Welcome to my blog, the journey of following a dream, writing and illustrating a childrens book from thought to reality… mjc@mjcallaghan.com var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push([‘_setAccount’, ‘UA-28597870-1’]); _gaq.push([‘_trackPageview’]); (function() { var ga = document.createElement(‘script’); ga.type = ‘text/javascript’; ga.async = true; ga.src = (‘https:’ == document.location.protocol ? ‘https://ssl’ : ‘http://www’) + ‘.google-analytics.com/ga.js’; var s = document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();Tumblr (3.0; @mjcallaghan)http://mjcallaghan.com/<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzof0zYTYv1r9lc1no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Yes it’s that time again. More wallpapers!</p> <p>Ok I’m just going to say it, this one is weird. I just started sketching a character and this guy pops up. </p> <p>I like how he seems stunned, caught with his shirt of. Couldnt think of a better name that ‘Bird-boots,’ so that’s the name that stuck. </p> <p>Hope you all enjoy and again I’d love to see some pics of him on your iphones, ipads, desktops, etc, so send them through :) <strong>mjc@mjcallaghan.com</strong> </p> <p>- for iPhone<br/><a href="http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/6979/birdbootsiphone640x960.jpg">http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/6979/birdbootsiphone640x960.jpg</a></p> <p>- for iPad<br/><a href="http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/7339/birdbootsipad1024x1024.jpg">http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/7339/birdbootsipad1024x1024.jpg</a></p> <p>- for Desktop (1680x1050)<br/><a href="http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/1378/birdbootsdesktop1680x10.jpg">http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/1378/birdbootsdesktop1680x10.jpg</a></p> <p>- for HD Desktop (1920x1080)<br/><a href="http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/5884/birdbootsdesktop1920x10.jpg">http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/5884/birdbootsdesktop1920x10.jpg</a></p> <p>mjc</p>http://mjcallaghan.com/post/17931636425http://mjcallaghan.com/post/17931636425Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:24:00 +0800wallpaperiphoneipadcartoonchildren's bookmjcallaghandesktophdwallpaper<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzje2nGL5n1r9lc1no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Here’s some photos from a hobby cartoon book I created many, many years ago. I drew about 50 different cartoons for it. Through the years I’d lost the original drawings, but my Dad surprised me last night when he gave me a copy of one that I gave him years ago. </p> <p>It’s great looking at these, going down memory lane. Many of them I’d totally forgotten about. </p> <p>In other news, progress on the childrens book is going well. Finished the first official page yesterday…and I reckon it looks hot! ….but unfortunately I’m gonna keep it to myself for the moment :)</p> <p>sorry peeps…but I do have another wallpaper coming soon…</p> <p>mjc</p>http://mjcallaghan.com/post/17762359669http://mjcallaghan.com/post/17762359669Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:15:59 +0800<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz0t59tgAM1r9lc1no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Hey All…it’s been just under a week since my last update….wow! </p> <p>I have a confession though. I decided last week to put it down and forget about it for a while as it felt like I was pushing it rather than letting it flow. I needed to step back, refocus, breathe and come back with a fresh head.</p> <p>So today, I’ve been encouraged to update :) </p> <p>Thought I’d reveal my ‘workspace’ (aka the dining room table…ha). Here is where everything pretty much happens. This is photo shows how consuming it can get, but you don’t realise until you get up and come back. </p> <p>…but it is fun. </p> <p>mjc </p>http://mjcallaghan.com/post/17205890033http://mjcallaghan.com/post/17205890033Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:27:08 +0800<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyox8eqvCg1r9lc1no1_250.png"/><br/><br/><p>Here’s a great book I picked up when I first got interested in doing children’s books. <br/> Covers everything you could possibly think of. <br/> Not only is it very informal, but it’s just an interesting read. <br/> I really enjoyed going through and highlighting relevant points and ideas. <br/> I must say that this book helped me out a lot at the beginning. Highly recommended. <br/> Turns out the only limitation is your imagination. </p> <p>mjc</p>http://mjcallaghan.com/post/16848936502http://mjcallaghan.com/post/16848936502Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:24:14 +0800illustrationwriting children's bookcartoonmjcallaghan<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyfqpiIYcJ1r9lc1no1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyfqpiIYcJ1r9lc1no2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><span>Thanks everyone for your wonderful support. It means a lot. I love seeing these screenshots & photos of Herbert. Keep them coming :)</span></p>http://mjcallaghan.com/post/16556457770http://mjcallaghan.com/post/16556457770Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:24:53 +0800<div> <div> <p><img align="middle" alt="Herbert" height="500" src="http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/3818/herbertipad1024x1024.jpg" width="500"/></p> <p>Yes….I’ve created another set of sweet wallpapers for you all. </p> <p>This fellow is from another quick sketch that I liked. He looks like a Herbert, so he’s adopted that name.</p> <p>Again, not a character from the book, just a fun drawing :) </p> <p><br/><span>Send me some pics to <strong>mjc@mjcallaghan.com</strong> and I’ll post the first few that come through.</span></p> <p>- for iPhone<br/><span><a href="http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/9375/herbertiphone640x960.jpg">http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/9375/herbertiphone640x960.jpg</a></span></p> <p>- for iPad<br/><a href="http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/3818/herbertipad1024x1024.jpg">http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/3818/herbertipad1024x1024.jpg</a></p> <p>- for Desktop (1680x1050)<br/><a href="http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/7291/herbertdesktop1680x1050.jpg">http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/7291/herbertdesktop1680x1050.jpg</a></p> <p>- for HD Desktop (1920x1080)<br/><span><a href="http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/4225/herbertdesktop1920x1080.jpg">http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/4225/herbertdesktop1920x1080.jpg</a></span></p> <p>mjc</p> </div> </div>http://mjcallaghan.com/post/16401706461http://mjcallaghan.com/post/16401706461Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:32:45 +0800wallpaper iphonewallpaper ipadwallpaperwallpaper desktopmjcallaghancartoonchildren's book<p>Yep…I sat down tonight and re-edited the whole story again. Being a perfectionist I must have this story flawless!! I am very happy with the storyline and feel that even adults are going to enjoy this read.</p> <p>It’s a nice thought to think that the Mums and/or Dads who will be reading this book are going to ‘get into’ it as well as the kids. I sure enjoyed writing it, then reading it, editing, re-reading it, re-writing it, editing it some more and re-reading it again…haha….sigh….</p> <p>As I know I’ll never except it as finished and could always ‘touch it up,’ I’ve given myself a time frame to have it done totally, to put it down and concentrate on the illustrations. </p> <p>That being said, I’m working on a new wallpaper :) so stay tuned…</p> <p>mjc</p>http://mjcallaghan.com/post/16347720644http://mjcallaghan.com/post/16347720644Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:51:00 +0800mjcallaghanchildren's bookcartoon<p>So I’m confident in saying my skills in Photoshop are intermediate and above, but for this book i’ve discovered that Illustrator is probably more the ideal software to use. I’ve already mapped out how i’ll be putting the ‘dummy book’ together (when its ready…be patient people…hehe) using Indesign and Photoshop, but like i said Illustrator looks like it has more potential. </p> <p>I had a quick look this week for the first time and it seems pretty similar to Photoshop, obviously with a few differences. I am impressed with the whole vector (over raster) focus…perfect for my illustrations. </p> <p>I’m taking a crash course and doing many of the lessons over at lynda.com (<a href="http://www.lynda.com/Member.aspx">http://www.lynda.com/Member.aspx</a>). I highly recommend checking out their site if you want to brush up on your skills for a whole bunch of software packages or just want to learn something new. </p> <p>mjc </p>http://mjcallaghan.com/post/16200177573http://mjcallaghan.com/post/16200177573Sat, 21 Jan 2012 09:30:07 +0800adobeillustratorcartoonchildren's bookmjcallaghanlynda.comphotoshopindesign<p>I must say that it’s real nice when others see what you’re trying to achieve and fully support and encourage you.</p> <p>Fresh Heights has jumped on board and it just gets me all inspired to get home and get creative…! </p> <p><a href="http://freshheights.com/post/16060121436/6-fantastic-blogs-from-our-young-adults"><a href="http://freshheights.com/post/16060121436/6-fantastic-blogs-from-our-young-adults">http://freshheights.com/post/16060121436/6-fantastic-blogs-from-our-young-adults</a></a></p>http://mjcallaghan.com/post/16104075763http://mjcallaghan.com/post/16104075763Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:32:00 +0800freshheightsmjcallaghancartoonschildren's book<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly0s18wxI11r9lc1no1_400.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>…they just keep rolling in….</p> <p>Thanks to my Dad for this one</p>http://mjcallaghan.com/post/16087275456http://mjcallaghan.com/post/16087275456Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:29:00 +0800wallpaperdesktopmjcallaghancartoonchildren's book<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxzh0qngi81r9lc1no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Caleb Labrador Tan….love it!</p>http://mjcallaghan.com/post/16054346434http://mjcallaghan.com/post/16054346434Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:06:22 +0800wallpaper ipad<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxzie4OjXt1r9lc1no1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Another legend with an awesome wallpaper :)</p>http://mjcallaghan.com/post/16054925916http://mjcallaghan.com/post/16054925916Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:03:40 +0800wallpaper iphone<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxy5gvhvYG1r9lc1no1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p><span>As I’ve only made this blog public today, your responses have been really wonderful.</span></p> <div>Thanks to you all for showing an interest in this fun project with me.  <div></div> <div>I do like seeing the wallpapers on your screens (especially yours Ben…haha).</div> <div>If anyone else wants to send me a screenshot, I’ll gladly post it up here too :) </div> <div></div> <div></div> <div>Like I said before, I will be creating more wallpapers because I know they can go ‘stale’ after a while</div> <div></div> </div> <div></div> <div>mjc</div>http://mjcallaghan.com/post/16006841028http://mjcallaghan.com/post/16006841028Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:26:00 +0800wallpapercartoonchildren's bookbeng79legendmjcallaghan<p><img align="top" alt="Eugene" height="500" src="http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/8156/eugeneipad1024x1024.jpg" width="500"/></p> <p>As I promised in my last post, here is that fantastic creature I have aptly named ‘Eugene’ </p> <p>I gotta say it was fun to do these wallpapers. Really enjoyed the colour selection process and seeing him coming to life. Originally he was born from a doodle as I was on my phone. It’s as if your brain gets so focused on something important, the creative subconscience has a chance to get out. I’m not saying that thats how i draw all my illustrations…haha!</p> <p>I think i’m going to do some more soonish…so if you like them, let me know…</p> <p>- for iPhone<br/><a href="http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/6402/eugeneiphone640x960.jpg">http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/6402/eugeneiphone640x960.jpg</a></p> <p>- for iPad<br/><a href="http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/8156/eugeneipad1024x1024.jpg">http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/8156/eugeneipad1024x1024.jpg</a></p> <p>- for Desktop (1680x1050)<br/><a href="http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/4040/eugenedesktop1680x1050.jpg">http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/4040/eugenedesktop1680x1050.jpg</a></p> <p>- for HD Desktop (1920x1080)<br/><a href="http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/9786/eugenedesktop1920x1080.jpg">http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/9786/eugenedesktop1920x1080.jpg</a></p> <p>mjc</p>http://mjcallaghan.com/post/15944574447http://mjcallaghan.com/post/15944574447Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:31:00 +0800iphoneipaddesktophd desktopwallpaperchildren's bookmjcallaghan<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxqaq1NBPS1r9lc1no1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Here’s a sneak peek at something I’m working on to give to you all for FREE..! </p> <p>Yes I said the ‘F’ word…haha….I’m sure you’ll all appreciate what it is…</p> <p>Stay tuned….</p>http://mjcallaghan.com/post/15768535153http://mjcallaghan.com/post/15768535153Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:39:37 +0800childrens bookcartoonsketch<p>Well…I finished the main story. Yeeeeeeeeeah!!</p> <p>As this is my first real try it took quite a while. Three months in fact, and yes…it feels fantastic to have it done. Its something that i’m really really proud of and cant wait to share it with the world. Obviously there’s little things here and there that I need to address like grammer and narrative voice (thanks Heather…hehe) but i enjoy the challenge. </p> <p>Now that I know what text goes on what page, I can get my hands dirty storyboarding (which is a super fun process!) </p> <p>Let those creative juices flow…….</p>http://mjcallaghan.com/post/15669615198http://mjcallaghan.com/post/15669615198Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:11:00 +0800childrens bookcartoonstoryboarding<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxm9gtllUU1r9lc1no1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Just another quick sketch at work between jobs. Not a character from my book, just a fun doodle :)</p>http://mjcallaghan.com/post/15656884998http://mjcallaghan.com/post/15656884998Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:22:00 +0800catsketchcartoon<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxikeuTlQL1r9lc1no1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Keeping the inspiration while at work. Post-it notes are a great blank canvas to explore ideas. These are an accumulation of the past few months, but I’m throwing them out. My desk needs new fresh images</p>http://mjcallaghan.com/post/15551893952http://mjcallaghan.com/post/15551893952Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:28:00 +0800cartoonspost-itscanvas<p>Basically I created this blog for the simple reason to ask you all out there to help keep me accountable for this new and totally different project I’ve been working on.</p> <p>I have been in my current (and only) profession for 10 years, and I need something fresh and exciting to get me enjoying every moment of life I can. </p> <p>My beautiful wife has helped me re-discover what I enjoy and what I love most. </p> <p>That being said, I used to love writing and i’m awesome (self-confessed) with a drawing pen…so I started looking into creating a childrens book. My current job is nothing like this so I’m enjoying the challenges. </p> <p>The plan is to try and keep it updated with progress and various other things that are relevant…</p> <p>I don’t have a publisher (yet), so like I said before, I felt like I needed some accountability.</p> <p>Enter….this blog…</p> <p>So feel free to send me an email or tweet if I haven’t uploaded anything for a few days. Help me stay motivated so procrastination doesn’t get the better of me…</p> <p>mjc</p>http://mjcallaghan.com/post/15509619291http://mjcallaghan.com/post/15509619291Sun, 08 Jan 2012 22:51:00 +0800about memjcallaghanillustratorchildrens book