New Fabric Idea

It's been so long since my last post, I almost forgot how to do a post.  But, it's coming back to me.  I've been a busy girl going through a ton of medical tests.  But, now the tests are all over and I'm please to tell everyone that my last body scan came back completely normal.  No cancer for this girl.  I feel blessed and very fortunate.  For those of you who don't know what the heck I'm talking about, I have been battling Thyroid Cancer since 2008.  I've had a couple surgeries and all kinds of fun stuff.  I'm doing just fine now.

Thought I would show some astronaut type artwork I've been working on.  Let me know what you think.  Hope everyone had a nice Easter.  Ours was a small affair.  Husband, kids and my parents.  It was pretty nice, except my son was in a mood.  I've had a talk with him and I think he will do better next time.  Good heavens he's a adult, he should know how to behave.  Okay, enough with airing my grievances in public.  Take care everyone.

I Like Shoes

I really do enjoy shoes.  Not as much as books but still, I like a good shoe.  I just wish the ones I wanted were not so darn expensive.  I'm not talking about those shoes with the 12 inch heels. Can't afford them and if I ever got into a pair of those 12 inch babies I would probably fall and hurt myself badly.  So, I won't go there.  But, I know, because I've seen them myself that their are wonderful comfy shoes out there that are calling to me.  Anyone else like shoes?  I guess that may be a silly question. Have a good one everyone.

The Book Store

Like most of you, I love a book store.  I really do.  I can spend hours looking at books and I also spend a good deal of money on books.  I can't help it.  At least that's what I tell my husband.  Anyway this is a little illustration I did (very fast) of a local bookstore. Hope everyone is well and happy. Take care.

Just Fooling Around

Well, I've been sketching and fooling around with Photoshop.  These are some of the drawings I came up with.  Keep in mind that these were drawn very fast, mostly because I can't wait to finish something and also because I kind of like that spontaneous  feeling in a drawing.  Hope everyone has a nice weekend.  It's raining like cats and dogs here so I'll be indoors all weekend.  Oh, can you tell I live with a little corgi dog?  Lois thinks she is an excellent model. I tend to agree.

Book Cover Idea

I did this a little while ago but thought I would go ahead and share it with you.  I was trying to design a book jacket cover for my portfolio.  The author shown on the cover is my cousin.  She writes wonderful stories and is not yet published, only because she has not sent any manuscripts off the publishers.  She will do it some day.  Then there is me.  I send artwork off all the time.  I'm almost blind from addressing promotional postcards that I'm sending off today.  Like I said I send stuff all the time and yet nothing happens.  Well, sometimes I get a note or a letter from an art director.  But, I have not illustrated a children's book yet.  Now, the strange thing is, I feel like I will someday. Gosh, somebody's got to notice me someday.  I sure hope so. Take care everyone!

Something in my Head

No, I don't have marbles in my head...yet. Well, maybe I do.   I do however have a little cave girl running around in my head.  I don't know her name yet but, I thought I better get some ideas down on paper so, here she is.  I was told over and over again at the SCBWI conference to post sketches for art directors to take a peek at, and that character was very, very important.  Well, I started drawing ideas of my little cave girl and she sort of looked like an old hag.  So, I later I drew her with a smaller nose and I think she looks a bit sweeter.  Although cave folk might not have been that sweet. It had to be a hard life in those days.  Who knows.  Anyway here she is, I'm still thinking about her story and the landscape of the world she lives in.  I'll keep you all posted.  Take care for now.

Update on SCBWI Conference

Well, I made it back to Oregon in one piece.  I was so lucky to fly in and out of New York between snow storms.  I can't even begin to tell you how happy that makes me.
The conference was awesome! I loved almost every bit of it.  I took the Illustrators Intensive on Friday and loved most of it. The first key note speaker was Dan Yaccarino.  He had a really well prepared talk and  told us about how he works.  The main thing he spoke about was the character. That the character is the thing that will make an illustration.  He also talked about promotion and that all serious illustrators need a web site as well as a blog. Then there was a panel of art reps.  I didn't love this part that much and had a hard time hearing them talk. So, maybe it was good but I kind of doubt it.   Then there was a panel of folks talking about apps.  At noon I had to drop my artwork off for the show later.  Got a call that I need to call my fabric people.  So, I took off the rest of the day to take care of some business.  Oh, also went with my cousin to Books of Wonder a most wonderful children's book store in NY.  I think that was probably to most fun I had that day. At Books of Wonder I also saw a lovely book by our friend Vanessa Brantley-Newton on the shelf. I was so impressed.  I had never met Vanessa but I follow her blog- Oohlaladesignstudio.blogspot.com.  She is always so kind with her comments. I'm a huge fan!

The main conference started on Saturday Jan.29 with introductions by Steve Mooser and Lin Oliver.  Lin has a fantastic wit and is so funny.  Really I could easily listen to her talk all day.  Our first key note speaker was Lois Lowry. She was fabulous.  I was basking in the glow of her wonderful talk when I looked over to my left and a couple rows in front of me was...could it be?  Vanessa Brantley- Newton in the flesh!  My cousin kept saying "would you stop staring"  I couldn't help it I just knew it was her.  So, during a little break I tapped her on the shoulder.  To my delight she was who I thought she was and she knew who I was.  It was like a little conference miracle.   Here we are meeting for the first time and loving every minute of it.

I'm the one on the left.  And no, those are not our cups and stuff in the background. We are neat tidy people.
Well, needless to say the conference went on and was better than ever.  There was a panel  with Jane Yolen talking about creating picture books, wonderful breakout sessions with a wide variety of speakers and subjects.  I went to see some art directors, Patti Ann Harris from Little Brown and Lucy Cummins from Simon & Schuster.  No, I don't have a book deal but I did learn a lot from these nice ladies, and have a lot of homework to do.  We then had a nice lunch and R.L Stine of Goosebumps fame gave a talk. I laughed so hard I had tears running down my face. He was great! Later in the day Jules Feiffer spoke.  I was just in awe of him.  I've only touched on a few things but, it was well worth the money, time and the long, long plane ride.  I'd do it again in a heart beat, and if you ever get the chance to attend I highly recommend it.