Thursday, June 26, 2008

Summer Goals, Screened in Porches, and Things Ridiculous

A bit late, yes, but summer officially started on June 21st, so still within reason, I think. Many of these are a continuation of my regular art and writing goals. But I'm more accountable to myself if I post them (one great thing about blogging.)

So, in no particular order:

- Finish new story dummy and color sample and ship that baby out to agent!
- Continue 15+ minute daily writing exercise.
- Update portfolio sites.
- Continue to develop portfolio pieces.
- Design a fancy header for this blog!
- Make mailing to magazine map clients in mid-summer. (Quite alliterative, that sentence, no?)
- Keep up with magazine map client work! (Deadlines help...)
- Gather master list of book ideas that I've been cogitating on for too long. PB's and... a couple of chapter book ideas.
- Seriously start one or more of these.
- Keep reading, reading, reading.
- Spend time on my screened in porch (favorite room ever) while doing some of these things. (Aren't screened in porches awesome, Barbara?)



















- Go on vacation and relax and unwind and appreciate like crazy my awesome family and life, including my, sigh, spine... uh, wait a minute, who invited you? (Okay, do I really have to appreciate "cervical radiculitis?" Doesn't that word sound suspiciously close to "ridiculitis?" Somebody in the medical-name-making-up department has a sense of humor!)
- Oh yeah... keep my sense of humor.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Wednesday B & W: The Old Apple Tree














Sometimes the kids from here, here, and here like to take a break and hang out on the old apple tree.

The tree is an odd shape, I know. It's just like the one that was in my backyard when I was growing up. My parents paid us neighborhood kids 5¢ an apple to pick up all the rotten ones. Not a bad deal, for the time!

I didn't want to start a new series this week, as I'll be taking a 2 week blogging break after Friday.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Monday Map: Down the Neuse River



















This is from a few years ago. Hmmm... hope I haven't repeated any maps yet... will have to take stock.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Friday Fun: Flying Leaps




I love this! Think there's room for a pig? 'Cause he could use a little help from a friend now and again, too...

(I have to say though, I wish it didn't turn out to be a commercial for a state lottery...)

...Found via e-- thanks for the link!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Wednesday Series: Scaredy Cat























This series began with wanting to do some moodier black and white line samples. Not so much of a narrative story in mind here... maybe I should come up with one. That would be a good exercise...

Monday, June 16, 2008

Monday Map: Maps of Cows, Cows With Maps













Maybe I should call this one "Monday Map-ish." The only request I had from the client was: "Don't make him look too cute to eat."

While looking for cow reference I came across this (look closely!):

Friday, June 13, 2008

Friday Fun: 1000 Journals



Has anybody heard of this? I'd really like to see the movie but Netflix doesn't have it yet. Why do so many people grow up and out of art?

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Two Boys



















Bikes and skateboards... two favorite childhood memories. And what were helmets, anyway?

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

"The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination"**

I'm sure this is all over the blogosphere by now... I can't even remember who spoke at my college graduation. What a treat this must have been!

Apparently not everyone was thrilled. Like this guy, "...They should have picked a leader to speak at commencement. Not a children's writer. What does that say to the class of 2008? Are we the joke class?"

Hmmm... so children's books are a joke? Perhaps he'd rather they just watch more TV. It sounds to me as if this guy could use a little bit more imagination in his life. As could many leaders. Given the state the of the world today, wouldn't more imagination be a good thing for everyone?

(**–J.K. Rowling, Harvard Commencement Address 2008)

Monday, June 9, 2008

Monday Map: ¡Hola a Mis Amigos Mexicanos!



















Another older map. I wonder how hot it is in Mexico now?

Today there's a heat advisory here in the Northeast-- between the temperature and the humidity the heat index will make it feel like it's about 104. The schools are even on early dismissal.

And, silly us, we don't have air conditioning.

But truly, I love it. For 8 or 9 months of the year (while trying to stay warm) I dream about opening the windows and hearing the birds and the crickets and the peaceful outside noises. So I don't complain about hot weather.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Football in B & W














Ahh, now this is what we call football in our household... you know, the real kind that you play with a foot and a ball... tee hee!

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Wednesday Series: Scaredy Cat (#3 of 4)





































Cross-hatching sure becomes addictive. It's actually quite relaxing, so much so that I was afraid I wouldn't know when to stop. But I wanted to show a difference between the black & white line samples and the ones with wash, while still having levels of gray. 'Cause, as y'all know, I love them interesting gray areas of life...

Here's #1 and #2 in this series.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Black and White and Shades of Gray


















Ahh, would that life were as easy as black and white. But alas, there are many shades of gray. Though for sure that makes it more interesting...

Just playing around here with more new samples... feel free to ignore my silly musings!