Gouache – I love the way it really bursts with saturation, as do our native colours of Australia.Ĭould you describe your colour palette and why you have chosen this? What media have you used for your illustrations? We consulted with Bruce, from initial conceptualisation through to final art, to ensure he was happy with where my visuals were taking his story. What was the collaborative process between you and the author when working on Found?īruce was very encouraging and supportive, as was Magabala and my Editor and Design duo, Cathy Tasker and Deb Brown. I like to think that “Found” offers optimism and hope for families such as my own, in that we can one day reconnect with what was lost, by searching and never giving up. My Great Grandmother spent the first years of her life on a mission, and from that came the removal of cultural identity and practice. I found myself drawing parallels with the separation between calf and mother (and brothers and sisters) with my own family’s separation from country, culture and lineage. What does this story written by Bruce Pascoe mean to you? It’s incredibly surreal walking into a bookstore with my children and hearing them exclaim ‘I found your book Mum…’! I’m really excited about who the next award recipient will be and what type of book will be born from their experience! Apart from the illustrious prize package ($10000, industry-leading mentorship and the opportunity to gain a publishing contract), what I have found most life changing is the journey I’ve met incredible people, learned so much about the fabulous creation of picture books, and have been given the opportunity to produce one with Bruce Pascoe, a voice of our time. The Kestin Award aims to promote unknown and unpublished indigenous artists and illustrators by teaming them with an established indigenous Author. My family descend from the Bundjalung people on the Clarence River.

Thank you for your interest! I’m an artist and mother of two, residing in the Blue Mountains, NSW. Charmaine Ledden-Lewis (photo by Tristram Miller)

Bruce pascoe author