Sharing Play at Dumas Bay SCBWI Illustrators retreat

This past weekend, illustrators from around Washington and Oregon gathered to retreat, play, and learn on the water in Dumas Bay, Washington, and I was among them. We were honored and thrilled to have illustrators Christian Robinson and Catia Chien guide us in our play. What a line up!

Indulge me a minute while I express how giddy I personally was to sign up for this retreat. I am a huge, huge, dinosaur-sized, Christian Robinson Fan. When I pour over his collages I feel the same joy and wonder as I did when I was a child pouring over THE SNOWY DAY and other books by Ezra Jack Keats, my childhood favorite author. And at the same time Christian's work is fresh and modern in a way that offers me joy in the here and now too. Plus it doesn't hurt that LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET (illustrated by Christian and written by Matt de la Peña) is probably my son Lars's favorite book.

Lars, who is 3-years-old, takes the bus in the morning several times a week with Daddy. He is especially excited when his favorite bus, the purple one, is the one that picks him up at the curb. You should see the light in his eyes. But even when it's just the regular bus he loves to climb on and sit by the window and talk about all the noises and people and moments on the bus. LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET is called THE Bus Book in our house even though we have several other bus books. Lars likes to close his little eyes the same time the main character, CJ, does. He closes his eyes and listens to the music, wherever the music is in his heart.

So this past weekend I got to go to Dumas Bay and connect with the music in my own heart. And I got to share that experience with many other illustrators. And I also got to learn from Catia Chien, whose work I was less familiar with ahead of the retreat with but now am excited to love.

I gained insights about my own work and practices as I always do at SCBWI events but the thing that probably will stick with me most was just the realization that no matter what happens externally in the world or my own life, I am an artist and I will always make art. That is the music in my own heart. I don't mean to make it sound like a new commitment, rather a quiet acknowledgement of the obvious and what is already there at a time when so many things in the greater world feel uncertain.

We children's book creators will continue to do this thing because it's what we do. And we will do it with heart and passion and even when we take years to get published, or never are published at all, or are banned, or make mistakes, or whatever, we collectively will keep working to make the world brighter and better through books.

Many thanks to my local SCBWI chapter volunteers, especially Tina Hoggatt, for all the work you did putting this retreat together. And many thanks to Catia and Christian for sharing your light with the world and with us this past weekend.

From a walk I took in the garden at Dumas Bay

Pictures from The Last Bookstore in LA

I had a FABULOUS time at the recent SCBWI conference in L.A. I loved the new location, I took away great thoughts for my work, I got to see muppets in action (!) and I was nominated for the Sue Alexander award.

I've been busy busy busy fixing some work. Sometimes I need a break from the Internet when I'm hard at work/play (am I the only one that feels like the Internet can be an echo chamber?). But I felt like it was long past time I at least posted these pics

Isn't this bookstore amazing? Their art section was my favorite. Although they had a stellar comics section too.

Cheers to a playful and promising summer's last few weeks.

A day of fun at the Eric Carle Exhibit, Tacoma Art Museum

Pardon the lack of posts the last few months. I've been busy getting ready for baby #2 (could be any day now!) as well as catching up on some personal projects after I put in such a push with my illustration work over the spring. 

But I thought I'd check in and post some pictures from a fun day I spent down at the Tacoma Art Museum a few weeks ago. I went to see their latest Eric Carle exhibit and also partake in a fun afternoon of collage with other Eric Carle fans.

 We made our own paste papers in an upper work room of the museum.

 It was a jolly fun time of paint and messes. I felt like I was my son's age again! Fun!

 Here's the two collages I made. The paper we glued on wasn't taped down or stretched so the collages desperately warped (I suspected they would while making them), but it was still a fun exercise in play.

I hope you are getting some play in this summer too.

Happy Summer!

Whew! A whirlwind month of new work

A couple months ago I set an ambitious goal to try to nearly remake my entire portfolio for the Society of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrator's conference here in Washington State.  (Which was last weekend; it was FANTASTIC as usual!)

The last few weeks I have been working all kinds of crazy hours to meet my personal goal (which is why I haven't posted in awhile).

And I'm proud to say...

I did it!

I'll try to post some fun process pictures in the upcoming few weeks.

Meanwhile you can check out my updated portfolio here on my website.

This week I'm taking a deep breath and catching up with regular life. But I'm looking forward to sorting out what my next big goal will be too.


Cheers to working hard and making fun new art!

Workshop with Nikki McClure

I've followed Nikki McClure's art since the early 2000's when I stumbled upon her paper-cut work on BuyOlympia.com (one of my favorite early indie craft web sites). Paper-cuts always catch my eye, but Nikki's work especially did so because of its intimacy and heart. Her pieces capture the warm lovely feelings of everyday beauty and relationships. She has a nearly spiritual way of elevating the ordinary through her images that appeals to me. Well that, and it is paper art.

Over the years I've sought out and bought a couple of Nikki's annual self-published calendars and I smiled wide when I saw that she had broken into children's illustration a few years back.

 

So I was thrilled this past fall when I got an email from the Bellevue Art Museum advertising her then forthcoming (and now nearly over! quick rush to Bellevue this weekend!) exhibit. I immediately went to the Bellevue Art Museum's website to see if they had any special events. They did. In early December I attended a great lecture and slide show and then a couple of weeks ago I attended an all-day paper-cutting workshop that Nikki McClure instructed!

Watching another artist at work always helps me gain invaluable insights into new ways I can approach my own work.

 

Nikki McClure's workshop was certainly no exception.

 The day was just the right mix of instruction and play.

 I cut this fish as a warm-up exercise.

 I've always favored using a scissors to a knife in my own collages, but after using a knife that tightened at the bottom (as opposed to where you grip the knife) I felt liberated.

 Who knew such a thing existed? Um... Can I just say sometimes you don't even know that you should be looking for something?

 We can get stuck in ruts and used to working on things our own way with our own methods. I have so long ago rejected using a knife that it had never occurred to me I maybe had never tried using the right knife. Looking outside our usual perspectives can be so, so, valuable.

 I've had some ideas for my collage (for a LOOOONG time) that involve a paper-cut aspect and this workshop has helped me break through the technical side of my ideas so I can make them reality. Cheers for shaking things up.

 I've been playing over the last week. I'll post pictures soon. Meanwhile, here's the piece I made during the workshop (using a drawing from a memory).

 And here's me with Nikki!

Thanks Nikki McClure, wherever you are, for your fabulous workshop, for the inspiration, and for the lovely art you bring into this world! Cheers everybody! Go check out Nikki's work.

Some Nursery Rhyme Illustrations

Here are some new nursery rhyme illustrations (black and white!) I finished this last week just in time for the Society of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrators conference in Los Angeles this coming weekend.

Can you figure out which three popular nursery rhymes I've drawn below? (Click on each image to see a larger version).

 

If you'll be in Los Angeles look out for me and say hi! I'd love to chat.

Also, for anyone who might be interested, I just updated my online portfolio. Take a peek. Feel free to send me feedback if something comes to mind.

I look forward to catching up with all the rest of my blogesphere friends when I return from L.A. I hope wherever you are you are having a great week!

Superhero Photo class, and pictures in Cambodia

From an assignment in Andrea's Superhero Photo Class.

One of my favorite bloggers, Andrea Scher, recently decided to offer a playful online photo course.

I couldn't resist.

It just sounded so fun. And so low-key. And there was no concrete reason to take it other than fun.

 I have this habit of taking a crazy amount of pictures. I look for color, shape, light. But it's all just playful.

Sort of an extension of my excessive journaling habit I guess.

Red-shirted girl in the distance

Anyway, the class exceeded my expectations.  It was fun. Super fun. Superhero fun! 

 There were no goals to make serious art, just an opportunity to play and share (and do photo treasure hunts!) with other like-minded playful (mostly) amateur photographers.

My mother and my son holding hands

The class also happened to overlap with my family's trip to Cambodia last week.

For once on a trip, I wasn't feeling guilty about how many stupid pictures I was taking, and worrying over looking like some sort of camera-happy Hawaiian-shirted stereo-type of an American abroad.

Instead I embraced my practice as a way of appreciating the moment. I was no more obtrusive with my pictures than I've ever been (Let's just say the overly shy girl isn't one to walk around with a camera dangling from her neck, She leaves that to the real pros, like my uncle, or to the bolder amateurs, or to the tourists riding big buses).

Anyway, If anyone out there likes to take pictures, especially in a playful way, I highly recommend Andrea's course.

One of the surprising highlights for me was the group flickr pool, where we shared photos and commented on each others pieces. It was so fun to participate in the exchange!

Plus it hardly took anytime. Maybe 10 minutes any day I felt like checking in. Yet I still gained a lot. 

Andrea will be offering another class soon, I believe. I hope, if you like to play with pictures, you'll join her.

And um... Cambodia?

Blue umbrellas at Angkor Wat

Ya, well, WOW!

Trees draping over mossy textured ruins,

 bicycles, bicycles, bicycles,

 

And some of the most amazing sites in the world.

Some dreams fall in your lap like an apple dropping from a tree. Other dreams you yank and yank and yank at the door, but it just won't open. Both have their place in my life. And I'm happy to say that while I keep yanking at the door of my biggest dream (and dang that door can frustrate me), I'm at least eating my apples. 

"If the children ask, 'What color is God?'..."

"...You can choose whatever color you want. That's why I illustrated the hands here all colors."
--Ashley Bryan, speaking today about an illustration in his book, All Things Bright And Beautiful.

I'm in Los Angeles, California, at the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators' Conference. And to be quite frank, the main reason I knew I had to come was because one of my favorite illustrators of all time, Ashley Bryan, 87, would be here.
I remember when his book, Let It Shine, came out a couple of years ago. I checked it out from the library, along with the enormous stack of picture books I usually check out (how I've missed this ritual in Malaysia!) and one afternoon I opened it to read while my nearly one-year-old baby, Oscar, napped in my lap.

It's a book of three African American Spirituals, all songs I, myself, regularly sang in church growing up. And Ashley's art opened something inside me up that first time I read it -- just like a real, spiritual hymn does, when it's sung from the heart. I remember crying there on the spot, sitting in our rocking storytime chair, cradling my precious little Oscar. I read the book over and over, several times in a row. And I sang the songs the pictures illustrate. Thinking about that moment now, I'm reminded of one of my favorite poems, by the 14th century poet, Hafiz, Dropping Keys.

Dropping Keys
by Hafiz

The small man
Builds cages for everyone
He
Knows.

While the sage,
Who has to duck his head
When the moon is low,
Keeps dropping keys all night long
For the
Beautiful
Rowdy
Prisoners.

To me it felt, and still feels, that Ashley Bryan's illustrations in that book are like the keys. They unlock and open something beautiful inside.

So that brings us back to today. Today also gifted me with a bit of magic. I spent an hour listening to Ashley Bryan talk about creating art. Eyes can tell you so much about a person. Ashley has the kind of eyes that dance. They are alive. (It might be my new biggest dream -- should I be so lucky -- to have my eyes do the same thing when I'm his age).

And his words, too, have the sort of spark that's contagious. By the end of the hour session, every person in that room looked more alive, fired-up, and ready to find and share the best of who they are.
Here's a few quotes (perhaps I should say they are as close to the real quote as possible, I tried as best as I could, but I might have missed the exact way he said them a bit):

"The Artist is not a special kind of person. Every person is a special kind of artist."

"Everyone of us is writing to pull something real and true out of ourselves and give it to the world."

"Whenever we start something new, it's good to affirm who we are within, that's why I start with reciting a poem."

"African American spirituals came from people who worked from the break of daylight to nightfall. But they still created. They found a way."

"My editor wanted me to get something written down about my life. So we talked about it. And in that conversation, she asked me, 'How did you persist through all the obstacles, in your life and somehow still manage to do what you do?' and, well, I answered, 'Isn't that the very story of life?' And isn't it? That's what we do as people -- we work to overcome obstacles. Life's about not giving up when you face challenges but plowing through those challenges. It's everyone's story."

Two more things I learned during the session. First, the xerox photos of scissors on the end-pages in Ashley's books are of his mother's embroidery/crochet scissors and his mother's dress-making scissors. He uses those two pairs of scissors to cut out every collage in his books. His mom never let him play with them as a child, but now he plays with them everyday. I LOVE this. So many artists use razors for cut-paper work. I'm with Ashley. I use a scissors. Scissors are a perfect thing.

Second, Ashley said he always carries around his recorder. As in the instrument. Because he never knows when it will be time to play some music. So he played for us. So fun.

I did take pictures from the session, but unfortunately I didn't bring my camera cord so I can't download them! I'll add them later. *UPDATE*: added them! Sorry it took so long.

Tomorrow Ashley will give the ending keynote address for the conference. You can bet that the last poem of the conference hasn't been recited yet.

Colorful Snippets From Singapore

I spent most of last Saturday at the Asian Festival of Children's content in Singapore (the rest of the weekend I spent admiring colorful places -- easy to find in Singapore -- as evidenced from these photos).
I left the festival and Singapore feeling a bit dazed at what a big wide world we live in, with a mind-boggling array of differences in children' s book markets.
I also had many strange moments of seeing things from a different perspective regarding the children's book market back home in the United States.
One speaker, when talking about why small publishers and authors should have promotional materials in English, said something to the effect of, "Everyone thinks the U.S. is the Holy Grail of Children's book markets. Break in there and you can make it anywhere. Then why don't all small publishers and authors have their promo materials in English?"

It was strange to think about challenges some of my colleagues have here compared to those of my colleagues at home.

I'm so used to various speakers moaning and groaning about the state of the market back home that I forget sometimes to remember how wide and big it actually is compared to other markets.
I also had some culture shock moments, like the nervous twitch I had going when one speaker mentioned that art-based picture books have little market in many parts of Asia as many parents are still focused on Education based books.

I tried just now to write about some recent experience with this mindset that would cause such a nervous twitch, but well, the politically correct public blogger who's afraid of closing my mind when it should be open won out and I edited. Let's just say this is something that I'm having a hard time relating to when I encounter it here, not only as an author and artist, but most especially as a mother.
So I had a nervous twitch going through some of the conference. I had many reminders that we are a big world with lots of view points. It's a challenge to keep it all in perspective, be respectful to differences while remaining true to my own heart while working on my own craft (and mothering my son).
But, lest I forget, challenges are the colorful rich stuff of life. And I can appreciate their beauty.

Gathering and Scattering

Striking a balance

between
gathering
and scattering,
Helps me to do both better.
What about you?

I'm off to the SCBWI WWA writing retreat this weekend.
But right now I scatter good thoughts to you -- that your weekend will be rich and wonderful.

SCBWI Tribute

Here's that crazy video (I mentioned it a few days ago) that my friend Kim Baker made for our recent SCBWI Western Washington Conference. Told you I'd post it when I could. As promised:

SCBWI Tribute from Kimberly C. Baker on Vimeo.

And yes, the hilarious Laurent Linn in the video is the same Laurent Linn who's my mentor for the SCBWI Nevada Mentor program. Lucky me!

The SCBWI WWA 18th annual Conference For Children's Book Writers And Illustrators.

Whew!

Okay I've been back from the SCBWI WWA Conference in Redmond for two days now. But my head is still swimming with all sorts of good stuff. And I lost a day of work yesterday due to my 2-year-old's unexplainable rash all over the back of his legs; apparently he probably got into some itchy plant over the weekend according to the Doc (I can't help but kind of love these quirks of motherhood). So I'm late to post this. But I just want to say Yay for SCBWI Western Washington! Thanks for another wonderful conference.

First off, I am lame at taking pictures. I took maybe 5 total at the conference and a few were repeats. So this is all I've got. A cheesy canned photo of some friends and the Ambassador of Children's literature himself, Mr. Jon Scieszka (rhymes with Fresca).

• What are we doing? Fist-bumping.
  
• Why? ummm... no comment. I have no idea why.
  
• Who's in the pic? From left to right: Jennie England, Jon Scieszka, me, Kim Baker, and Suzanne Young.

Highlights From The Conference:

• Chatting and networking with so many amazing people! I got to thank Ellen Hopkins in person for the awesome conference and mentorship program in Nevada (she's a regional advisor for SCBWI there), which meant a lot to me because I'm so grateful to them for the incredible job they are doing.

• Getting great and helpful feedback on my work through the manuscript and dummy critiques (I can't wait to get going on my dummy again).
  

• George Shannon's mini session on "Writing to be heard: Sound and The Picture Book" has inspired me to go back to every picture book manuscript I have and rethink/examine the sound and rhythm in each of them to better contribute to the heart of each story. Sidenote: I finally bought, TIPPY TOE CHICK GO at the conference (one of my favorite Shannon titles I didn't already own). I think my son has only has requested it about 7 times in the last 2 days.

• A HILARIOUS video Kim Baker made as a tribute to SCBWI. I'll post a link when it eventually is up on the internet.

• Hearing all the amazing key-notes. Adam Rex and Jon Scieszka made me laugh so hard I wanted to cry. Ellen Hopkins' pictures of remodeling as a metaphor for revising were spot on. And I found a new hero in Grace Lin. I especially loved when Grace said, "No matter what you do in your life, no one else has done it just like you. Tell your own story."
  

• During her session on what makes a great cover, Elizabeth Parisi, art director for Scholastic, showed quick mock-up covers she made for the dummies she had critiqued. It was so fun to see how she handled the different dummies!

• I loved looking through the portfolios at the portfolio show and seeing how my fellow illustrator friends have improved their work through the years. A special congrats to my friend Jennifer Mann who won the grand prize at the portfolio show (she's an awesome illustrator and she totally deserves it).
  

• And probably one of the biggest highlights for me was, no kidding, I got recognized for a picture book dummy I wrote! I was in a bit of a daze when it all happened (it was the end of a full weekend) but I think it's called a breakout writer honor. I think. [UPDATE: SEE BELOW] At the very end of the conference Joni Sensel, one of our co-regional advisors read off a short list of names. The names were given from manuscript critiquers who thought something they read by that person showed special promise. It feels so awesome to get that kind of a pat on the back! I was giddy the whole way home and drank a margarita (or two) with my hubby on Sunday night to celebrate.

• Last but not least, I loved the carpool home with my home crew from Bellingham. It's great to meet new and exciting friends and acquaintances but it's wonderful to know that I have a supportive and talented critique group and network right in my own backyard.
  

Thank you so much to Joni Sensel, Laurie Thompson and Kim Baker, our co-regional advisors and assistant regional advisor, for all the hard work you put into the conference. It was a pleasure to be a part of the advisory committee this year and I look forward to more fun next year!

UPDATE: Okay, I got the official word, no official name for the honor at the end of the conference. Just a cool honor to keep us working. That it did. And it made my day! LATER UPDATE: Got word that the honor without a name now has a name: Most Promising Work-In-Progress Honor. Sweet! I suppose I can use that in query letters. One day. When the thing is ready. Motivation has stepped up a notch, for sure.

Ice Cream in Nevada

From my last post, you see that I just got back from Nevada. While I have oodles of things to share from the last few weeks (more inspiration from my recent trip to Spain, info on a cool exhibit in Seattle, and a giveaway I promise I haven't forgotten), indulge me in the moment first.
Ahhhh.

I had an awesome time in Nevada at the SCBWI conference and the beginning to the mentor program in Virginia city. And not just because of the WILD HORSES (!).

I knew my weekend in Nevada was off to a sweet start when I ate the yummy delight pictured above at Swenson's Ice Cream Parlor near the Reno airport. But the whole weekend turned out to be sweet. The conference took place here:And Here:With views like this one in the background:
Can you believe it? More like a retreat, no?

I learned a lot. Met lots of new people. Chatted kid's books with passionate people. Listened to some amazing writers and illustrators.

Like Yuyi Morales! I could listen to her speak all day for many days. Her presentations are like poetry. Plus she makes puppets. If you are an artist, go to her website and click on "Senor Tlalocan's Prayers," then enjoy.

I left the weekend with dozens of ideas for new illustration samples. I also filled up my camera collecting quirky pictures that may or may not lend to future textures in illustrations. Like this one:And this one:
Everywhere I looked I saw potential settings. Wouldn't this place be fun to illustrate in collage?
Or what about an old-looking train?
But mostly the whole town made me want to draw cowboys.
Did you know that the Virginia City High School is home of the "Muckers?"
I heart Virginia City. I'm bringing my family back when I go in October. It's a cool place. Here's the sunrise I caught on Monday morning, my last day there:Thank you so much to Suzanne Morgan Williams and Ellen Hopkins, SCBWI Nevada's Co-Regional Advisors, for putting on such a great conference!

Magic in Nevada

I just returned from the Nevada SCBWI conference. I feel like I'm floating on air. There was a surprise to my weekend that made it downright amazing.
I volunteered to drive people to the airport if needed on Sunday afternoon. Instead, the organizers asked me to help drive some of the faculty to see wild horses...

Wild horses. Wow. Unforgettable. Mountains in the background. Colts a few days old. Wow.
Look at this horse hair we found:
It was a magical time and I feel so grateful for it.

Terri Farley, author of the Phantom Stallion Series was the one who made it all possible. I read the first book in her series on the way home on the airplane. A perfect book for the end of the weekend. Thank you, Terri.

Western Washington University's Bond Children's Literature Conference

I've got a lot of fun things to share from my trip to Spain (check back tomorrow).

But FIRST, I have to shout out a big THANK YOU to Nancy Johnson up at Western Washington University here in Bellingham for a great conference on Saturday! For the last 6 years Nancy's been organizing an amazing annual children's literature conference. This year's line up was especially fantastic.

My favorite snippets from each speaker at the conference:

Joan Bauer spoke about finding 2 quirky little lamps that she placed in dark corners of her house where she didn't even know she had space. She likened this to stories and books: they are often lights in dark corners and, especially in bad times, it's important to fill those dark corners with light. Let your light shine!

Kadir Nelson showed us photos and talked about the research that went into making WE ARE THE SHIP. The heart he put into making the book is inspiring.

Sarah Pennypacker talked about often feeling inspired to somehow right an injustice through her writing. I liked how she talked about A.D.D. kids and how they are often keenly empathetic, artistic and innovative. When she wrote CLEMENTINE, she created a book where the adults sincerely thank the A.D.D. kid for the empathy, artistic spirit and innovative nature she shares with others.

Brian Selznick pretty much made my week by talking about and showing pictures about the making of THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET. I loved that he showed us images from French silent movies and that he played "The Man On The Moon" for us. He also talked about a conversation he had with a friend that changed his perspective on his work. A few years ago he had been feeling kind of down because many of his books were going out of print after 4 or 5 years. His friend asked if he liked each book better than the last. While Brian liked all of his books, he couldn't honestly say that he had stepped it up a notch after each book. So he make the HUGO CABRET. Awesome.

Three other very cool things about the conference:
1. Nancy organized a very welcoming and fun "meet the author" reception the day before. Delicious food and I got a chance to say hi to the authors.
2. Nancy invited me to introduce Kadir Nelson! What an honor. I managed not to stumble on my face or cough or shake (even though I was nervous).
3. SCBWI Western Washington had an information table. A lot of the attendees at the conference are teachers and librarians so we advertised our eKite speaker directory. Of course many teachers and librarians who are literature minded also pursue writing so we chatted with lots of writers throughout the day too. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped with the table.

And Thanks again, Nancy Johnson, for a great conference. I'll be first in line to sign up for next year's.

I HEART ART Illustrator Studio Tour

I've been riding a total buzz for the last few days because of SCBWI Western Washington's I HEART ART Illustrator Studio Tour that I attended and helped with this past Saturday. Thirty lucky-duckies including myself got to travel around to 4 awesome illustrator's studios and see how they work.

The amazing Laura McGee Kvasnosky organized the whole thing and I was an even luckier ducky because I got to help with some of the behind the scenes planning. Laura is one of the most amazing and generous artists I know. It was a treat to work with her.

There were so many wonderful things about the day, it's hard to choose what to say about it. I thought maybe I'd just say my three favorite things about each studio:

Julie Paschkis's studio:
1. Her amazing house and studio were like a gallery! I loved the mosaics, the way she painted her piano and all of the incredible art she had around her house.
2. She did a paper cutting demo for us. My heart beats faster when amazing artists start cutting paper.
3. She has a book coming out soon about Antoni Gaudi and I am about to go to Barcelona! She had the F&G out in her studio. It looks like an incredible book. I LOVE Gaudi and I think Julie's illustrations are a perfect fit for a book about him. What a treat for me to see them. She also lent me some of her Barcelona guidebooks and had advice about restaurants to go to in Barcelona. WOW! Thanks, Julie.

Kathleen Kemly's Studio:
1. All of her tracing paper sketches, storyboards and drawings. Fantastic!
2. The originals she had scattered all around the studio. This was an inspiring part of the day in each studio: seeing the originals from all the artists was such a treat.
3. I liked the story she told about one of her books. A writer who is also in her critique group had gotten her first book contract. Yay! Then a few months later, Kathleen was asked to illustrate the book. The publisher had no idea that the writer and Kathleen knew each other, let alone that they were in the same critique group. They handled everything very professionally though and it was a fun serendipitous match.

Nina Laden's Studio:
1. Again, I loved seeing Nina's originals. Especially some collages from Roberto, The Insect Archetect, which is a book I oogle over. I also loved seeing the way she boxed up her work for shipping. This was very useful to me and I could see myself using a similar method with my own work.
2. She did a demo using acryla-gouache. Awesome! I wanna try...
3. Her studio is so cute and cozy. I especially like her thinking loft.

Laura McGee Kvasnosky's Studio:
1. Laura did an awesome demo of the wash technique she uses in her work. I loved watching the black ink wash away to reveal a little illustration.
2. Laura had my art sample on her wall! Which made me feel all warm and cozy inside.
3. I love the border on Laura's backsplash that's made of old typeface. She also has an amazing typeface coffee table in her house.

AND THE PARTY (we had a fabulous and fun after-party at Laura's):

1. Yay for crafty time with other artists! I had helped Laura gather supplies for making valentines and it was fun to see them put to use. I also loved crafting around my fellow illustrators. And I especially loved seeing all their valentines hanging from a clothesline in Laura's living room.
2. Yummy treats! Annie Gage, our SCBWI WWA amazing food lady, brought amazing food for us to eat. Chocolate. Cookies. Yummy things! Oh and Jaime Temairik brought some of her famous cupcakes. Delicious.
3. Seeing everyone so happy after a great day. I loved seeing and hearing reactions to the studio tour. I felt like my face was stuck in smile-mode for hours after I had left.

Thanks everyone for a wonderful, inspirational and fun day.

P.S. You can check out more photos from the day on this shutterfly page.

YAY! YAY! YAY! Some good news

I just found out that I got accepted to the Nevada SCBWI mentorship program!!! Hooray! I'm so excited. Thrilled. My mentor will be the amazing Laurent Linn who I met at our own SCBWI WWA conference last spring. Woo-hoo!

What does this mean?

It means I'll be going to Nevada in April! I'll be attending the Nevada SCBWI conference, where I'll meet with Laurent in person. Then, over the course of the summer, Laurent will help me with several critiques/revisions. And to top things off, in October, I'll fly back to Nevada and attend the fall Mentorship Retreat.

I'm so excited. Now it's time to roll up my sleeves and get to work!

Inspiration right and left

Okay, I confess. I'm behind with my holly jolly goal. Here's what I've got: a pretty dang awesome drawing (or right now I think it is anyway.) I'm going to have to kick things up a notch. I'm also going to have to focus and stop being distracted by all the awesome distractions that have come my way this week.

What's been going on this week? Inspiration: right and left!

First I attended my friend, Jaime Temairik's art opening in Seattle at the North Hill Bakery on Capital Hill. Her holiday monsters roar in a good way. I've got a cupcake monster card that will be framed and put up every Christmas!

On Saturday I went to the Urban Craft Uprising and The Phinney Ridge Neighborhood Craft shows -- this year as a shopper, not a vendor (I haven't been a vendor at UCU, but I have been one several times at Phinney). I LOVE these two shows. The Urban Craft Uprising has to be about the most fun, hip and playful craft show I've ever attended. I bought quite a few goodies and was tempted by many more.

Some of my favorites from both shows:
World Of Whim -- Awesome and imaginative handmade toys and dress-up for kids. My sister and I picked out a very kingly crown for my son, which he adores.
Chikabird -- I now am the proud owner of an awesome rhino ornament. They also make super awesome t-shirts and hoodies and whatnot.
Marmalade Originals - Could there be cuter handmade skirts? I'm not sure. Plus it turns out the woman who makes these is an old aquaintance of my sister's from high school. She's super nice. And she uses awesome fabrics.
Voracious reader sculptures made with maps and old books -- enough said.
A potter who imprints bike cogs and chains into her pottery -- also, enough said
Silly Feet -- Frog slippers for the little ones
Scissors sweater -- I bought one. Big treat for me. I heart scissors.
Type-face belt buckle with a bike tire belt -- Um... super cool, what can I say?
The most awesome shadow puppets ever -- Santa oh santa, am I too old to write you a letter, complete with a frivolous wish?

And I could really honestly keep going on and on and on...
I felt super inspired by these craft shows. On the one hand I was kind of sad I did not partake as a vendor. On the other, I've gotten lots of illustration and writing work done because I forwent craft shows this year AND it's sooo fun to attend and check out all the booths and chit-chat with the artists. I'm a crafty lady by heart. Through and through.

And the inspiration doesn't even stop there, my friends.
On Wednesday night I trucked down to Seattle again to listen to the talented Laini Taylor speak about finishing a novel draft. Now, I am not a novel writer -- I write picture books. But I had heard universal praise for her talks and I LOVE her book, FAERIES OF DREAMDARK, BLACKBRINGER.

A small plug -- I'm not even a huge fantasy person (although I tend to like books that linger at the edges of the genre) but I'd say FAERIES OF DREAMDARK, BLACKBRINGER is one of my favorite books I've read in the last few years, or maybe ever. And I read a whole heck-of-an-almost-embarrassing-a-lot. READ this book. It's so good. I can't wait for the sequel.

Okay so anyway, Laini's talk just blew me away. I loved her photos. I loved her quotes. Her advice was sound and perfect.

I loved how she challenged us to be the sort of writers who follow through with projects and finish them. "If it's a battle between writer and book -- writer should always win... YOU are the method of propulsion." I loved that.

Also I loved how she suggested to pick a project and stick to it. Don't let a "slutty new idea" lure you away from your commitment to your WIP (work-in-progress). Slutty new ideas have a way of becoming new works-in-progress with their own problems that will rear their ugly heads and tempt you to leave for yet more slutty new ideas. And the cycle will go on and on and you will never finish anything. Stick with something and WORK THROUGH THE HARD STUFF. I love this. It makes me want to dump everything and only work on my current dummy.

Anyway, I'm rambling on and on. But if you have a chance to hear Laini talk, do! And read her book!

But the inspiration doesn't even stop there. I've had many friends with jump-up-and-down good news lately. My friend, Jolie, signed with an awesome agent last week. Yay, Jolie! Then, yesterday I attended my monthly critique group and I just am beaming at the edges for all of my fellow friends and critiquers. The stuff they brought yesterday simply rocked. It was so good. I really think there were several of my collegues who brought their personal best yesterday. It's awesome and inspiring to see that and watch people grow. I hope (and believe) I'm doing the same. It's great. And I brought my new dummy draft to the critique group and left with gobs of motivation to get back to the drawing board, to forge on, and to refine my own WIP.

But. First. I have this goal of getting illustrations done. And I need to get illustration samples done. I need to. So I've got to crack the whip. I've got to stop blathering on here and actually get to work. So off I go, with visions of sugar plums dancing in my head, back to work. Later folks!

Nina Laden Class at the Community College

Thanks to Nina Laden! I took her day long workshop about creating children's picture books at Whatcom Community College last Saturday. I love Nina's work and have heard her speak at conferences and SCBWI events in the past, so even though I knew the class at the community college would be an intro class I signed up and I'm glad I took it! I'm especially excited to check out some of the picture books that I hadn't read that she talked about. Also she talked about a birthday book she uses sometimes to help her with character development called "The Secret Language of Birthdays" by Gary Goldschneider. Looks fun! Nina was also generous enough to do a little abrieveated critique at lunch. Thanks for a great day, Nina!

Creative Journaling: Show and Tell

Thanks to Mary Cornish's students at Fairhaven College!

Last week I visited their class to share my creative journaling presentation with them:

CREATIVE JOURNALING: Expanding The Realm of Possibilities for Keeping a Journal Through Content, Form and Style.

I hauled in 4 suit cases full of a selection (!) of all of my personal journals and photo albums as a kind of show and tell. I haven't given this particular presentation in a while and I was agape at just how many books I felt I HAD to bring. I guess I had forgotten the sheer volume (and weight -- ugh!) of my journal collection.

Anyway, it was a lot of fun and I was even inspired this time to make a nice hand-out with a list for students' future reference so people would not have to take too many notes.

And since my photography equipment is still out and I haven't put the journals away yet, I've decided to do a big photo blitz of my beloved and well-loved journals in order to start posting some journaling inspirations and examples for all you journal maniacs (and journal maniacs-to-be) who've visited my craft booth or my etsy sight. Stay tuned...