Tuesday, December 16, 2014

know now!

I sometimes forget to be here in the now knowing what it is happening now. Today for this tiny moment I am remembering to just be here.



     hmmmmm, how did that shadow get there?

Monday, December 1, 2014

3 inspirations this week

1. Loved this book- The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer. She is the ultimate share it all artist and I tend to be the opposite. THis reminded me to open up and be more transparent, invite people in to the process, and ASK, be vulnerable, give someone the opportunity to help you. Its' a must read for an creative being which is everyone. http://amandapalmer.net/home/

2. This section form the NY times Magazine where writers looked back on their books.
Love George Saunders's insight. This is something I spend many moments thinking about.
 http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/11/06/pen-auction-philip-roth-portnoys-complaint-robert-caro-george-saunders-marilynne-robinson-jennifer-egan-junot-diaz/?_r=0

3. In the 30 day picture book idea challenge this is one post that I enjoyed this morning. Sometimes I'm hesitant to use a word that may be too sophisticated for the picture book reader but then I remember also that the sound of words and how they feel in your mouth are just as important as their meaning. https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/149e6dc99083fef4

and this picture book by David Mackintosh makes me smile.
http://www.profuselyillustrated.com/lucky-2/

Monday, November 10, 2014

New collage


random mix

 I have never been very successful at keeping one notebook devoted to one thing. I've tried, many times. This notebook will only be for picture book ideas. This notebook is only for drawing scribble designs. This notebook is only for action lists (to do). This notebook ...yeah, it doesn't work. I tend to treat all paper as equal, and sometimes I draw in a notebook and sometimes on a scrap. Went through some piles of paper and notebooks stashed in a cabinet this weekend.
Here are a few images from the mix.






Saturday, November 1, 2014

Piboidmo 2014

                          Yes, I just signed up for a month devoted to picture book making ideas.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

3 inspirations this week

from Oliver Jeffers new book



Have been devouring anything picture book related recently

1. Just discovered this podcast. Can't wait to listen to ALL of them. http://lgbpodcast.blogspot.com

2. Oliver Jeffers new alphabet book- brilliant- LOVE
http://www.oliverjeffers.com/picture-books/once-upon-an-alphabet

3. And this illustrator Kitty Crawther- WOW
https://astridlindgrenmemorialaward.wordpress.com/category/kitty-crowther/

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Mirror Mirror

One of the smarties (or more widely called dummies) I included in my portfolio at the LA SCBWI conference was one that used mirror paper to create the whole image.
 Here are some pics from a few spreads.






Wednesday, October 8, 2014

collage all day everyday

This is a collage I made recently inspired by this little character, some bits and pieces of circles hanging around my studio, and the re-occuring feeling that my imagination is swirling with oh so many possibilities.





Monday, October 6, 2014

Collage illustration

I am taking my 18minute collage practice of playing with various bits and scraps and using it to inform some new illustrations. Here is one I did last night based on a New York Times article about growth in long term relationships.

Friday, October 3, 2014

18 minute collage

Lately I have been needing some time to let my fingers play. I have piles filled with a mixture of scrap drawings, textures, sketches, random papers. I decided to use these piles to create some 18 minute collages. I choose a few from the bits to use, set the timer, then go. This is proving to be a great way to spend an hour (or two) and free things up with some unexpected combinations. It is so fun to play  with the color, texture, and portions of imagery already gathered around me. And at the end, my fingers are sticky and my heart is excited to see what will come out the next 18 minute session. Here are a few images from my new pile being created from my old piles.
Try it. 18 minutes to create something. It can be a collage, a poem, a song, a story. See what 18 minutes will do for you and your day.

 



 









Wednesday, August 20, 2014

3 inspirations this week

1. Discovering this podcast.  So far i've only listened to 1.5 episodes but I'm already in LOVE. This is oozing with gems to keep the creative going. During the whole time I was listening I was shaking my head going yeah, yeah, YEAH. Am excited to explore the whole library of episodes.
www.unmistakablecreative.com
http://unmistakablecreative.com/how-creative-people-get-it-done-with-samantha-bennett

2. Am reading The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer
and so far am enjoying it.
This line stopped me today. "The only option for a creative person was constant motion- a life time of busy whirligigging in a generally forward direction, until you couldn't do it any longer."
Like the use of "generally" here, implies that sometimes in order to go forward there is time needed for sideways zigzagging exploration

3. Ok. I'm so loving this podcast that i'm writing it twice. Is that cheating? Maybe but i'm listing it again anyway..
 www.unmistakablecreative.com

Sunday, August 3, 2014

SCBWI LA conference

and then the Little Moments, all the Little Moments held hands. 
They didn't know it at the time but by linking palms, 
they gained momentum, 
they grew a never been named shape, 
they rang sang spoke a new word.
It sounded like yeahwoooooshwooshweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
and then....

a Big Moment appeared.
Yes indeed it did.
Last night at the SCBWI LA conference I won an Honor Award for my illustration portfolio.
I am very very very very very very very excited. And I was able to meet some amazing illustrators, writers,...so much talent and passion all around.



Hope you have a little moment today...it may hold hands with some others and before you know it.........yeahwoooooshwooshweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Friday, August 1, 2014

SCBWI conference little moment

I'm attending the SCBWI LA conference for the first time. Today I had a moment. A little moment. Well I had lots of little moments, isn't that what a day is made from. But this one moment I am referring to gave me a boost just as I needed one.  The door to doubt was creaking it's nasty hinges open into my heart. I could feel it, swingin, slappin, rising it's thunder fire doubt, all those, what am I doing here? when will I ever? why? how? and also where is an  EMPTY SEAT. I was feeling overwhelmed.
So I paused. Stood where I was. Put my hand on the stair railing to sit down. And that's when I saw it. A little gift. For me. On the railing was a tiny plastic bag pink taped. I opened it up slowly and this is what I found.

 Stay Curious. Yes. Hmmmmmm. I again breathed. I remember now. When in doubt, pause, sit down, and look what is right there, right here, at my fingertips. Curious indeed. There is magic happening. Always.

Thanks Kathy Ellen Davis for reminding me and for spreading the good vibes. www.kathyellendavis.com

Hope you have a little moment today.


Monday, July 28, 2014

little drawing - little poem


 a boat
wrote sea
a little note
or was it the sea
that wrote boat:
stay afloat
blue skies are on your spray


Monday, July 14, 2014

thank u project

i remember and 
then I forget to remember
thank u,
that thank u feeling
is always
available
for tuning my heart
bright





Thursday, July 10, 2014

Friday, July 4, 2014

3 inspirations recently

1. This illustrator- Rilla Alexander... and This book- Her Idea.....love it.  I can relate to all of it.
      Brilliant. Yum- Red too.



                                         
Video about the struggles of bringing an idea to life-http://vimeo.com/53424300
.
2. Neil Gaiman's commencement talk. "Make good Art"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikAb-NYkseI

3. swimming today for the first time this summer.


Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Pause



when i do take a moment to just pause and actually see feel breath notice
all that already is,
there is a powerful knowing without it being knowing
that life really is a mind googling ever changing
continuing blossoming 
wonder.
and when you feel that 
even if it's for a micro second on your way out the door in the door
opening a door,
then thank shines through
 tiny hand leaves breathing veins
and the day unfold follows
     



Tuesday, July 1, 2014

tiny steps


I realized that just thinking about something isn't going to make it a reality.  
Action.
 Moving towards that which you want to create.
 Every day. 
Even if it's the tiniest 
fragment of the whole. 
These steps, even tiny steps matter. 
They add up and bridge each action to the next. 
Sometimes I forget about my mountain.
I see other people's mountains. I see trails that twirl and meander around a lake. 
I ponder about trails that twirl and meander around a lake. 
Sometimes I have absolutely no idea how I will ever build a spiraling staircase around a mountain on roller blades with no map, no scaffolding, and only popsicle sticks in my pocket. 
But I keep on going.
Clarifying my mountain even as it changes day to day.


Saturday, June 28, 2014

Paint your day!

                         I did these paintbrush heads awhile back and just rediscovered this image.
                                   Hmmmmmmmm, want to play with these some more.


Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Yep!


3 inspirations this week

1. I really could be a Ted Talk junkie. The shaking occurs and then I go running to find that cool wow so interesting yes of course thank you for saying it like that FIX. This talk hit the target, a target for me.
http://www.ted.com/talks/sarah_lewis_embrace_the_near_win


2. Studio time this week was so delicious. Ha, i inspired myself. Gave myself some free just play make flow with your hands and see what happens time. collages came in this new form. layered like book pages with a notebook spine. Here is one.


3. Jenny Offill's book. Department of Speculation.Beautiful writing. http://jennyoffill.com

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

something a friend told me once


I know it really doesn't make sense but then at the time it really made sense.
Too tired to elaborate but lets just say it's the heart bursting out like rays in every way possible.
All ways some how become one.



Lilla Rogers Bootcamp June

This month the assignment was to create some wall art with a loose ship in bottle/ nautical theme.
Being a Pisces, I love the water and anything that flows. So I played with some of my favorite colors, blues, almost sea green and my favorite medium, collage. Here are some images from this play creating time.


you can check out what others created at the link

Friday, June 20, 2014

The Great Outdoors


This image was selected for a promotional collection from FoundFolios
 for the collection The Great Outdoors.


Thursday, June 19, 2014

3 inspirations

1.John Rives, a poet, artist of true delight performing "If I controlled the internet" http://tuesdaypoem.blogspot.com/2011/09/rives-controls-internet-by-rives.html
AND this one, the museum of 4 am....must listen.
http://www.ted.com/talks/rives_a_museum_of_4_o_clock_in_the_morning

2. Documentary Tim's Vermeer, love this five year obsession. http://boingboing.net/2014/06/10/vermeers-paintings-might-be.html

3. Quotes on my son's school wall inspired by the book Wonder by RJ Palacio. Wish I hadn't ignored the temptation to take a pic of one of them; even just the quote so I could remember on a dreary heart heavy day, the power in words pieced together and written on a poster board.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Lilla Rogers Bootcamp May

 Here are some images from this months editorial assignment which was about beginning meditation.











Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Collage

                                                           Have been collage happy!


Friday, May 2, 2014

collage

woke up with the words blue star blue star chanting my mind. Perhaps it was the result of some crazy dreams I had trying to replace them with something brighter. i attempted to decode, without success. Instead I made some collages. Much more fun.

3 inspirations

I am inspired by many many artists and people. There are books I read, images, paintings, music. It is everywhere to breathe. Sometimes it is actually overwhelming, there is so much amazing creation created and being created all the time. I am in constant awe intrigue wonder and delight with artists/ writers and their devotion to their work. Once read something from the artist Annette Messenger who also has fed me visually with her mixed media. She writes:

 "Influence-I think it's a sort of nourishment you take from other artists-its like the little sparrows, they are needy like that. When you're young, you take in from a lot of sources; and afterwards, with all you've seen, you never know where it all comes from, where you stop and it begins."

One day I may make a real list of all the artists that I feel have fed me. Until then since I have been focusing on creating children's picture books I thought I would share 3 illustrators whose work definitely delights me and sends me grabbing for my pencil again.


1. Beatrice Alemagna  LOVE!  http://www.beatricealemagna.com
check out this video http://vimeo.com/86654508

2. Anne Herbaut http://www.ricochet-jeunes.org/illustrateurs/initiale/H/auteur/900-anne-herbauts
3. Isabelle Arsenault http://www.isabellearsenault.com

ok 1 more
4. Oliver Jeffers  http://www.oliverjeffers.com
just 1 more
5. Kveta Pacovska http://www.minedition.com/en/illustrator_detail.php?id=26





Thursday, May 1, 2014

Mother's Day, always.


                        For my mother's birthday I made her a photo album to celebrate her 70th.
                       She is an amazing woman, full of life, light, completely stylish and always giving.
                       This is the cover for the book. I never met my mom's mom. She died when my mom
                      was a teenager. The hand in the image above is taken from a picture of the grandmother
                      I never met but feel I have some how known.
                       She is waving, as if to say, I am giving my love too.