NEW WEBSITE!

Hey folks! After many years and some great support through this blog, I've now put together a professional website to showcase all my work which will also incorporate my blog on a new platform.

I hope to see you over there and thanks for your support :)
Chris 

Star Wars: The Big Golden Book of Aliens, Creatures, and Beasts

Very excited to share the cover art for my latest project, Star Wars: The Big Golden Book of Aliens, Creatures, and Beasts.

The book isn't due for release until Jan 2018, but you can already preorder via Amazon. Pretty crazy seeing as I'm still only at the roughs stage for the internal pages!

Anyhoo, this will be the 5th Golden book title I've worked on and it really is a BIG one! Double the size in actual size and scope! So far its a ton of fun to work. I can't wait to share some more in the future.

Bendigo Record, Comic and Toy Fair.

Looking forward to the Bendigo Record Comic and Toy Fair this Sunday (12th March 2017). It will mark my first time in Australia as a stall holder. Hopefully now that I have some of the set up I can look into other events. But for now I'm happy to keep it local.

If you're in the area, or even out of the area and feel like coming by, then come and say "Hi". 

Look for this sign, it'll be pretty hard to miss!!

Pixel Raiders signed by Bajo and Hex

Convention print. Happy 40th SW!!

Postcards sets, packed and shiny looking.

Star Wars Little Golden Book - I AM A STORMTROOPER

This month saw the release of my 4th Star Wars Little Golden Book "I am a Stormtrooper". When Random House approached me to do this one I couldn't believe my luck. So many great, iconic moments from across the series and Stormtroopers always look so cool!

Here are a few snippets from some of my favourite pages.

Of course there are plenty more in the book itself! You can pick it up here or in book shops across the USA.

Boomer at the Bat - Stan Lee's Kids Universe

I'm extremely pleased to announce a new upcoming book that has seen me team up, once again, with the talented Julia Dweck. This time we are incredibly honoured to be partnered up with the legendary STAN LEE, under his own publishing house Stan Lee's Kids Universe!

The book "Boomer at the Bat" is out May 22 2017 and stars a whole host of little critters who are quite partial to a bit of sporting activity!

As if that wasn't enough I had the opportunity of drawing the great man himself, which now adorns the official SLKU logo. 

Hopefully one day I'll get to meet the great man himself. But until then, its back to work for me.

EXELSIOR!

Dug - time lapse video

Here's a little video of a quick 20 min sketch I did of *Dug from Pixar's "UP". Its all squished up into a handy, bite sized, 1 minute chunk. You didn't think I expected you to sit for a full 20 minutes did you? Gracious! Who has that sort of time on their hands these days?

If you're even busier than that, here's the finished product for you. No doubt you've got your jacket half on, a piece of toast dangling comedically from your mouth and your backing out of the room right now. Aren't you?

Go on get out of here, you busy bee. Go get em!

*I realise the video says "Doug" but I was in a rush. So that means my pixar fanclub membership isn't revoked. Its the rules.

Star Wars craziness!

Image courtesy ABC Central Victoria: Larissa Romensky

Last Thursday (30th June 2016) I was interviewed by the lovely Larissa Romensky from ABC Central Vic, about my work on the Star Wars Golden Books. You can read the full interview here as well as see a brief working video of Mr Vader.

News soon got around and what started off as a nice interview for a website ended up becoming National news, culminating in a Channel 9 News story and live interview to the nation on ABC News24.

"Don't look at the camera, don't look at the camera"

click my face to see a clip (links to facebook)

"Yes and that's why Han shot first you see?"

click my face to see a clip (links to facebook)

This might well go down, as one of the more surreal days in my life. Certainly one of the most nerve wracking too.

But I'm truly humbled by the reactions I've received since then and I'm grateful, every day, that I've been fortunate enough to work on something so beloved as Star Wars.

So.... Beep Boop!

Thanks for rolling on by

Bannockburn Primary School - Residency

So last week (23-27 May 2016) I was lucky enough to be invited along to Bannockburn Primary School (just outside of Geelong) to be their artist in residence. 

Throughout the week I drew Monsters with the Preps, Grade 1-3 and brainstormed some original character designs with Grade 4-6.

I was completely blown away by the level of creativity and imagination that came out during our brief 1 hour sessions. Together we created all the characters you see above, plus many more on paper which I didn't manage to get photos of.

It was a great experience and I'm extremely flattered to have been asked along to such a fun and art loving school.

Cheers BPS

52 Week Illustration Challenge - Week 17: COLLECTOR

"One more for the set"

Pixel Raiders Trailer

Check out this spiffy little book trailer for Bajo and Hex's PIXEL RAIDERS which I illustrated for Scholastic Australia. 

Lots of hard work went into this from all parties and the end result is something we're all very proud of. 

There will be  4 books in this series and Book 1 "DIG WORLD is available for pre-order now and released May 1st 2016. Wheeee!

Although the book is all black and white interiors, I got to colour up some key scenes for this trailer. I've included the black and white originals for a little comparison 

*Fun Fact: I managed to sneak my family into this Bus picture. Unfortunately my wife got cropped out of the final printed version. That's showbiz!

From PIXEL RAIDERS #1: Dig World by Bajo & Hex

Text copyright © Stephanie Bendixsen & Steven O’Donnell, 2016

Illustrations copyright © Chris Kennett, 2016

Published by Scholastic Australia Pty Limited, 2016

52 Week Illustration Challenge - Week 16: MIRROR

"How Polar Bears check their hair"

52 Week Illustration Challenge - Week 15: OCEAN

52 Week Illustration Challenge - Week 14: CAMPING

"Space Camp"

52 Week Illustration Challenge - Week 12: NON DOMINANT HAND

"Bad Hare Day"

Soooo drawing with your non dominant hand ay? In my case the left.

Hoooo boy! That was tough. Every instinct was screaming at me to swap hands the entire time. By the end I actually felt a bit woozy. Great excerise, but like most excerises, its not something I want to try again in a hurry ;)

If you want to see it done properly. Check out Bruce Whatley in this interesting vid

52 Week Illustration Challenge - Week 10: ANIMAL

"Oh Hai"

Cheeky ol' wolf up to no good. I spent a bit of extra time this week fleshing out the background for this piece. I'm usually a bit of a background skipper in my personal work, especially if I'm pushed for time. Not this time. POW!