Bologna Children’s Book Fair : Travel Blog
Happy happy Spring you lovely pumpkins. How has this new season been treating you? I’ve been so ready to update you all on my whirlwind trip to Bologna Book Fair, so I’m finally doing just that!
I was wildly lucky to be able to pitch my portfolio to Italian and English publishers while I was there, as well as exploring the city with my friend from university. The marathon two days included portfolio reviews, a bookshop party, live music, a late night gallery visit and of course, pasta. I can’t tell you how much fun it was to meet fellow illustrators from around the world, as well as writers, art directors and editors, all passionate about children’s illustration. It was just a dream. Now I’m back home I realise what I miss most is the feeling of community, an excitement that everyone seemed to share. I’m still holding on to those fleeting emotions weeks later, and I hope to go back one day in the future, even better with my own published book!
For now though, I thought I’d share some memories from the trip…
Day One
We stayed near the centre of the city, in the sweetest boutique hotel painted a custard-yellow colour. After breakfast we took a 40 minute bus ride to the Piazza della Costituzione. If you’ve experienced the book fair you’ll know what I mean when I say my initial reaction was overwhelm! There was so much goodness to see and explore and to take in that it almost felt surreal. I spent most of the morning looking at the illustrator’s wall (which was already full by the time we arrived!) and exhibition spaces. The work on display was incredible and so varied - I particularly loved the expressive and vibrant exhibition from Suzy Lee. Later I scoured the bookshop in the adjacent hall for foreign titles I could bring home with me, and I had my first portfolio review with Nosy Crow! I was also invited to a book event that evening at Giannino Stoppani by my friend and writer Giulia, aftwer which we stumbled across a tiny restaurant off the main square for a bowl of delicious pasta (so good that I forgot to get the name of the restaurant!) Originally we planned to visit the fair on the Monday, and explore Bologna on the Tuesday, but my friend and I both knew as soon as we left on the first day that we’d have to come back again the next day, no matter how tired we were!
Day Two
The second day began with a morning crit with Edizioni Primavera, who afterwards gifted me this beautiful picture book from their collection by David Merveille. We also explored the incredible Hong Kong and Korean section, which had some of the most beautiful and interesting designs I wish I could have brought home. We also binged on gelato; my selection from the trip included Sicilian lemon (So. Good.) tiramisu and egg custard flavour!! Later, we headed into Bologna’s centre and walked through the mosaicked porticoes and cobbled streets until dusk. It really is a beautiful city; a perfect balance of historic architecture and artsy culture spots. Some areas in a way reminded me of Manchester’s Northern Quarter which I never would have expected. Perhaps this is the case with most Northern cities, or perhaps it was just the graffiti. For the evening’s food of choice, we discovered Bottega Portici which was like fast-food, but for pasta!
There was much to love about my time in Bologna, from the people to the food to the atmosphere of the city. A highlight of my year for sure. If you ever get the chance to go to the book fair - do it!
Since returning home…
*While visiting the fair I was fortunate enough to meet to Roberto Innocenti, an illustrator who creates beautifully detailed artwork for Italian children’s books. His illustrations for The Nutcracker are absolutely stunning. All of them created in oils too!
*I began reading The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa on the plane and so far have really enjoyed it. A review on Good Reads describes it as hypnotic and gentle, which I think is the perfect description.
*Two of the picture books I came home with include this one by Beatrice Cerocchi and another by Ericavale Morello, which was very kindly gifted to me by my friend Giulia. Both are divine.
*Superhuman has also been my go-to app for meditation this year. There are so many meditation styles on there whether you’re working, cleaning or just want to vibe to the music. It’s a really accessible form of meditation and I highly recommend!
As always, thank you for being here. I’ll be sharing more projects over the coming months which I’m very excited about, so stay tuned!
C x
Finding your Ikigai + Meaningful Creativity
Ikigai (ee-key-guy)
A life’s purpose. A reason for being.
Last year I attended a freelance workshop where a well-spoken, well-suited woman spoke of a Japanese concept that shifted my perspective forever. The concept is Ikigai, a term that you have no doubt come across in articles, or on the shelves of a bookshop. In a nutshell, to find your Ikigai is to cultivate a harmonious and deeper meaning to your life’s work. Throughout my illustration journey I have met and spoken to many artists who feel as though they lack a purpose or direction when it comes to their art, some doubting that they are good enough to pursue a creative career, others unsure about how they can sustain themselves financially. I’ve definitely been there too! But the act of creating for me has always been an innate response, and in that sense I guess I am lucky. So to find a balance between doing what I love and being able to make money from it is something that I constantly strive to achieve and learn more about. Today’s blog is an introduction to Ikigai, and I hope it encourages you to start shifting your own perspective towards a more fulfilling and meaningful art practise. So grab a notebook and pen, and enjoy!
The idea of Ikigai relates to the concept of flow - an experience that seems crucial yet hard to grasp in our pursuit for long lasting creativity. I can never force flow, it only happens when I let go and trust the process, and when I follow my deeper reasons for wanting to make art. The concept of Ikigai is split into four aspects: Doing what you love, what you are good at, what you can be paid for, and serving the world and greater good. Now that last one can be more philosophical in meaning, but if you master the first three, you’ll probably find that you already have been of service to others, and this can be where your true satisfaction lies.
Something to love.
This first sphere encompasses everything that you love. When we love something it becomes important to us, and will usually take the form of a hobby or special interest. This is not something we do for financial gain, but rather simply for the fun of it. Take a look at your hobbies and how you spend your leisure time. Most of the time, we don’t need to be asked to do what we love. Make a list of five things you love to do. Now list five more things that you have never done but would love to try. Now compare those lists. What synchronicities can you find? What are your passions?
Something to be good at.
This is not the time to be humble and say, I’m no good at anything! Be honest with yourself and list the things you’re genuinely good at. This could be a skill like playing the piano, a qualification you’ve achieved, a job you excel in or just knowing that you are a reliable friend. Regardless of whether you enjoy them or not, you have skills that can be shared with the world. If you’re really struggling, think of compliments you have received in the past. Write five of them down. How do they make you feel?
BONUS STEP: Write one of these compliments out and stick it to your desk, laptop, or mirror!
Something to be paid for.
It is true that you can be paid for your passions and if you don’t believe this, then it may be time for you to look at some of your limiting beliefs. Try listing ten careers or volunteering roles that you can do (or would love to do!) that would allow you to fill your well and your purse. Perhaps consider what you are willing to work for, as well as your long term financial goals. The trick here is to dream big!
What the world needs.
This one I personally found the hardest. Does the world really NEED my art? I shifted this question to ‘how can I share my art with my community?’ which may be easier to answer if like me, you’re starting small. If you managed to answer the first three points however, there’ll be something that you have developed knowledge, skills or experience in whilst working on your craft, and there’s almost certainly someone out there who will benefit from what you have to share (and possibly pay you for that service too).
TRY THIS NOW
Hidden within these four quadrants lies your Ikigai. Consider how each of your answers overlap. Was there anything that surprised you? Repetition may be the first step in pointing you towards your truest passions. Some may be evident straight away, others may require a little more reflection. Be gentle in the process, and have fun!
The true essence of Ikigai however, and the part that most intrigued me, is it’s emphasis on time and patience whilst learning your craft. In today’s world there is so much noise around achievement and striving for goal after goal that often the process of learning and building skills offers little in the way of relief or satisfaction. We rarely feel fulfilled in the process, and what’s more the achievement of a goal is often short lived and underwhelming. The art of striving for excellence rather than recognition can be a lifelong goal - one without an expiry date. Just remember, your Ikigai is not a destination, it’s something you can enjoy every single day.
What do you think of the concept of Ikigai? Have you found your reason for being?
Infinity Mirror Rooms | Yayoi Kusama at Tate Modern
Imagine…Twinkling decorations strung atop a lamp-lined street. A swirl of steam rising from a roasted chestnut stall. Strangers with frosted coats huddled shoulder to shoulder under artificial lights…It must be Christmas in London!
Although I have seen this magical and chaotic city through all the seasons, I have yet to experience, as of late, London at Yuletide. This month I went to see Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms at the Tate Modern with my good friend from university, and thought I’d share some of the photos with you all!
The exhibition began with a brief showcase of Kusama’s monochromatic photographs, presenting her staged studio snapshots and unusual fascination with repetitive shapes. Then there were the two mirrored rooms, the first entitled Chandelier of Grief. The second and slightly larger room we were allowed in for a whole five minutes, and we watched the transitioning lights flick from pink to gold to blue, and finally to multi-coloured. It was a pretty spectacle, albeit brief. The photographs show you everything!
It was really a much needed trip. A short pause in this hectic month to forget my to-dos and get swept up amongst the end of year chaos! Other points of interest were: the Moomin Shop in Covent Garden (a dream!), a tea-tasting crawl of Christmas themed beverages, Liberty of London and Korean fried chicken! *Smacks lips vigorously.
Now the ice and snow here have all but melted and all that remains is a greyish looking slush on the ground and in the sky. Everything is grey! But with the sparkling lights and no real reason to change out of my pyjamas for the next fortnight, this really is my favourite time of year. So I’ll be quiet around here and on IG until the New Year. There’s so much to celebrate and organise for 2023, and I can promise some very exciting projects are coming soon! Until then, I’m truly grateful for each and everyone of you being for here.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
C x
How to Spark Creativity as an Artist
Today’s post is a little ditty and comes from some recent thoughts I’ve been having on creativity. More precisely, what to do when we don’t feel creative.
Here’s the plain and sad truth: Creativity doesn’t always come to us when we need it. We all experience a lack of inspiration at some point in our creative journey. But what if those few uninspiring days turn into weeks, or even months? The deadlines start piling up and panic ensues. I recently experienced a kind of rut, burnout, lack of inspiration, whatever you like to call it, and I knew there had to be a reason for this. As I attempted to move through this experience, and surrender to the thoughts I was having, I realised a lot of things in the process. So today I’m here to tell you how I did it! And more importantly, why I think it happened in the first place. I hope you can take a piece away from it too.
I truly believe that we are all creative. Whether you practise art or not, we can all be creative in any aspect of life. So when we say that our ‘creativity is blocked’, what does this truly mean? If we can harness creativity at any point in our day, how can we truly be blocked from a limitless source of imaginative, free-flowing energy? This is what I asked myself in the thick of my own rut. I challenged myself to change this belief and find a way into that flowing state. And the answer that I found was simple:
Kill the distraction.
Simple to say. Harder to put into action. The thing is, if we feel blocked from our creative energy, it’s likely because we are overthinking, overanalysing or overactive. Life is busy. Maybe you’re working on a personal project, but if there’s a client waiting for a piece that’s due by the end of the week, your brain will likely prioritise the most urgent task. For our monkey minds, creativity is just another sub-task to be catalogued and shelved until further notice. In order to reconnect to our creativity, we must first get into a flow state, in which the brain switches from analytical to free-flowing. To do this, all you need is a few hours to allow your brain to completely switch off from thinking. This could be walking in nature, visiting a museum or exploring a new place. I visited libraries and collected visual research during this time, watched people pass by a café window, visited a costume exhibition, booked a yoga class, and tried out new recipes. Within just a few days, I was filling up my sketchbook again with fresh and exciting ideas.
It may feel counterproductive at first. You may think ‘who am I to take time off? I have so much work to do.’ But taking time to switch off from your analytical mind could be the most beneficial thing you do in order to reconnect with your limitless imagination. Whatever activity you choose, try to go for something that is done alone, to be with yourself and in your own mind. Within days you may just realise that the block was actually just a plea from your inner artist to be listened to for a while. Whether you find yourself in a season of low creativity, or have an urge to make something new, it’s likely because a part of you is calling out for attention. Listen to it. It may be the missing piece you’ve been searching for all this time.
If you’re interested in more on this topic, The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron is an amazing resource for understanding our creativity and how we can open ourselves up to flow. I highly recommend!
Magic from October…
*New album from The 1975 on repeat.
*I’ve been obsessed with making ramen recently, albeit not entirely traditionally BUT it does promise a comforting bowl of noodles at the end of a long day which is always a win in my books. I love this simple recipe when I’m looking for something speedy and delish.
*Last month I went to my first Yoga Nidra workshop to welcome in the Autumn Equinox and it was a beautiful experience. There’s so much to learn from this mindfulness practice, which you can read about more here.
*I’ve been loving these sketchbooks at the moment. The paper is a gorgeous texture, not too thick, not too thin. And lots of colours to choose from!
Now it’s back to the drawing table. Then outdoors. Because there’s still a handful of days before Christmas arrives good and proper and I intend to capture every last moment of Autumn before it does!
Happy creating xx
Catherine