My new book has 24 pages packed with full colour art, cute spooky furries, ghostly poems and magic spells! With this book, I was interested in exploring a darker side to my art but still staying true to my style and love for animals and nature.

My vision was to make a comic poem book in two colour design. I went with a red and black palette which proved challenging in the beginning process because I rarely use red in my work (mostly green, earthy tones).

I’m so glad I stuck with the idea because the colours really pop out of the page in the final print! It’s also the first thing that everybody comments on when they flip through the book! That the colours in the book has a vibrant spooky feel.

If you’d like a copy of my book, you can purchase Spooky Furries from my online shop. Each book comes signed with a spooky doodle! There’s only limited copies so grab them quick!

Play my book video to see more pages inside! My talented husband filmed my video and animated my spooky characters. He’s the best!

Love
Helena/ Little Mo

Last week I finished my new book.

After Botania, I’ve been working on a few book ideas and this is one of them. It’s called Spooky Furries and it’s filled with ghostly creatures and poems written by me.

The book has a comic feel to it and is quite different from my usual work but in a good way! As an artist I’m always up for a challenge and looking at ways to explore and grow my style.

Here are some behind the scene sketches of Spooky Furries before I launch it this month.

And here are my final proof pages! Like Botania, I’m making this book eco-friendly by printing on recycled paper stock. So far I’m really happy with the colours and there’s still another hurdle to cross with the final book printing. Fingers crossed!

Stay tuned for more details about my book launch, coming very soon!

If you’re on Instagram and Facebook follow me there as I post very regularly on it. You can see more sketches and illustrations from the links above.

Hi everyone! Just a quick note to say that my online shop is shut from 1 June to 30 June. I’m taking a break to recharge! You can follow my adventures on Instagram as I doodle my way around…Iceland!

That’s right I’m heading to Iceland! After years of dreaming and obsessing about this beautiful rugged country, I’m finally making my way there with Big Mo! Our first leg of the trip will be in Wales to visit his family and then en-route to Iceland, London and KL. I’m so excited!

Awhile back, I bought this sketchbook with an Iceland map on it, dreaming about all the things that I would see and sketch in Iceland. Can’t wait to put my sketchbook to good use!

I even started inking a few pages and will continue to fill it up during my trip!

Meanwhile…back to my packing! (I’m still deciding what pens to brings with me!) Catch you on Instagram or Facebook!

Thanks to the organisers from City of Mandurah, I also had the opportunity to run another art workshop at Contemporary Art Spaces Mandurah. This workshop focused on Marketing your Art to a target audience. I spent the afternoon with some talented WA painters, glass artists, sculptors, digital artists, illustrators, photographers and astrologist, talking about my story and my approach to marketing myself as an artist.

After the workshop we did a casual drawing session, which will be exhibited at their gallery space.

To be honest, I was a little nervous about talking at this workshop mostly because I don’t consider myself a marketing expert. My art and business has been self-taught and I still have so much to grow. I would say that I am lucky to have the gracious support from my fans and customers over this 6 years.

As discussed at the workshop, I’ve approached my art and business as an outlet to express myself and work on my technique. I try not to think about the numbers or what’s trendy in the market. When I first started illustrating my stationery range, I received lots of rejections and comments about my art being “too cute” and if I could draw plainer designs without my Little Mo character. I wrote about that experience in my blog post art vs art a couple years back.

Since that incident, I continued drawing my cute illustrations. I focused on my uniqueness and just kept drawing and sharing my art on Facebook and Instagram.

If you’re an artist reading this, and at times feel like you’re unsure of your work or that nobody appreciates your art, don’t be discouraged! Continue creating your art and continue sharing it to your audience. Not only will you be creating new pieces from time to time, you’ll be improving your skills, techniques and mental well-being. When you are creating “happy art”, your audience will want to share your happiness too and they will want to support you!

Lastly, thanks to all the lovely ladies who came to my workshop! They are all wonderful artists and I wish them every success in their own endeavours! Do check out some of their works!

www.ashleighperrella.com
www.handmadewonderland.net
www.marionfroome.com
www.karenbarnes.com.au
www.facebook.com/corrinerapleyartist
www.facebook.com/carmelsayerartist
www.facebook.com/AmandaJRichardsPhotography
www.facebook.com/cindywrightartistandworkshops

During the weekend, I ran a Doodle and Illustration workshop at Contemporary Art Spaces Mandurah. Thanks to CASM and City of Mandurah for inviting me to contribute to their annual Youth Art Exhibition program.

I had so much fun with the kids! During the workshop I showed them my sketchbook collection, we discussed doodling and developing a style. We also worked on some drawing activities. Just simple exercises to get their creative juices flowing because we all know how drawing on a blank sketchbook can be intimidating at times!

I think the kids brought such vibrant energy and humour to the class, I even learned some teen jokes and lingo from them! I found it really refreshing to listen to their funny ideas and see them ink it on paper. Their fun attitude made me feel at ease because I approach my art with humour and fun too!

In one of the doodle exercises, I got the class to draw a self-portrait of themselves…as an animal! I think this animal selfie rocks! They look so much alike!

This gorgeous girl drew herself as a wolfacorn!

We also did a few shading techniques to give them some ideas on how they can use it on their illustrations.

Towards the end of the workshop, the kids collaborated and doodled on some skateboard decks. We shared the decks around so that everyone could connect their drawings to other drawings on the decks.

Their skateboard decks will be added to the 2K15 Masterpieces currently on exhibit at Contemporary Art Spaces Mandurah. Thank you kids for being such champs! Remember to keep doodling in your sketchbooks!

For more photos of my Perth workshops, check out my Little Mo and Friends Facebook page. If you’re interested in having a Doodle and Illustration workshop at your premise (local shop, library, book store, art gallery, parties) please get in touch with me. I’d love to work with you! Or if you’re interested in joining my next drawing workshop please email me: info(at)littlemoandfriends.com and I’ll add you on my list!

THANK YOU to all who have purchased a copy of Botania. My Botania book launch was a success! I sold over 100 books during my online launch. Really overwhelmed by the support you’ve shown for my first book. I’m so happy and grateful to be sharing my art with everyone this Christmas. Thanks for believing in me and my work!

I spent last weekend packing up book orders and wrapping fun Mystery Art packages for my customers. If you’ve ordered my book, they should be in the mail to you, so look out for your package!

Each book comes signed with a fun doodle!

A big thanks to my husband Big Mo who helped with the mammoth task of sealing and checking all the book orders. Throughout my book journey, he’s been by my side giving me lots of encouragement and hugs and refilling my cup with hot tea on the late nights:)

For those who purchased a custom portrait with my book, I had so much fun inking the pieces and I can’t wait to see them framed up! Will share a few more in my next post.

Finally, here are a few snaps of Botania. I think my printer did an amazing job! The books are printed on recycled card and the inner pages on recycled paper stock with a slight heavyweight to it.

Really tempted to post more pictures of the book but I want to keep some element of surprise for those who are waiting to open their books on Christmas day. Will definitely share more pics after the holidays:)

For those who have missed out on my book launch and would like to get your hands on a copy of my book, you can purchase Botania from my online shop.

Feel free to send me pictures of your book and your inked pages! Let me know the pens or pencils you’ve used! I’m creating a Botania gallery to show off everyone’s inked pages and I’m also going to join in the fun and colour my copy! You can email me at info(at)littlemoandfriends.com or message me on my Little Mo and Friends Facebook page.

Once again, thanks so much! Moving onto my next book and new adventures!

Love,
Helena/ Little Mo

My first book! Botania! A very detailed and playful colouring book featuring lots of nature and animals. There are 25 pages of hand drawn illustrations, all super detailed and very fun to colour in or to be enjoyed as it is!

Botania took me a year and a half to ink all the pages! I counted and there are at least 150 animals plus insects lost in lush botany! Can you spot them?

Now that Botania is completed, I’m crowdfunding through Pozible to get it printed. Please pre-purchase a copy of my book to help make this happen! Play my video to see inside the book:)

Thanks to my husband (big mo) who filmed and edited the video for me! I was super camera shy but he encouraged me along the way and calmed my nerves down! Thank you everyone from the bottom of my heart. Can’t wait for you to enjoy my first book this Christmas!

Love,
Helena/ Little Mo

Hi everyone! I know I haven’t been actively updating my blog, that’s because for the whole year I’ve been working on an epic project! Yep it’s epic!

Those following my art will know that every Christmas I try to make something special for my online shop and markets; like my limited edition dolls, cushions and calendars. This year’s product hint: it is nature themed with many pages. You can expect lots of trees, animals and crazy fun!

I gave myself a deadline to finish this project in time for Christmas so that it may be enjoyed by everyone over the holiday season. And the last few months have been really intense, just juggling between work and finishing it up!

The good news is, I’ve now completed my special project! I also had a look at a sample test print at the printers and it looks fabulous:)

I’ll be launching my special project this Saturday the 18th. I can promise you that this Christmas will be so much fun! Come back here to check it out!

SEE YOU ON SATURDAY 18.10.14
STAY TUNED!

If you’re on Instagram and Facebook feel free to follow me as I tend to post there quite regularly. You can see some of my works in progress and other cute illustrations! Click on the links above to follow my art!

I am still here:) So much to tell you!

The last time you heard from me was when I had sent off my Babushka Mo fabric for a test print. Well, that came back ages ago and in the time I’ve been away…I’ve been cutting and sewing little Babushka Mo dolls for Christmas markets and my online shop!

Niina helped me with the project, we had a long sewing session at her place. Panko the cat kept us company too, making it a pleasant crafternoon with the gentle whirring of her sewing machine.

I debuted my dolls at Made On The Left and at my pop-up shop. I remembered feeling so happy and touched when I made my first doll sale to a very sweet girl! I think it was a build up of emotions from all the time and work I had spent on this project. And to finally see my work going off to happy homes….well there’s nothing more a designer could ask for:)

If you’re interested in purchasing my Babushka Mo dolls, they are available in my online shop. These dolls are limited edition items and are only available for sale until they are sold out. They are hand drawn by me and printed onto organic fabric. Very cute and charming if you’d like to collect my art as a fabric piece. Enjoy!

Yaay! Spring is here and I am really looking forward to the blooms and sunshine.

The September Spring issue of Peppermint Magazine is out. And it features my rabbit hugger bookplates in the kids section!

Thank you Peppermint Magazine for featuring my art!