Brickworks and raven, oil on board, 20 x 15cm

Bird and moon, oil on board, 20 x 15cm

Green, oil on board, 20 x 15cm

Seven days a week (grocery store parking lot), oil on board, 20 x 15cm

The man in the cypress tree, clay sculpture & digital

Tales from Outer Suburbia, Finnish edition, 2015

Tales from Outer Suburbia has enjoyed translation within about 15 territories over the years, but it's the Finnish one I've been hanging out for, given that half my family is Finnish. Other Scandinavian countries have been very quick to produce their own editions of most of my books, given the appreciation of melancholy humor and surrealism in the far north, but until now the land of the Moomin has remained elusive. Kiitos paljon (many thanks) to publisher Lasten Keskus ja Kirjapaja Oy and translator Jaana Kapari-Jatta.

Sketchbook doodle, pen

Bring-your-animal-spirit-to-work day, sketchbook doodle, pen

Angels fighting, ink and acrylic, sketchbook page

Jewell Station, oil 20 x 15cm

Love at first sight, sketchbook doodle, pencil

Tiny sunrise, sketchbook page, acrylic and pastel

The Red Tree, giclee print 30 x 33cm

I've worked with Books Illustrated to produce a very limited edition of what is probably my most popular image, the final page from The Red Tree (Lothian Books, 2001). Previously I have created a smaller to-scale edition in my own studio, but all 500 of these sold out some time ago. This new edition is twice the size and a much smaller signed edition of 53, and already selling fast. You can buy one here while stocks last.

All proceeds from sales of these prints go to the ACLA – the Australian Children’s Literature Alliance. The principle project of this organisation is the appointment of an Australian Children’s Laureate every two years - a national ambassador for reading and story. Previous ambassadors have been Alison Lester and Boori Monty Pryor (2012/13), and our current Laureate is Jackie French. Find out more about their workshops, activities and events here.

Thanks also to Splitting Image who kindly donated their services to produce these prints, and of course to Books Illustrated (who have also just released a new range of my Singing Bones prints which you can check out here).

I noticed this sign nailed to a tree in a local neighbourhood the other day, and felt there was something weirdly familiar about it. On closer inspection I was very surprised to see it was actually one of my own stories from Tales from Outer Suburbia, about a water buffalo that used to live on a vacant lot of overgrown grass, but who has long since left. Life imitating art? Or just absorbing it back to where it rightfully belongs. Thanks to whoever nailed it to this tree!

Family portrait, pastel on paper, A2

LITTLE BRUNSWICK, December 3-13

I'm having an exhibition of about fifty oil paintings at Tinning Street Presents, a small gallery in the heart of Brunswick, from December 3 -13. Visitors to this blog will be aware that I've been painting observational images on small panels for some years now, many of them depicting everyday scenes of inner suburban Melbourne where I've been living and working since 2006. Here's a chance to see what they properly look like (and they will be for sale too). For more information, please visit Tinning St.

Night scene with orange window, oil 20 x 15cm

Conscience, pastel A3

Field in morning light, Bundanon, pastel A3 2009