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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 1h

SCWBI Artober continues...I'm behind with art and posting because school holidays are finished😭 10 - Vestiges 11 - crusty 12 - lunge #scbwiARTOBER2026 #scbwiARTOBER #kidlit #sketchoftheday

A small watercolour pencil illustration of a child looking at their dropped icecream cone. A seagull also looks on

A photo of a small watercolour pencil illustration of a pie cooling on a bench. A small child and a dog look on

A photo of a small watercolour pencil illustration of a dog extending one leg forward

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Day 9 of SCBWI Artober 2026 - home. Oh, to be a cosy witch dozing by the fire in her tidy cottage ✍️ #scbwiARTOBER2026 #scbwiARTOBER #papercuttingart #home #cozywitch

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

8 of SCBWI Artober 2026 - crisp. The original drawing for this envelope was an ink drawing of a severe looking Victorian gentleman. I kept the offcuts after I made the envelope and turned him into a fun seeking Victorian gentleman who can jump in the newly fallen crisp autumn leaves!

A photo of a handmade envelope with a SCBWI ARTOBER "postage stamp" that has a drawing of autumn leaves and a label that says "To the gentleman who looks severe".

Inside the envelope - the man's shoes stepping in autumn leaves

A photo of the offcuts from the original drawing. The section where the feet have been cut out is visible

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

SCBWI Artober day 5 (camp), day 6 (quiver) and day 7 (feline). Video of quiver below! scbwiARTOBER2026 #scbwiARTOBER #papercuttingart #inkandwatercolour #kidlit

A photo of a small pencil illustration of an adult and child looking at a starry sky

Front of a handmade envelope. It has a label with the text "Will you walk into my parlour?" and a postage stamp with a drawing of a fly

A silhouette of a black cat with blood dripping from an outstretched paw

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Day 3 of SCBWI Artober 2026 - crush. Even a witch's cat says "If I fitteth, shall I sitteth". #scbwiARTOBER2026 #scbwiARTOBER #inkandwatercolourillustration #kidlit

A photo of a small watercolour illustration of a calico cat sleeping in an upside down witch's hat. Next to the hat is a pair of lace up boots

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Day 1 of SCBWI Artober 2026 - pumpkin Ages ago I saw a video about making envelopes out of old artworks so I made a bunch of them which I then forgot about. For this year's Artober I'm turning them into little paper artworks. #scbwiARTOBER2026 #scbwiARTOBER #papercuttingart #inkandwatercolour

A handmade envelope with a "postage stamp" that says 1/10 SCBWI Artober and a label that says "One for sorrow, Two for joy"

The reverse of the envelope. It had a label that says "By Maria Blackman"

A thumb and finger open the envelope. Some colourful bits of paper are visible

A pumpkin and two ravens emerge from the envelope

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

I'm delighted that my entry to the KSP Writers' Centre Horror Story competition was awarded Highly Commended. Congratulations to all who were shortlisted and thank you to the KSP Writers' Centre for this exciting competition 😊 #horrorstory #shortstory #writer

A photo of a book open to a page with the title STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE By Maria Blackman Highly Commended and the first few paragraphs

The front cover of GLITCH, with images of a female cyborg, a fawn, handcuffs, headphones, a grub, a spooky house and a gloved hand holding a surgeon's scalpel

A photo of a certificate stuck on a fridge. The certificate from the KSP Writers' Centre is to Maria Blackman

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

I am so thrilled to be a featured writer with this project by WritingWA and Yagan Square. Writers were asked to contribute a short prose piece or poem about winter or nature. My poem Mycelium Network is one of them! #storiesfromwa #writingwa #dragonflypublishing #poetry

A poem on a digital screen in Yagan Square (Perth city). A woman stands in front of the PERTH letters at the bottom of the digital tower.
The poem reads:
Daylight runs off, the air temperature cools
while the earth pulls up its blanket.
Beneath the soil’s surface
a threading network spreads
extending mycelium threads
whispering
Where are you?
Are you there?
Hello, yes, I am here
while above small vertebrates slip through the undergrowth,
nocturnal birds hunt,
humans sleep in beds in rooms in buildings
unaware that a kingdom of liberated spores is
reaching out to each other, binding together
underground building ever increasing colonies
that will burst out of the ground
when the sun pulls off night time’s cover
to reveal soft domed cities that are neither animal nor plant.
Mycelium Network by Maria Blackman
WRITING WA
Dragonfly Publishing

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

I have a mini 'book nook' artwork on display at Paper Bird Books, the most beautiful children's book store ever! #papercuttingart #booknook #inkpendrawing #thetempest

A photo of a book nook depicting Act 5 scene 1 of The Tempest. It is on a shelf in between Shakespeare books

A photo of the interior of the Paper Bird Books store. Mid afternoon light hits the wall

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Good news! I've been shortlisted in my favourite writing competition. Also! Support your local writers' centre and writing community!

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

I don't have any illustration projects that I'm currently working on so something I like to do is make little fun things like this ginger tabby kitty that is pouncing on its tail. #papercutoutart #childrensbookillustration #kidlit

A photo of a small paper cut out cat next to a small pot plant and a crochet toy. The cat appears to be pouncing on its tail.

A photo of a small paper cut out cat next to a framed Monet print. The cat appears to be pouncing on its tail.

A photo of a small paper cut out cat next to a small Maneki Neko that's on top of a book case. The cat appears to be pouncing on its tail.

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Attention writers who like short, flashy stories and a competition with a tight deadline to get that adrenaline pumping, join me in the @nycmidnight.bsky.social Flash Fiction Challenge on May 1st! Learn more at nycmidnight.com/ffc

A graphic with the text THE FLASH FICTION CHALLENGE MAY 1, 2026 MY MIDNIGHT.COM

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

Went to the library today and added to my TBR list.

Photo of two books. A line in the sand; 20 Years of Red Room Poetry, and Discipline by Randa Abdel-Fatteh

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

Folktale Week: charm "The wise old woman wove a charm over the sleeping boy's bed..." #FolktaleWeek2025 #FolktaleWeek #kidlit

A watercolour illustration depicting a branch of yellow flowers, a sprig of blue berries, a spindle, three strands of yarn braided together, and a scene of an old woman weaving coloured strands of yarn over the sleeping boy's bed

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

Folktale Week: book. Yes, I'm very behind with my Folktale Week art (as usual 😆). Here is the next part of the story. The man's son continued to lay in a deathly sleep. The priest came and prayed over him but to no avail... #FolktaleWeek2025

A watercolour illustration depicting a man leaning over a person sleeping in a bed. They both have ginger hair. Behind the sleeping person a priest holds a Bible up

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

Folktale Week: rain "After the man and his son brought the Hawthorn wood home, the rain poured and poured and the son sank into a deep sleep" #FolktaleWeek2025 #FolktaleWeek #kidlit #illustration

A watercolour illustration depicting a red-headed boy's head (his eyes are closed and his face is pale). Around the borders two imps look at the boy, and rain clouds fill the top border and a small cottage is visible in the bottom left corner

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

Folktale Week: echo "Do not touch the Hawthorn tree as it belongs to the little people" #FolktaleWeek2025 #FolktaleWeek #illustration #kidlit

A watercolour illustration of two imps clasping their hands over their ears. Behind them is a scene of trees and birds, with one stump in the foreground. Hawthorn berries and leaves fill the borders of the painting

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Folktale Week: Night "Come sit by the fire and let me tell you a tale." I love old folktales because they show how oral storytelling traditions have survived over many generations. #FolktaleWeek2025 #FolktaleWeekNight

A watercolour illustration depicting an old woman and a young girl sat by a fireplace. Around the border of the image are seen two imps, a thistle, a crescent moon and two horses

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Get ready for a morning of action-packed fun at Young Readers Day Out! Sunday 23 November 2025 10.30am-12.30pm State Library of Western Australia $20 for a family ticket -see website for details and ticketing slwa.wa.gov.au/whats-on/you... #scbwiwest #kidlit

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

Folktale Week is an illustration challenge that happens every November. This year I am taking inspiration from Scottish folklore. My grandad on my dad's side was a proud Highlander and the Highlands are full of wonderful Scots-Gaelic tales! #FolktaleWeek2025 #kidlitart

A watercolour artwork with the text "I'm Joining Folktale Week 2025" and a dark green horse galloping across water

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

SCBWI Artober day 31: bones I'm a little bit sad that Artober is finished now, but I have plenty more creative projects to work on in November #scbwiArtober2025

A photo of a small pencil and watercolour sketch of a witch holding a bone in one hand, and a pile of bones in front of her

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

SCBWI Artober day 30: sleepover 👻 Nearly made it through all 31 Artober prompts! #scbwiArtober2025

A photo of a small illustration of a girl sleeping in a bed near a window with billowing curtains. A large ghost hovers over the head of the bed, three smaller ghosts appear sleeping over the bed

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

SCBWI Artober day 25: strange. Justice for funny looking fruit and veg! #scbwiArtober2025

A photo of a small watercolour illustration of a group of three tomatoes. Two are regularly shaped but one has a protruding shape on its side. The regularly shaped tomatoes look alarmed

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

I've seen a bit of a SCBWI presence here which is lovely. Is there also a Folktale Week presence or is that still a predominantly Instagram thing? Artwork for attention, credit to @louve.draw #folktaleweek

An illustration of a gravestone with a raven and a white dove perched on top. The following words are etched into the front of the gravestone: Folktale Week 2025, 1. NIGHT, 2. ECHO, 3. RAIN, 4. BOOK, 5. CHARM, 6. STORM, 7..DAWN, @LOUVE.DRAW

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

SCBWI Artober day 22 and 23, mushroom and tangle. Did you know there are bioluminescent fungi (ghost mushrooms) in Australia? Spooky! #scbwiArtober2025

A photo of a watercolour illustration of ghost mushrooms growing on the side of a plant. The photo is taken in front of books on a shelf

A photo of a watercolour sketch of a child with lots of curly red hair and a hair brush stuck in their hair. Their face looks glum

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Still behind with the SCBWI Artober posts, oopsie! Here are days 19-21: mask, harvest, calico 🖌️ #scbwiArtober2025 #sketchoftheday #illustrationoftheday #watercolourpencilsketch

A photo of a small watercolour illustration of a black and white cat looking at something to its right. The cat's markings look like a black face mask

A photo of a small watercolour sketch of a small child picking peas

A photo of a small watercolour sketch of a calico cat

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

More SCBWI Artober Day 16 scarecrow Day 17 stalk Day 18 perspective #scbwiArtober2025

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

Yikes, I'm very behind in posting my SCBWI Artober art on Bluesky. Here's a round up of days 12-15: tip toe, rustle, burnt, charm #scbwiArtober2025

A photo of a small piece of paper on a book shelf that has pencil sketches of cats tiptoeing and arching their backs across a surface

A photo of a pencil drawing on a piece of brown paper. The drawing is of a black cat's head poking out of a paper bag

A photo of a piece of art on a book shelf. Leaves and gumnuts are painted in burnt sienna

A photo of an artwork of a Maneki Neko that is taken in front of books on a shelf

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

SCBWI Artober day 7-10 round up Fuzzy (nestling) Carve (400 million year old sandstone cliffs at Kalbarri) Hive (whimsical bees, enough said) Twist (ribbon fun) #scbwiArtober2025

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

SCBWI Artober day 4: birthmark I drove from Perth to Jurien Bay today so not a lot of time for art. Here's a quick sketch for today's challenge #scbwiArtober2025

A photo of a pencil sketch of a mother holding a baby. They both have a heart shaped birthmark on their upper arm. The birthmark is painted in a reddish colour

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

SCBWI Artober Day 3: phantom A few years ago I wrote a ghost story that included a large carnivorous plant and things that go bump in the night. The watercolours got a bit lurid in this but I think it works #scbwiArtober2025

A photo of a narrow watercolour artwork leaning against books on a shelf. The artwork depicts a person holding a candle in front of a large plant. A ghostly shadow is visible behind the plant

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

SCBWI Artober Day 2: night light My youngest child slept with a cuddly sleepy time owl night light for a long time. We still have it, just without the batteries now! May all children be granted a peaceful, safe night's sleep #scbwiArtober2025

A photo of a watercolour illustration of a sleeping child that is cuddling a owl shaped night light. The text Sleep Tight is written across the top of the picture

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

SCBWI has made its way to Bluesky so I'll be trying to do all of their Artober challenges. Day 1: squash I once had a butternut squash vine growing out of my compost which was exciting except that we got lots of nice flowers but no squash! So here's a watercolour squash #scbwiArtober2025

A photo of a watercolour painting of a butternut squash vine on a narrow piece of paper, propped against books on a shelf

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Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

Trying to narrow down my favourite ten books from the last 25 years is too hard. I forced myself to just submit it before I could start overthinking. Other contenders: Dropbear, Evelyn Araluen; Narrow Road to the Deep North, Richard Flanagan; Hunger and Bad Feminist, both by Roxane Gay #top100books

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