Furrylittlepeach by aliciaclzn

F o r e s t Jour nal Singapore

March 2018

Issue 01 Introduction

Space

Tips

Project

KNOW THE ARTIST

STUDIO

INSIDER TIPS

ZOOM Book

Check out the space behind where Sha’an d’Anthes creates all her artworks

Find out the materials Sha’an d’Anthes recommends for young budding artists

Get a look into the making of Zoom - Sha’an d’Anthes’ latest personal project

S h a’a n d ’a n t h e s A n i l l u s t r at o r , exhibiting artist and published author

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up. Pablo Picasso

Forest

Forest is a biannual art magazine based in Singapore. Each issue focuses on an artist and their notable works.

Editor

Alicia Chan

Featured Artist Sha’an d’Anthes

Content i s s u e

0 1

Introduction Get to know more about the artist of this issue - Sha’an d’Anthes

Interview The top 15 frequently asked questions

SPACE Follow us as we take a peek into the working space of Sha’an d’Anthes

TIPS Tips and tricks of the perfect materials to create the perfect art work

Project Take a look behind the scenes of Sha’an d’Anthes’ latest project

INSTAGRAM Bonus graphics

Epilogue Editors note and contributors

16 02

FOREST

INTRODUCTION

SHA’AN D’ ANTHES

SHA’AN D’ANTHES of Furry LittLe Peach Illustrator, exhibiting artist and published author

ABOUT Shan’an D’anthes 25 years old, Sha’an d’Anthes aka Furry Little Peach is an illustrator, artist and story teller. The sweet, conscientious and determined young lady has always has a feeling she would end up an artist. Even during her uni studies, she was freelancing and riding on the success of her Tumblr account which has over 20,000 followers and set up a shop on Etsy, selling her prints.

“I’m certain I felt an affinity with mark-making as soon as I could hold a crayon,” - Sha’an d’Anthes

You might not immediately recognise her name, but Sha’an d’Anthes is internet famous. The 25-year-old Sydney-based artist and illustrator, who operates under the moniker Furry Little Peach, has has been exhibiting and selling work online since her early teens. If you consume your art online, chances are you’ll immediately recognise her nostalgic watercolours. d’Anthes tells The Creators Project that she’s wanted to be an artist ever since early childhood. “I’m certain I felt an affinity with mark-making as soon as I could hold a crayon,” she says. Not only is she drawn to the act of painting itself, but the storytelling quality that comes with it; you can easily trace her evocative illustrations of animals and plants to the books she read when she was little. “Something I remember vividly is wanting to write and illustrate books as a kid,” she tells us. “I’d spend the longest time on the covers, but by the time I was a couple of pages in I’d ditch that story and start the next one. From memory most of the books featured animals as main characters so clearly not much has changed in my art making department, though I’m very happy to have kicked the short attention span since then.” That sense of childhood innocence lies at the heart of most things she creates. “At the moment I’m really interested in nostalgia,” she explains. “In evoking it, in referencing my own nostalgia and even in creating new images that still give you the air of what you miss as an adult—childlike wonder, exploration, and adventure.” The online presence came a few years later, when d’Anthes was in late high school. “I first began posting on Tumblr when I should have been preparing for the HSC,” she says. “I must have been 16 or 17 when I posted my first drawing online, and then discovered that the Internet was a great place to connect with both your audience and other creatives.”

d’Anthes may have found an audience using the Internet, but in some ways her practice is rooted in the traditions of the past. Her preferred medium is watercolours—“always has been, and probably will be for a long time to come.” She tends to begin drawings with pencil and ink, then uses watercolour for “the bulk of it”, and then finishes the detailing with gouache. “It’s really exciting to bring something new to a medium that has been around for centuries,” she says. When it comes to social media, there are always lines to be drawn. While Instagram and Tumblr can provide a wealth of inspiration, d’Anthes tries to view the online sphere as more of a digital gallery space than a moodboard. “I try not to let social media influence the work itself, but it definitely influences how I showcase my work,” she tells us. “I’ve learnt a lot about art direction in content creation, as well as the importance of storytelling when you’re showcasing visual work through using social media.” Her 100,000 Instagram followers would probably agree that part of the allure of her Instagram is d’Anthes’ willingness to share personal stories alongside her artwork. “It’s like a whole other practice,” she says. “I think it’s important to show the artist’s hand when sharing your work online— whether that be showing people where you were when you made something, how you made it, what you made it with, or why you made it.” Currently, d’Anthes is selling a selection of enamel pins on her online store, inspired by her road trip through the Canadian Rocky Mountains, and looking forward to telling more personal stories through her work. “I’m wrapping up a handful of commercial projects at the moment, and afterwards I hope to focus more on personal projects,” she says. “Now more than ever I’m focused on bringing the world in my head into the real world, one painting at a time.”

SHA’AN D’ ANTHES

INTRODUCTION

FOREST

THIS WEEK’S FOCUS:

Furrylittlepeach

“At the moment I’m really interested in nostalgia,” she explains. “In evoking it, in referencing my own nostalgia and even in creating new images that still give you the air of what you miss as an adult—childlike wonder, exploration, and adventure.”

FOREST

INTERVIEW

SHA’AN D’ ANTHES

Meet the Artist Interview with Sha’an d’anthes

“My name is Sha’an, I’m from Sydney, Australia, a line-lover, a maker-of-things and of course a furry, little peach. I’ve always been interested in art and creativity but my style started developing a couple of years ago after I started my blog and became familiar (and totally fell in love with) the medium of watercolour.”

What did you want to be when you were a child?

Who are some of your favourite artists?

When I was super young I told my mum I wanted to “write and draw my own books”; I don’t think I ever finished writing any books. I would constantly start stories and get carried away illustrating the covers and first couple of pages before I moved onto the next. The only book I remember finishing was about a delightful sheep called Mrs Lambchip, and her other aptly named animal-friends – don’t bother reading it, it was a flop.

This question is always so daunting because the list is a long and ever-changing one. Here’s a snapshot: Artists like Christo & Jeanne-Claude inspire me to think big, Audrey Kawasaki’s work takes me to a world of whimsy and magic, Ron Mueck reminds me that process and patience is important, Dali reminds me that art is supposed to take you somewhere that real life can’t, and Andy Goldsworthy’s work reminds me how beautiful and precious our planet is, and that art should be used to remind people of that.

02 When did you first start drawing/ painting? As soon as I could make a mark, which is before I can remember. Drawing’s always been apart of my life. The enjoyment and proper understanding of painting came much later, when I was 17 (three years ago), which is when this all began.

03 How did you come up with the name ‘furry little peach’? When I was in high school I needed a place to store scans of my film photography, I turned to Tumblr and needed to think of a url.&nbsp; I liked the word ‘peach’ and the rest seemed to appear out of no where. How awful would it have been if I had used “bitchtits97” or something – I’m glad that it’s something that really suited both my work and I, and that it was something people grew attached to and would come to know me by.

04 What did you study to get to where you are now? I have a Bachelor of Visual Art and Design, but I attribute very little of what I do to my university experience. I was selling my work internationally in high school, and have been freelancing and working with brands for almost as long. The most important thing I learned during my time at university is how essential being motivated and driven outside of an institutional setting is, especially if you’re looking to freelance.

06 Where do you gather inspiration for your art form? Anywhere and everywhere! I think it’s hard not to use experience as the driving force behind art, and that’s what makes it such an intimate and personal thing.. I often use my art to bring me closer to things I can’t physically have whether that be a landscape that has materialised in my mind, or creatures I would love to befriend, it’s the only way for me to completely absorb myself into my self-constructed utopia.

SHA’AN D’ ANTHES

INTERVIEW

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10 If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Rocket (my boyfriend) and I are going to Japan in the Summer, we’ll be there for New Years, I’m so excited about that. There’s a city called Nara and it’s over-run with deer. I am so pumped! I’m going to lie amongst them and hope they adopt me. I hear there’s a fox village too, but if I find it I might just die.

Tools you can’t live without? My hands! I’ll find a way to make a mark as long as I have ’em! To be comfortable though, I need a steady supply of graphite, Arches’ 640gsm Hot-Pressed Watercolour Paper, a handful of sketchbooks, my inks and watercolours, a set of brushes and a window.

What are the highlights of your past 12 months?

11 Future life goals?

To never let the magic of being a child leave me - it’s so important because it’s such a hard thing to do with growing up and life experience. I think it’s what makes my work special to people, giving them a portal to that feeling again. I want to always be filled with wonder, and the desire for exploration as well as surrounding myself with discovery and collaboration

Tell us about some of your favourite moments which have occurred during your career as an artist? I’ve been so blessed with many amazing experiences, challenges and opportunities, but the opening night for Wild Things was one of the most recent and best nights of my life. To have all the amazing support I’ve received online translate to the real world was something I was ecstatic and originally anxious about.

09 Obstacles that have come your way? I tend not to think of things as obstacles and more of opportunities to become motherflippin’ awesome. In the same way that having to climb a mountain gives you experience (and super-hot thigh muscles), overcoming issues and obstacles make you better at your craft. It awards you with problem solving skills and gives you new knowledge that you can harness to your creative tool-belt.

This year has been crazy for me! Probably my trip to Japan, being sent to California by Element to show, being featured and interviewed by a bunch of publications I love including Yen Magazine and Elle (Thailand), showing with and meeting all the wonderful and incredibly talented people I have this year, moving into my very own studio thanks to the boys at The Tate, and of course, the incredible and ongoing response my work and I have received online.

14 Any upcoming events/ projects you’re involved in?

12 Favourite weekend activity? Weekends and weekdays blend into each other for me, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I’m not introverted, but am definitely a homebody. When I’m not freelancing, or doing work for school (both of which are art and design based), I’m creating things and it’s my everything. Of course I enjoy other things - cafe-exploring, gallery-hopping, market-going, being with my family and friends who are my ultimate treasures - but creativity is the most used muscle in my body. If it were an actual muscle I would be super huge and intimidating, I’m quite grateful it’s not.

I just had my first solo show Wild Things at The Tate in Glebe, and am addicted! So when I get back from Japan (full of inspiration and Ramen) I want to organise another! Other than that, we’ll have to see, it’s going to be a cross roads in my life as I finish university in a few weeks, I have a lot of things that have been planned but not solidified, so you’ll have to see! Or maybe I’m just keeping you on your toes!

15 Any advice to girls out there who draw/ paint who are interested in pursuing art? Never stop, never forget where you came from (be humble - we all began somewhere), never say never (oops!), stay hungry, stay passionate and above all work hard. “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard”

SPACE

SHA’AN D’ ANTHES

Sydney studio

FOREST

our art director Annie attended the Adobe MAX conference in Las Vegas and met Australian illustrator and artist Sha’an d’Anthes, also known as Furry Little Peach!

SHA’AN D’ ANTHES

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SHA’AN STUDIO I n

s y d n e y

Meeting the artist Two months ago, our art director Annie attended the Adobe MAX conference in Las Vegas! One of the many highlights of the trip was meeting an incredible group of likeminded designers and creatives – including Australian illustrator and artist Sha’an d’Anthes, also known as Furry Little Peach!

Attending Adobe MAX this year was my first time visiting Vegas, and also attending a 12,000 visitor conference ! It was whirlwind of new and exciting things to take in – you can read some snippets in my earlier post, here. One encounter that stood out was meeting fellow Aussie, Sha’an d’Anthes. Sha’an has a huge following under the guise of her Furry Little Peach blog and social media accounts. She was a joy to spend some time with, among the busy seminars and bright lights in Vegas!

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SHA’AN D’ ANTHES

Written by Photographed by

Annie Portelli Rocket K.

The Design Files

STUdio

Art Space

T o u r Take a peak into the life of this 25-year-old illustrator, exhibiting artist and published author through - Sha’an d’Anthes.

Two months ago, our art director Annie attended the Adobe MAX conference in Las Vegas! One of the many highlights of the trip was meeting an incredible group of likeminded designers and creatives – including Australian illustrator and artist Sha’an d’Anthes, also known as Furry Little Peach!

Space

The place I love to work in natural light, with a bunch of different art materials, food by my side and something going on in the background to distract my conscious (music, trashy television etc). I like the painting process to be less thought and more feeling â&#x20AC;&#x201C; reacting intuitively to the medium and the idea flow.

The space where I put out all my sketches

S t u d i o s pa c e w h e r e I s o m e t i m e s c r e at e w o r k at

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Furry little peach’s studio An inspiring story of sha’an and a peak into her studio

ABOUT the artist The 25-year-old illustrator, designer and exhibiting artist recently released her first book ‘Zoom’ teaching kids about the solar system. We recently caught up with her back on home soil for a tour of her cute Sydney studio.

“It’s like this magic you can’t manifest - you just have to make sure the environment is right, and wait for it to come. The most authentic ideas come when you least expect it.” - Sha’an d’anthes.

I knew I wanted to be an artist from a super early age, but in high school I thought art was “too impractical” – I discovered design and fell in love. I decided to study Graphic Design. When I started uni, I was also doing freelance collaborations for commercial brands (murals, live art, album art), because of this uni wasn’t as much of a learning experience for me as much as the real world stuff I was working on was. I’m glad I have the piece of paper that says I can do what I do, but it was the internships I completed and settling into a digital design job, that was a real learning experience and turning point for me. A year ago I was getting enough freelance work to sustain myself and so I resigned from my design job and now I’m fortunate enough to focus on illustration full time. I’m loving drawing for a living! This journey all began in year 11 when I started my Tumblr blog because I was trying to avoid preparing for the HSC. It was when ‘furrylittlepeach’ came about. I wish the story of how this name origninated was more interesting, but I was just trying to come up with a username to use, and I liked the word ‘peach’ so it’s really a fluke that it still fits my work and I now. My inspiration comes at the weirdest times - like on the bus! Or in the shower. It’s like this magic you can’t manifest - you just have to make sure the environment is right, and wait for it to come. The most authentic ideas come when you least expect it. My works are usually vibrant, joyful and nostalgic – it’s a mix between the world I want to live in and my own experiences, things that I like and things I like to listen to. I focus a lot on the things that

make me happy in my work and I think people can see and feel that joy which perhaps resonates with them too. Watercolour is definitely my favourite medium. It’s like a wild animal; you put it down and it does whatever it wants – you just have to hope you can tame it on the page. When I was studying Visual Art & Design they taught us oil painting – watercolour was something I saw people using online and was inspired to try it from there! My favourite project has to be my book, ‘Zoom’. It all started when I was five and I told my Mum that I wanted to write and draw my own books! It’s now happened 19 years later! I really didn’t expect it to happen this early, because I left my full-time job thinking a book would be a long term life goal. But then, somehow, my publisher ended up emailing me and asking if I had ever thought about doing a children’s book. I pitched some ideas, they loved them, and we got started! The book follows a child character named ‘Scout’ and a rocket ‘Beattie’. I wanted to teach kids about the Solar System. I was a really visual learner at school, and I feel that I never really picked up maths or science because of this. I thought that an illustrated book could be a really visual way to teach kids about the size and order of the planets, in particular through each planet being a different animal, and driver of the narrative. Being in Sydney really help me a lot in that, because of the community here. Sydney has a really close-knit creative community; it never feels competitive and I’ve always felt like we celebrate each others’ achievements and lift each other up, which is really nice.

What did you study?

Do I need a degree?

Finding your style?

How can I find my style?

I have a Bachelor of Visual Art & Design majoring in graphic design, but I attribute very little of what I do to my university experience.

I am happy that I have a degree, however I personally don’t believe you need a degree to be able to pursue a career in the creative industry.

Focus on making work that you like, which is true to your interests and values, and a style will become evident to others naturally.

Style is merely a confidence in making work, in a certain way that is unique to you. Don’t obsess over it, just make things that make you happy.

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TIPS

SHA’AN D’ ANTHES

T h e

extensive

// l i s t S y d n e y, A u s t r a l i a

Studio materials

SHA’AN D’ ANTHES

TIPS

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An extensive list of Art Materials Bleep, I know it’s been a while and while I had had well-wishes that it wouldn’t be so long in-between journal entries, today I begin a long-awaited series which I’ve aptly named An Extensive List of Things. Part I is going to be a compilation of brands and materials that I use most in the studio, and will hopefully be useful to some of you out there in internet-land. I want to preface this journal entry by explicitly stating that it is not all about the brands, materials, and products you use. What’s most important is practice, practice, practice, and while some materials may produce better results, if you have no idea what you’re doing there’s no point in spending

hundreds of dollars on something you’re essentially practicing on if you can use something a hell-ofa-lot cheaper. Think of it like this: you’ve bought some brand, spankin’ new & expensive activewear, just to run a marathon you haven’t even trained for. I don’t propel my body into motion on purpose or on the regular, nor do I own activewear but I can safely say I’ve been experimenting and working with different brands and materials for the entirety of my career, and through this process I’ve learnt countless valuable things about myself as a creative and what works best for me when crafting my work.

MATERIALS PAPER

Arches 640 GSM Watercolour Paper

WATERCOLOURS

Sennelier French Artist Watercolours

PENCILS

Hardness of 2B and above.

COLOURED

Prismacolor Premier Soft Core

BRUSHES

Soft, round & fine synthetic brushes

SKETCHBOOKS

Leuchtturm1917

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SHA’AN D’ ANTHES

think it’s important to show the artist’s hand “ Iwhen sharing your work online—whether that

be showing people where you were when you made something, how you made it, what you made it with, or why you made it.”

Art materials Paper is by far one of the most important things I spend my $$$ on, and probably where I spend the majority of it because I go through it so quickly. Over the years, through very loose loyalty, I’ve bought, tried, tested, loved & hated a dozen different brands, but found a taste for the more expensive stuff. I’ll also include my most frequented cheaper papers too because I do use them often and there will always be a place for it in my studio.

Paper 01

ARCHES 640GSM WATERCOLOUR PAPER (COLD-PRESSED)

Arches is a brand that I’ve used for years, not just because of it’s availability at all of my art supplies stores, but because their paper is really great quality, made with 100% cotton fibres (according to wikipedia, each percentage point is equivelent to one year of deterioration resistance), and they’re available in a huge range of weights and textures whatever your style or medium, I can assure you there is an Arches watercolour paper that will work for you.

CANSON 185GSM AQUARELLE PAPER

This was the brand I started using back in 2010 when I tried watercolour for the first time. While I wouldn’t use it now for a painting, at the time it served it’s purpose and I still use it for sketching and quick watercolour studies.

DALER ROWNEY HEAVYWEIGHT DRAWING PAPER

This is a small tear-away booklet (250mmx250mm) at 220gsm, and is awesome for most drawing mediums. I often get asked what paper is best for Copic Markers (which tend to bleed across and through pages), and this would be my favourite.

TRACING PAPER

Tracing paper isn’t something I use very often, but it is something that I’ve needed from time to time whether it’s refining sketches before upscaling them into paintings, or working on the initial stages of design projects (handy for when going through client feedback and making amends to sketches you’re already happy with). I don’t use it enough to have preference, but the pad sitting in my studio at the moment is 50 sheets of 110gsm. You couldn’t use this stuff for water-based liquid mediums (many pens, inks, watercolours), due to the waxiness of the paper anything water-based will be repelled and end up in tiny puddles only slightly resembling what you originally envisioned.

A compilation of brands and materials that I use most in the studio

It is not all about the brands, materials, and products you use.

What’s most important is practice, practice, practice.

I don’t propel my body into motion on purpose or on the regular, nor do I own activewear but I can safely say I’ve been experimenting and working with different brands and materials for the entirety of my career, and through this process I’ve learnt countless valuable things about myself as a creative and what works best for me when crafting my work.”

SHA’AN D’ ANTHES

When it comes to brushes, I’m not loyal to any brands. I own anything from the cheapest synthetic brush picked up last-minute at an officesupplies store, to an expensive watercolour brush with natural fibres and materials which they no longer make.

TIPS

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Brushes 01

ROUND BRUSH

Round brushes are incredibly versatile. The round brushes I own are bulbous for the most part, but then taper into a soft point - this means I can get a huge range of different line-weights simply by varying pressure.

Flat brush

Where the round brush lacks in stability/firmness the flat brush rushes in to pick up the slack. You may have seen me use one recently in the painted-sketch of the red-head and the fox - this snippet is the perfect example of what I would use the flat brush for: for filling in blocks of colour which require sharp and bold edges.

A.J. Leeman hobbies synthetik sable brush

I love this brush - I primarily use it for outlining artworks in watercolour and in gouache, the tiny tip (Size 3/0) is both short and thin which means even with a lot of pressure the stroke isn’t more than a couple of millimeters in width.

Pental Aquash Water Brush

When I am buying a new brush I will go by my past experience as well as how the brushes feel rather than which is most-expensive, or which brand is said to be the best.

I’m also going to focus on the types of brushes I use, and less so on the brands.

I’ve yet to use this on a real-life painting so my opinion on this brush isn’t as fully-formed as the others but it’s great for not having to reapply pigment your brush often, and it’s great for creating harmonious colour palettes because while painting your brush strokes will go from a dark, rich colour to a soft wash.

Sennelier French Artist watercolours: they mimic the colours used by French watercolourists and have hundreds of colours to choose from, another (and one of my favourite) fun facts about this product is that they use honey as a sort of preservative which makes the paint really smooth, and the drying time a little slower - perfect for bleeding and blending. I would definitely recommend these to creatives everywhere, but if you’re starting out and you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on paints you could also try brands like Windsor & Newton who offer a range of student watercolours

Watercolour SENNELIER FRENCH ARTISTS’ WATERCOLOUR TUBES SCHMINKE TRAVEL TIN

Ink SENNELIER FRENCH ARTISTS’ WATERCOLOUR TUBES

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Explore t h e

z o o

the stars

a m o n g

A f t e r b r e a k f a s t, S c o u t t h e e x p l o r e r a n d B e at t i e t h e s pa c e s h u t t l e a r e off on an adventure - to discover the w o n d e r s o f g r e at o u t e r s pa c e .

Personal project The 22 year old Sydney based designer, illustrator and storyteller’s work speaks to a whimsical aesthetic that evokes pure childhood imagination. D’Anthes incorporates natural and space-inspired elements, such as forests, trees, constellations, nautical imagery, and much more. Her laid back approach keeps Sha’an’s work as an illustrator fresh. With no rigid drawing style or medium, Sha’an never shies away from experimenting with new materials. From paint to pixels, she has become comfortable creating in a whole host of different ways. With every medium she masters, Sha’an is becoming an

increasingly multi-disciplined artist. It’s great to see her strive to share her knowledge with others along the way. Sha’an’s latest project is a childhood dream come true as she recently released her debut picturebook. Zoom follows a young inventor and dreamer called Scout as he flies off into outer space in a rocket. Here he explores the many animals which make up our solar system before returning back home in time for bed. With this career milestone ticked off her list, we’re already curious about what Sha’an will do next. Whatever it is, we know she will will be sure to share it in the most creative way possible.

HEr words ZOOM finds its way to Hellen Nkuraiya, the principal of The Tepesua School in the Maasai Mara Reserve in Narok County. Hellen’s school saves young girls from being traded for livestock by empowering families to send them to school to receive an education. When boiled down, ZOOM is a story about achieving your dreams, hopefully these young girls are able to achieve their dreams too.

SHA’AN D’ ANTHES

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For the dreamers within us on their own great adventures

Foreword Take a wild ride through our solar system with ZOOM, my debut picture book! This gift pack includes a lovingly wrapped, signed copy of ZOOM and an adorable post card from space.

Introduction

zoom A Children’s Book Scout is an inventor, a dreamer, a do-er. After breakfast, Scout builds a rocket and flies to outer space to explore our solar system and the animals that make up the universe. When the rocket starts running low on fuel, it’s time to go home and get ready for bed. Because even the most intrepid explorers need their sleep. Written by Illustrated by Published by

Sha’an d’Anthes Sha’an d’Anthes A Lothian Children’s B ook

Intrepid explorer Scout and Scout’s trusty red space shuttle Beattie rocket through space in this jubilant adventure. Each planet they pass on their journey is depicted as an adorable astrological animal: little red Mars is a cheekily smiling fox; Jupiter is a ginormous whale. Zoom is the first book from artist Sha’an d’Anthes, who has a loyal following on Instagram. Her joyful watercolours exhibit a sense of childlike wonder that perfectly complements the story. The book’s opening pages succinctly and wryly set up its central theme. First the bold declaration: ‘Scout is an inventor, an explorer, a dreamer, and Scout was eager to start the day.’ Followed by the gently humorous addition: ‘But we all need our breakfast.’ Scout is pictured with a spoon in one hand and a crayon in the other. The juxtaposition between practicality and creativity is teased out in the story that follows. When an unexpected mishap spells disaster for the two adventurers, Scout’s call for help is answered by an obliging sneeze from chilly Pluto. A lesson on how to balance external expectations with your own desire, this bright debut picture book will resonate with young children aged three and up.

Creating a picture book has been a dream of mine since I was five, so I am so thrilled for you to see these gorgeous little dudes in print! I know you’ll love them as much as I do.

Paper $16.99

Hardback $26.99

e-Book $12.99

About zoom This edition of ZOOM is hardcover, is 25cm x 25cm, has spot-UV detailing on the cover and comes with a cute postcard print from outer space. The official release date for ZOOM is October 31st and so all orders will be shipped on that date in padded envelopes to ensure their safe arrival.

Getting a copy If you’re local to Sydney you can save on shipping by buying a copy of ZOOM at our launch in early November, however we cannot guarentee you a copy.

Shipping Please keep in mind, postage can take up to 1-4 weeks and often longer for international orders depending on mail carriers and location.

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Prickly

s o l o

Exhibition Catalogue

s h o w

This collection pays tribute to those who personify the cactus - by embodying strength vibrancy, sharpness & resilience - and who aren’t afraid of being a little.. Prickly. Above all the show is meant to be a lot of fun, and in this collection I move away from animals and people, and move towards a plant-oriented body of work, focusing solely on my audiences reactions to colour and texture. Prickly evokes feelings of nostalgia, stimulates the imagination and continues my use of ‘Childhood’ as a theme.

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Attenborough David Attenborough

Suess Dr Suess

03 04

Dahl

Roald Dahl

Newman Paul Newman

Anderson Wes Anderson

Khalo Frida Kahlo

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INSTAGRAM

SHA’AN D’ ANTHES

#INSTAGRAMloots @furrylittlepeach

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EPILOGUE

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The team

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Editor Alicia Chan Creative Director Alicia Chan Illustrator Alicia Chan

Forest is a biannual publication. The articles published reflect the opinions of the respective authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the publishers and editorial team.

FOREST

Editor’s note For as long as I can remember, I have been interested in the arts. Whenever asked about our ambition, kids around me would answer with typical professions such as doctors, pilots and such, and I would very quietly say that I want to be an artist. I did not know what the artist’s job entails, or if it even was sustainable. I just knew that this is what I am interested in and I would be ever thankful if I could land myself in a job that allows me to pursue what I like. Fast forward a few years to when I turned 16 - the year where we had to pick a field to study for the next 3 years in Polytechnic. I wanted to follow my dreams, but I also wanted stability. Being unsure of the arts scene in Singapore at that point of time, I was afraid to dive head first into studying arts. I chose a path that sat nicely in between the arts scene and having stability - the media. I thought I had found the perfect fit for me, but I soon realised that this “middle ground” was not for me. It was neither here nor there and I knew then that this was not what I wanted. During this time while juggling with my “middle ground” school, I was drawing on the side and following artists on Instagram. It was then when I realised that the arts scene is not as tiny as I imagined it to be. There is a strong community around and that this path is feasible if you put in hard work. And that is exactly what I did. I think having fellow artists as inspiration during that period was a great driving factor in shaping who I am today. Through Forest Journal, I hope that young budding artists like me can also gain inspiration and know that it is possible to achieve your dreams if you work hard. “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”