Pilgrims, Princesses and Beardy Old Men

The exhibition will be officially opened by Laureate na nÓg, Eoin Colfer. All Welcome.

dlr LexIcon presents an exhibition of original paintings by award-winning Irish artist, PJ Lynch, from the million-selling The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, and classics such as Dickens’ A Christmas Carol right up to the newly published The Boy Who Fell Off the Mayflower, as well as PJ’s charcoal drawings for Once Upon A Place, a new anthology of stories by top Irish writers compiled by Laureate na nÓg, Eoin Colfer.

If you are in the Dublin area over the Christmas period pop down to Dun Laoghaire's beautiful new LexIcon library to see my exhibition, "Pilgrims, Princesses and Beardy Old Men"

dlr LexIcon presents an exhibition of original paintings by award-winning Irish artist, PJ Lynch, from the million-selling The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, and classics such as Dickens’ A Christmas Carol right up to the newly published The Boy Who Fell Off the Mayflower, as well as PJ’s charcoal drawings for Once Upon A Place, a new anthology of stories by top Irish writers compiled by Laureate na nÓg, Eoin Colfer. 

The exhibition runs until 30th January.

dlr LexIcon presents an exhibition of original paintings by award-winning Irish artist, PJ Lynch, from the million-selling The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, and classics such as Dickens’ A Christmas Carol right up to the newly published The Boy Who Fell Off the Mayflower, as well as PJ’s charcoal drawings for Once Upon A Place, a new anthology of stories by top Irish writers compiled by Laureate na nÓg, Eoin Colfer.
- See more at: http://libraries.dlrcoco.ie/events-and-news/library-blog/pilgrims-princesses-and-beardy-old-men-exhibition-featuring-work-pj#sthash.NignjnKO.dpuf

The exhibition will be officially opened by Laureate na nÓg, Eoin Colfer. All Welcome

dlr LexIcon presents an exhibition of original paintings by award-winning Irish artist, PJ Lynch, from the million-selling The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, and classics such as Dickens’ A Christmas Carol right up to the newly published The Boy Who Fell Off the Mayflower, as well as PJ’s charcoal drawings for Once Upon A Place, a new anthology of stories by top Irish writers compiled by Laureate na nÓg, Eoin Colfer.
- See more at: http://libraries.dlrcoco.ie/events-and-news/library-blog/pilgrims-princesses-and-beardy-old-men-exhibition-featuring-work-pj#sthash.NignjnKO.dpuf

Exhibition: 'Pilgrims, Princesses and Beardy Old Men' curated by PJ Lynch

On Friday 20th November 'Pilgrims, Princesses and Beardy Old Men', an exhibition featuring the work of award-winning Irish artist PJ Lynch, will be launched at 6.30pm in dlr LexIcon, Level 3.
The exhibition will be officially opened by Laureate na nÓg, Eoin Colfer. All Welcome.

dlr LexIcon presents an exhibition of original paintings by award-winning Irish artist, PJ Lynch, from the million-selling The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, and classics such as Dickens’ A Christmas Carol right up to the newly published The Boy Who Fell Off the Mayflower, as well as PJ’s charcoal drawings for Once Upon A Place, a new anthology of stories by top Irish writers compiled by Laureate na nÓg, Eoin Colfer. P.J. Lynch has worked as a children's book illustrator since leaving Brighton College of Art in England in 1984.
- See more at: http://libraries.dlrcoco.ie/events-and-news/library-blog/pilgrims-princesses-and-beardy-old-men-exhibition-featuring-work-pj#sthash.NignjnKO.dpuf

Exhibition: 'Pilgrims, Princesses and Beardy Old Men' curated by PJ Lynch

On Friday 20th November 'Pilgrims, Princesses and Beardy Old Men', an exhibition featuring the work of award-winning Irish artist PJ Lynch, will be launched at 6.30pm in dlr LexIcon, Level 3.
The exhibition will be officially opened by Laureate na nÓg, Eoin Colfer. All Welcome.

dlr LexIcon presents an exhibition of original paintings by award-winning Irish artist, PJ Lynch, from the million-selling The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, and classics such as Dickens’ A Christmas Carol right up to the newly published The Boy Who Fell Off the Mayflower, as well as PJ’s charcoal drawings for Once Upon A Place, a new anthology of stories by top Irish writers compiled by Laureate na nÓg, Eoin Colfer. P.J. Lynch has worked as a children's book illustrator since leaving Brighton College of Art in England in 1984.
- See more at: http://libraries.dlrcoco.ie/events-and-news/library-blog/pilgrims-princesses-and-beardy-old-men-exhibition-featuring-work-pj#sthash.NignjnKO.dpuf

Exhibition: 'Pilgrims, Princesses and Beardy Old Men' curated by PJ Lynch

On Friday 20th November 'Pilgrims, Princesses and Beardy Old Men', an exhibition featuring the work of award-winning Irish artist PJ Lynch, will be launched at 6.30pm in dlr LexIcon, Level 3.
The exhibition will be officially opened by Laureate na nÓg, Eoin Colfer. All Welcome.

dlr LexIcon presents an exhibition of original paintings by award-winning Irish artist, PJ Lynch, from the million-selling The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, and classics such as Dickens’ A Christmas Carol right up to the newly published The Boy Who Fell Off the Mayflower, as well as PJ’s charcoal drawings for Once Upon A Place, a new anthology of stories by top Irish writers compiled by Laureate na nÓg, Eoin Colfer. P.J. Lynch has worked as a children's book illustrator since leaving Brighton College of Art in England in 1984.
- See more at: http://libraries.dlrcoco.ie/events-and-news/library-blog/pilgrims-princesses-and-beardy-old-men-exhibition-featuring-work-pj#sthash.NignjnKO.dpuf

The Very Grand Launch of "Once Upon A Place"

It has been a busy few days leading up to the publication of "Once Upon A Place" compiled by Laureate na nÓg, Eoin Colfer.

The anthology was well and truly launched on Monday night in the very grand setting of Dublin's Iveagh House. 

At one point our Minister for Foreign Affairs, Charlie Flanagan, kindly joined Eoin and me for a chat about the book.

It was a lovely occasion, and it was so great to meet with so many of the writers who contributed to the anthology. 

Many thanks to everyone at Children's Books Ireland, Gráinne and Siobhán at Little Island, Nessa and all at the office of Laureate na nOg, and of course my buddy Eoin for inviting me to be a part of this amazing project, and for making the night such a success.

Earlier in the day Eoin and I had a lot of fun at Archbishop Marsh's Library with young people from North Dublin Muslim School, and we also put in an appearance on Swipe TV with Clare and Simon.

PJ's Pilgrims at the Society of Illustrators in New York

I am honoured and delighted that this illustration from The Boy Who Fell Off The Mayflower has been selected by jury for the Original Art 2015 Show at the Society of Illustrators in New York!

My work has been exhibited at the  Society of Illustrators  before and I wish I could be at the launch of this year's event to meet some of my New York based friends and illustrator colleagues, but not this time I'm afraid.

The Lincoln Family

I was priviledged to be asked to supply illustrations for Rosemary Wells' emmensely moving story about Abraham Lincoln and his relationship with his family, “Lincoln and his Boys”. 

I did a great deal of research and background reading about Lincoln, and I travelled to Springfield, Illinois with Rosemary to visit the Lincoln home there, and to get as much authentic visual reference material as I possibly could.

I came to see Lincoln as a hugely likeable and admirable figure. In Rosemary’s story he is laid back and relaxed with his sons, Willie and Tad, a funny, indulgent father more than the granite prophet we know from the Lincoln Memorial.

Abraham and Mary Lincoln were shattered when Willie died in the White House from typhoid fever in 1862, and it is no surprise that when Tad also died young, a few years after Lincoln’s assasination, Mary Todd Lincoln was utterly unhinged by grief and depression.

Sebastian Walker on Radio 4's "Great Lives"

When I am well into a piece of work I find that listening to an audiobook or talk radio is ideal for me, and the BBC iplayer is an extraordinary resource to explore. I recommend it to any one.

I was going through the archive of  Radio 4's "Great Lives" when I was very pleasantly surprised to see that my late publisher, Sebastian Walker, was Lynn Barber's choice of a great life.

Sebastian died a good many years ago, but it is true to say that he revolutionised the publishing of Children's books. It's telling that both of the programme's contributors, Lynn Barber and Sebastian's sister Mirabel Cecil, both point up the great importance he placed on the work of his illustrators.

I consider myself hugely fortunate that I was one of those illustrators.

Checking The Proofs of New Book

It's so good to finally have the proofs of my new book on the Mayflower and the Pilgrims.
It's starting to look like a real book!

Storm at Sea

Another detail from a painting for that book that will publish next year.
I had a lot of fun doing this storm scene.

Loading the Ship by Lamplight

Here's another detail of one of the illustrations for the book I am just finishing up. 
The ship is being loaded and our hero and friends are on the gangway in the middle distance.

Burial at Sea

Here's a detail showing a burial at sea from the book I am just finishing up now.
I've got a ton of work still to do but I can't believe the end is finally in sight!

Mysterious Traveller Shortlisted for the CBI Book of the Year Awards

It's an honour to be shortlisted for the 24th CBI Book of the Year Awards for my illustrations to "Mysterious Traveller" by Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham.

Mysterious Traveller Long Listed for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal

I'm delighted to be on the 2014 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal long list for my work on Mysterious Traveller by Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham, published by Walker Books.
I was lucky enough to win the Kate Greenaway twice in the 1990s for The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey and for When Jessie Came Across the Sea. 
There are some great illustrators long listed with me but fingers crossed for the shortlist anyway!

A Sailor in Action

Here's a sailor from the nautically flavoured book I am working on now.
I had a lot of fun playing about with the light effects on this guy.

Pictiúr Opens at IMMA

These two paintings from The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey are the two of mine that are included in "Pictiúr" which opens at  IMMA - Irish Museum of Modern Art today! 

From "A Bag Of Moonshine"

Here are a few pictures from my very first book, "A Bag Of Moonshine" by Alan Garner.
It only sold a few thousand copies so not too many of my blog visitors will have seen it.

A New Edition of "The Snow Queen"

My friends at Andersen Press have just sent me copies of a lovely new edition of The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen, illustrated by me.

Pictiúr goes to Europe

Here's a nice little film about Pictiúr, the exhibition of Irish Children's Book Illustrators curated by my good pal Niamh Sharkey, Laureate na nÓg. 
If you look hard you might just see a couple of my pictures from The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey in there somewhere.
The exhibition toured Europe and is now back in Ireland travelling to venues around the country including IMMA over the Christmas period.
The show is running now at Draíocht, Blancharstown and continues there until October 5th.

Bustling London...... Final State

Here is a scan of the finished painting which I have tweaked a little bit in Photoshop.
This is very much a picture to be looked at up close so that the viewer gets to scan over the various details and incidents.
It will be the first spread in the book and is very much designed to set the scene, to give a sense of the time and the place for the action to come in the rest of the book.

Bustling London....Almost Done

I've pretty much finished this illustration now.
I have scanned the painting and am giving it a final tweak in Photoshop.
Here are the final three shots of the painting process.

Bustling London; Three More Process Pictures

Here are three more pictures showing the progress of my Bustling London illustration.
I've begun adding the characters on the streets and a lot more detail all over.

Bustling London.....Progressing

I'm really enjoying working up my painting of 17th Century London.
Although I did a very detailed drawing for this piece I have been changing elements and adding details as I paint.
Emmersing myself in the life of this late medieval market I find I naturally come up with details or incidents that I hadn't thought of at the drawing stage.
This process is great for my confidence in my technique, especially as I haven't painted in watercolour for a few months.
I had intended that the foreground houses would be all darker in order to show that they were closer to the viewer than the main action, but as I was painting it in, it struck me that I could vary the tone from darkest to lightest to imply that a cloud was passing overhead.

Please note that some of the photos are a bit darker and more contrasty than others depending on the time of day they are shot.