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.

Working Away

I'm hard at work on my portfolio. Yes, I'm still at it.  It never ends for me.  I think I was even dreaming about it last night a little bit.  Well, if you want to call it a dream.  Might have been a nightmare.  I keep rearranging the artwork then I go back and look at it again and think, hmmm maybe not.  Oh, well at some point I'll leave it alone.  As I get older I seem to be more of a worrier.  What's with that?  My children are grown and doing well, I still like my husband at least part of the time. ( Just kidding.) Life is good.  Really, it is.  So, why do I worry about stuff all the time?  I hope I'm not going senile!  Wait, I'm not that old.  Well, I'm kind of old, but in a good way. I'm young at heart! Okay, enough rambling.  Here is a little bunny I think I'll add to the old portfolio.  It's very spring like.  I need a little spring, I'm already tired of winter.  Have a great day everyone.

Getting Ready

Well, I finally figured out how to order postcards on line.  Lord.  I used to think I was kind of smart but, I'm starting to wonder.  Well, I got it done.  Of coarse it took me awhile to decide which artwork to use on the postcard.  I gave up and let my family choose.  So, that wasn't so hard.  They all have a pretty strong opinion on just about everything.  Gosh, I wonder how that happened.  Could it be that their mother is a tad bit opinionated.  I really can't help it.  I was trained by my Mother and she is the best at telling you what she thinks about just about anything. This piece of artwork is not on the postcard.  But, I like it so, I'm putting it in my portfolio. The postcard will have Girl Coloring on the Green Rug on it.  Everyone seemed to like it the best.

I'm on my way to get a hair cut.  Thank the blessed Madonna.  If I go one more day without a haircut I'm sure folks around town will think I'm some kind of wild beast.  A wild beast is fun sometimes but you really have to be in the mood for it.  Anyway, maybe after the haircut I'll feel more like working.  It's so cold in my studio that the dog even wants to go home.  Winter, what can you do?  Have a great day everyone!

New Illustration

I'm hard at work on my portfolio.  This is a new bit of art I created to go along with the run away babies I posted some time ago.  I think I'm happy with it.  I also need to have some postcards made up. But, I'm not sure if this should be on a postcard or not.  I'm taking postcards with me to the conference in NY later this month.  I'm getting kind of excited.  In fact I just made my airline reservations.  So, I guess I have to go now.
Did anyone make a new years resolution?  I never know what to do with a new years resolution.  So, I don't do one.  I guess, if I had to try for anything this year, it would be to continue to be healthy.  I think I kicked cancers butt this last year.  So, it's not like I'm sitting around doing nothing.  I feel good and my doctor smiles at me a lot.  So, things are looking up in my world.  And, I'm glad.  Hope you all have a happy, creative and prosperous New Year!

A Bit of Snow

I woke up this morning to it snowing outside.  The snow didn't end up sticking around but it was sure pretty to watch.  We had a wonderful, relaxing holiday.  My daughter and her husband came to our house Christmas Eve.  Of coarse our son was home too.  But, he lives with us so that was no surprise.  We have a big old house so, there is plenty of room for everyone.  Lois was happy to have company in the house and was busy keeping track of every one's coming and goings.   I'm lucky enough to still have my parents around and they were with us Christmas morning.  I don't know how everyone else does Christmas but, we open gifts Christmas morning and we do it one at a time.  For example, if my daughter is opening a gift, we all stop and watch and see who the gift is from and then someone else takes a turn.  It takes a long time.  So, we take a break at some point and have breakfast and then continue with the opening.  I know this may sound boring but it's not, and it's nice to see what everyone gets and also to see the reaction on their face is priceless.  When I was a kid, Christmas morning was mayhem.  So, I made a decision to do it different with my family.  When my kids were little I think they liked that the day stretched out and they got to enjoy every moment.  I mean it's just one day in our lives.  But, it is the most special day of the year.  

New Illustration

Well, I finished a new illustration.  It was created for the Tomie dePaola Award sponsored by SCBWI. Which is the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.  But, you guys know that already I'm sure.  So, I'm attending the 2011 conference this year and part of the goings on at the conference is the Tomie dePaola award.  It's a really good award if you are lucky enough to win it.  The winner receives a trip to the conference plus $1000.00 in art supplies.  OMG!!!!  Makes my heart pump a little faster just thinking about it.  Oh how I love art supplies!  So, this year the award was all about illustrating a paragraph out of the book Heidi.  Oh, how I love Heidi!  I'm thinking this is perfect for me. I used to pretend I was Heidi when I was a little girl.  I didn't have a goat or a friend named Peter, but I had a good imagination and I liked cheese a lot.  Anyway, it's a classic story and I'm happy that Tomie picked this story to be illustrated.   Okay, so here is my rendition of Heidi going up the mountain to soon meet her Grandfather.  Hope you like it and I hope Tomie likes it too.