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mariablackman.bsky.social
Maria Blackman Creates
@mariablackman.bsky.social
150 followers 370 following 150 posts
She/her
Artist 🖌️
Writer ✍️
Reader 📖
On Noongar Whadjuk Boodjar (Perth, Western Australia)
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mariablackman.bsky.social
Maria Blackman Creates @mariablackman.bsky.social · Oct 2
In non-kidlit news, I have a flash fiction piece published in a new literary journal, Sprig, that is out today! You can read 'How to be a banana in three easy steps' in the online journal or purchase a hard copy through their online store. sprigmagazine.cargo.site #flashfiction
sprig magazine
Australian arts magazine for emerging and established artists
sprigmagazine.cargo.site
mariablackman.bsky.social
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
November 12, 2025 at 1:03 PM
mariablackman.bsky.social
Perth folk! I am appearing at the Young Readers' Day Out at the State Library WA on November 23rd! Come see me drawing funny looking bird and other comical picture book characters
#kidlit #scbwiwest
www.trybooking.com/events/landi...
Young Readers Day Out 2025
Meet some of Western Australia's most well-known children's book authors and illustrators for a day packed with activities, including: • Helping...
www.trybooking.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:58 PM
mariablackman.bsky.social
Today a student told me, completely seriously, about something from "the old days, like the 90s" and I almost collapsed in a heap on the classroom floor.
#eldermillenial
November 5, 2025 at 12:33 PM
mariablackman.bsky.social
Got my story in 🤞
Here are some fun things I researched for it: ancient Greek sailors, ancient Greek sailing superstition, seers and oracles, ancient Greek merchant ships, navigation, astrolabes, wood worm, ship worm. Any guesses what my story is about?
#nycmidnight
nycmidnight.bsky.social NYC Midnight @nycmidnight.bsky.social · 11d
The Scary Story Challenge 2025 is officially underway! View your scare/action/character assignment, a countdown to the deadline, and upload link at bit.ly/3X3VZ0i. Best of luck to the 3,600+ writers participating worldwide over the next 48 hours, and Happy Halloween! #ScaryStoryChallenge
bit.ly
November 3, 2025 at 1:03 AM
mariablackman.bsky.social
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
November 1, 2025 at 1:56 AM
mariablackman.bsky.social
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
October 31, 2025 at 7:41 AM
mariablackman.bsky.social
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
October 30, 2025 at 11:17 PM
mariablackman.bsky.social
SCBWI Artober day 29: billow
#scbwiArtober2025
A photo of a small pencil and watercolour illustration of a ghost in a graveyard
October 30, 2025 at 1:00 AM
mariablackman.bsky.social
SCBWI Artober day 28: maze
#scbwiArtober2025
A photo of a small pencil drawing of a ghostly figure disappearing around a stone wall. The shadow of a large creature with horns is visible on a wall in the foreground of the picture
October 29, 2025 at 8:59 AM
mariablackman.bsky.social
SCBWI Artober day 26 and 27, pie and attic
#scbwiArtober2025
A photo of a small watercolour sketch of a child reaching up to a table upon which is a large pie, a spoon, a bowl of strawberries, a cloth napkin and a vase with yellow flowers A photo of a small pencil drawing of a cat on a roof at night. Below the cat, an attic window is propped open, behind which a pair of eyes are visible in the darkness
October 28, 2025 at 1:07 AM
mariablackman.bsky.social
Finally, some good news
October 26, 2025 at 10:52 PM
mariablackman.bsky.social
It’s #SCBWIBookStop season! 🎉
My book is featured—come take a look, explore, and bring a copy home today. www.scbwi.org/bookstop/boo...
SCBWI bookstop page
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators provides the resources, professional networking, and community-building opportunities that support writers, illustrators, and translators throug...
www.scbwi.org
October 26, 2025 at 12:51 PM
mariablackman.bsky.social
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
October 26, 2025 at 7:12 AM
mariablackman.bsky.social
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
October 25, 2025 at 1:01 PM
mariablackman.bsky.social
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
October 24, 2025 at 1:24 AM
mariablackman.bsky.social
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
October 23, 2025 at 2:25 AM
mariablackman.bsky.social
More SCBWI Artober
Day 16 scarecrow
Day 17 stalk
Day 18 perspective
#scbwiArtober2025
October 22, 2025 at 12:29 PM
mariablackman.bsky.social
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
October 22, 2025 at 12:24 PM
mariablackman.bsky.social
Just submitted a manuscript to a publisher after an encouraging chat at an event yesterday. I believe it's my best picture book text so far. Fingers crossed
#ampitching
October 20, 2025 at 1:41 PM
mariablackman.bsky.social
Anyone Perth peeps going to the Festival of Fiction tomorrow? Or went today? I missed out last year so excited for tomorrow! #festivaloffiction2025 #perthfestivaloffiction
October 18, 2025 at 10:09 AM
mariablackman.bsky.social
I always knew there was something special about Tawny Frogmouths...now they've won the Bird of the Year 2025!
If you love them as much as me, you can enjoy some Tawny Frogmouth and friends fun in Hoo Hoo Peekaboo and Hoo Hoo Squawk Squawk
australia.theguardian.com Guardian Australia @australia.theguardian.com · 27d
Tawny frogmouth named 2025 Australian bird of the year winner
Tawny frogmouth named 2025 Australian bird of the year winner
Perennial runner up finally claims the crown in the biennial Guardian/BirdLife Australia poll, ahead of Baudin’s black cockatoo and gang-gang cockatoo * More Australian bird of the year content * Download your free official 2025 bird of the year poster * Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The tawny frogmouth has been named Australia’s 2025 bird of the year, after taking second place in the biennial Guardian/BirdLife Australia poll three times running. More than 310,000 votes were cast after polling opened on 6 October and the tawny led the charge from the start, despite being hotly and persistently pursued by two cockatoos: the Baudin’s black cockatoo and the ever-popular gang-gang. Get Guardian Australia environment editor Adam Morton’s Clear Air column as an email Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 16, 2025 at 12:19 PM
mariablackman.bsky.social
SCBWI Artober day 11 kettle
#scbwiArtober2025
A photo of a small watercolour pencil illustration of a kettle. Tea leaves and flowers float in the background
October 12, 2025 at 9:40 PM
mariablackman.bsky.social
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
October 11, 2025 at 2:07 AM
mariablackman.bsky.social
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
October 4, 2025 at 9:48 AM
mariablackman.bsky.social
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
October 3, 2025 at 9:28 AM