Clive McFarland
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clivemcf.bsky.social
Clive McFarland
@clivemcf.bsky.social
Picturebook maker 🏳️‍🌈☘️

https://www.clivemcfarland.com
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Happy #kidlitartpostcard day and World Book Day, everyone! It’s great to see so much beautiful children’s book art on BlueSky.

I’m Clive, an Irish author/illustrator, ready for new projects 😊

#kidlitart #childrensbooks #illustration
It’s been a fun week of spooky paper cut-out workshops with @librariesni.bsky.social. Here are a few of the many pictures we made.
November 1, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Had such a nice evening at the launch for The Cloud Kingdom at No Alibis Bookstore in Belfast last week.

It's published by @littleislandbooks.bsky.social - an Irish independent publisher that makes beautiful books. Check it out!

@matthewpb.bsky.social
November 1, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Reposted by Clive McFarland
“This mostly rhyming picture book has bright, eye-catching illustrations that will appeal to younger children”

m.independent.ie/life/family/...

@erikamcgann.bsky.social
@clivemcf.bsky.social
October 22, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Reposted by Clive McFarland
Bring back stylised exteriors created and shot on sound stages, I say...
Night of the Hunter (Charles Laughton, 1951)
DoP: Stanley Cortez
October 21, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Reposted by Clive McFarland
Please vote so the book published by a 3-person Irish indie can take take the prize instead of the books from very massive publishers!
We are delighted to share that SOLO by @grainneobrien.bsky.social is on the Books are My Bag Readers Award shortlist!

This major award is decided by public vote so please can we ask you to vote for SOLO in the YA category – and tell all your friends!

www.nationalbooktokens.com/readers-awards
Book Are My Bag Readers Awards
The only book awards curated by bookshops and chosen by readers like you!
www.nationalbooktokens.com
October 10, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Reposted by Clive McFarland
🎉 ANOTHER PUB DAY!🎉

A new retelling of Tír na nÓg from me and Conor Busuttil, following Niamh as she learns about the beauty of being vulnerable and human.

Conor’s artwork is absolutely stunning 🌟
And thank you Huw Davies for the gorgeous animation below!
Happy publication day to ‘Tír na nÓg - A Favourite Irish Legend’ written by @erikamcgann.bsky.social and illustrated by Conor Busuttil.
 
A tale of love and heartbreak, it's beautifully retold and lavishly illustrated for young readers.

Video by Huw Davies – thank you for the animation!
September 29, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Reposted by Clive McFarland
Puffling and the Stormy Sea will be published trw by @theobrienpress.bsky.social

It was a lot of fun to illustrate @erikamcgann.bsky.social ’s amazing new Puffling story 😊

I really enjoyed painting many stormy sea scenes. Using impasto, gouache, oil pastel.

#picturebook #illustration #puffin
September 28, 2025 at 10:53 AM
I’ve added my name to the Children’s Authors, Illustrators, & Educators Statement on Palestine. It's crucial that voices from the world of children's literature advocate for peace & humanity.

Will you join us? 👉 statement-on-palestine.org

@joseph-nhanoreilly.bsky.social @chrishaughton.bsky.social
September 12, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Reposted by Clive McFarland
More than 500 children's authors, illustrators & educators have signed a statement on Palestine including @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social, @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social, Sir Michael Morpurgo, Chris Riddell OBE, Lauren Child CBE & @chrishaughton.bsky.social
Find out more 👉 statement-on-palestine.org
September 11, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Happy 25th birthday to The Illustrators Guild of Ireland 🎉🥂

Thank you for a quarter century of championing Irish illustrators! Here’s to continuing advocating for illustrators as we navigate the challenges of a rapidly changing creative industry.
September 10, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Reposted by Clive McFarland
Happy 10th Birthday! Supporting Read Write Count and seeing our books in the hands of young children across Scotland is one of the favourite parts of my job - looking forward to them receiving The Ballad of Cactus Joe this year @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social @clivemcf.bsky.social 🌵📚 @
Happy 10th Birthday Read Write Count! 🥳 Since 2015, we have given over 2.5 million books to P2s and P3s across Scotland, with the support of The Scottish Government.📚

To celebrate, we met up with Ollie, who received on of the first packs in 2015, and his sister Elia, who will get hers this year.
August 20, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Grab a copy of the special Northern Ireland issue of Inis magazine.

@whackochacko.bsky.social and I talk about the importance of community and why we set up Illustrators North.

Big thanks to @childrensbooksireland.ie!
July 5, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Hi, I'm Clive! An Irish author/illustrator creating picture books full of colour, texture, and warmth.

Happy #KidLitArtPostcard day! 🐸🐸

www.clivemcfarland.com
#kidlitart #childrensbooks
June 5, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Published in Scottish Gaelic 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

#childrensbooks #kidlit #illustration
May 15, 2025 at 11:06 AM
May 12, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Reposted by Clive McFarland
This is a new image from #JWST.

The bright points with spikes are stars in the Milky Way.

Everything else is a galaxy.

Everything. Else. Is. A. Galaxy.
April 29, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Reposted by Clive McFarland
Help spread the word, please consider leaving a review of We Leap Together on Amazon. Reviews help my book get noticed on the algorithm and my book could use all the help it can get! Thanks to everyone for your support!

a.co/d/eqz41Re
April 15, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Happy Sunday everyone ☁️🌷

#kidlitart #childrensbooks #illustration
April 13, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Reposted by Clive McFarland
Friends! We are excited to share with you for the first time the simply sublime cover of our forthcoming book OSCAR WILDE’S STORIES for CHILDREN, illustrated by Lauren O’Hara!

@bouncemarketing.bsky.social @childrensbooksireland.ie @pubspotlight.bsky.social @consortiumbooks.bsky.social
February 21, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Had a blast at Bologna Children’s Book Fair with lovely creative pals. It was nice to see my latest books on the stands and meet so many new people! Excited to create new work! ✏️ #BCBF25
April 6, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Excited for day 2 of Bologna Children’s Book Festival! #BCBF25

@eriberart.bsky.social
April 1, 2025 at 6:03 AM
Reposted by Clive McFarland
It’s publishing day for Whales in the City by @nancycastaldobooks.bsky.social and me! The story of the whales who lived in the Hudson river before us, what we did to them and their habitat, and the activists who fought to clean up the river!
March 18, 2025 at 5:37 PM
I love this little handbook by @whackochacko.bsky.social on how to stay creatively motivated. It’s brilliant! I keep referring back to it.
whackochacko.com/shop/
March 18, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Thank you @kipalizadeh.net for a copy of your lovely new picture book. Kip’s tender and textured illustrations are beautiful.✨ You can find it in your local bookshop right now! ✨
March 18, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Happy St Patrick’s Day!

One from a few years back ☘️✨

#kidlitart #kidlit #illustration
March 17, 2025 at 1:45 PM