Daniel Gray-Barnett

So… this happened today. I’m wildly over the moon to share that Grandma Z was selected to be part of the CBCA 2019 shortlist, for the CBCA award for New Illustrator. . I’ve always loved this award (used to be called the Crichton award) as it focuses on recognising new talent in this field and it includes some of my favourite illustrators in its alumni - Shaun Tan, Allison Colpoys, Caroline Magerl, Marc Martin, Anna Walker. It’s an honour to be part of the shortlist and I’m extremely happy today (however, I am an introvert so if you see me I will just be slightly smilier than usual and have a spring in my step). . Winners for all of the CBCA awards to be announced in August. Congratulations to everyone on the shortlist and thank you to the judges for recognising my work. ❤️🥳 (at Franklin, Tasmania, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvdB_rpFyqy/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=mcmgtg0a22n9

Quick warmup sketch of Illi on the iPad. Going to try and start using this a bit more. https://www.instagram.com/p/BsuD6hQhqaK/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1x2rms213dsl7

Very exciting to share that Grandma Z picked up an award in the @bookstagramchoiceawards for ‘Best Picture Book from Debut Illustrator’. https://www.instagram.com/p/BrgEzf5BRSl/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1lfqpkttm79f7

Been working on a few maps lately! Here’s a quick one I did for @trdsocal about the most popular upcoming neighbourhoods in L.A. 🌴 🌴🌴 (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqqb2D7FKdW/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=43ct53kdc9pt

Here’s a map of Copenhagen I illustrated recently for Sense of Home magazine - I’ve never been but it seems like peak Scandi which is right up my alley. 🇩🇰 (at Copenhagen) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqnyKaRloJ0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=2cxug7duteji

Here’s a recent project I can finally show you! I did some inky illustrations for Arena - which is a US non-profit that aims to help find the next generation of political candidates and campaign staff. They host summits, run training and help provide coaching, resources and match talent to campaigns. I’m all for helping empower more people to be politically engaged and active in our futures - the less barriers we have to these opportunities, the better. . I really loved working on these as I was able to be a bit looser and free with my ink and didn’t do any layering, the illustrations ended up as drawn (with only some slight cleaning up). . These illustrations represent the summits, the news blog and interestingly, I got to do the 404/error page which probably won’t be seen too often but was fun nevertheless. More inky commissions like this please! https://www.instagram.com/p/BqdiPNzFJxq/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=iexu1xuiz9l9

Today is Universal Children’s Day which is celebrated around the world to honour and promote the welfare and rights of children. . All children deserve the right to life, health, education, family, protection from violence and discrimination. All children deserve a future of freedom and safety. Not just the white ones, not just the ones born into wealthy countries like Australia. All of them! . It’s timely and worth thinking about as we keep in mind the 17 children and their families still being held on Nauru, simply because their parents wanted to seek a better future and life for their children. . Whatever your thoughts on Australia’s immigration challenge, I think most decent human beings can agree that the conditions these children have been held in and the damage inflicted for YEARS are unacceptable and shameful. Here is hoping that increasing pressure on our government will bring these kids out of this situation to Australia, where they can be given all the various treatments they desperately need. . Grandma Z and I are #BlueforNauru in solidarity with these children and their families who deserve better. 💙💙💙 https://www.instagram.com/p/BqY290SFHc3/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=pqb7rosbp5vf

This week is National Mental Health Awareness week and as part of that, myself and a bunch of @jackywinter artists created pieces for this wonderful book by @headspace_aus , which has lots of tips and advice on ways to keep your headspace healthy and was released yesterday to celebrate #headspaceday . My tip was ‘When I’m not in a good headspace, drawing helps me feel better’ which is pretty perfect really! (Though my partner would argue that my drawing might stress out everyone else around me 😂) . Mental health is something we all need to look after and take care of. It can suffer just as much as our physical or emotional health can. There is nothing to be ashamed of if your headspace is not feeling 100% - many of us have suffered at some point in our lives from anxiety, depression, feelings of being overwhelmed. It’s normal and the more we talk about it, the better. . Gotta love the cover by @jesscruicky and that silver foil! https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo0E_KWB3le/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1gh14tzlu2f72

There’s a new @frankiemagazine (#86) out this week that you should DEFINITELY check out as you may see a certain person in said issue for a section about various people who started their life over from scratch in some way. I talk about my career trajectory from plans to be a doctor, the music industry and to now, as a self-taught illustrator and author. I hope it’s inspiring for younger people who don’t know what the hell they want to eat for lunch let alone what career they want - if you don’t have it all figured out, it’s ok! You can try, try again and starting over is mildly scary but it’s also exciting. One of the best things you can do in life is be ok with the idea of change and be adaptable. I’m sorry this inspirational moment wasn’t accompanied by your typical shirtless, muscle jock but @carinethevenau is amazing as always and made me look good. Thank you Carine! I’m really happy because we’re in a pizzeria 😂🍕 . I don’t pretend to have all the answers but I have some and my door (well inbox) is always open to anyone who has any questions about being an illustrator, what I do, how you become an illustrator or anything really. Email address is in my bio. (at Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BosGrcRBdXb/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ukhi9sqv8lrp

Spent most of the weekend with our chickens, sorting out their pen and getting some new ladies for the family. We had to trim some of their wings so they don’t fly out. I love chicken feathers. They have the best colours and markings. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bop97zCBbTs/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=15tle6ml68jrh

The latest @bigissueaustralia magazine is out! It’s the one with queen Lee Lin Chin on the cover. As next week is Mental Health Week, this issue shares one writer’s story of living with agoraphobia and how she learns to cope with it. I illustrated this piece for her story. . Don’t forget to support your local vendors and grab a copy! (at Franklin, Tasmania, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoiV5vaDIV8/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=u0a05wc3nrhd

A BIG thank you to everyone who has bought my book so far. I’ve made a donation from the sales (on all of your behalf) to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, which will help buy packs of books for some needy kids. Well done and keep it up! I think we will make this an ongoing thing so if you’re planning your Christmas shopping already (ugh I know), consider gifting a book! 📚 (at Franklin, Tasmania, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoaWvbWjqEz/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=yq01pu0qftqh

Inky #WIP and shit-letter writing for a piece I’m working on at the moment. Everything looks more beautiful written with an inky brush. (at Franklin, Tasmania, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoNaWNfB49O/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1b2s0p6ujt2ik

I’ve been crazy busy working on a few projects recently which I can’t show yet, but here is something I can show! I illustrated this map of Thunder Bay for @porterairlines inflight magazine, re:porter. . Thunder Bay is in Ontario, Canada and began life as a French fur trading post in 1683. It has Canada’s highest concentration of Finnish people per capita and there is definitely a ‘Scandi’ presence in the city’s restaurants and activities. . It sounds like it’s a place from a movie, where an unusual stranger comes in and shakes things up, only to win the town over by the end with their dancing/magical powers/chocolate shop. 🌲🦌🧀⛵️🇨🇦 (at Thunder Bay, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnXSL3wD9C2/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ef9lrlc193as

Ireland 🇮🇪! I came across this recent review of Grandma Z from @kidsbooksirel and wanted to share it because they clearly GOT IT. Yes! Albert’s powerful imagination has been behind their adventure all along. Thanks so much for the kind words! ❤️ 🙌🙌🙌 (at Dublin, Ireland) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnPbVnjDI_k/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1bktuorieggg2

We decided it was time for a vacation so we’re escaping to the Northern Hemisphere for a few weeks! Doesn’t Grandma Z pack light? I think she may have forgotten her toothbrush though 😬 . I’m going to be in London tomorrow for a week or so and will be having a couple of Grandma Z book events if you’re in town. I’ll be at @nomad_books on Thurs 5th July for story time and colouring in at 4pm. It’s a free event so please stop by and say hello! . I’ll also be at @chickenandfrog in Essex on Sat 7th July at 1pm. It’s a family event, so please bring your grandparents! £3 per family (redeemable against price of book). Please email [email protected] or call 01277 230068 for availability. . I am VERY much looking forward to some British accents, lazing about in parks and a glass of Pimms. 🇬🇧 (at London, United Kingdom)

It’s World Cup fever at the moment! I contributed some illustrations to the current edition of The Big Issue (Australia) which is all about this much loved game (soccer or football?). I had a lot of fun with this one and it was slightly different to my usual approach in illustrating elements to combine with photographs to convey a sense of movement, action and the sport. I loved how they turned out. More jobs like this please! And go Socceroos! ⚽️ 💛💚