You know how sometimes drawing can be totally random? Well it can’t get any more random than the ones created by The Drawing Machine – a contraption designed by designers Ed Ward and Carl Clerkin of  All Lovely Stuff. Inspired by the cotton-reel tanks they played with as children the toy is offered as a DIY kit – which you can assemble at home – to create your very own super random doodle; you just wind it up and let her rip!

Available in their shop.

[Via Dezeen]

For those who are interested in writing and or illustrating for children and young adults, you need to get yourself over to Singapore for the Asian Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC) that’s happening from 25th May to 30th May 2013.

I’ll be there for a week and very much looking forward to the activities planned. There’s a slew of them, and you can find out more by checking out their website – I’m hoping that I can go through as much as I can when I’m there

Creating a Transmedia Project with Kate McCallum (30th May)

In this 8 hour class, participants will be introduced to the concept of transmedia design strategy, story analysis, effective development and how to create a comprehensive story world and style bible. Participants will create their own story Style Guides and Bibles which they will be able to present to prospective buyers.

Secrets of Turning Prose into Animation with Robert Greenberg (30th May)

Learn the steps of screenwriting – treatment, scene breakdown and a first draft script; and go deeper into writing a script – scene heading, dialogue and transitions. Robert Greenberg will guide participants through the study of various case studies showcasing different writing styles and in the process, help develop each participant’s personal writing style.

The Writers and Illustrators Conference (28-29th May)

This two day conference is packed with so many different programs, from publishing and distribution in Asia to conceptualizing a series of books, and many other discussions and keynotes in between.

Meet the Commissioners: What the Networks Want (29th May)

Representatives from the various television networks such as Disney, Discovery and Nickelodeon will share pointers on pitching, meeting the channel’s requirements, story development and cultivating a good working relationship between the production houses and the networks.

So if anyone is heading there and would like to meet up (I might bump into some of you there!) just let me know by contacting me!

Happy Monday folks!

Today I’ve got Laura McKellar’s illustrations for Mozi – a prominent homewares company from Melbourne, Australia – brightening up my day. Her illustrations coupled with Mozi’s wares are works of art in themselves and (to me at least) seem to belong on walls more than the dishwasher! You can read our past interview with her in this post.