Updates from Anna’s studio

23rd May 2025

Hello friends

The beautiful cooler weather is creeping in and providing me with lots of inspiration.

The mornings are crisper and the nights darker and quieter. I am drawn to this kind of cosiness. It seems to conjure up so many more poetry.

Lately I have started painting! Large scale painting as apposed to small and sometimes tiny painting. The last time I did anything like it was before my illustrating career. So…. long time. I find myself being pulled in two directions. the classical and realist approach and abstraction. What style do I do? My dear friend, amazing painter @jacquigrantford said just do both, do anything, do whatever feels right at the time. I have to start somewhere. Good advice. Dive in…..just start….anything. Stop thinking and start doing.

It reminds me how structured and controlled illustrating a book can be. Let’s say you start with a story, next comes character sketches, then the storyboard and finally finished art. So yes, I have to start going with the flow more, trusting my instincts and just enjoying this new journey. You’ll see updates on my instagram. I would love to know what you guys think.

I feel like this is what the year, mine anyway, is about. Starting new things, experiencing new paths and embracing changes and different perspectives.

IN BOOK NEWS

I am counting down the day when my new books, Agatha Goes To School and The Koala Fairies come out. They are scheduled for the later part of the year and are so different from another. My characters become real people to me, real friends so its like they have gone on a little holiday for now and will be back soon so I miss them!

There are a couple of new editions of my books out now. Please go to my contact page for any queries and requests about books, calendars, cards and journals.

All the artwork for my 2026 Botanical calendar is signed sealed and delivered. I can’t wait for you to see it and the new card range, prints, journals and other bits and pieces through my collaboration with @nouvogroup all available really soon.

I will be updating my shop page ASAP so that my artworks, journals and calendars will be available to buy directly though the page. There will be new artworks available each month.

Oh and keep an eye out for my little collaboration with @ladyhawke the gorgeous bookshop in Ivanhoe Vic. updates on insta.

Well back to the easel for now….wish me luck

Thanks for visiting…talk soon my friends!