Olivia Golden at Centre for Talented Youth Ireland- UCC

Professional book illustrator Olivia Golden will be giving a course in Cartoons and Comic strips at CTYI in UCC this summer.

The course is suitable for children aged 8-12 years old who demonstrate high academic ability.

It runs from July 1st to 5th, 2013.

To see Olivia’s work visit

http://www.oliviagolden.wordpress.com

For more information on assessment and course bookings visit

http://www4.dcu.ie/ctyi

CTY Ireland aims to allow all talented students to reach their potential both academically and socially by providing relevant and interesting challenges based on ability and interest rather than age.

CTY Ireland was established at Dublin City University in 1992 to meet the needs of high ability students aged 6 to 17 years from Ireland and abroad.

Butterfly baby

I spotted my first butterfly of the year yesterday. A red admiral sitting on a dandelion in the very centre of the lawn. My neighbour has a tremendously wild crop of buddleia growing at the very end of their garden. This serves as a big attraction for butterflies and I am thankful for that as it’s such a visual delight.

 Today the butterfly exists as a fashionable, fluffy, whimsical motif exclusively for girls. 

If you have had a baby girl enter your world you will be familiar with the staples of a little girls wardrobe. The key elements are the colour pink, floral motifs and not by accident, butterflies! Lots and lots of butterflies. 

Traditionally butterflies were regarded as a symbol of new life, the soul and transformation. Expectant mothers would adorn their new borns clothes and cradle with butterfly motifs in preparation for the new baby’s safe arrival whether the baby be male or female.

 Have I ever seen a baby boy wearing a butterfly motif- Not yet.

Do I expect to see it any time soon- unfortunately No!

 If you are awaiting your new arrival whether it be boy or girl… Good Luck.

 

 

 

Fox with a magic pearl

I’ve always felt very sorry for the fox. It is a much mailgned creature. It features in scores of myths and folklore as the sly and cunning character who cannot be trusted. Cleverness is seen as something to be suspicious of.

In early folklore the fox was considered to be the devils spy. Some suggest this is where the practice of fox hunting began. Farmers chased the fox across their land to rid themselves of the devils influence. In favour of the fox – if you caught a fox with a magic pearl you were in luck.

To see one fox on it’s own is considered lucky…keep your eyes peeled no matter where you live. Foxes love the city just as much as the open countryside. Good luck.

Many have used the blackbird as a symbol in song and verse to represent the oppressed in society. Paul Mc Cartney and Nina Simone pop to mind. 

 

For me the blackbird is a magical bird.There is a very real elegance about the simple shape and colour that I find very pleasing. Petrol black plummage and a deep yellow beak. 

 

In my experience the magpie, crow and pigeon seem to dominate most urban gardens. So it brings me great joy to welcome the blackbird into my garden. 

 

Apparently they are very territorial. There is a belief that a blackbird on the roof of your house brings good luck. Two is even better as this territorial streak usually keeps them apart. 

 

Take time to enjoy the simple things such as this…and good luck!

 

Boys grow on Trees

I’ve spent many hours standing in the park after school surrounded by little boys and girls getting drunk on fresh air. There’s a few trees in the park that are not growing so much as struggling to get out of the shadow of the teams of school boys who climb them every day. Recently I looked over to check on my little guy. I was greeted by a sight that reminded me of a crop of strange fruits hanging off all available limbs. Boys do grow on trees. They become pirates, super heros, and explorers. This is a quick image inspired by that thought.

April Fools day

Whats April Fools all about? There are lots of explanations. Apparently one of the earliest references appears in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales (1300’s) , the vain cockrel Chauntecleer is tricked by a fox. These two creatures capture the imagination- here’s my version of their encounter- The escape of Chauntecleer

 

Happy Easter

Hope you’ve all had a smashing easter and good luck to all the mums and dads who have another week of school holidays to fill! Worth having a look at PrimaryTimes.ie for ideas of whats on (sometimes free events) in your area.

Pictuir Exhibition

MAJOR NEW EXHIBITION OF IRISH CHILDREN’S BOOK ILLUSTRATION TO TOUR EUROPE AND IRELAND

Pictiúr, an exciting new exhibition of the work of some of Ireland’s leading children’s book illustrators and which has been curated by Laureate na nÓg, Niamh Sharkey, will visit four venues in Europe during Ireland’s Presidency of the EU, before returning to Ireland to tour.

During March, Pictiúr will visit the Festival for Young Readers at the Palais Auersperg in Vienna, Austria, before moving on to the Bologna Book Fair, Europe’s most prestigious children’s book event. Then, in April, it will visit the European Parliament building in Brussels before moving to the Leuven Institute for Ireland in Europe, Ireland’s cultural centre in Belgium. Pictiúr’s European tour is being funded by Culture Ireland as part of its Culture Connects International Culture Programme to celebrate Ireland’s Presidency of the EU.

In the Autumn, Pictiúr will begin its Irish Tour with visits to Draíocht Arts Centre in Blanchardstown and the Babaró Children’s Festival in Galway and before returning to Dublin to begin exhibiting at IMMA, Kilmainham, at the end of the year.

‘We are delighted to have the opportunity to tour the work of some of our finest illustrators, both internationally and within Ireland,’ said Laureate na nÓg, Niamh Sharkey. ‘Showcasing these artists will allow us to demonstrate the range, scope and skill of Irish illustrators and will help to grow our reputation both at home and abroad.’

Pictiúr features the work of 21 children’s book illustrators. Illustrators include P.J. Lynch, Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, Olivia Golden, Alan Clarke, Steven Simpson and Andrew Whitson. The exhibition will comprise 42 art pieces and will include illustrations from books written in English and Irish.

NOTE FOR EDITORS
Featured Illustrators:

Lily Bernard Adrienne Geoghegan Anita Jeram Donough O’Malley
Alan Clarke Olivia Golden Chris Judge Niamh Sharkey
Michael Emberley Chris Haughton P.J. Lynch Steve Simpson
Tatiana Feeney Paul Howard Oisin McGann Kevin Waldron
Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick Oliver Jeffers Mary Murphy Olwyn Whelan
Andrew Whitson

Pictiúr Itinerary:

AUSTRIA 14^th -20^th March 2013, Festival of Young Readers, Palais Auersperg, Vienna, Austria

The exhibition will be on show for the duration of the festival in central Vienna.  This annual festival attracts more than 8,000 visitors (schools and families) each year.

ITALY 25^th to 28^th March 2013, Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Bologna Italy.

The Bologna fair, which celebrates 50 years in 2013, is the most significant international trade fair for children’s books and it attracts over 1200 exhibitors coming from 66 countries and 5000 international professional trade representatives. As such, it offers a unique platform for Irish illustration.

BRUSSELS 9^th April – 12^th April 2013, European Parliament Building

BELGIUM 28^th April – 21st May 2013, The Leuven Institute for Ireland in Europe

The exhibition will be on show for three weeks in the Leuven Institute.

Irish Tour Autumn 2013
Draoícht, Blanchardstown – 5^th September – 5^th October 2013

Babaró Festival, Galway Arts Centre – 13^th – 31^st October 2013

IMMA, Kilmainham, Dublin – December 2013

 

Full biographies and sample images from the exhibition are available on request and curator Niamh Sharkey is available to interview.

 

About Laureate na nÓg
Laureate na nÓg is an exciting project recognising the role and importance of literature for children in Ireland. This honour was awarded for the first time in May 2010 to author Siobhán Parkinson. Illustrator Niamh Sharkey is the current laureate, and will hold the title until May 2014. The laureate participates in selected events and activities in Ireland and abroad during their term and is chosen as a result of their internationally recognised body of high quality children’s writing or illustration and the considerably positive impact they have had on readers as well as other writers and illustrators. Laureate na nÓg is an initiative of the Arts Council with the support of The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Children’s Books Ireland, Poetry Ireland and The Arts Council of Northern Ireland. The programme is administered by Children’s Books Ireland.

For further information, contact 

Mags Walsh, Director, Children’s Books Ireland on 01/8727475 / 086 605 3888  

or Nessa O’Mahony, Project Manager, Laureate na nÓg on 087 9309670. 

An Introduction to Illustration

Professional Illustrator Olivia Golden will be giving night classes at Carrigaline Community College, Co.Cork.

Starting on Wednesday 30th January 2013 (7.15 – 9.15pm) Olivia will be introducing students to the area of illustration.

The 8 weeks the course is designed to establish the process of briefing, research, concept development, execution and delivery of visual material.

Fee €95.

Set projects will help reinforce these key skills whether that be for book illustration, design, advertising or editorial illustration.

We will also be looking at what life as a freelance illustrator is really like.

All levels of ability are welcome. Should you have any questions about the course please feel free to contact Olivia at studio@oliviagolden.ie

http://www.oliviagolden.wordpress.com

studio@oliviagolden.ie

Happy Christmas

Health an happiness to one and all this christmas.
Olivia