and down when I got the email some months back saying I was one of the chosen artists to deliver this project to the Banyule community.
I was already a fan of the other artist Jodi Wiley and only today finally got to see her artwork - it's so beautiful!! She also has an online exhibition at the moment through Banyule council celebrating books and reading (love!) Will post her online exhibition link below in the comments.
If you live in Melbourne these treasure maps are fun activities for the young (and the young at heart). Once restrictions ease, print out a map (or use your device if you prefer) and go on an adventure! If you don't live in Melbourne, have a look anyway and think about what green spaces are near to you and why they are so utterly precious.
Take me to the MAP!!
When I first got the invitation in my inbox to apply to be one of the artists to encourage people to explore significant outdoor green spaces I got tingles all through me. I put together the application with all fingers crossed feeling that this was an aligned project for me. It blended all of my favourite things - nature exploration and art! You can bet your life I was jumping up and down when I got the email some months back saying I was one of the chosen artists to deliver this project to the Banyule community.
I was already a fan of the other artist Jodi Wiley and only today finally got to see her artwork - it's so beautiful!! She also has an online exhibition at the moment through Banyule council celebrating books and reading (love!) Will post her online exhibition link below in the comments.
If you live in Melbourne these treasure maps are fun activities for the young (and the young at heart). Once restrictions ease, print out a map (or use your device if you prefer) and go on an adventure! If you don't live in Melbourne, have a look anyway and think about what green spaces are near to you and why they are so utterly precious.
Take me to the MAP!!
BANYULE FLATS TREASURE MAP
BANYULE CITY COUNCIL - Birds of Banyule
I was recently commissioned by Banyule City Council to create a series of time-lapse bird art videos as part of the council's Spring Outdoors Program. I was overjoyed with this commission as I spend much of my free time exploring local bushland and reserves bird-watching. For this project, I filmed myself illustrating five local birds with watercolour and Polychromo pencils. I also provide the commentary for each bird. These videos are available free to watch on the Banyule City Council Webite and are only available until the end of November. Sit back with a cuppa, put your feet up and watch these relaxing
BIRDS OF BANYULE videos.
BIRDS OF BANYULE videos.
SKETCH GROUP - Studio Illustrator for Sketch Videos
In May 2019 I was contacted by Sketch Group with an offer to become a studio illustrator for creating sketch videos. I jumped at the chance to work with this fantastic Melbourne based organisation and have been working on many different projects since then. A highlight of one of the sketch videos I created in 2019 was for Life Without Barriers introducing a new format for foster families in Australia called a Mocking Bird Family.
I have already filmed TWO new sketch videos at the start of this year for another great organisation that helps people (watch this space!). I am looking forward to working on many more sketch videos in this new decade.
