Ben Wood children's book illustrator - News | Ben Wood

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Melbourne Real Pigeon readers! Do you want to crea

Melbourne Real Pigeon readers! Do you want to create some fun pigeon-y stories with Andrew and I? We are running a Real Pigeons workshop as part of the Brimbank Writers & Readers Festival! Coo-ray!

When: 4-5.30pm Thursday 21st March
Where: Deer Park Library

It’s a FREE event but please book your ticket! The link is in my bio! #BWRF #realpigeons @brimbanklibraries @brimbankcouncil

Celebrating the conclusion of the BIG SUMMER READ

Celebrating the conclusion of the BIG SUMMER READ with Bunji Place Library today. Thanks to everyone who came along to talk all things stories and Real Pigeons!

Last night the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awar

Last night the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards was held at Fed Square, in Melbourne. It’s really fantastic that the Children’s Literature category has been reinstated as an award category. Hopefully in future this might be expanded upon to allow categories like Children’s Non-Fiction, Children’s Junior Fiction ect to have their own categories rather than be lumped together.

As an illustrator I often notice the omission of the word ‘illustrator’ or ‘illustration’ in literary discussion. Considering the role illustration can play within literature (not just within children’s literature) it is at times a weird omission. I know I am mostly conscious of this because I am an illustrator, but it is worth pointing out. Illustration is a storytelling form too but is often emitted in book reviews, promotion or awards discussions. So I am extremely heartened to see that the Victorian Premier’s Literary award for Children’s Literature went to Remy Lai for her graphic novel Ghost Book. Remy knows how to wield this storytelling format so well and I’m thrilled at the recognition it’s receiving. Congratulations Remy!

#wheelercentre #TWC #VPLA2024
#victorianpremiersliteraryaward #literatureprize #literaryprize #writingaward #australianauthor #ausauthor #auswriting #childrensliterature #fiction #illustrator #illustration #childrensbooks #visualstorytelling #visualnarrative #story #books #read #readmorebooks

Just playing around 🐦✏️ #realpigeons #real

Just playing around 🐦✏️

#realpigeons #realpigeonsfightcrime #illustration #characterdesign #illustrator #childrensbookillustration

Well this was an awesome SURPRISE! Our twiggy gra

Well this was an awesome SURPRISE! Our twiggy graphic novel series HELLO TWIGS was given a shout out in the @guardianaustralia as one of best Australian children’s books of 2023. 😊Blushing!!😊 Thank you to everyone who has embraced the series! And thank you to @ohcreativeday for your words of support! There are more books coming!

@mrandrewmcdonald @hardiegrantkids

Readers beware! Real Pigeons Flap Out may contain

Readers beware! Real Pigeons Flap Out may contain traces of ⚡️THUNDER⚡️!!

I’m so excited book 11 is in stores now! Hooray! #realpigeonsfightcrime #realpigeons #hellotwigs

LOOK COOS BACK! Real Pigeons Flap Out is finally h

LOOK COOS BACK! Real Pigeons Flap Out is finally here! 🐦🔍 That’s book 11!

So proud of what @mrandrewmcdonald and I have created in this one. There’s fast-growing seeds, evil twins and a very evil dove! There’s even a bonus story - all about TRENT THE TWIG! (Because clearly we love twigs. Yay twigs! 😉)

A big thanks to @hardiegrantkids @roman_italic @pintadoguy @johannagogos @mandamooshaw @katecharliebrown @makeitwednesday and @steve.shepherd.spargo #realpigeons #realpigeonsfightcrime #hellotwigs

Early thumbnail rough for the yearly reader graphi

Early thumbnail rough for the yearly reader graphic novel ‘Hello Twigs How Are You Feeling’. So dramatic! 😂 I don’t usually draw roughs with pencil and pens. It’s a bit cute! 💙
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#hellotwigs #realpigeons #sketchbook #artjournal #pencil

Ziggy Twig gets ready for an adventure! I love thi

Ziggy Twig gets ready for an adventure! I love this sequence. I had to figure out how flexible the twig characters were going to be.
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#hellotwigs #illustration #comic #graphicnovel #drawing #characterdesign #sequence #stretching #realpigeons

I’m not sure Red’s plan is going to work. 🫣

I’m not sure Red’s plan is going to work. 🫣 #surprise #hellotwigs #illustration #drawing #draw #twig #snailzoo #noodle #red

Here’s a very twiggy page from when I was develo

Here’s a very twiggy page from when I was developing the characters for Hello Twigs. So many shapes and possibilities for characters. Anyone have a favourite?🪵
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#twigs #characters #design #sketchbook #sketchbookdrawing #linework #pendrawing #kidlitart #childrensbooks #notebook #green #hellotwigs #illustration #illustrator

The bend and slide! From Hello Twigs Surprise! •

The bend and slide! From Hello Twigs Surprise!
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#hellotwigs #illustration #drawing #draw #comic #kidsbooks #red #bend #slide #twig #characters #graphicnovel #funny #andrewmcdonald #benwood #realpigeons #realpigeonsfightcrime

I love drawing scenes like this. From Real Pigeons

I love drawing scenes like this. From Real Pigeons Duck Trouble (book 9).
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#benwood #mutant #draw #linework #lines #characters #characterdesign #action #bags #comic #realpigeons #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #kidsbookshelf #funnybooks #funny #cat #dog #feret #mutantattack

Look out below! A little snippet from Hello Twigs

Look out below! A little snippet from Hello Twigs How Are You Feeling. Love this image!
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#hellotwigs #andrewmcdonald #benwood #illustration #characterdesign #childrensbooks #kidlitart #twigs #comic #graphicnovel

Homey is me. 🐦🍞 #realpigeons #childrensbook

Homey is me. 🐦🍞

#realpigeons #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #illustration #food

It’s the weekend! Time to paint! • #hellotwigs

It’s the weekend! Time to paint!
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#hellotwigs #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #realpigeons #andrewmcdonald #benwood #graphicnovel #comic #funny #hello #twigs

Early in the process of creating Hello Twigs with

Early in the process of creating Hello Twigs with @mrandrewmcdonald I was thinking about the twigs a lot. I even had a dream about them! In the dream I was showing a finished book cover to some friends. It was such a vivid dream that when I woke I jumped out of bed and drew this. I really love how random it is. #hellotwigs #andrewmcdonald #benwood #sketchbook #drawing #creativeidea #colorpencil #colourpencil #sketch #dreams

Here are all the front and back covers for Hello T

Here are all the front and back covers for Hello Twigs. Back covers are cool and also deserve the spotlight. Go, back covers, go!

#hellotwigs #andrewmcdonald #benwood #realpigeons #realpigeonsfightcrime #kidsbooks #childrensbooks #graphicnovel #comics #twigs #creativekids #twigart #illustration #bookdesign

Melbourne schools! Thank you for an AMAZING second

Melbourne schools! Thank you for an AMAZING second week of Book Week. Homey Pigeon was everywhere I went! Melbourne readers really love Homey! 🐦🥳

A huge thank you to @bookedoutagency for organizing all my school visit bookings. 👏

#realpigeons #realpigeonsfightcrime #cbca2023 #cbcabookweek #bookweek #benwood

Sydney! Thank you for an AMAZING Book Week! It has

Sydney! Thank you for an AMAZING Book Week! It has been an incredible week of creating visual stories with Real Pigeons and Hello Twigs!

Teachers and librarians work so hard to share their passion for reading with students. Schools need libraries. Schools need books. School REALLY need libraries and library staff. I wish our state and federal governments would understand how important these things are to instill a lifetime of reading in kids. Rant over. 😉 Thanks for having me Sydney! 👋 Melbourne schools- see you next week! 🥳

#bookweek #cbca #cbca2023 #kidsbooks #bookedoutspeakersagency #benwood

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