catch and release

practice

new collage

Dipping into time, experiencing time differently lately, feeling both fully present and also this sense that time is moving beyond my grasp, feel an urgency to share my work, and also make new work purely for the time spent making it. This collage above is pieced together from images that were in a pile and for some reason wanted to be next to one another.

Discovering the What

 

Most often the only way I can discover the WHAT (i want to make, say, share, ultimately CREATE) is by somehow moving into that space, traveling through and reaching for what seems like it doesn't exist. Like right now, I'm writing and then erasing, writing and then erasing, writing and then erasing so much, like a dance that is tripping over its own feet. I am attempting to find the WHAT it is I am wanting to say. See this whole creating business is tricky. The only way I can discover WHAT it is I want to say under this image that says Step into discovering the WHAT is exactly that. 

There is no short cut to finding your creative WHAT, get on in.

sketchbook images

Today I am having troubles concentrating so I was looking through some sketchbooks. Oh, I love sketchbooks, can't seem to ever finish one without picking up a new one but I love them for the time spent drawing, writing, scribbling feels fresh and like today when I need a boost I can find something I did without too much thought and it brings me some joy again. Here are a few.

collages, one new one that's been hanging around

new drawings

 

 this is something I need to remember

3 inspirations recently

1.http://www.brainpickings.org/tag/neil-gaiman/
this talk by Neil Gaiman, story telling, and his voice, the actual sound to his voice soothes me.

2. Gorgeous illustrations from these two graphic novels.
Isabelle Aresenault, Jane,the Fox, and Me http://www.isabellearsenault.com/2yo0xb2on13tbjux8mio9w0mp0irbx
Love this blog - http://blog.picturebookmakers.com/post/122843304761/isabelle-arsenault

This One Summer
http://jilliantamaki.com/books/this-one-summer/

3. Dan Santat's Caldecott speech
http://www.ala.org/alsc/sites/ala.org.alsc/files/content/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecott2015-speech-lores_final.pdf

Big Lion Little Lion

SCBWI NJ conference- Thank You!

This weekend I went to the New Jersey SCBWI conference. This was the image I showed in the illustration show. When I learned about the theme for this year I got a bit huffy and puffy. 

Talked to my computer. More like complained.

"Ugh..., Once Upon a Time, I do not, do not, do not like it."

After a few days when the theme remained the same, I felt 

 my pencil, my computer, my sketchbook,  someone- something, was talking back. 

"So you don't like it, well what are you going to do about it?!" Somehow this was an invitation and a command at the same time. Turns out I can use my huffin' and puffin' to flip things around.

See ya later big bad wolf!

Thanks to NJ SCBWI for putting together an amazing weekend with so many opportunities to learn, connect, share with other illustrators and writers. Every time I sat down I met someone new and enjoyed hearing where they were on their children's book making journey. 

huge bonus-Thrilled to say that I won the pre-published illustrator award.

Here are is a link to see all the illustrations from the Once Upon A Time show.

https://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2015/06/20/illustrator-saturday-njscbwi-art-show-showcase/

Clues to when you are in the Making of something you really want to be making

Began this quick list one day in a notebook. I have been thinking about this lately, this sense that there are clues sometimes subtle sometimes overtly glaring in my veins, to when I am fully in the Making of something I truly want to be making. going to expand on this soon but for now...here are the few notes

sometimes

new illustration

eyes

did this ink drawing today. 

I like the way the pic looks all smoky eyes looking down looking up on u

3 inspirations this week

3 inspirations this week

1. If you want some creative mind heart opening juice to transform your life choices this is -A MUST listen http://unmistakablecreative.com/podcast/a-journey-to-the-crossroads-of-should-and-must-with-elle-luna

 2.My studio mate’s awesome beautiful embroidery book. I felt and witnessed her make it, week after week after week. I am so inspired and excited for her.

CHECK this beauty out.

http://www.rebeccaringquist.com/book/

3. I’ve been noticing little aaaaah yes, that is awesome weird how timely COINCIDENTAL moments also known as Synchronicities -the occurrence of two or more events that appear to be meaningfully related but not causally related. Synchronicity holds that such events are "meaningful coincidences". I LOVE synchronicity although it is hard to spell, I LOVE when those moments happen. It makes me feel like the universe is playing with me, guiding me, sending me little sometimes big signs to move in the direction, keep moving in the direction that makes me feel more ALIVE. Thank you synchronicity,,,,I invite you more.

18 minute collages

my ever growing changing scrap paper bin pictured above provides the juice 

for my 18 minute collages.

I stick my hand in an pull out voila---surprises, bits from sketches, drawings, watercolors.

I set my timer for 18 minutes then- cut glue go.

I love the creative process and could play with something endlessly.

However, these timed collaged give me the satisfaction and the practice of completing something.

Letting it be what it is and enjoying the imperfection, the not knowing, the making something.

try it. use what you have hanging around, set your timer, and see what you create.

sketchbook page

new illustrations

Have been drawing lots lately, filling many sketchbooks and then playing with the imagery.

These two are hot off my fingertips.

Enjoy a bowl of YUM

This morning my oatmeal tasted especially good. I actually heard my self go yummmmm. It may have actually somehow been extra tasty or that I was giving my bowl full attention. Wasn't reading, or checking email, or drawing. Soley enjoying what was in my bowl at that very moment. So satisfying. That bowl must have set a mood for the whole day because I seemed to enjoy everything else I was doing which was drawing, lots of drawing. My pencil went yum all the way down to the very last bit.

Whatever is in your bowl, I hope it makes you go yum too, even for a one glorious moment. 

connecting the heart from the inside out

                                                                     new illustration