news

Oops, I did it again!

October 30, 2022

Yep, forgot again. I've got a new book out, and I didn't post anything about it! Stardiving has been released (some months ago) and has been getting wonderful reviews. "A daring and sublime exploration of a world visited by but a few, all rendered in a rigorously limited yet serenely darkened colour palette . . . all this occurs in a dense sea of acute perspectives and dark acrylics and watercolours; 50 shades of beautiful black as it were. Pure magnificence." - Dimity Powell – Kids Book Review. "This heart-felt picture book . . . gently guides its primary school readers to a sense of self, and a scientific and environmental awareness. Plant’s lyrical text and beautiful illustrations shine in this magical journey to the depths of the underwater galaxy of stars." - Romi Sharp – Books+Publishing. "Plant’s stunning illustrations take the reader into an unknown world . . . this story has as many layers as the ocean itself." - Barbara Braxton – The Bottom Shelf. People have been very kind to little Fluke and his adventure, and I really appreciate the thought that has gone into their reviews. But don't just believe them - decide for yourself, and that means buying your own copy! Bookshops can still order it in, or you can contact me and I'll post a copy/copies to you, signed of course. I've got another book that has just been launched, but I'll give it a few days so that Stardiving can have the limelight for a moment!

A prize for Stumpy

February 15, 2022

A very nice surprise popped up last night, with Jump! winning the Little Pink Dog Books Authorstrator Prize for 2021. Kathy and Peter Creamer of Little Pink Dog Books created the prize to recognise authorstrators - those of us who can't decide if we are authors or illustrators. We're certainly a small mob, with some extraordinary members - Shaun Tan and Freya Blackwood come to mind, of course, but Australia punches far above its weight when it comes to great authorstrators. The very generous cash prize is most welcome (especially with book sales so impacted over the last two years - poor little Jump! never got properly launched), but it's the recognition that our scribbling and pondering and worrying and planning and rewriting and repainting is appreciated that really makes this special. So check out Little Pink Dog Books, and don't forget Ford Street, where my books can be found, and watch out for my latest authorstrator effort, coming out in April. It's called Stardiving, and I've finally got my paint-spattered little hands on the finished product. After all these years, it's still a thrill holding the book for the first time.

I've been busy, and forgetful

August 12, 2021

It’s odd how forgetful I am sometimes. I work on a book’s illustrations for months, pore over the proofs for colour-matching, and sigh with relief once it’s all sent off to the printers. Job done! Then I get all excited about the next job and get lost in that world. It’s great getting the actual book some months later – love opening those boxes! – but I’ve done the work, part of my brain says. Throw in lockdowns and a stint in quarantine (which I fully support, but can’t say I like, even as a hermit!) and I sometimes let things slip my mind. Like two new books with Ford Street Publishing! So, abject apologies to authors Kylie Covark and Ben Long for not featuring either of them yet! Firstly, Kylie’s Float or Sink? A rollicking rhyme with a marvellous menagerie of impetuous invertebrates. (Alarming alliteration!) Kylie’s fun-filled story was a hoot to illustrate (see some of the pics in Children’s Books) and is an irresistible read-out-loud and read-along book for kids. Just wait for the shouted response to “What do you think?” I’ve tried it out, and it works every time! Grab a copy, and have a chuckle. Ben’s Good Night, Ivy Bright is also a poem, but couldn’t be more different. Dreamy, magical, it takes you away on an incredible flight of imagination. It was quite a challenge to illustrate (see again, in Children’s Books). When the options are endless, the trick is creating images that present a coherent story to match the text, whilst at the same time trying to find completely original and unexpected dreamscapes. Ivy’s search for colours links the narrative. I needed to find little objects or characters that would likewise link the story visually. Otherwise it just becomes a chaotic mass of unrelated ideas. I hope I got it right. At least the real Ivy liked it. Buy a copy or ten and decide for yourself! There’s more stuff happening, but I’ll save that for the next news item, which won’t take months this time. Stay safe!

Original artwork Christmas sale!

October 15, 2020

It's time for a spring clean and I've decided that, even though I'm not very good at letting go of art, it's of no use sitting in the dark on a shelf. I'd much rather someone was looking at it. So I've slashed the prices of everything (I sound like a cheap ad. I feel that I should be shouting at you with a bright yellow background and jagged font proclaiming INSANE prices!) Actually, I'm very calm but it's time to let go and send some paintings off to new homes. Puggle and Warambi artwork, original and personally signed to you, from $25 plus postage. Some bigger art from A Platypus, Probably, up to $200 plus postage. I'll also start putting up more recent work - The Little Dinosaur, Glitch, The Perfect Leaf, Pippa, and Tulip and Brutus. Some have already sold, and some I want to keep, but contact me if there's a piece you really like. I'll get onto putting the art up once I finish my third book of the lockdown. (I HAVE been busy.) Nothing from Jump! I'm afraid, but contact me if there's something from The Poppy in particular you like. You might be able to talk me into selling it. Christmas is close, and there's no present more original than an original!

On Instagram - at last

August 6, 2020

Yes, it's finally happened (with a sigh of relief from Paul Collins of Ford Street Publishing) - I've entered the 21st century, and have ventured into the world of social media. I am now @andrewplantartist as there was already another andrewplant - how dare he! Who is this imposter? Anyway, I've posted a few things, mostly bookish (and one of my dog, of course - it seems to be compulsory.) There'll be no blow-by-blow descriptions of my breakfast, just book stuff generally, including works-in-progress, which seem to be popular. Plus the introduction of my new colleague - Stumpy! The wonderful Julia and Richard of Dream Puppets brought him to life, and he'll be accompanying me on all my Zoom sessions and, of course, school and library visits when we're allowed to see you all face-to-face. Here's a pic of us together in isolation, which as an illustrator, isn't much different from life before coronavirus. I'm incredibly lucky, I know. I've built him a home, as you can see, which he seems to like. Anyway, check me out on Instagram if you've got time to kill and say hi to Stumpy. Stay safe and sane!

Signed books for your little ones

March 26, 2020

As a children’s book creator, I actually make very little from the sale of books in bookstores. Most of my income is made from talking about my books, running workshops in schools. Understandably, every single booking has been cancelled till at least August, along with my other job, creating sets for school plays. The launch for my newest book Jump! has of course been cancelled too, but I would still love for it to get out in the world. It’s a picture book about a strange little creature confronting his fears. Bullying and acceptance are also themes, but it’s chiefly about resilience, which is perhaps rather appropriate at the moment. There are also free Teacher’s Notes on the Ford Street Publishing website (www.fordstreetpublishing.com) which of course can be used by anyone for ideas on activities and discussion. As we all go into lockdown, sharing books with our kids will help the weeks ahead go that little bit faster, plus of course enhancing all the benefits that come from reading. The Ford Street website and many bookstores have links for ordering books, but I would like to offer an extra little service. Contact me and I’ll sign a brand new, out-of-the-box copy with a special message of your choice for your special little one or ones. It will be $5 postage or, if you live within 2 km or so of the Harold Holt Pool, Glen Iris, Melbourne, I’ll deliver it myself (from 1.5m away!) The walk will do me good! Ford Street has heaps of great books, most with Teacher’s Notes if you’d like them. I’ve also got three other picture books that I can sign and deliver: The Perfect Leaf – a story about imagination and play, with hidden creatures on almost every page for kids to find. (The younger ones often spot them before adults, so there is a cheat-sheet in the Teacher’s Notes to help you find them all!) A book to take outside and lie on the lawn with, watching for animals in the clouds. Tulip and Brutus – written by Liz Ledden, a fun story for lower Primary students about a stink bug and ladybug who discover, in times of trouble, that they have more in common than they realise. Pippa – written by Dimity Powell, a lovely tale of a plucky little pigeon who wants to fly the nest, but feels trapped by her over-protective parents. Perhaps a starting point for younger kids of a discussion about why we (parents) can’t let them out to play, and that it’s ok to feel frustrated and itch to get out. All books are $24.95 hard cover, or $16.95 paperback. Add $5 for postage if needed. EFT details will be sent when you get in touch. Free postage for 3 or more books, or 10% discount if you’re local enough for me to drop them in. Stay safe, and keep reading!