Doodle of the day

November books that knock me out!

This week- I took the young'un- maybe not so young'un to the bookstore. Almost 10... we're crossing a line and she's going to the favorite series aisles.. and I'm looking up at the picture book wall saying- "C'mon- just come look..with me..." So 2 eyerolls later - she's perusing some picture books with me.

I went to the store knowing I wanted to buy Peter de Seve's Duchess of Whimsy. (Philomel publisher) Having done a dance of joy when he started a blog not too long ago; I was eagerly anticipating this book. Commenting on his art seems silly- It's like saying "Oh I love that Da Vinci!" - It's just a given. The art - all of his art - is drool inducing. My hand longs to do what his does.. tracing the curves and swirls of his brown lines under radiant watercolor... ..gagahggghghhhggg- oops sorry drooled there. The story! Written by his wife Randall de Seve- is charming. She created wonderful personalities for him to riff on. Just loopy enough to allow for a lot of fun. Big endorsement here- I would buy anything he does- but this did not disappoint at all!



Everyday - either on blogger or on facebook- I look at this guy's work. Everyday. It's better than Prozac -it is spirit lifting- and game lifting. It has "Joie de Vivre!"- And I can say that cause he's french! -He's an animator- a colorist- and a storyteller and when I saw this book- one look at the monkey and I said PASCAL! Then I saw it was They Might be Giants and snatched it off the wall faster then you can say Istanbul and Constantinople! "Kids Go!" (Simon and Schuster) TMBG and Pascal Campion are a match made in heaven. The book bursts w/ the infectious energy it is trying to well- infect kids with!- The art is alive! It's Alive! Get off the couch and GO!... buy the book!!!!

IF "Skinny"

Illustration Friday- "Skinny"

I did not do a sketch first- and that explains how messy this is- but it was fast and fun to doodle- w/ no lines. So unlike me. LIKE ME- on the other hand - is the image.

When you don't look like what is expected- BE unexpected.

I danced for 8 yrs. as a girl. I had girls tease me cause I was never SKINNY. - I just danced to my own tune- and moved on.

IF "Fast"

A fast drawing of a faster than expected experience. One minute you have a 21 " long baby- next minute that baby is towering over you. Step stools become necessary when asking "Did you do your homework?" "Did you clean your room?" "Did you feed the dog!?" - Like I know anything about this- personally? ... hmmmmmmmm.... could be.

IF Frozen

Saved from being Frozen. Quickly done this morning- a doodle cause I haven't done Illustration Friday in a long time. I had doodled these 2 yesterday.

doodle of the day

Mummy-A-GO-GO!

Vamp-A-G0-GO!

Ghoul-A-Go-Go

cleaned up sketches.. now thinking about the colors



I doodled these on the plane down to Hilton Head this past weekend. Some art for fun needs to be done!- These will be 2.5 by 3.5" like the fashion cards.

finished sketch- on to color

ET VOILA!







Color study - found some 1950's interior paint chips to work off of.

Sketch O' the Day

This is how they all start- scribbly.

Then I decided to be draw over it in Photoshop.

Happy Birthday To-mie! Happy Birthday To-mie!

I was asked to contribute to a new blog honoring Tomie dePaola for his 75th birthday AND for his life long gift to all of us- his books.

I first saw Mr.dePaola 2 years ago @ the NYC SCBWI winter conference. Altho, I haven't met him- he's been popping up in my life over and over again. I asked my mother if we had any of his books growing up. She knew of him instantly - remembering reading them to us. Off I went to order a few online and immerse myself in his world.

Here's a few things I've learned from studying 3 of his books and drawing his characters.

1. Simple is deceiving. If art looks simply done- simply colored- don't assume it's easy. When it is done well- or really well- like Pancakes for Breakfast; It's actually harder to do. Every element stands out- and you have to be a really great designer to do less. Ya know the whole less is more thing- one of these days I'll get it.
2. I know why my mother liked the books. Now that I've read them as a mother; and not a Snoopy crazed child. You want children to have books that are like warm hugs. Tomie's are.
3. You can learn a lot from drawing other people's characters. -I did know this from the years in cartoon licensing but never applied it to illustration. Like all of the artists parked in front of master paintings at the Met - I may just park myself in front of Tomie's this weekend at the Carle.

Go Check it out and Happy B'day Mr. dePaola!

Three Kisses for Tomie

Doodle of the day

Ally Poe : favorite niece of Edgar Allan. Pet Raven: Sir Neville Moore

Been in a gloom all day. Finally sat down to draw and goth came out. Luv a good doodle- don't you? -There may be a story w/ these two.... quote the raven "Get back to work Kelly!"

August Book Reviews- just under the wire

YAC PACK!

I came back from Los Angeles so enamored with Dan Yaccarino and Sherman Alexie. I did read "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian " last week and really loved it. The main character's use of cartooning to cope with his feelings- it hit so close to home. Fabulous book- saving it for Mags when she's a little older.

Dan Yaccarino's aesthetic - well it rocks. It's retro and contemporary - it's simple and elegant and really juicy. Only an artist with a maniacally advanced brain could design this well. His colors are bold- and his shapes so well defined- so well designed.. Oh I miss Oswald the octopus. We used to watch that show everyday when Mags was a baby- it was my favorite. I can still sing the ice cream song and the hear Henry say "2 Marshmallows- no more- no less."

It's a Yaccarino 2-pack this month.

"Go-Go America!" -Scholastic

My 9 year old poured over this book. It's thick - 78 pages long! and the pages are numbered as if to say "HA!""I am Dan Yaccarino and I laugh at 32 pages!" The book is chock full of knowledge and fun facts about this crazy country. Giant balls of twine to State birds. It's for the geography starved children of today! - It's a great gift book too. Back to school gift hmmm??? I LOVE to see picture books for older kids. I can't SCREAM it loud enough- older kids still crave the visual!-Don't turn it off as soon as The Magic Tree-house hits- keep the picture books around til they put them away.

"The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau" - Alfred A. Knopf

I used to watch Jaques Cousteau laying down- head in hands staring up at the TV on the brown cart in the living room. He was a small- elegant man who exposed the world to the wonders of the sea and the importance of maintaining it's life and beauty.

This book is like the man. Spare - elegant - wondrous. So stunning. It let me teach my kid about someone who came long before there was Animal Planet - when our window into the wild world was only open by a few brave, courageous, passionate adventurers. I imagine Cousteau's son and his foundation must love this gorgeous tribute to Jaques Cousteau. - Dan - is the man.

My guest book reviewer is holding out on me. Maybe next month - K

Social media fixes for the not so social artist

My Agent Mark McVeigh has 2 cats- Monty and Ellen. I imagine they make great assistants with the deluge of manuscripts and phone calls that must arrive daily. You can follow the goings on of The McVeigh Agency here.


Blogs and Facebook and Twitter - can be a distraction from the work at hand. But- they have really helped wipe away the feelings of isolation that myself and many illustrators/authors used to feel. I have my go- to blogs and my "friends" and "followers" - to inform me- teach me- make me laugh.
As the social media world has expanded - it's crossed over from just social networking to career related networking. I've been feeling this transformation when posting on my facebook page. Do I post about my life as a Mom?-a wife?- Do I really need to let my agent know I hate to cook dinner or how excited I am for Beatles Rock Band? The flip side - my chatting about art- and tweeting about my pursuit of publication has to fit between my sharing of friend's stories and how did we deal with
potty training or first crushes. It's a wide straddle between the two worlds. Some choose to keep the two separate, having a professional account and a personal one. I am inclined to let it all hang out. Mindful that I should think twice - before I post; I'll let everyone know All of me.

The Summer Reading List of a 9 year old book junkie

Mags could be found at any moment- nose in book this summer. By the pool- nose in book. In the car- nose in book. On a plane- on a beach - in the bathroom - and also walking into things- nose in a book. At nine- she'll still pick up a picture book if I recommend it and will tell me if she LOVES it- or not. We also enjoy our trips to Grashopper comics here in Long Island - and I encourage all reading- Archie Andrews is as big a deal as Harry Potter around here.

Maybe this list will be helpful - it's a little heavy on horse and cat books, but I marvel at the diversity.

Mags' Summer Book List

1. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix- JK Rowling
2. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
4. Just So Stories- Rudyard Kipling
5. A Pony to the Rescue - Louis Szyemenashki
6. A Pony Promise
7. A Perfect Pony
8. Ellie McDoodle -new kid at school- Ruth McNally Barshaw
9. Cat Magic- Holly Webb
10. Amazing Horse Facts & Trivia- Gary Mullen (NF)
11. The Westing Game - Ellen Raskin
12. The Flight Anthology vol1 (GN)
13. " vol2 (GN)
14. " vol3 (GN)
15. All Kinds of Familes - Maryann Hoberman (PB)
16. Psst! - Adam Rex (PB)
17. Black Beauty - Anna Sewell
18. The Days are just packed- a calvin and hobbes collection- Bill Watterson
19. Ocean Dictionary- Clint twist (NF)
20. Kingdom of the Sun - Jaqueline Mitton (NF)
21. White Fang- Jack London (classics illustrated)
22. The Disappearing Dessert kittens - Ben M. Baglio
23. The Voyages of Dr. Dolittle -Hugh Lofting
24. The Black Stallion - Walter Farley
25. Sword Bird- Nancy Yi Fan
26. Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute - Jarrett Krosoczka (GN)
27. Lunch lady and the League of Librarians -" (GN)
28. Cat (eyewitness books) - Julliette Cluttlon Brock (NF)
29. Tiger - (natural world books) - Valmik Thapar (NF)
30. Wild Cats -(animal watch books) Bernard Stonehouse (NF)
31. The Dunderheads- Paul Fleischman (PB)
32. Little Nemo in Slumberland - vol 1 - Winsor McKay
33. Peanut butter and jeremy's best Book Ever- James Kochalka (GN)
34. The Adventures of Little Archie vol #1 - (Comic)
35. Let's Do Nothing- Tony Fucile- (PB)
36. Peasant Pig and the terrible Dragon- Richard Scary (PB)
37. Chicken Dance- Tammi Sauer- (PB)
38. Go Go America - Dan Yaccarino- (PB)
39. Jaques Cousteau- Dan Yaccarino- (PB)
40. Bobby vs. Girls- Lisa Yee
41. Always a lot of heinies at the Zoo- Ayun Halladay -(PB)
42. A Couple of Boys Have the Best week ever- Marla Frazee (PB)

Ps- We completely ignored the summer reading list sent home from school- I'm ready to go to bat for my kid- who is a really motivated reader - the list was a little below her level- I wanted her to go where she wanted to with her reading. So - hopefully the reading teacher will be cool with it.

She has a stack of books she wants to read in her last 1 1/2 weeks before school- she'll get to them- I'm actually telling her to take a break from books and swim more - but thanking my lucky stars that I have to say that!

On Deck:
Percy Jackson Series
Alvin Ho! -books
The Tiger Rising- Kate Dicamillo
The Time Travelers - Linda buckley Archer
So you want to be a wizard - Diane Duane

and she's counting the days until - The Wyrm King- the final Spiderwick Chronicles Book- Holly Black and T. Diterlizzi

I've asked her to be a guest book reviewer here on the blog- she said only if I create some kind of logo for her- so we're in negotiations!

San Diego ZOOdles

I didn't sketch much at the zoo- having too much fun being there with my future zoo keeper. The secretary bird was wild!-I never saw one before. The pandas had just had a baby which we couldn't see- but there was a little 4 year old girl panda - who the zoo keeper told us was frightened my some schmucky guest and now cowers in a corner. Uhg! Hate idiots!!- Poor little thing.

Koalas may just pass by the sea otter as my favorite wild animal - they all look like Ed Koch to me- like they're saying "How am I doin?"

Seeing an African elephant was emotional. We mostly get to see Asian elephants in zoos. The smaller eared- smaller elephants are more prevalent. But the majestic African male elephant - so endangered - well, I just loved it.

I've met so many people who are anti- zoo. I get it- but zoos like the San diego Zoo do wonderful things for conservation- education- breeding and saving species from extinction. Children learn to love animals at zoos - and like my own animal lover- grow to want to be the guardians of all living things. - Mags already scoped out UCSD - for zoology school!

SCBWI Summer 2009

This is an Epic Blog Post- just call me Homer - the one without the donuts (warning- there are no drawings - too tired)

Part 1 - Los Angeles

Past is Prologue

This past week was one of the best trips I have ever taken. From the conference to old Los Angeles haunts, to the 3 days in San Diego - going back to California was like some sort of reawakening. The sun shines so differently and the nights are magical. When I lived in my little garden apartment off of Santa Monica Blvd..., I loved to walk from courtyard to courtyard at night gazing up at the clear night thru the palms. -I could just weep with feeling filled up by that air. And the architecture! I missed the deco and the stick and the marquees. I remembered how it all felt like a fantasy and at any moment you would be pinched and poof! - you’d wake up in somewhere- like - I don’t know - Long Island...

I arrived Thursday afternoon and my husband and daughter and I did the nostalgia tour. Old apartment-check, old coffee shop- check- our old atm where we always overdrew funds- check! We went to it to get some cash - and my husband said he actually remembered the feeling -how going to the atm was like spinning the roulette wheel - ah to be 22 again. Our old tiki bar Kelbo’s tho- now a strip club, I hope they found new uses for all those coconuts....

It Takes a Village

The SCBWI LA Summer Conference in Los Angeles was completely different from the NYC one. The atmosphere was one of fun to be had and friends to be made. There was business - and networking but with smiles on faces and blue butts on the dance floor!

I’m sure what I write about will leave many wonderful speakers out- so -get your butt to the next one- it’s an amazing experience.

Thursday evening I met another illustrator Diandre Mae who like so many others, I know only online. We hit it off and I enjoyed meeting her roommate Heather Powers tremendously and hope to continue the friendship and support from now on. Also Amy and Lisa (colorado)In fact- most from Texas- I feel adopted by that State- having had a fun dinner with their region- Vicky, Millie and Tim - and that odd Italian waiter- fun night!

American Idol

Friday was Sherman Alexie day. That was the first keynote and really the whiz bang! of the day!! - I don’t read much YA - so focused on the books with art - but I am going home and running out to buy his book. His talk was a roller coaster of emotions - laughter to tears. My favorite line was about his thick government issued eyeglass frames worn on the reservation as a child - he hated them. Now that they are all the rage- he said you guys who wear them don’t look cool - you look poor. - Ha- guilty!(I wear them) I am going to start devouring YA- cause I’m always looking for a good book to read. I came away from the conference with a long list.
Top of that list The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.

It takes a tough man to make a tender Chicken

Dan Santat and I were two ships in the night that never passed close enough. I saw him from across the room a few times- but decided sprinting up to him and gushing about the Replacements or his books was not the way to go- neither was shouting across the large hall- “HEY DAN! YOU THE MAN!” - so conference regret #1- no Dan Santat hello.


A man of Few Words

The day continued on David Wiesner gave a quietly brilliant talk about his books. The breakout was where he shined his glaring bright light...


If You Build it - they will come...

Friday night there was an Illustrators social. It was a brilliant concept. Everyone showed up armed with their portfolios. It’s how we introduce ourselves isn’t it? Here- this is my art- this is me. I would have liked less faculty involvement here- it cut down on the socializing too much. I was fried from sitting listening to people talk at me- I wanted to talk to other artists. It was a short social, we were encouraged to mentor or be a mentee based upon your experience at conferences. - It was a fine ice breaker. I would love it if they did this in NYC. Just let us loose at a designated time in a designated space- we can do the rest.


The dreams you dare to dream....

Saturday was portfolio day- really as an exhibiting illustrator you wake up thinking just that. Portfolio Day!

“Kadir Freakin’ Nelson”

That’s what it says in my notes. Kadir Freakin’ Nelson. I sat front row. As he spoke in his unassuming quietly cool way- images of his beautiful work flashed on the screen next to him. 3 feet away I thought- Norman Rockwell. I thought JC Leyendecker. I thought NC Freakin’ Wyeth - in the world of illustration - he will go down in the hallowed halls of the Society of Illustrators as one of the greats... . and I am 3 feet away. What a gift. And a Jersey boy- we have that in common- it’s the little things that make me happy. I picked up his Change has Come sketchbook and it’s glorious. I’ve often written here on the blog- I luv to see drawings more than any other art form- and his- well they are sigh inducing. I gave it to my daughter- she can have it forever to pass down to her kids to commemorate when Change came to America.

“Those Who Can Draw Can Draw Better....”

That was a quote from David Wiesner. Who is a great teacher. He has the desire to tell fellow illustrators- never settle. Never get comfortable- always strive to be better. Study life. Draw life- let it inform you even when you draw from your imagination. Learn perspective- take it seriously. Get it right- and you’ll make your imaginary worlds believable. - Amen.



If you can talk the talk - you can malk the Malk

Steven Malk - boy he’s young. I don’t mean that as a bad thing- but he’s young and knows so much. “savvy” I think is the word I’m looking for.My notes from this session are 4 pages long! I just signed with my agent and listening to him gave me a great deal of knowledge about their side of the industry. He was very cool and open to some particular questions. And he collects Garbage Pail kids- he should really go for Wacky Packs- much cooler- old school from my time - ya know- roller disco days.

Prepare to have your mind BLOWN

Dan - Yaccarino -helloooo? Dan Yacc-a- Rino! - 2 marshmellows - no more- no less - yuppa rino! - Now a Nelson will awe and a Weisner will inspire but a Yaccarino will take you on a trip- a journey of imagination that Willy Wonka and his freak out boat can’t hold a candle to. Robots and Weenie dogs and Jaques Cousteau! - much the same childhood as I - HR Puff and Stuff and Quisp cereal boxes... all go into that osterizer brain of his and pour out into the most imaginative stuff. I’m gonna count the days until the lawn ornament book! Can’t grow up in Jersey without being surrounded by jockeys , gnomes, deer and flamingos and madonnas- any blessed mothers in your book? Prob not- but I’ll imagine her into it. Books to TV to packaging and now movies- what more can this man conquer armed with his power of YES!?!?

Paint it Black

She was brief- but she illuminated fantasy books in a way- that made me want to read them more. She was lovely, she was crazy intelligent. When I told my 9 year old Spiderwick fan girl she was there - she fell back on the bed in feigned collapse. I’ve seen the power of fantasy books watching Maggie devour them. Holly Black is conference regret #2- didn’t get to have a Spiderwick book signed for Mags.


Tell me something I don’t know

He did. Jim Averbeck taught this old dog new tricks. I learned so much from this session and I think his session moved me most to get back to my stories and make them better.




All out on the Table

Portfolio drop off feels very much like dropping your kid off on the first day of kindergarten. You wave goodbye- with worries and hopes that it'll be liked and when you pick it up- they all had a good time, got along and want a snack. Then you as the parent go home and have a stiff drink.

This is it. This is what WE came for. All else is gravy at the conference - but this- this is the coliseum and we are the gladiators and it’s all about us for these few hours.

The room was packed !! It was line after line and shoulder to shoulder as we slowly made the rounds thru the alphabetical rows. I quickly decided gazing over and thru people’s elbows was the way to go. I had to add postcards and business cards twice- estimating about 200 of each went out. My little photo album was heavily handled and came unglued - D’Uh-O! But- my standing there pressing it together gave me the opportunity to get a lot of good feedback. Nerves aside - I enjoyed hearing that people liked it.

They knocked my socks off.

Israel Sanchez, Frank M. Hansen, Yoko Tanaka. My top 3. Yoko - well she’s tuned into a completely different frequency than I - ethereal charming weirdness. But these boys - oh boy. They can cartoon. It’s my world and they’ve kicked my ass. And I’m happy about that. I felt thrilled by their work- it’s wonderful to see cartooning done so well. And I want it to break thru the children’s book barriers - and this is the way to do it. So I raise my game and I get back to work. Until next year gentlemen.....

Blue Moon - You saw me standing alone

I had to get dressed so fast. I had a Mad Men-ish ensemble. Vintage dress with crazy full skirt- blue crinoline- exposed at left leg by a big rhinestone moon brooch. Gloves, clutch - kitten heels- I do clean up nicely. Up in my room- a message from Tina Nichols Coury- a fellow McVeigh Agency family member. Thank Mark! - I can meet some of the others - I went up anticipating her outfit having read her blog about last year. Her door opened to fun. Inside a room full of people blinking with blue lights. As soon as I introduced myself- I was blinkied. My blue crinoline alight , my left leg was lit up like the runway of LAX. - hmmmm-eeee - yup.
She was Mother Goose and she had 2 goslings. Feathers flew as she sashayed down the hall to the elevator- the party had started! I met another one of La Familia McVeigh- Heather L. Hansen. Such a nice person- and soon to be published author.

Down on the grass - my heels sinking into ground - flats next time... and no gloves. It’s hard to eat soft tacos with gloves on... the music played.. it was loud. Had to partake of the blue drink to loosen up and dance. Who was the cute Austin Powers guy?? -Oh My, it’s Jay Asher - the hair was throwing me- once I realized- I stopped checking him out and remembered I’m a married old lady - he’s married and oh yeah- he’s Jay Asher.
We boogied down and saw some sights!! I did sneak a squeeze to some guy’s blue moon on a dare! - A derriere dare.... It ended too soon - and mingling was not as easy as I hoped but it was a good time and much fun was had by all.
I went to sleep and had lots of nutty dreams about the Blue Man Group and Max the King of the Wild Things and Mary Poppins showed up and had a cage match with Mother Goose until some freaky octo-alien vaporized them all. - don’t drink the blue kool aid.

Some will win- some will lose

I was BEAT! Really dragged. Needed air- sun - water. The winners were announced at the luncheon. Yoko - Frank you’re both winners in my book. But Israel Sanchez! Hurray! - I bet on him to show and he took it all! He’s off to NYC and to great things!

I took a break and- missed Richard Peck- yes I know : already conference regret # 3.


Who are you again?

Dinner with the family. They had been seeing the sights for 3 days -
I needed to catch up. Universal- was fun, Hollywood - Emma Watson’s handprints and Maggie’s hands- same size she is very thrilled. And Paradise Cove in Malibu for a beach day. So much fun they were having. We had dinner in Westwood- we’re we used to hang when we lived in L.A.. It’s a lovely little area with the prettiest movie facade. I was so happy to walk those sidewalks again. My feet felt the familiar path and memories rushed back. Altho- the kid dropped her ice cream and desperately needed a toilet- so reality check!

Monday - we’re off to San Diego- but Husband gives a La Brea Tar Pits visit reprieve- so I got half a day of the conference. It was his birthday and I wanted to end his 4 days as a single parent before his head exploded. Susan Sherman was wonderful in her morning breakout.



Take it Away

What are my take aways from this conference?

1. Get better -just go home and work on it. Cause there is work to be done and it’s good to strive. Faced with a Nelson, a Wiesner and a Yaccarino what else is there to do?
2. Steven Malk- said you can not dibble dabble in this career! You have to dive in - you can not dip your toe. I’m in the deep end - now I must swim gracefully for my life.
3. The people who work tirelessly to put these conferences on are just like us. Still working , still striving, some published, some not. To their own hopes and dreams they add the hundreds of ours- and I am very Thankful to you all.
4. Making personal connections can be more powerful than professional ones. We all want the magic moment with an editor - but the friendships sparked that will be fanned as the year goes on will burn long and strong. We need fellow artists and writers to support and to inspire - compete- and spur each other on. We need the laughs along the way and the pats on the back. And that is the best take away from SCBWI.

Part 2 - San Diego after I sleep!

Goin to California or Goin back to Cali or California Dreamin'..

Off to Los Angeles! Very exciting to go back! I went out in 1992 a week after college graduation. My time living there was nowhere near long enough BUT I look back at it fondly. I am nostalgic for the adventure of living by the seat of the pants- not knowing how to pay the rent or when the next earthquake would toss us out of our discount water bed.
I was the stupidest kid. Way too immature to grasp the enormous opportunities I had right there in front of me. I was shy, lacked some serious confidence in my abilities. I was afraid of my own shadow.

What a difference 16 years makes. GO WEST YOUNG- no- kinda young with some grey hairs..and a 9 yr old..... WOMAN!!!

- SCBWI Summer Conference here I come. I love L.A. !!! - thnx to Mr. Newman

Roll down the window put down the top
Crank up the Beach Boys baby
Don't let the music stop
We're gonna ride it till we just can't ride it no more

Century Boulevard (We love it)
Victory Boulevard (We love it)
Santa Monica Boulevard (We love it)
Sixth Street (We love it, we love it)!!

From the South Bay to the Valley
From the West Side to the East Side
Everybody's very happy
'Cause the sun is shining all the time
Looks like another perfect day

I love L.A. (We love it)
I love L.A. (We love it)

If "Tango"

The Owl and the Pussycat
sailed their boat
to the shores of Argentina,
Now on music together they float-
no one dances a Tango, mean-A!


(rhyming, not my strong suit)

Paper Kites

My daughter likes to make paper kites. There has to be 30 of them around the house- as I cleaned my studio this week I found 15 more. They don't fly. She makes them really colorful with several layers of construction paper, glued on beads, colorful ribbons, etc. Then- she ties a long strand of kitchen twine to it and adds a tail. The tail has to be "special". Using a satin ribbon- I purchased to adorn her curly blond hair - she ties toys to the tail.

With full confidence in her aeronautic engineering, she takes the kite outside and runs, full speed - to make the kite fly. She has done this for an hour at a time only giving up- declaring that "It's just not windy enough."

I couldn't bring myself to throw out these kites. I have become all too aware that my time left with things like paper kites is very precious and winding down. She's 9 and 1/2. She's at the age when skepticism is waiting around the corner- magic is packing it's bags. She's still very much a believer in all things tooth fairy and Santa Claus- but I know- I don't have long.

One of these days, she will make a paper kite, deciding to leave off all of the beads and glue. She will think critically of the speed at which she will have to run and the direction the wind is blowing. She will untie the objects of her childhood- that are weighing it all down.

And the kite will take flight.

And so will she.

July Book Reviews and other things that make summer great..

How does one celebrate a step in the right direction towards getting a children's book published? - Go shopping at the bookstore !! There's a whole new summer crop of PB's out there just waiting to be picked- and I picked the ones I found most juicy!



"Let's do nothing!"- by Tony Fucile - Candlewick Press
Mr. Fucile- how I luv thee. He's responsible for much of the design of my favorite Pixar movie- "The Incredibles". I have long admired his way with a pencil- his "je ne sais quoi" -with the curve and the line and the way he can completely capture KIDS.
Watch the Incredibles -ignore everything but Violet- Dash - Jack Jack and the babysitter(my favorite). Look at the Art of the Incredible books- and WOW! The drawings of the kids. The boy on the tricycle. Tony Fucile is a genius with character. It's no wonder he has entered the world of children's books with such a book.
"Lets do nothing" is simply about two kids - 2 characters Frankie and Sal sitting... trying to do nothing- and the inability to keep Frankie's imagination doing nothing. The simple gorgeous drawings allow those 2 personalities to shine. These 2 boys- are as real as my own little 9 yr old neighbor Frankie- who too- can't sit quietly for long. - I really- really hope we see more books from Tony Fucile. 'Cause I'm hooked.



"If I were a jungle animal" -Tom and Amanda Ellery - Simon & Schuster
2 books by animators?- Hmmmmmmm.... someone noticing a trend!? yes.....
This book has a great classic printing look. Flat- bold great color combinations inside of thick black scratchy line. Is it china marker? Black prismacolor? hm.mmm.. I wonder. It has a loose drawing style that is pitch perfect that can only come when a hand knows.. Yes the hand can know. I think hands have sense memory- how a pencil drags across a surface- an inked brush glides around a curve. Tom Ellery has a smart hand that communicates his wife Amanda's ability to think as a kid. It's an adorable book. Like Tony Fucile's it's real - authentically 100% all KID.



"Wave" by Suzy Lee -Chronicle books

Suzy Lee is not an animator- but she could be. Animators are just people who can breathe life into drawings- that she can do.
I saw these illos on the Society of Illustrator's call for entries for their children's book show this fall.- She was the reason I went shopping. When I cracked this baby open @ B&N - I put my whole stack down to sit- and go thru it over and over.

There are no words. You turn the pages and you hear this book. You hear the seagulls - you hear the ocean coming and going. You feel the little girls- joy and wonder. (remember what the beach was like when you didn't care about sand in your butt?- it was magical) The page of the aftermath of the crashing wave is my favorite- the pause - the anticipation- will she cry?- NO!- She finds a shell! - (I still think shells are magical- nature's jewelry) - This quiet book makes a lot of noise! The water is painted amazingly... blue white and black, 3 colors and you're at the beach. Incredible. Suzy Lee- magical.


Back to work. Hope Summer's shaping up for you to be hazy, lazy and crazy!

On the drawing board

What can I do before Aug. 5th? Before heading out to L.A. - the one thing I want in my portfolio is some sequential art. I had done these rough sketches as homework for the FL conference and want to turn it into something for the portfolio. -That and a new postcard/business card and I'm running around like a crazy woman again.

I'm excited to go back to L.A.! We left in the early 1990's with my husband (then shacking up guy) yelling out the window "We Shall return!!"" - and we shall for a long weekend.

For an Arty Farty Mom - an Art show with your kid?- Doesn't get better than that!

Come on down if you're in the area- Long Beach Public Library 10-12 this Saturday! I can't tell you how cool it is to have her art framed up on the wall right next to mine- and wow - hers looks good!

Maggie Light- 9 years old- "Hoary-throated Spinetail" -Endangered animal series - digital painting

Presto- Change-O!

Al -a-ka-ZAM! This past week I signed on to The McVeigh Agency and it does feel like strange magic.

Mark McVeigh is a literary Agent with over a decade of experience as an editor working for publishing power houses. He's now taken his passion for publishing into the world of representing the creative people. An author himself - he's seen all sides and wants to help those creative voices find their audiences.

For the past two years I've been focused on figuring out what kind of portfolio would click with someone in the publishing world - it finally took me doing artwork and telling stories that were just plain old fun for me -and - CLICK. I heard the click- I saw it- I witnessed it. Like magic. I'm not sure how it happened but I am excited and happy and wondering what's the next thing the magician has up his sleeve...

I'm the rabbit pulled out of the hat and Mark McVeigh will get to work his magic and Abracadabra- well, we'll all have to watch and wait and wonder... That's just part of the fun....

Mark McVeigh
The McVeigh Agency

(it's official- my bio's up!)

Get Thee to a Conference!

What a difference 2 days make - 24 little hours..... I am singing this a la Dinah Washington these days. The SCBWI Florida summer conference was great. Just what I needed. After January and the conference experience you all know about... this trip was a quicker picker upper.

The Faculty - Janeen Mason. Sometimes you meet someone and you feel a jolt- and you know this person entered your life for a reason. Last year- I met her and knew. She's a person so passionate about what she does she exudes it- she's like walking talking art. She gave me a wonderful gift of big vine charcoal sticks- to get my self dirty and play with the art a bit, which is exactly what I need. When I do it soon- I'll post the pictures here. Before I left I needed to tell her- she should know how she touches people's lives- and I meant it. She's like a fairy godmother of art - turning pumpkins into portfolios.

The Guests -Jarrett Krosoczka - Mac McCool - Mark McVeigh


Jarrett - Wow. Watching him paint a pig from Punk Farm- was amazing. His influences are almost the same as mine- but he had a lot of fine art training. Somewhere along the way in his brain, - John Singer Sargent met Charles Schulz- and fireworks went off. Brush strokes and paint smears where pencil and ink line used to define cartoon characters- it wowed me. His new series is a traditional yet uniquely him spin on comic books with his MG graphic novel series "Lunch Lady". I really like how budget limitations- begat color limitations- begat a cool look. Black/lunch glove yellow and white- with subtle gradations- of those colors. Gives it it's signature. - everyday is made better with tater tots. My daughter can't wait for these books - (me either) I gave her my post card. On top of his artistic gifts- he's got some real words of wisdom. Believe in yourself. It WILL happen.

Mac - huge surprise for me. HUGE. I told him he had me at "Terry and the Pirates" - he referenced the old paper comic strip and I felt a zing!- Oh My gosh!- I luv Terry and the Pirates- and Steve Canyon - and Wil Eisner- and comic books and anything drawn in frames... printed in a comic book... colored with little dots...

He gave a graphic novel workshop that 7 people attended. Every single person at the conference would have learned tons from him. Pacing- composition- economy of words - setting- mood- point of view....really- everyone involved in literature needs to get thee to the comic book store!!! It's all there- boiled down between soft covers- printed on newsprint - some of the best storytelling and art married together. Any way- I can't say all that I learned- but I did learn a lot. And anyone within a few states of CA should take his class at Cal State. I want to. Watch for him at local SCBWI conferences- he's like finding treasure.

Coming from him - I think I got the best compliment I've ever gotten "You can draw like mad." - I think I'll post that on my wall.


Mark- is a literary agent out of NYC. Formerly an editor @ Simon and Schuster - Scholastic - Harper Collins and Golden Books. Wow- that alone is muy muy impressive. Now he has started an agency to champion creative people and I think on a mission to elevate graphic novels. - cool huh? He had so much business information- and could communicate it to us in a direct - honest yet fair way. I'm thrilled to meet someone so experienced in publishing that cares about the art but will tell you if it will sell or not frankly and not harshly.

Plus- I got to see great friends - old ones and new ones. Some of the people who attended the conference have become friends also. I think the smaller conferences are where I feel more comfortable- but LA here I come.

Magical moments happened for me at this conference. Wonderful things were said about my work. Let me say to you guys out there - just when you're ready to throw in the towel- pick up the pencil. Just keep drawing. What I showed this weekend was mostly done in the last 3 months. It was also work I did for my own enjoyment. I remembered I love to make art- to make art. I like to tell myself stories- when I draw- and they make me laugh and that enjoyment comes out in the art. Take a deep breath and -draw.

Unfinished business

Off to another conference. I chose to go back to Florida this week. It's a great friendly-creative-workshop atmosphere lead by illustrator Janeen Mason. This year's guest is none other than Jarret Krosoczka of Punk farm and now Lunch Lady fame. I am so happy to spend time with Janeen again- she's an inspiration as an artist and a person. And Jarret himself told me "buck up little camper!" after the NYC conference and blog post of doom here. So meeting him will be a fun experience as well.

Recently - my daughter was in a horse show- she's nine. My biggest fear is that she will be thrown and get hurt. Right before she's about to ride- another girl, 7 years old (a tiny thing) gets thrown head first off of the horse. I think I screamed something like "HOLYCRAPJEEZAOHNO!"
She was ok- tho crying. The trainers scooped her up and put her right back on that horse- and I felt- like give the kid a break! Get her her Mommy! Get her some ice cream!- but the trainers said- You have to get right back on or you may never get on a horse again. - She rode on and finished the show. I've thought about that alot. I got thrown off for a while- but I gotta get back on the horse. I almost convinced myself to not get back on. But I am- I may not win a ribbon, but I'll finish the show.

So- finally finished this illo - got more to do before I leave thursday.

If "Adapt"

"What are you gonna get today Maxine?"
"I don't know Patty. The Hay wasn't fresh yesterday. Ask the waitor if it's fresh hay."
"I don't know why we come here- we should try a new place."
"I could go for chinese."
"I hate Chinese."
"You're so picky Maxine."
"Where's the waitor? He's not getting a good tip today, I tell you."
"Pick something already - you drive me crazy."

"Ok, ok. I'll get the hay.
"Hay- again."
"I like hay- what can I tell ya?"
"I'll get the hay too."
"Where's that waitor?"


At the Bronx Zoo- there are two female Asian elephants named Maxine and Patty. They have shared a habitat for 30+ years. You can see them as you ride the tram in the Asia section. I would visit them each day last summer and imagine their conversations as they threw their lunch of hay around. Two old NY broads stuck together - on each other's nerves but in need of each-other's company too. Adapting to their daily schedule and the monotony it brings.

May Book Reviews!

It's that time again - time for the "1/2 the month is gone already book review".

Got 2 GOOD - no not good- GREAT ones this month. Starting with an eagerly anticipated picture book by one of our house favorites. Yes restaurants have house dressing, house wine- we here in the Light house have house illustrators. And Peter Brown is the ranch dressing and perhaps the pinot noir on our menu. (he's a favorite but always tastes a little different depending on the main course) enough metaphors! On to the review:



"The Curious Garden" written and Illustrated by Peter Brown- pub by Little Brown and Co.

It is a story of how one person - a young boy- shows a little care to living things- plants in a city overcrowded and over polluted - and makes a difference. It blithely demonstrates the value of the enviroment to our well being and how the actions of one can have a chain reaction for the good of all. And the art - is stylish and juicy and makes me prop the book up on the front of my daughter's book shelf. - It's cover is in and of itself an awesome image. Can not wait for the next book. Altho- Flight of the Dodo is still my fave - flightless birds longing to know the joy of the mid air poo- can't beat that.


On to dessert - another book I was unaware of until it smacked me in the face with a frying pan of art. This is not a sticky sweet book- but a amazing feast for the eyes.



"You Never heard of Sandy Koufax?" written by John Winter and illustrated by Andre Carrilho. pub by Schwartz and Wade books

First- I'm not a baseball nut. So this book's art attracted a non sports lover. Second Sandy Koufax - is known only to me thru my friend Marc and his Dad's yearly argument over not working on jewish holidays. "Even Sandy Koufax wouldn't play on Rosh Hashanah!"

The art is what struck me first- I didn't read it for days, I just stared at the pages- the art is astonishing. Now- I hear all the time that my art is too animated- this is animated. I think I know animated since I've animated. This is animated. The cover has the motion effect on that plastic- I don't know what it's called. BUT essentially it's 3 key poses- animating Sandy Koufax pitching. The art is a combination of elegant line work/collage/photoshop and I think colored pencil/charcoal- it could be ps brushes- but it's like nothing I've ever seen. It's like the love child of Al Hirschfeld and Gerald Scarfe. I checked out the illustrators site- you should too. He's brought sophistication and elegance and cool to this book. - I'm a big fan now.

John Winter- I must say-when I started to read the book, you sucked me in. The book is written in the voice of a Brooklynite! A period- 1950's east coast voice will come out of the mouths of Iowans or Canadians, etc- when you read this out loud. You too can sound like Phil Rosuto! - Awesome job of adding personality when finding out about a personality. It's a great story of self discovery and learning to relax in to who you were meant to be. Kinda zen and the art of the knuckle ball.

So- I hope you busy yourselves and check these out as I busy myself on the continuing journey to get a book of mine out there. Now- I need to get some lunch, maybe a little Diterlizzi on the side...

Whew! What a weekend..

I am tired but happy. I had an art filled weekend and tomorrow more art to come. Friday night, I went to a an open house in Huntington Station, NY- to see some artists' workspaces/work. I met 3 of my fellow Artist Mothers -and we went for dinner after. Some of the art was really great and it's good for one art group to support another- especially here in Long Island where art groups are few and far between. An evening out with 3 of my favorite people - laughing- kvetching - and cocktails- good times.
Saturday I had a communion to go to- and had a lovely Italian meal - with the lovely family. - The food was so good- I'd call it art.
Sunday was a bimonthly CBIG meeting. It's a group I joined about a year ago. It's very informative- there's always an art director or editor brought in to speak and then we all put our names in a hat to see who's portfolio will be reviewed. Anahid Hamparian, AD at Marshall Cavendish was so gracious as to say- I'll just look at them all! So She was very insightful and gave out useful advice to each of us. AND she didn't say the word "Disney" when looking at my work or say it was "too" mass market or "too commercial" or "too animated". So - I like her.
Sunday night -I met up with Nancy and Laurel, 2 BNL "enthusiasts". Nancy is an animator who is on the board of ASIFA East - the animator's union. I was in ASIFA west when I was out in L.A. It was the annual animation Festival. It was GREAT to peek back into a world that I left behind so long ago. There was the woman I interned for in 1993. One of the films came out of the SVA program I did. - and I got to meet John Canemaker. So- Thanks to Nancy for saving me a seat. It was a fun night. Fave films: I did like Chicken Cowboy a lot- the talking NYC objects and Western Spaghetti. The grand prize winner made me cry- I was all verklempt. Bill Plympton had 2 films that won awards - he really is tuned into his own frequency- dude's crazy amazing.

Tuesday night I'm going to check out the Syracuse Illustration Senior Portfolio's. Info :
Tuesday May 5 & Wednesday May 6 at Lubin House,
11 East 61st Street in NYC from 10 AM- 8 PM Tuesday,
10-7 PM Wednesday,
Open to all Alumni and Professionals. Alumni event Tuesday, May 5th, 6-8 PM.

If any of you Illustrators will be around- check it out. SU - puts out some strong talent. I'm excited to see what the kid's are up to these days.- and already anticipating to seethe with jealousy..... at their chutzpah I wish I had at their age.

So - Art Art everywhere! S'good thing!

IF - Theatre

Mrs. Webster did not approve of Danny's flair for the dramatic.

Some kids know who they are at a young age. If they are lucky- they have parents or teachers who help them take wing and soar in the direction they want.- I did.


I did 6 other sketches today- ahhg! Finally did this one tonight that I like. was all over the place trying to dig out some teen age high school musical thing- like Oklahoma not the Disney Cheese high school musical. But came back to drawing inspiration from my life. April was poetry month for my daughter in 3rd grade so- i went with that... hopefully I will get to color it this week.

April Book Review(S)

Back for monthly book review - a new regular feature here @ the blog.
This month - not 1- not 2 - but 3 books!




First- staying in the children's book arena ; "Blueberry Girl" by Neil Gaiman; Illustrated by Charels Vess

The way I shop for books or even clothes for that matter... I wander, scanning the store... until something catches my eye. For me to pick it up it has to draw me in and grab me. One look at this cover- and I was grabbed. It harkens back to the great children's illustration of the turn of the 19th/20th Century. Art Nouveau loveliness.

Cracking open the book - reading the text, I realized it was written as a gift book for a new Mom. Usually- that would be enough to make me put it down, but the art kept me engaged. The text grew on me as it went along cause it's a little weird and very old fashioned. It's flowery and lush and reminded me of some of my favorite Buzza Motto's I have collected. I have since read and drunk in this book a dozen times. It's a timeless wonder. A cure for what ails children's books. IT"S GORGEOUS - and my eyes like gorgeous and I believe many other people like gorgeous too. Amongst the quirky or cookie cutter books on that big wall at B&N- it stands-classic.

And Now.....

Two of the most important books - I can't tell you loud enough - BUY THESE BOOKS!! - that means you illustrators, cartoonists and fine artists.....



"Drawn to Life" -20 Years of Disney master Classes by Walt Stanchfield Volume One AND Two
-edited by none other than Don Hahn

These books arrived in a brown Amazon box last week- I ripped that box to shreds to get at them. I have been carrying one or the other of them around like a teddy bear ever since. - Cradling the words of wisdom.. these books speak truths that my head and heart and hand knew already but needed to be reminded of. Life is the artists' school. Go out and draw it. It will inform whatever direction you take as an artist - painter, sculptor- cartoonist- drawer of aliens in comic books or teddy bears that brush their teeth. Draw life first- put that info into the old noggin and watch how your illustrations come alive.

The books are filled with life lessons too - I will quote from them as time passes. For now- here's one to chew on as you order these books, like, today:

"Those who never start- can not finish." -W. Stanchfield (Oh- cut to my procrastinating heart why don't cha?)

PS- I do realize my enthusiasm for these books will only lead to further drawing in an animated style. But following my heart - that's what I love, and publishing may or may not love back- but I will love what I do - and that is the raison d'etre, non?

PPSS- no new art at the moment- I'm actually writing -can you believe it?

Work In progress

Updated- working on background- common problem of mine. Character first- environment second- but, I'm getting better all the time!



I am having fun working on these. I have tried to loosen up A LOT - and I think it's paid off. Working with a critique or a conference or a meeting looming ahead can really bog one down. So- free to play- has paid off.

This is the 3rd in the "Legends of Love gone wrong" series. This is King Arthur.

(I decided to skip tristan and Isolde as the love triangle involved an old Uncle- yuck)

So King Arthur and the Tales of his glorious rise and glorious reign and equally glorious fall - He fell for Guinevere -laid his kingdom at her feet- offered her his heart to do with as she would. And she did- she stomped all over it and fell in love with Arthur's best friend- Lancelot. Poor Arthur so blind to it- right in front of his face. And the whole time Merlin knew. He could see the future and said nothing. He let poor Arthur's heart get broken. A spectacularly sad story - of the messiness of love.

(Merlin intentionally looks like a young Andy Rooney- wouldn't he be a good voice for an animated character?)

I will finish and post- needs some trees and flowers- romantic like stuff.

"Hark! What Brat in Yonder window breaks?"

So - a few years before their fateful meeting- Romeo strolls under a certain window and gazes up at an annoying - stupid - girl. If these two were like 13 in the real story- just three years earlier- they would have been seriously yucky to each other. As far as Romeo was concerned, Juliet had cooties .

I heard from no less than 5 people about how annoying these two literary characters are and how they'd just like to slap them. So- I drew them as the brats they were. They were pretty stupid. Ain't love grand?

If - Legendary

Heathcliff and Cathy- grew up to together on the Scottish moor. She enjoyed the chase a little too much- He lost his heart. Neither one could see the dark sky looming ahead.

I'm a dweeb for tragic romances. If there's a girl who loves a guy- but he never notices her- or- a guy who just can't get the girl to choose him over Mr. Wrong- I luv it. CS Lewis said the purist form of love is unrequited. -sigh.

Sad thing is Cathy dies - haunts poor Heathcliff with her "undying" love and drives the poor dude to kill himself. Then their spirits roam the moor for all eternity. It's 5 hanky stuff people! - Doesn't get better than that. I may take on Romeo and Juliet and Tristan and Isolde as kids too.

Happy St. Pat's

I may be as Irish as an O'Douls beer- but it's the 1 outta 5 ethnicities that showed up on my face. I've got the 60,000,000,000 freckles to prove it. Here's another dancer in time to celebrate the day we're all Irish. And let's all raise a glass that 2009 may be the year I finally get to Ireland! - the tartan - it's the one that belongs to my family from Tipperary.

Now where's my bottle of Jamesons' to toast the lot of ya that read this blog!?


'Beannachtam na Feile Padraig!'