Shane McG's Blog

Hey Diddle Diddle

2012-03-13T16:21:00.000-07:00

Hey Diddle,Diddle. This image is part of an early learning reader I've just completed for Scholastic in the US. Maybe it was because I'd just read Love Me Do, a book about the Beatles, but I kept thinking all this nursery rhyme needs is a walrus and it becomes a John Lennon track.

Mediators using humour!

2012-03-04T19:30:00.001-08:00

An image for a piece in the Law Institute Journal suggesting that mediators for VCAT (Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal) sometimes use humour to 'lighten up' disputes. Bwahahahaha....

1 Alligator Bouncing

2012-03-02T15:18:00.000-08:00

A sneak peek at at two spreads from '1 Alligator Bouncing', an interactive counting alphabet ebook to be released on Utales and Eboo quite soon.

2012 IA Awards

2012-02-06T15:16:00.000-08:00

The results of the 2012 Illustrators Australia Awards have been announced and I won 2 Gold..yay!
Australian Creative magazine has put one of my images on the cover of this month's Brave issue which has all the winners listed. Check it out or go to http://www.illustratorsaustralia.com/events

Wishing everyone a Mad Hair Christmas

2011-12-11T16:07:00.000-08:00

...and a bright and wonderful New Year!

Ahgoo Review-Evie's Mad Hair Day

2011-12-01T15:01:00.000-08:00

This was a nice review of Evie's Mad Hair Day on Utales, the great ebook site for Iphones, Ipads and the net.http://ahgooreview.com?2011/11/evies-mad-hair-day/

Beautiful

2011-10-26T15:10:00.000-07:00

An illustration for another invitation for Low Rez, the male POP choir in Melbourne. This time our concert is called Beautiful and features tunes penned by very talented women like Christine McVie, Amy Winehouse and Annie Lennox. The title is taken from the Christina Aguilera track written by Linda Perry.

Andy Warhol

2011-10-25T16:14:00.000-07:00

Andy Warhol was one of my heroes in my early days. I still think that the work he produced in the 60's prior to him being shot by Valerie Solanas was groundbreaking and incredibly influential. We forget how confronting paintings of Popeye and everyday household grocery items would have been at the time. He always maintained that he chose Campbells Soup because that's what he ate every day for lunch for over 20 years.

Solar Toys

2011-10-05T23:30:00.000-07:00

An image in Child magazine for an article that discusses Solar Toys.

French class gameboard

2011-10-02T16:33:00.000-07:00

A fun gameboard I've recently completed for a French language speaking programme by Pearson Education in Ontario.

Rupert Murdoch

2011-09-20T18:35:00.000-07:00

Personal piece, a portrait of Rupert Murdoch getting some of his own medicine back.

King Consumables

2011-09-13T15:54:00.000-07:00

One of my regular clients Law Institute Journal ran a piece this month highlighting the fact that suppliers of consumer goods and services must comply with a range of statutory guarantees concerning their products. Katy the A/D wanted a King Kongesque spoof. I love the old 1933 version of that film, especially the scene where he battles the T-Rex/Allosauraus in the jungle, scared the hell out of me when I was a kid. This picture is not obviously that scene but another iconic one.

Who bears the onus?

2011-08-04T17:10:00.000-07:00

Another one for LIJ. This time addressing certain questions of proof in insurance law.

Incorporated legal practice

2011-08-04T17:06:00.000-07:00

I do a lot of work for the Law Institute Journal here in Melbourne. They have a great A/D in Katy Alexander and some interesting though at times dry pieces to be illustrated. This one highlighted the incentives and disincentives of legal practices incorporating into one firm.

Utales

2011-07-16T19:02:00.000-07:00

Utales is a website full of digital books for kids that you can download on your Iphone, Ipad or laptop. Not only is it a fun site but they support Pencils for Promise, helping to build schools in developing countries. Two of my books 'Evie's Mad Hair Day' and 'Anyone for Tennis? have just been published on there. Check them out here. http://www.utales.com/

The New Playground

2011-07-12T18:15:00.000-07:00

This is the cover illustration for a book I've just completed for Nelson Canada called The New Playground. These projects are just as much about ticking all the boxes rather than anything else but I managed to have a bit of fun with it too.

IF Stay

2011-07-11T23:31:00.000-07:00

The theme for this week's Illustration Friday is Stay. This is a spread from my picture book 'Anyone for Tennis'. It seemed appropriate. Spike has much trouble obeying Tom's command to STAY!

Up on the roof

2011-06-26T01:23:00.000-07:00

This is an image I've just completed for my Canadian agent's latest promo booklet Box Lunch. The theme was summer digest and I wanted to evoke those lazy hazy summer suburban days I experienced as a kid.

2011-05-20T00:49:00.000-07:00

A spread I've just finished for a picture book I'm currently working on. At the moment it's called The Broken Wing but I think that may be a working title in the end. I haven't even got a publisher for this one yet but will probably post various images on here now and again because - well sometimes I just get bored.

2011-05-20T00:33:00.000-07:00

These are two images from a series that will be used as projections in the latest performance of Low Rez, the male POP choir I sing with.

These will accompany our - ahem- absolutely beautiful rendition of Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol. :)

Target Holiday Card

2011-05-20T00:20:00.000-07:00

A gift card I've just done for the department store Target in the US.

Illustration Friday- Bicycle

2011-04-23T00:16:00.000-07:00

Jake.

Illustration Friday-Journey

2011-04-17T15:22:00.000-07:00

Illustration Friday topic for this week is Journey. This is an image I did for a magazine called Chesapeake Life about the writer doing a road journey to Oxford in Maryyland (US) in her favourite car, an E Type jaguar. I especially enjoyed working on the car.

Canadian Grocer

2011-04-06T15:49:00.000-07:00

Cover image I've just done for Canadian Grocer which informs us how people shop, buy and eat. Um, through a hole in their head by the look of it.

Illustration Friday-Duet

2011-04-05T22:35:00.000-07:00

A recent job for Child magazine about the ways a mother and daughter lead a sustainable existence. I thought it made a quite nice image for this week's IF theme 'Duet'.

The Blue Collar White Shirt Guy

2011-04-03T17:24:00.000-07:00

Another funnies piece for the lovely Katy at Victorian Law Institute Journal about a guy who worked both as a lawyer AND a plumber. I think he earned more money doing the plumbing jobs -well he would, wouldn't he.

Taylor Swift

2011-03-31T17:00:00.000-07:00

I've been a little snowed under with commissions lately but have managed to finish another portrait. I'm not particularly a fan of Taylor Swift but my daughter used to hum her tune in the car, that one about the popular girl being a cheer leader whilst poor ol' Taylor is on the bleachers...what's a bleacher anyway??

Illustrators Australia for Japan Auction

2011-03-27T23:25:00.000-07:00

The Illustrators Australia Online Auction is donating 100% of the proceeds to Red Cross Australia's Japan and Pacific Disaster Appeal 2011. I've donated this print from my book The Robot's Pet. It's a digital print/ Archival Pigment Ink printed on Hahmenuile Photo Rag Paper. Go to http://www.illustratorsaustralia.com/japan to see all the works for sale and get bidding:)

Illustration Friday-Toy

2011-03-27T14:27:00.000-07:00

I've missed out on the last few week's Illustration Fridays due to commissions but thought I'd throw in one for this topic -Toy.
Tom is undecided on which toy he actually wants to play with, why not all of them at the same time?

Robert Pattinson

2011-03-07T01:07:00.000-08:00

Thought I'd update my folio a bit and do a few portraits. Start with Twilight's Robert Pattinson. Only my partner said this looked like Johnny Depp, so now I'm befuddled.

Funnies piece for Law Institute Journal

2011-03-04T16:50:00.000-08:00

I've just done another Funnies piece for The Law Institute Journal. The magazine was asking their legal readers if they would truly utterly recognise someone famous if they were sitting next to them on a plane.

Illustration Friday-Warning

2011-03-04T16:05:00.000-08:00

WARNING! Enter at own risk!

Illustration Friday- Swarm

2011-02-25T19:47:00.000-08:00

I bet I'm the only person who did a swarm of bees...or maybe not :)

A portrait for Scotty.

2011-02-24T23:10:00.000-08:00

A portrait of my mate Scott who's a fine photographer and a bit of a self confessed sci-fi geek.

Illustration Friday-Layer

2011-02-19T15:16:00.000-08:00

This week's Illustration Friday's subject is Layer.

Here I've done another layer on the cake.

Illustration Friday-Sweater

2011-02-11T21:30:00.000-08:00

The theme for this week's Illustration Friday is Sweater.

This is what it sounds like.

2011-02-08T21:42:00.000-08:00

The image I've done for the invite and poster for the latest concert by Low Rez, the male POP choir I sing with. The title was taken from one of the songs in the performance, Prince's 'When Doves Cry'.

Illustration Friday- Reverse

2011-02-04T20:09:00.000-08:00

This week's Illustration Friday subject was Reverse. I'm not a betting man but if I was, this would probably be the horse I would back.

The Dog Stole My Brain

2011-02-04T00:04:00.000-08:00

This is an image for the second Aussie Chomps cover I've just done for Penguin Books. A crazy misadventure of brains getting mixed up in different bodies. Fun to do.

Illustrator Australia Awards

2011-02-01T14:38:00.000-08:00

I found out yesterday that I've received a Gold, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze awards in the Illustrators Australia Awards run in conjunction with Creative magazine. Nice to get a bit of good news :) This little man was one of the silver winners. He was part of a series of images I did for a campaign for Vodaphone Australia advertising their Business Caps plan.

Illustration Friday-Surrender

2011-01-31T01:54:00.000-08:00

This is my first submission for Illustration Friday. The topic this week is Surrender. This image was part of a spread from 'Robot's Pet', the Nigel Gray book I illustrated a few years back. I just feel my little friend the robot should probably surrender quite soon as it looks like the kitty means business.

Parallel Universe

2011-01-24T01:17:00.000-08:00

This was an image for one of my Canadian agent's promotional brochures. The theme was Parallel Universes. I wanted to illustrate the irony that is sometimes apparent in these times of 'giving'. We can all be a bit guilty of it.

Draw!

2011-01-19T19:12:00.000-08:00

Draw! I keep telling myself I should do that instead of farting around. hehe.

Cover for Ten Little Hermit Crabs 2009

2011-01-17T20:02:00.000-08:00

The cover for a book I illustrated for the super nice people at Allen and Unwin here in Melbourne. It's a funky little counting book written by Lee Fox.

It has been published in Australia, Korea and Brazil so far.

It was shortlisted for Young Children Speech Pathology Australia- Book of the Year 2010

and the Children's Book Council of Australia- Early Childhood Notable Book 2010

Here are some quotes ....

'Shane McG's quirky, adorable illustrations are every bit as endearing as Lee Fox's clever countdown.' The Age

'...bright and colourful illustrations...' Australian Bookseller and Publisher

' (Shane McG's illustrations) brim with energy and a larger than life quality.' Magpies

'..one of those books that is both fun and light- hearted and entertaining too.' Preschool Entertainment

'Filled with bright and lively artwork and 10 loveable Hermit Crabs.' Femail.com

'Beautifully presented, recomended reading for children up to 7 years and adults alike.' Whispers and Whiskers

'..with bright colours and bold design...(the crabs) are too quirky cute to come to any harm.' Kerry Neary

'An amusingly playful read aloud counting book.' Buzz Words.

Buy the book here.

Cover of Robot's Pet published in 2008

2011-01-17T19:45:00.000-08:00

Robot's Pet is a picture book by Nigel Gray which I illustrated in 2008, again for Koala Books.

Ted was good with tools and screws, and sheets of tin, and junk and scrap, and nuts and bolts, and odds and ends. Ted worked all night and by first light he'd made a friend.

You can buy the book here.

Cover image for my picture book I'm Freezing 2007

2011-01-17T19:36:00.000-08:00

This is the cover of my third picture book which was published by Koala Books in Australia in 2007. What's a Polar Bear to do when he just can't get warm?

You can buy the book here.

Anyone For Tennis? 2007

2011-01-17T19:20:00.000-08:00

The cover images for my second book which was originally published by Templar Books in the UK as Anyone for Tennis? in 2007. Later it was published in the US as Tennis Anyone? and in Australia as A Surprise Present. One book, three titles, go figure. :)

You can buy the book here.

Cover of Evie's Mad Hair Day 2005

2011-01-17T19:10:00.000-08:00

This is the cover image of my first picture book called Evie's Mad Hair Day which was published by the lovely people at Templar Books in the UK in 2005. It has been subsequently published in other territories like Australia, Portugal and Korea.

It was shortlisted for the 'Read It Again' Cambridgeshire Children's Picture Book Award in 2006. The funny and talented Josie Lawrence read it out aloud on the CBEEBIES Bedtime Stories for the BBC as well which was fun to watch.

You can buy the book here.

Birdie in the Sky

2011-01-14T17:53:00.000-08:00

Cover illustration for one of Penguin's Aussie Chomps books. This one was about a feisty young girl who has to fly her and her Dad to safety in his Tiger Moth after he has an accident. I had fun doing this albeit they were very specific about what they wanted on the cover.

Vendor Beware

2011-01-14T17:37:00.000-08:00

Image for an article in The Law Institute Journal of Victoria dealing with rescission of 'off the plan' sales of real estate.

Evie n Tom's Mad Hair Days teaser

2010-10-11T01:43:00.000-07:00

My friends at Viskatoons have put together a very funky teaser for Evie and Tom's Mad Hair Days. We even have a retro Archies sounding theme song, well I think it sounds cool anyway. We're THAT close to getting funding for our series. Apparently. My fingers have been crossed for four years now but we're creeping closer to a production date.

Chamber of secrets

2010-10-11T01:21:00.000-07:00

For a piece in The Law Institute Journal last month about judges who have odd things on display in their chambers. A shop near Melbourne's legal precinct even caters for them- bats in jars, stuffed birds, human skulls and the like.

2010-10-11T00:40:00.000-07:00

I've been working with the nice people at Lotus Agency here in Melbourne in helping Deakin University with visuals for posters and ads in their push this year to attract students. This is a very cool ad made by the guys at Compulsive using my visuals. I had a lot of fun doing this and got a kick out of seeing my people move.

Coles Rich Picture

2010-10-11T00:12:00.000-07:00

In July I worked on a before and after in-house poster for a supermarket chain we have here in Oz. What can I say? There were a lot of stakeholders who art directed this one.

Millennial Team

2010-04-08T20:54:00.000-07:00

A cover for Investment Executive in Toronto about an article discussing ways that investment advisors could attract people born between the years 1980 and 2000 -the millennial generation. The idea was to have the young person as an action hero figure, part of an action team.

Viva La Vida

2010-04-08T20:42:00.000-07:00

This is the invite I made for Low Rez ( a super-dooper all male pop choir I sing with) for their latest concert . We utterly brim with talent, apart from those of us who constantly sing flat and out of key .....but at least we smile a lot.

Hansel and Gretal

2010-04-08T20:30:00.000-07:00

One for my agent for their annual Lunchbox promotion. The theme this year was fairy tales and this is my take on Grimm's Hansel and Gretal.

Evie and Tom's Mad Hair Christmas

2009-12-11T20:30:00.000-08:00

Evie and Tom are two separate characters from my first two picture books, published in 05 and 07. We have super-dooper ideas for an animation series starring them but just need a wee bit of money, if anyone has any spare laying around :)

A banana phobia.

2009-12-10T03:17:00.000-08:00

A new book I'm working on is gradually taking shape..slowly. Life has taken over somewhat in the last few months.

This is Lolah and she has an aversion to fruit.

A New Evidence Act.

2009-11-29T13:13:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since I posted....many distractions...but here's something I just did for Katy at Law Institute Journal which I quite like...A New Evidence Act for Victoria:An overview of the changes to evidence law in civil proceedings in Victoria.

10 Little Hermit Crabs

2009-08-31T15:58:00.001-07:00

Allen and Unwin here in Melbourne are publishing my latest picture book this month. It's a funky little counting book for the littluns written by the talented Lee Fox.

Lola Molar

2009-08-31T15:30:00.000-07:00

A story I've been dabbling with for a few years now concerns a little girl with an unhealthy relationship to junk food, namely chips n chocolate. I haven't been happy with her look but think this may be getting somewhere finally.

MyVoice poster

2009-08-31T15:16:00.000-07:00

This is a large sheet poster, part of a larger branding campaign for a statewide consultation with 5-17 year olds undertaken by WA's Commissioner for Children and Young People. The job was for the lovely Jan Saggers at Nexus.

Header for my Australian rep

2009-08-06T16:46:00.000-07:00

My Aussie rep invited all his flock to design a header for the website-this is my effort. Looks teeny tiny here.

Law Institute of Victoria

2009-07-26T17:00:00.000-07:00

An article about those mind numbingly ridiculous cartoon character and logo tattoos that are popular these days.