Children’s Book Ireland invites you to a special Christmas celebration in honour of Ireland’s foremost picture-book artist, PJ Lynch. Monday December 8th 2008 – 6.30pm National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. PJ will be joined by Dr Pat Donlon to discuss his life and work to date, including such wonderful seasonal titles as The Christmas Miracle of Jonathon Toomey, A Christmas Carol and The Gift of The Magi, published later this year. Those attending will also have the opportunity to enjoy an exhibition of selected pieces from the National Library’s PJ Lynch collection, which will be on public display for the first time to mark the occasion. A mulled wine reception will round off the evening in fittingly festive fashion!
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Once a month we showcase the latest work created by members of the Illustrators Guild of Ireland. Each member has submitted one of their best illustrations from the previous month, either commissioned or personal. Follow the link below to see all this month’s entries.
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 The Sketch Theatre website features the drawings of some top notch comic and concept artists put in a theatrical setting and with a musical backbeat. Well worth a visit.

Jonathan McHugh was recently commissioned to provide artwork for one of a series of animated shorts for the BBC. ‘Days Like This’, a 15-part animated series of short films based around monologues from the Radio Ulster programme of the same name, is due to air on BBC1 Northern Ireland every weeknight on the run-up to Christmas. Produced by Flickerpix animation in Holywood, each episode uses different artists/animators to produce a variety of different animation styles and techniques.
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Due to demand for its sold out early issues the celebrated illustration and made images magazine Varoom now has issue 01 available to download as a PDF for a limited time only. Download the PDF.

IGI members Steve Simpson and David Rooney have some work in the recent ICAD 50by50, which took place over Design Week 2008 to mark the 50th anniversary of ICAD. Following on from Candy’s 50×50 series, each poster was produced in a limited edition of 50 prints and most are still available to purchase at €50 each.

Two of Ireland’s premier book illustrators have some new features on their websites. The incomparable PJ Lynch has an online retrospective exhibition featuring work from all of his major books and spanning a period of almost 25 years and all for sale. Oliver Jeffers is offering some wonderful limited edition prints from his award winning childrens books…Don’t you just love Christmas?

Dave Comiskey (illustration) and Clare Grennan (jewellery) are the latest pair to joint exhibit at Versus, Smock Alley (off Cows Lane) Temple Bar. The show runs until 4th December 2008 and is well worth a peep.

In the first of his monthly sketches, illustrator brianfitzer reminisces about bath nights in the early 60’s. When it wasn’t as simple as a quick turn of the tap and a sprinkle of Radox flakes.
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The new blog Urban Sketchers is an extension to the Flickr Urban Sketchers group started in November of 2007 by Seattle journalist and illustrator Gabi Campanario. Check it out here.