"My Friend Jane"

"My Friend Jane"

The month of August was spent in quiet - reflective family time.
Early this summer, my 11 year old attempted to read Sense and Sensibility. She was given this lovely edition from Penguin classics as a gift.

She is all too aware of my fervent ardor for all things Austen. I think she was trying to bond but wound up being frustrated. She couldn't get into it. I told her, I read them in college. Wait. You'll get them, you just have to live more.

Then my husband decided this summer was the time to Explore the Final Frontier. A Star Trek marathon that lasted a month. No, no. This would not do.

So - I started a marathon of Jane Austen films 3 weeks ago.

Oh- we are all a flutter in the Light House.

The happy conclusion is we have bonded. The talk is all merriment of balls and bonnets and barouche boxes.
Her long curly blond hair is now her greatest feature and no longer the bane of her existence. She has pulled it to the side with a ribbon and gone off to school in these...

Which she says "Are so Jane..."

When she was 8,  I was writing a PB idea called "My Friend Jane". She had a group of friends that made me think of what it would be like to be young girlfriends, about 11, back in the Regeny period. Girls are girls at that age. All silly and BFF's no matter the language and the dress.

 

The book was narrated by "Lizzie" - about her friend Jane who preferred the feather of her pen to a feather in her hair. The idea was to be a book about friendship- but in the end- the back page was a letter, telling you it had all been written by your friend Jane, who urged you to take up your own pen.

I abandoned the idea after Jane Austen was paraded about with Zombies and Sea Monsters. I read a book called "Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife" that made me have to take a cold shower.  I thought Jane had been overexposed and commercialized past the point of tribute. (tribute, homage - I am all for - check out "Lost in Austen" -TVseries- brilliant)

After this month- I am secure in my feelings for Jane. She is a constant. 194 years after her death, the characters she created are still as real to the right reader or viewer as they were when she wrote them. 

She has been a true friend and I am all gratitude for my daughter's introduction into her society.

These illos are all older works.. you can find them back in the blog... way back. I would do them differently now. But I think sharing Jane with my daughter has fulfilled the need to pay tribute to her- just pass Jane on.

THE SKETCHABLES! are Back from Summer Vacation!

When Dante was writing his Inferno... with those nine circles of Hell -

he forgot one - Middle School.

Maybe he didn't forget.

Maybe he just couldn't bring himself to revisit it.

The lock. The locker. The class changing.

The pimples. The puberty.

The crushes. The heart break.

The bad hair.

The growing pains.

The friendship hop scotch.

The Gym classes.

The way your parents become idiots over night. 

(Or at least "weirdos")

The intensity of feeling that we experienced in middle school- just never happens again. EVERYTHING is the most important thing ever.

They'll get thru it. They'll run that 3 year gauntlet- and cross the finish line.

The prize on the other side- a firmer grasp on knowing who you are- and who you can be.

But - Oh boy, I don't envy them at all. 

THE SKETCHABLES!    

Forgotten Conference Moments

Sitting here this morning.. I remembered the other things I was supposed to post about the conference.

First: To the lady, seated in the row in front of me who, just before David Small was going to speak - stood up and said "The next person is just an illustrator- so I'm gonna go."

You win the "Loser of the conference Award."

Second: Sometimes, in Thunder Dome... one's eyes drift over to see what action one's portfolio is getting. Mine eyes did just that. There stood a man, elegant, salt and pepper hair and beard.. smiling ear to ear. That made me happy. Then I realized it was author Bruce Coville - that made me spankin' happy. I'd love to have more authors show up to support the illustrators.

Mr. Coville wins the "Elegant Author with wonderful taste Award."

Kid Lit Drink Night happened across the street at the Century City Mall @ the inappropriately named , "Pink Taco". Really. I had to tell my husband , "We went out last night. I ate at the Pink Taco." - C'Mon! 

Pink Taco, You win the ,"Only in L.A.  Award"

At The Pink Taco, Agent Mary Kole was holding a 30 second "Pitch Slam".  We watched the mele. We chatted with an Austrailian Illustrator named Leslie Vamos. I am 40- I am a Mom. I looked at this petite young, little (I can say that- I'm 5' 2"), talented , cute, spit fire of a fantastic drawer and immediately felt maternal. She signed up to do a pitch. She was about to get slammed and she was so confident. I couldn't be afraid to do something that this whipper snapper seemed perfectly cool doing -  like it was as easy as ordering a non-fat, decaf - no whip, caramel macchiatto...

Leslie wins the  "I'm the shit and I know it" Award

I had met Mary Kole a few weeks back in NYC @ the NJ SCBWI networking dinner. Here I was standing 3 feet away - wanting the chance to say, "Hi" - and with the aid of 2 Mojitos and Leslie's bravado, Jim Hill's and Diandre Mae's and Angela Matteson's quick help throwing together my idea.... I signed up and pitched a picture book story. I have never done this before. It was not a pleasant experience. 30 SECONDS GO! I rambled and all I heard was "WHY? WHY SHOULD I CARE? SOUNDS KINDA PREACHY! MAYBE WITH CUTE ART IT COULD WORK! YOU SHOULD TALK TO KELLY LIGHT! (I still don't get that last part- last time I checked, I was Kelly Light)

I was a deer in the headlights that were Mary Kole's eyeballs and she has eyebrows that are extremely expressive... expressing "I will squash you like a tiny illustrator bug". 

But I was able to laugh at it- laugh at her and laugh at myself. Now, at least I've done it. Next time won't be so bad.

I win the "I grew a Ball" Award

I did. Illustrator ball number one.

"post conference post" - or "What really matters , like spazzy kids who sing "I like Potatoes""

There's a Beatles song

that goes:

 "It's all too much for me to take

The love that's shining all around here

All the world is birthday cake,

So take a piece

but not too much"

The SCBWI L.A. conference was great. Overwhelmingly great.

It really is almost too much to bear. Like birthday cake- so delicious, so - good...

and always better in small slices.  I'm not gonna do a mega post and go through all of the days in great detail- cause you and I both will get a tummy ache.

I'll give you a taste- of what were my favorite bites.

Truly the best part is seeing friends. Mostly friends that I have online who I have met at other conferences. Three fifths of THE SKETCHABLES were present. Priscilla Burris, Diandre Mae and I. Priscilla did an amazing job of organizing the Illustrators weekend. She is a generous and supportive  and encouraging  spirit. AND she deserves a vacation.

My roommate - my com padre, my conscience, my sister from another mister , Kathy Blackmore and I had a blast.

Everyone else - I loved seeing all of you and await a time I can see you and speak the same language with you again.

The speeches are inspirational. 

Some of the things that hit me square between the eyes, I jot down- in my messy , soundbite filled sketchbook. (if your looking for good notes- you ain't gonna find them on this blog)

Soundbites:

Jerry Pinkney:

"My Grandfather worked in a pencil factory"

"I am a drawer at heart"

"I had a friend who was a grown man who got up everyday and made images"

Katie Davis:

"Be Diabolical in your ways to conquer the world"

Gary Paulsen:

"My name on a library card made me "somebody" 

(my beloved)

David Small:

(quoting Phillip Larkin)

"Life is a shit storm and when it rains the only umbrella we have is art."

"I started drawing the way I wanted to draw at 40"

"Make your line breathe"

Kadir Nelson:

"I owe a lot to my wife, she is an OVERTIME Mom"

Oh - and he mentioned Jeremy Lipking painting tutorial videos -who I had as a college prof for watercolors. The man was brilliant and kind.

Richard Jesse Watson:

(quoting Maurice Sendak)

"My art is shit"

"Remember how to play as a kid"

"Do a Q & A with your characters"

Judy Blume:

"The intimacy is in the pencil, not on the screen"

Marla Frazee:

"I get 100% done and think- Oh God, this isn't right"

"Characters, scale and color move the story"

Denise Fleming:

She did Care Bears licensed books before making paper. She said it was all wrong for her because

"I'm not sweet- and I'm not neat"

There's so much more- but you can find so much online about the amazing Richard Peck's speech and Laurie Halse Anderson- go to the SCBWI blog and soak it up - it's wonderful.

What resounded in my soul was the emphasis on drawing. Like Jerry Pinkney- I too am a drawer at heart. David Small did live life drawing. He rattled off more drawing knowledge and displayed more drawing chops than every other artist in that building. Kadir Nelson spoke of painting more from life for more subtletly and nuance.  Get thee to a life drawing class- or get thee to a crowded place- sketch book in hand and draw peeps! Draw!

When I walked up into my studio today- I walked into a room filled with cut paper on the floor and scattered bad prints and the general disheveled pre-conference state that my mind was in. I don't want that anymore.  The freak out is no longer welcome in this studio. I walked Thunder Dome - I saw my work out there, I got an unprecedented amount of good feedback. I did not win anything and that's ok this time. The folks that did deserved it.  I can say publicly now that I predicted a win from John Deininger.- He worked his tucchus off this year- and I love his work to itsy bitsy pieces. I couldn't be happier to have been right!

The time of me fretting over a portfolio is over. No more worrying about creating images from book ideas. It's time for me to create books.This blog may suffer a bit. I hope you'll still be around if I don't post as often. Gotta get quiet for awhile. Quiet in the head and heart so I can hear that inner voice.

The Illustrator Intensive was the singular best day as an SCBWI member that I have ever had. I do hope that they continue along these lines. I also hope that they bring back the Master Class. Now that Tomie DePaola is retired- I nominate Richard Jesse Watson to take the role of teacher. He's pretty damn awesome at being infectious about experimentation and play and open to sharing with other illustrators.

So many people clambered for magic secrets at the Illustrator Intensive. 

"What kind of paper is that? "Where can I get that pen?" 

It made me think that they thought there was a magic pill one can swallow to create at the level we were watching.

Those artists could do beautiful work with a stick in the dirt. 

They do beautiful work, they are successful because they have put in the time. They have done the work. They have done the hard, painful- work to get to where they are today. 

Pencil in hand... or stick in the dirt, I want to get there too.

All in all- the conference gives you the kick in the arse to keep going for another year. This year the goal is to do that real, hard, painful work.

I was sitting at the gate in the airport to come home and the flight was delayed for over an hour. People were miserable. A little clear voice rang out... singing.....

"I like potatoes...I like potatoes...."

She was a spaz. She took over her row of seats and turned it into a stage and put Liza Minnelli to shame in her showmanship. I had to draw her- as fast as I could and scribble down every last word of her song.

 

Messy - not great drawing. But I captured her spirit. I thought about her on the flight home. She must have fallen asleep because there was no in flight entertainment. So I drew her again...

 It's all about life drawing. I've spent my life drawing. 

Thanks for the 

the reminder SCBWI..

to keep doing it.

David Small - in L.A.

Here in L.A.- it's an inspiration overload. It's hard after 3 days to tell which ways is up or down or out or in. All you  know is what floor you go to next and do I have time to pee and will I cry for the 25th time today?


I enjoyed so many of the talks and I saw Judy Blume with my own eyes and I have so many good books to read when I get home ..... but....

Then there was Small.

When I was a first year illustration major- we were told to go to the store, pick up a kid's book that you really liked- and come to class ready to explain why you like it. And then- try to "emulate" that illustrator's style in an illustration. I picked up "The King has horse's ears"- by David Small. I still have that book and I still have my pretty good David Small impersonation art. I have bought his books over the years - cracked open the cover and felt exactly like I did at 18 looking at his work for the first time. How does he do that? How is he so loose and so good at the same time? How does he flow with that brush and ink? How does it flow across the page and thru the story? I have loved his line- I have worshiped his watercolor - low these many, many years. I was strung out for days after reading "Stitches". I was and still am floored that a person who had such an awful childhood creates such beauty for children.

His is a Transcendent life.

HE is my conference take away.  His line. His watercolor. His spirit. His example.

I have that spot, above my studio door. You know, where I hang the pics of people who inspire me? You can find them in the back catalog of the blog.  I have had an empty spot for 6 years... waiting for someone. I know who is going there when I get home. David Small.

it's almost done. It may look dark- but now it needs to get distressed and put on old postcard paper- and creased.   I have to go to the store!

It's not your eyes- it's intentionally blurry... it's an old photograph...  or maybe it's me.

Rome is burning..I didn't fiddle tho! sleep... zzzzz

Rome will be finished before I go to bed sometime tomorrow morning...

Rome wasn't built in a day......

 

How are things shaping up.... very slowly. We're seeping Sepia over here...

The Smiley Family in action

All day I drew this! Oy Vey!

I have been working on this story for two years. It's near and dear to my heart. It's not an easy family nor an easy story to tell. At it's heart is Baby Gail, the little big eyed girl on the left. It's her story and it's a story of a quiet person who's in the background of a family of very, very aggressive personalities who do big things. The simple act of this little person documenting the family history in a big 'ol photo album and passing it on may just be the biggest thing anyone in The Smiley Family has ever done.


The color in the story changes from sepia to gorgeous black and white to full color- as photography does. It helps the passage of time.

My studio is wall papered with this family. Generation after generation. Til now- I have done portraits mostly. I have some candid pics. The 1960's which I was drawing last, get pretty fun.  Over many years,
I have amassed a huge collection of old photographs and albums. This project grew out of my unending love of old stuff. Old clothes, old photos, times gone by- and the death of my Grandmother.

I hadn't put that last part together until recently. I think it's my way to rewrite the end of her life. My character is not her, but it's a character that is content with the way things play out.



I've gotten a lot of good feedback on the illustrations. It's now my task to finish the story. Baby Gail deserves that much.


 Lower word count - 700 being the sweet spot, means more story in the pictures. This sketch was an attempt at that.

Now to paint!

Color Study:

The 3 P's

The 3 P's of Success!!!

 

Ok - Passion: CHECK! Got it! 

 

Persistence! CHECK! - refer to post about Frank Sinatra song below.

I pick myself up and get back in the race.

 

Patience?... Well, that's harder. That's relative.  I am both patient and impatient. You all get that right?

OK- back to work. End of the illustrator's P.S.A. for

today.

Whadda'ya doin' Kelly?

Tryin' to cram a whole lotta art out in the last week before LA?

Just cause it's new - does that mean it's good?

It's existential art crisis time here in the Light Studio.

Hazy Crazy Summer

All Prep for SCBWI  LA was stopped for a week as my computer died, freelance spot illos (above) called and Summer came along and whacked me in the head - literally - migraines.  

My last minute postcard is off to the printer today.Fingers crossed all that it gets here by August 3d!!!

We now return to our regularly scheduled art cram......

Hey!?  Can a girl get some sodas and pretzels and beer?!?

Tootsie popping

How many bad drawings does it take to get to a good drawing? The world may never know.


Image of How many licks

Louise Took it

Up there on the header? Louise! - by a landslide...  I decided to keep her name and her hair. She is who she is.  Now, let's tell her story.

Main Character Smack Down! Vote for Winner

Ok- We have reached the pivotal moment. Who will be the main character? Who do you think best represents the character?

Character traits again:

2nd grader
Art enthusiast- like a Pokemon fanatic but with all things artsy fartsy
Needs to come across as kooky yet sweet and appealing

OK! Let me know what you think... as I thumbnail....

Final Contender : Norma

Character Challenger: Louise!!!

First Up: Jessie Poses

Battle Round!

 

On to BATTLE ROUND!

Louise and Jessie were the clear winners of the first 2 rounds. 

Norma surprised many. Was it the blue hair? The china flats? Watch this one - she may yet take it.

They were not my first choices- but I am trusting in the educated tastes of my com-padres... as I tend to like drawing less appealing  characters. It's a good lesson for me.

Now I will give them each 3 pose suggestions.

1. Exclaiming "I LOVE IT!"

2. In class desk top doodling

3. important pose from double page spread - reveling in art

Off to draw!

Casting Call - Round 2

So Far it Looks like Louise is the winner of Round 1. (named after Louise Nevelson)

The next candidates for your consideration are up.

More about the "part". A second grader who is crazy about art. Crazy as in eats. sleeps, breathes it.
She is a cross between Edna Mode/ Dieter from Sprockets and Tabitha from Salon Takeover on Bravo and the chick from Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World.  She's a loveable KOOK. Not sweet - but fun. An individual that maybe not all of the kids "get"- but her passion is infectious.


OK- Here we go on my feelings:

Norma: You have the coolest Mom cause she let you dye your hair. You let your freak flag fly.

Mary: You suffer from the common misconception that art is "fashionable". Tho- nice hair.  I like the mod edge.

Jessie: You are the one doodling on every single scrap of paper and test. Maybe you are the quiet artiste- not the gallery curator.

 The part is for the kid that can lead a group of kids to put on an art show. Pick the character that you can hear yelling, arms in the air...."I LOVE IT!" - over and over. 

OK - Vote someone in or out of the book. The top 3 will come to call backs and I'll do a few character poses for the final pick.

PS She will most likely wear the striped shirt - they all have a thing for striped french sailor tees- it's them, really ;)

Casting Call !

Designing characters for a mini-book I'm doing for Promo out in L.A.

Main character is a 2nd grade Art Enthusiast. She can rattle off names like Caravaggio and Modigliani  faster than most boys can say "Pickachu".

The first 3 characters up for consideration:

Georgia: I'm sorry. You're just not cool enough. You're trying too hard. You will be considered for a classmate, sans beret.

Louise: I like you. You have the Etsy Girl/ nerdy thing going for you. Just, maybe, not enough ego.

Andie: So far, You are the front runner. You've got the look and the swagger. Also, Andy Warhol thinks you should have your 15 minutes.

Next Group!

I invite Voting in the comments!! It's like a reality TV Competition!

That's Life!

That's life
That's what all the people say
You're riding high in April
Shot down in May
But I know I'm gonna change that tune
When I'm back on top, back on top in June

I said that's life
And as funny as it may seem
Some people get their kicks
Stomping on a dream
But I don't let it, let it get me down
'Cause this fine old world
It keeps spinning around

I've been a puppet, a pauper,
A pirate, a poet,
A pawn and a king,
I've been up and down and over and out
And I know one thing
Each time I find myself
Flat on my face
I pick myself up and get back in the race

That's life
I tell you, I can't deny it
I thought of quitting baby
But my heart just ain't gonna buy it
And if I didn't think it was worth one single try
I'd jump right on a big bird
And then I'd fly

I've been a puppet, a pauper,
A pirate, a poet,
A pawn and a king,
I've been up and down and over and out
And I know one thing
Each time I find myself laying
Flat on my face
I just pick myself up and get back in the race

That's life
That's life, and I can't deny it
Many times I thought of cutting out
But my heart won't buy it
But if there nothing shaking coming this here July
I'm going to pick my pencil back up and give it ..

another TRY!
My my...

I floated in the pool today as this song played from the fake rock speakers...

By the end of the song I was singing at the top of my lungs -- smacking the water to emphasize each line.

Especially this line:

I thought of quitting baby - But my heart just ain't gonna buy it

And this line:

Each time I find myself
Flat on my face
I pick myself up and get back in the race

Today's Theme Song. I changed the last line. There's no rolling up in a ball and dying with this broad, Frank. 

Do you dream in character?

I do dream in character. Last night I dreamt Eureka Jones. Where this stuff comes from? Who knows?
I remember her - I remember "Camp Comonahockalugie" and I remember a cliff hanger.....

Anyone else get ideas in dreams?

It Gets Better

As a person who knows what it feels like to have their head slammed into a locker, or pushed under the bathroom sink or to be pulled into the cloak room to be groped in sixth grade; The "It gets Better" campaign hits home. The bullies weren't stronger than my belief in myself.

Have you seen this video? Very touching words from the Kid Lit community.

http://youtu.be/kYRYpYyHMos

It does get better. I held on to who I knew I was. Hold on to yourself.

Always Let you conscience be your guide...

When you get in trouble and you don't know right from wrong
Give a little whistle!  Give a little whistle!
When you meet temptation and the urge is very strong
Give a little whistle!  Give a little whistle!

Not just a little squeak, pucker up and blow
And if your whistle's weak, yell, "Jiminy Cricket!"
Right!

Take the straight and narrow path
And if you start to slide
Give a little whistle!  Give a little whistle!
And always let your conscience be your guide"

I made a tough decision this week. Truthfully- it took months to make this decision. 

Even when I had made up my mind, the final declaration of that decision - just

scared the crap out of me.

I left my agent. I wish him well.

I'm off to pursue publication solo again. I believe in myself. Making the tough decisions

only reinforces that belief. 

That little voice in your head; your conscience - it yells sometimes. 

"And always let your conscience be your guide" 

An away we go.

Spotlight on me- over in Jersey...

Kathy Temean, who is the head of N.J. SCBWI has featured me on her "Illustrator Saturday" blog post.

It's nice to visit on other blogs!  Check it out!- Happy Fathers day all Fathers, especially my own Dad and my husband!! Here's my "Sketchables "Fathers Day sketch.....

NJ Shout Outs

I wanted to shout out the Art Showcase winners from the NJ SCBWI Conference. There was a lot of great work on display and if you read this blog- you know... I find these competitions not unlike ultimate cage fighting. -;)

The winner :
Lisa Falkenstern Whose work is truly inspiring. Heck- she paints in oil. AND- she's damn good at it.

Runners Up:
Katia Wish Katia is making her mark. She has a unique style and she works a great deal of movement into her illustrations. I'd keep my eye on her if I were you....

Here's Katia's post about the conference - which reminded me to post this info on my own blog. Thanks Katia for being on the ball!

Oh yeah- Me too.  I put in my Hippo For Hire piece. I didn't bring a separate piece of art for the showcase, I thought our homework was going in to the show. When I realized this Friday night, I called the husband and he drove 3 hours round trip to bring me whatever I had a decent print of at home. I chose the Hippo cause - well, Don't we all look at our portfolios and have a few that we say- "OK- I can be a bad ass illustrator!"? - This one says that to me.

So I guess the judges agreed.

 Honorable mention went to: Kim Wood (If anyone has a link - let me know) She did a sweet illustration of a mouse learning karate.

These three illustrators are really great. To be grouped with them is a compliment. Congrats to all of them!

Jersey Girl

 I thought maybe a good way to recap the NJ SCBWI conference would be to just show my notes in my sketchbook. I scribble down chicken scratch sound bites and doodle thru the days.

 

Friday's intensive

 Martha Rago's session on Al Yankovic's great book "When I Grow Up" Illustrated by Wes Hargis.
I do this- do you? Dissect the layouts of a successful PB - break down the shapes and how they work the page.

 

I'm not editing my words here- sometimes I get bored, or have a difference of opinion.

This was was a Children's Book Market evaluation.

 

 I had an epiphany @ Leeza's first workshop... submitting to TV. - Frying Pan moment

 Leeza's second workshop- I think is what needs to be taken to greater SCBWI. The ins and outs of promotional branding and what gives you that "Hey I know my Sh*T" look. (my words- not hers)

 The last day an agents panel was again- a great learning moment. The role of agents, the relationship with agents is like the movie Inception. I need a spinny thing.... And that one agent- looked like she walked out of a painting from about 1780.

I hope you can glean something from these messy pages. It was a really good conference. Even the bugs in my room agreed.

Hooked on a Feelin'

I went to the NJ SCBWI conference this weekend. It was a really great conference. If the NY and the LA are out of reach- consider this as an alternative.

I had a fun time. I had a great crit. I had some exciting feedback. I met some publishing people who were very nice and interesting and kind.  I came away with good stuff happening.

And the need to get very, very busy.

A conference is like a Happy Twilight Zone. You disappear into that reality for a long weekend, where time and space no longer matter. Your moving through space armed only with your imagination, skills and a smile. The part of Rod Serling is 99% likely played by a woman.... say Leeza Hernandez...

So I can't really put into words how I feel today - so listen to the songs.

And maybe join me in my own meditation of repeating my old adage:

  The Schlemeil Schlimazel

Give us any chance, we'll take it.
Give us any rule, we'll break it.
We're gonna make our dreams come true.
Doin' it our way.

Nothin's gonna turn us back now,
Straight ahead and on the track now.
We're gonna make our dreams come true,
Doin' it our way.

There is nothing we won't try,
Never heard the word impossible.
This time there's no stopping us.
We're gonna do it.

On your mark, get set, and go now,
Got a dream and we just know now,
We're gonna make our dream come true.
And we'll do it our way, yes our way.
Make all our dreams come true,
And do it our way, yes our way,
Make all our dreams come true
For me and you.

Taking a moment before I start a summer of selling myself....

It's like being an actor. You have to audition and audition, give your best audition for the right part, be right for the part, in front of the right director for the right movie- at the right time. And we all know how many actors wait tables. That is how I described what I do today.

Momentum in art is like Mario Kart

We have Mario Kart for the Wii. I find it very, very stressful. On some level, it's proof that I should never have passed driver's ed. (especially after driving over that divider on route 22 in NJ).

In Mario Kart- you try to go as fast as you can. The driving requires quick reflexes - great eye hand coordination and a steady heart. You try to get around the obstacles while performing at your best. There is a moment when you feel the  'groove'- you are careening along... passing your opponents... going fast, hitting turbo boost...  when some big, black, too cute bullet explodes your Yoshi. You try to make it to the finish line without loosing all of your lives and while scoring the most points. After that- you try to get on the "List". The high scorers page.

This is my metaphor for today. I try to ride the momentum of life. I try to use the momentum of one project to the next to be in that "groove". But things in life do explode my Yoshi.

It is almost June. June! The careening around avoiding my obstacles tends to make life fly by just like that Coconut Mall in the game. Deadlines were met last month. Spring holidays and birthdays are past. We lost a loved one. Now, Summer kicks off this weekend. One event leads to the next - head down at the drawing board makes me forget objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are. They are all there and it's all coming up so fast.

I am going to SCBWI NJ next week. I just finished a new postcard.

  

The idea came from my daughter's friend saying "One day we will all drive donuts"

-then it was a sketch over @ The Sketchables.

I am now redoing my homework. We were given the assignment to choose a manuscript. Take one passage and sketch a double page spread. The sketch gets turned in to an actual art director, member of the faculty. Their feedback comes back to you- then you take it to final art, present it at the conference and get feedback/judging. 

Here is the passage I picked:

"’Cause maybe I’ll be a gorilla masseuse Or an artist who sculpts out of chocolate mousse Or a rodeo clown or a great film director Or maybe professional pickle inspector Or big sumo wrestler or hedge fund investor Or smelly pit-sniffing deodorant tester"

I rushed this. I did it in one evening- after weekend guests left Easter Weekend. There are things I like a lot about it : the gestures - the life in the drawings. Things I don't like: the composition. So- the feedback came in and pretty much nailed me to the wall... good feedback, true feedback is not like a frying pan to the face - it's like Mario Kart also. When you play the game and make the same wrong turn over and over again... and you yell "WHY DO I KEEP DOING THAT!?" - The real feedback yells that at you and you know it's true. - Yoshi explodes. Start over.

"Dynamic,playful and eye-catching layout. Good gesture and sense of action in spots. But  I have an issue with the order and rhythm of the images. So much going on it is not clear what to look at first and in what order.What should I look at first, how do you want my eye to move across  the page? Think about the hierarchy of the images on this spread and  what you want the viewer to see first, second etc. Size of the images  and how they fit together as well as the shape of each will dictate  that. If eyes move left to right over the page, use a  progression of  sizes to direct my gaze,  make the text flow in a logical way in the correct order so its not misread. In the end the images need to work  together  as a whole and not just as separate discreet spots

Also, think about the whole book: With a lot of text, very few spreads can  be handled this way or you will end up with a 60 page book! so be  selective about what you show and make sure the images count for the real estate they take up."

Ok- So- I'm reworking now.  I will try to avoid my usual obstacles.. as I build momentum on my journey through Coconut Mall on my way to the finish line in Los Angeles this summer. My goal- new art, new portfolio... hoping to get on that high scorers page. "C'mon Yoshi... hit the gas."

Nana Gerri

Nana Gerri - my husband's Grandmother passed away this morning. There was no designing this "character"  - Nana was one of a kind. Nana Gerri, Thanks for never making me feel like a shiksa wife and for all of the Yiddish I learned from you. A Brooklyn Bubeleh for the ages.
There is one more bright, sparkly, appliqued star in the sky now. 

Rainy Days and Mondays

 

Monday was never Dad's favorite day-

this one especially was extra dark gray.

Business was bad, meetings were planned.

Off to work Dad went - briefcase in hand.

Grumbling and groaning , he did complain,

"The last thing I needed today was rain."

He didn't notice it as he pulled it out of his case..

the umbrella he usually used had been replaced.

His daughter had wanted to brighten his day,

as soon as it opened- his cares went away.

He'd tackle this day with a smile on his face,

His head was now in a pink stripey place.

A spring in his step and a warm fuzzy heart,

His day was now off to a much better start.

I actually saw this guy this morning as I drove to the gym. I was myself grumbling and groaning and feeling quite blah. I bet that little umbrella worked it's magic on lots of people!

THIS WEEK'S THEME SONG

Let's all move that rubber tree plant!

Hello Blogger- Are you feeling better now?

Blogger was down. I have been neglecting this blog- caught up in work, life, exercise, facebook, twitter...feeling like I want to junk all I've done and start fresh, new website, new blog, new exciting things out there now...... and then blogger goes down.
What if it was gone forever. All of those posts? 4 years of my life- the proof of my journey- woosh! gone! This blog was my toe dip into the water after staying home with a kid for five years.

Well - PHEW! It's back and I've heard I can download it and save it- that I did not know. So- Blogger, I am glad you are better.

The end

The last painting to do. - and I feel like the lady on the right...

closing in on the end..

Close to the end of the book... things get sticky.

and so I'm still painting.....

It's like a marathon. Halfway....

For The Love of the Game

I have been to the Norman Rockwell Museum five times. I used to go once a year- like a pilgrimage to Mecca. It was my way to stay connected to art, while I was a stay at home Mom, not producing any art of my own. I thought I knew all I could about this artist I loved. I was wrong.

 New sparks flew as I walked the Norman Rockwell exhibit: Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera

@ The Brooklyn Museum  exhibit 2 weeks ago. 

The exhibit was a look into Norman's process. 

Norman's - brain.

 

As I stood - my eyes:feasting, my heart: pitter pattering at the glimpse into his way of thinking and doing things, these words entered my brain,

"For the Love of the Game".

So the phrase is from baseball. Years and years ago- baseball players played because they loved playing. I'm sure, even today, all over the minor leagues, and sprinkled throughout the majors, you will find many who still do. Those who would play for peanuts. Those who would play for nothing. Those to whom throwing, fielding, hitting, catching- are like breathing.

Norman loved the game.

The game of Illustration.

Norman could be seen in some of the reference photos- just at the edge of the frame.. laughing, smiling - acting for the kid's in the pictures. Norman was prolific in his preparation. He did more than he had to and wound up not using a lot of his prep work. Lost in the process- he'd go more than the extra mile to see what would work better in an illustration.

Norman walked away from the Saturday Evening Post when he wanted to continue to reflect America's attitude in his work. His young man's optimism and the country's own optimism gave way in the second half of the twentieth century. Norman's attitude had changed along with America's as the 50's turned into the 60's. He made a choice to follow his instinct. Norman evolved.

Norman vocalized doubts about his own work. As he grew older, he questioned what value his career held. What contribution he made. How good was he?

He compared his work to others. He had moments of feeling "less than".

Yet - Norman painted and drew until he became too old and ill to. Norman went on to see the Brooklyn Museum hold the very first retrospective of his work in 1974. 

Whenever I hear that an artist that I admire- idolize even, doubts their own skill, my initial reaction is that it's hard to believe. How could they be so good and not realize it? It even pains me a little. 

Norman Rockwell? Self Doubter?

Then, it humanizes. I have self doubt. I compare my work to others. I question what value is there in what I create? - So I go back to thinking of the commonalities- the thrill of the process, the fun of the figuring it all out - The Love of the Game. Artists like Norman Rockwell inspire not just in the beauty of the end result- the illustration, but in the life they lived, the way they lived it - the way they moved through their lives as a creative.

I've done it for peanuts. I'd draw for nothing. The pencil and the paper are the bread and water for my soul. I love the game. Batter up.

The exhibit ends April 10th in Brooklyn! 

The museum in Stockbridge, MA is a national treasure!

Another blog about Norman from a talented painter I went to college with.

Underpaintings

Another GREAT blog "Today's Inspiration"  - about Norman