Thierry Lafontaine's cover art reveal for The Peculiar

Eighteen-year-old classical musician Stefan Bachmann says that he wrote The Peculiar “in slobby house clothes while sometimes lying upside down.” The end product — a “gothic-steampunk-faery-fantasy” officially intended for youth, that unofficially appeals to adults — sparked a bidding war between large publishing houses that was triumphed by Greenwillow-HarperCollins. HarperCollins is one of the world’s top English-language publishers.

Cover art for The Peculiar was created by Thierry Lafontaine, a senior artist at Imaginism Studios. Lafontaine is also the instructor of the Imaginism In-House Workshop. 

Lafontaine's cover art reveal:  

Author Stefan Bachmann recently posted his own cover reveal, and is holding an international giveaway for an advanced reader’s copy of The Peculiar, along with two bundles of Swiss Lindt chocolate, in a contest that lasts until Tuesday May 1, 2012. 

Bachmann says to simply leave a comment on his giveaway post, and preferably a link, so that he can contact you if you win. He also says that "re-tweets count double, so DO THAT and post that link, twah." 

The embossed hardcover book is gaining excitement around the world as one of 2012's biggest releases. A recent display for The Peculiar was captured on camera at Italy’s Bologna Children’s Book Fair.   

The Peculiar will be released in hardcover format on Sept. 18, 2012.

The Perfect Bait is now available

My new book "The Perfect Bait" is now available on www.theperfectbait.com. For a limited time there is free shipping world wide and you get access to the audiobook version as well. If you like the book, share this please :)

Bobby

Here's some reviews and testimonials.

One thing that I've learned knowing the author and that his book The Perfect Bait wholeheartedly confirms, is that Bobby Chiu knows what he's talking about. Having developed an art style and built a career for myself, I've done much of what Bobby lays out, but had I this book my path would have been much more clear. Though not any easier mind you. You're still going to have to work your tail off. Bobby gives a usually unpleasant dose of reality but with an optimistic enthusiasm that makes his book truly motivational.

Bill Presing
billpresing.blogspot.com
Cartoonist / Pixar Animation Story Artist

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The Perfect Bait is a tremendous amalgam of philosophical and practical knowledge which can only be dispensed by a true master artist in Bobby Chiu. In it Bobby selflessly imparts the knowledge, truths and systems that have made him the sought-after talent that he is. His candid and honest views are based on real-life experience and is a source of genuine inspiration. The Perfect Bait is a benefit to us in the art community and more importantly, it contains useful tools that transcend art that can help us improve our daily lives

Louie del Carmen
www.louiedelcarmen.com
Dreamworks Story Artist

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Bobby has done it once again in The Perfect Bait, combining both inspiration, perspiration and aspiration. With a series of interviews with the art industry's top professionals -- combined with his own experiences -- Bobby has written a most inspiring and knowledgeable how-to book. In this five step method, The Perfect Bait is the perfect book for aspiring artists.

Marcelo Vignali
vignalistudio.blogspot.com
Sony Pictures Animation
Production Designer / Illustrator

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If I could have heard this when I began my career it would have been a game changer. It's what I wanted to know at the start and would have needed along the way.

Bobby filled it with wisdom and insight beyond his years and importantly it is backed up by the solid experience and skill of your self and those he interviewed. I will be giving this as a gift to any artist beginning a career and when asked by parents or students where to find advice, this will be number one, if not the only one. I am truly impressed. This should be listened to by every art student. I definitely will be sharing it with my students when it is released. Most importantly, it is something you will not only want to listen to once, but repeatedly over and over as your career progresses. I'm sure it will inform and influence many artists just as you have already.

Werner Zimmermann
wernerzimmermann.ca
Life drawing teacher / Educator

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The Perfect Bait is an inspiring and informative audiobook for visual artists. In this book, Bobby have generously shared some philosophies that extremely useful not only for those who want to pursue an art career but to professional artists alike.

Listen to it with positive mind and I'm sure you'll find wealth of gems that you can use in your career and life in general. I personally will listen to it more than once. Definitely something that I wish I had own years ago.

Charles Santoso
www.charlessantoso.com
Concept Artist/ Art Director, Animal Logic

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This audiobook is a real asset for anyone who is serious about a career in visual arts. Bobby has compiled some of the best practical (and inspirational) information for success in this field. If you're looking to make an impact in this industry, you need to listen to this.

Everett Downing
www.edowning.com
Pixar Animator

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There is a lot of great practical advice in this book. I found the last two sections to be particularly useful to someone wanting to build a career in the arts. It's stuff that isn't talked about enough in art schools, so its good to know someone is putting that information out there.

Alex Woo
www.woohoopictures.com
Pixar Story Artist / Pixar Gesture Drawing Instructor

The Familiars - "Secrets of the Crown" Released!

Recently the new children's novel that I have been busy with drawing and painting late 2010 to Early 2011, has been released now.

You can purchase a copy of it either in your local Chapters, Indigo, Borders, or Barnes and Noble or Amazon.

On Amazon.com, you can purchase it as a hardcover book or an e-book on kindle.

After illustrating the first book, the adventure continues in book two of 'The Familiars - Secrets of the Crown'. The book will be a continuation of the first book.

When human magic disappears suddenly from Vastia, it falls on the familiars, Aldwyn the telekinetic cat, Skylar the know-it-all blue, jay, and Gilbert the gullible tree frog--to find the Crown of the Snow Leopard, an ancient relic that can reverse the curse. They learn that the only way to do this is by following in the purple paw prints of Aldwyn's father, who'd gone missing while searching for the Crown years earlier. This magical spirit trail extends into the Beyond, where our heroes encounter new enemies and danger, while Aldwyn learns about his mysterious past.

Full of high-flying adventure and heartwarming friendships, SECRETS OF THE CROWN shows how great it is to be familiar with The Familiars!

Here are a selected few illustrations that I worked on - all of them were done traditionally, in total I have completed about 20 illustrations for the book:









Follow @the_familiars on twitter for more future updates on the series.

The Familiars - Magic Isn't Just for Wizards Anymore

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to illustrate Harper Collin's new children's novel titled 'The Familiars'. The book has finally hit the shelves yesterday.

'The Familiars' is a kid's story about three young wizard apprentices who are kidnapped by the evil queen of a distant land and it is up to their familiars, their magical animal companions -- a street smart alley cat, a precocious blue jay, and a bumbling tree frog -- to save them.

I had worked on the cover and illustrated the interior pages as well. It was quite a challenge, but I learned a lot from this project and it was a very amazing experience. Currently, started working on the second book and it has been a lot of fun!

In 2012 the book will also be made into a feature film by Sony Pictures Animation and directed by Sam Raimi. Excited to see the book translate into the film.

Here are a selected few illustrations that I worked on:







To find out more, please click here to browse inside the book.

Follow @the_familiars on twitter for future updates on the book.