Anna Connor

Storyboard

2012-03-11T16:25:00.000Z

Here is the first draft of the storyboard for the Lawrence Batley Theatre picture book.

Not very easy to make out the images I know, they are very rough, and very small! But it does give some idea of how the story might flow, what the general feeling of it is going to be like. Although in order to scan it, so that it can actually be seen, I've had to crop the spreads, so they don't appear in order ;-)

It has taken me approximately three hours to sketch this out, some spreads I already had planned out, and some I needed to look up; such as lighting technicians (as you can see, still got research to do!!).

Tomorrow, when I've had a break from looking at it, hopefully I'll see what might need changing - I'll also get lots of people's views on it too, as that can be very helpful!

I've included the story at the bottom, it's had a few different drafts so far, and will probably have more! :-)

Magic Of The Theatre!

1. Madame Vivi welcomes you to the theatre. Come and see themagic!

2. Look, the cleaners are working hard to make the theatre lookbeautiful.

3. This is where the theatregoers come to have food and drink.

Look, they’re having a big delivery now!

4. A big van arrives. It is bringing everything needed for thisevening’s

performance.

5. There is a lot to do; everything needs to be got ready intime!

6. The technicians are very busy making sure the lighting isperfect.

7. Here is where the actors transform into different characters,putting

on their makeup and getting into their costumes.

8. The musicians are tuning their instruments, big ones andlittle ones.

How many can you see?

9. Here come the people to buy their tickets for this evening’sperformance.

They are very excited; will they sit downstairs or upstairs?

10. The play is starting and everybody is enchanted! The set iswonderful

and the costumes are beautiful.

11. It’s the interval. Time for ice cream! What flavour will youchoose?

12. It’s the end of the play. The actors take a bow and everyoneapplauds.

13. Now everybody is going home: the audience, the actors, andthe musicians.

14. The moon and stars are shining and the theatre goes to sleep.

Shmoo again!!!

2012-03-03T12:55:00.000Z

I have been so busy lately on different projects at once, that I seem to just be permanently at the rough, black and white stage of everything; I feel the need to post something with at least a little colour on it, and who better than Shmoo, our obliging house rabbit!

I have posted this image before, but I have got better at scanning since then (well, I know how to crop now ;-), and don't think I did a very good job of it before! I could probably still do a better job now, but I'd need further input from clever computer daughter who is busy at the moment (eg, how to get the white of the page, well, white???), so here they are somewhat improved.

I've done some of the sketches with Shmoo having no mane, as one aspect of drawing is attempting to learn how something is constructed, and that flowing mane was just in the way!

Shmoo is very different from our first ever rabbit, Hercules, who was very short haired and perfect for seeing all the muscles and bone shapes etc. Having said that, he was very black, which meant being creative with different shades of... black! Will try to find drawings of him, and post them :-)

Caspar Soft Toy!

2012-02-28T19:59:00.000Z

Here are some photos that Barbara Hellowell has sent me. They show fabric toys that she has made inspired by my Casper and Shmoo pictures! WOW, makes me very happy! :-D

More musicians!

2012-02-19T11:27:00.002Z

Here are some more roughs for very talented musicians that you may have seen at the Lawrence Batley Theatre... they are in high demand, so we're very lucky here in Huddersfield! :-D

Violin Playing Moose

2012-02-15T14:53:00.001Z

Here is the rough for Moose, who will be featured playing the violin on the musicians page for the Lawrence Batley Theatre book. Am working on some more to join Moose; next up, Little Rabbit playing a Big Drum! :-)

The actors are getting ready!

2012-02-05T16:21:00.000Z

FINALLY finished the colour on the actors page for the Lawrence Batley Theatre story! I've only been able to do it in fits and starts due to other projects and commitments. Anyway, everyone looks like they're having fun - reminds me of when I used to be in school plays - LOVED the dressing up!!!

Theatre characters

2012-01-29T01:02:00.002Z

Still only in roughs and black and whites (I've been so busy lately), here are some ideas for characters that might live at the Lawrence Batley Theatre. Let me know if you see any of them around... Hope to bring them to you in glorious colour before too long!

The Actors are here!!!

2012-01-15T19:59:00.000Z

I have been making roughs in pencil and watercolour of the actors for the Lawrence Batley Theatre book that I am making. It is a really fun page to be working on, some of these characters are really making me chuckle, I'd love to meet them...!

Our Cute House Rabbit!!

2012-01-08T19:03:00.001Z

Some quick sketches of Shmoo, our lovely house rabbit. Did these while she was running around the living room - she loves it in there, mainly because it's where the TV is, and she loves to go behind it to eat the wires! When she is blocked from the TV though, she is content to lick and lick and LICK the arm of the sofa.

Autumn

2011-12-10T16:31:00.001Z

This is a commission I have been working on, it is a celebration of Autumn. The inspiration for this painting came from my walks around the beautiful countryside where I live. When I get out there, seeing all of wonderful nature, my spirits lift and I feel connected and rejuvinated!

Delivery at the Lawrence Batley Theatre

2011-12-03T16:45:00.001Z

When I was down at at the theatre today, I was having a coffee in the bar, when a big delivery arrived - I quickly sketched the delivery people as they brought in supplies: lovely lemonade; heart-warming tea & coffee; best beer; incredible ice-cream; and scrumptious nuts & crisps!

The Cleaners at the Lawrence Batley Theatre

2011-11-26T15:54:00.001Z

The second installment to the story, A Day in the Life of the Theatre, has been taking a long time to appear, but here it is at last; I spotted these characters recently at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield...

Look, the cleaners are working hard to make thetheatre look beautiful.

Introducing Madame Vivi!

2011-10-22T19:51:00.000+01:00

Madame Vivi welcomes you to the theatre, "Come on in and share the magic!"

Caspar and Shmoo

2011-10-18T21:28:00.001+01:00

Here is the third picture from the Caspar and Shmoo series. They are enjoying the slow pace of life sitting in this pink willow tree, watching butterfiles flutter by - the last days of summer!

Artists' in Residence Exhibition at the Lawrence Batley Theatre

2011-10-15T14:26:00.000+01:00

Here finally are some photos of my work from our exhibition at the Lawrence Batley Theatre! In the excitement of the evening, I totally forgot to take photos, so the brill photographer, Yvonne Roberts (who is new artist in residence for this year) kindly took some for me this week. If you want to see the exhibition, it finishes on Saturday 22 October. It was a really lovely evening, a fitting end to a really wonderful year, spent with really wonderful fellow artists and theatre staff! Although I am very lucky in that I get to do another year as Artist in Residence, the aim being to produce a series of pictures, with quirky little characters, that tell the story of a day in the life of the theatre - I'm very excited!

When You Next Visit Lawrence Batley Theatre...look out for all the little folk who live there!

2011-09-11T16:42:00.000+01:00

Here are the last of my Lawrence Batley Theatre images. In order to celebrate a wonderful year, myself, and the other talented Artists in Residence have our exhibition coming up! You will be able to go along to the theatre and see our work, from 19 September - 17 October 2011. I am very excited, it's a great event for me, the culmination of an amazing year!

2011-09-03T19:19:00.001+01:00

Here are two paintings based on my friend's cat Caspar, and our house rabbit, Shmoo.

They are both getting on a bit now, so these characters like to sit around in trees, chatting about the good old days!

Great day at the Lawrence Batley Theatre Summer Fayre in Huddersfield!!

2011-08-14T20:43:00.007+01:00

Yesterday was a super day at the theatre's Summer Fayre. I had my first ever stall, and sold 5 pictures and 1 card, which I consider a success and I am very happy about it! (5% of proceeds to Africa Vulnerable Children Project). My wonderful daughter Poppy (who made the most fantastic paper cut out dolls which I will post on here soon), and her brilliant boyfriend Nick, were amazing. They worked so hard from very early in the morning, helping me with every aspect of the stall, putting up with my worries and stresses, running errands, not to mention up and down the stairs fetching and carrying - couldn't have done it without you!

I thoroughly enjoyed myself; the other stall holders were very friendly, encouraging and helpful, giving me lots of tips. It really was such a pleasure to have people buy my pictures, and the customers were all so lovely! The theatre staff were also very supportive, so a big thank you! Thank you also to everyone who traveled long distances to support me!

The comedy entertainment certainly had us all laughing, and the staff at the theatre were very welcoming to all, and worked very hard all day to ensure a great day for everyone.

And thank you to Yvonne, who did a great animation workshop on the day and who will be Artist in Residence at the theatre starting in September, for this photo.

And then after all that, the preview of the exciting Woven Narratives in beautiful Saltaire, Bradford. International collaborative artworks by Fabric Lenny & Jonathan Grauel. Truly original and dynamic exhibition in a very friendly and welcoming venue, it was a really lovely evening, see the photos here. The exhibition is on until September 9th - if you're in the area, go and see it!!

Lawrence Batley Theatre Summer Fayre

2011-08-10T22:25:00.004+01:00

Here are some of the cards I have made that I will be selling at my first ever stall at The Lawrence Batley Theatre Summer Fayre this Saturday, 13th August. There's going to be lots of great stalls and fun things to do, entertainment, art and craft demonstrations, workshops and food.

I will also be selling fun watercolour pictures and my daughter is making wonderful paper dolls to sell too! 5% of all proceeds from my own personal stall, selling my own artwork, and Poppy's handmade paper dolls, will go to the fantastic Africa Vulnerable Children Project

Fingers crossed for a glorious, sunny day!

Watercolours for sale!

2011-08-01T17:03:00.000+01:00

These are my first ever pieces, created for my first ever stall!!!! (I learned a whole lot of stuff in the process of making these...I know how to do it even better next time!)
They are approx size 18x13cm & 17x24 cm, so fairly small.
I aim to sell them online too, when I've set up a shop, and I will be adding more to the collection.

Flying Rocket!!

2011-07-26T22:02:00.002+01:00

Design roughs for the stall I'm having at Lawrence Batley Theatre's Summer Fayre, Saturday 13th August - should be fun!

2011-07-12T20:07:00.000+01:00

Box Office Scene at the Lawrence Batley Theatre!

2011-07-01T20:17:00.001+01:00

Summer Fayre at the theatre design

2011-06-03T12:38:00.000+01:00

I had great fun designing this - I was asked for birds, dots and swirls... how could I resist! Will post finished version with text when I get it.

Architectural detail from theatre

2011-05-30T15:23:00.000+01:00

I spotted these little characters at the theatre...

Dawn Chorus

2011-05-22T20:27:00.002+01:00

Here is Antonio/Francesco/Vivaldi all finished!

Dawn Chorus May 2011

2011-05-15T11:24:00.000+01:00

This is a rough for an A3 painting inspired by two things:
1) the dawn chorus which we did this morning at 4am, we heard blackbirds first, then what seemed like a cacophony of hundreds and hundreds of different birds
2) Nick Lewis who is a wonderful person and awesome guitarist, he has a big heart, kind, generous and loving - a great, great person! The image will feature Nick's favourite character from an earlier piece, playing a guitar accompanied by the dawn chorus - at this stage I'm not sure who's leading, the character (what should his name be??) or the dawn chorus...
This is an experimental piece for me and I'll scan it in stages and post them. The picture will be a present for Nick in return for his gift of guitar playing and him being wonderful!!

Landscapes with birds and houses

2011-05-10T10:10:00.000+01:00

Here are some more landscapes with birds and houses. I aim to experiment and introduce new characters into future ones.

Mayblossom and red clover

2011-05-06T10:26:00.001+01:00

I can't stop painting the wonderful flowers I'm seeing on my walks! Everything is coming alive here in Holmfirth.

Three flower paintings

2011-05-02T20:09:00.001+01:00

Honesty, Honesty & herb robert, Lilac

Anne's flowers & theatre characters

2011-05-01T19:23:00.002+01:00

Here are Anne's flowers, violets & rosemary. Also some characters I found loitering around the Lawrence Batley Theatre entrance...

More theatre scenes

2011-04-19T14:20:00.001+01:00

Having to draw fast is a great challenge, and I'm getting to love drawing these characters!

Birds and house

2011-04-19T14:01:00.001+01:00

I am really enjoying creating these funny little landscapes that have homes and birds in them. I will post more soon, and add colour.

Paul's shirts

2011-04-19T13:53:00.000+01:00

Further to 'the hunk on the sofa', here are his shirts. I turned this into a romantic birthday card for him...

Paul

2011-03-31T15:48:00.000+01:00

I thought I would post this sketch as it shows a little chew in the top left corner where Shmoo, our house rabbit, chewed it after I carelessly left it on the corner of the sofa... otherwise, Paul is still intact!

Our garden

2011-03-31T15:42:00.000+01:00

I took photos of this drawing as I went along so that I could see my own progress, or how I worked it, more clearly. It is very interesting to scan my sketches and see them on the computer; it puts distance between me and them and I can see my work in a different light.

Shmoo, our house rabbit 002

2011-03-20T12:25:00.001Z

Pencil sketches of Shmoo staying still. She's hopefully going to be the star of one of my picture book ideas, so I will be drawing her LOTS!

Poppy's room

2011-03-20T11:51:00.000Z

Here is a sketch of my daughter's room - this corner has lots of straight lines, angles, perspective, and generally difficult bits. The wolf part was utter fun though!

Lawrence Batley Theatre - people 001

2011-03-20T10:50:00.000Z

Studies from the theatre window

Shmoo, our house rabbit

2011-03-20T10:23:00.000Z

Trying out coloured pencil studies of Shmoo.

Art From The Theatre 001

2011-03-19T16:26:00.003Z

Images from the theatre. Trying out media and materials. The people walk by so fast!