New Yeti City - SCBWI 2011 NY conference

Off to the SCBWI NY Conference today. 14 " of snow to contend with. The luggage- the framed art- and well- frankly more shoes than I should be bringing.

Cross posted-The Sketchables "Peace"

 

 I was busy today- Defying Gravity.

You guys know the song right? From the musical Wicked.

I love it.

"I'm through accepting limits

''cause someone says they're so

Some things I cannot change

But till I try, I'll never know"

 

I have always had tremendous fear and self doubt about physical fitness. That elementary school gym rope. It has haunted me for 30 years. I could never make it up. I hung from my wet noodle arms, red faced, kicking... the whole grade watching. Mr. Lynn, my caustic and ridiculing gym teacher laughing. Childhood agony. I have equated all exercise to the acute feeling of failure I endured with each "Federal Fitness Check".

So what does this have to do with our theme of "Peace" this week? For me it's about the peace within that comes from doing things you thought you could never do. Trying the things that scare us. Today- I did a spin class. Up until the last minute I was chickening out. I did it- I did well and ----- I liked it.
I didn't drop dead (which I was afraid of) I didn't embarrass myself (no falling off or barfing) - I actually shed a tear. (which mingled with the sweat, so no  one could tell).  I may just climb that damn rope yet.

These thoughts can be applied to anything that you think you can't do; be it art, publishing,cooking, relationships...etc...  We make peace. It's not something out there- it's in here. In us. We just have to look for it.

"So if you care to find me
Look to the western sky!
As someone told me lately:
"Ev'ryone deserves the chance to fly!"
And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free
To those who'd ground me
Take a message back from me
Tell them how I am
Defying gravity
I'm flying high
Defying gravity  "

Sunday Stretch Sketch

Warming up this Sunday morning. I've got a lot of kids to draw this month.  Here's a simple exercise to do. Help vary the shapes of your characters. Shape and posture- gesture and tilt help convey character. Angles- softness- it all helps quickly communicate personality in cartoons.

I made a grid- and then with out any thought- any planning- scribble in some shapes. Then make someone out of each shape.  Think about who you know- celebrities - hairstyles - clothing - flip thru a magazine. But don't look at anything when you do it. This is just an exercise. Nothing need be perfect. These certainly aren't. It's about being loose and letting go. Use the force Luke.

Colleen Madden and I must be psychically linked. She was doing the same thing this week.
Colleen's blog of fun stuff!

Further proof that it's good to fool around. Draw for fun. You don't need a final product- always.

2011