Art, Words, Life

Skaters!

2012-01-25T10:41:00.000-05:00

Above, the final art from this sketch.
And a black & white spot as accompaniment!

One Day at the Library, I Had A Nice Surprise...

2012-01-18T10:47:00.000-05:00

(Excuse the blurry photos! Better version here.)

A January Sketch

2012-01-10T10:10:00.001-05:00

While driving somewhere yesterday I actually forgot what month it was, seeing as how it's been so spring-like outside, and there's been no real snow here since the freak October snowstorm. Unlike this time last year. (Scroll down for pup & snow photo!)

Still, I think ice skating belongs in January.

Resolution, 2012

2012-01-04T10:50:00.002-05:00

Lose yourself in the work,
and everything else will fall into place.

This is one thing I've found to be true.

Happy New Year, all!

Fooling around here with pencils & watercolor on scrap paper. Looking to go a little heavier with the pencil line and not fret so much over color!

Hairy Little Assistants

2011-12-21T10:01:00.000-05:00

Above is my newly-promoted early-morning Hairy Little Assistant, seeing as how the girls (below) have taken to napping on the job. This one has tons of energy. (Not shown: Coffee.)

It All Begins Here...

2011-12-15T09:26:00.001-05:00

... with really rough thumbnail sketches.*

These are for a new book. I love the unlimited possibilities at this stage.

(*Actually, it really all begins in my head. Kind of awkward to photograph, though.)

New Map ~ Skiing in Vermont

2011-12-13T10:07:00.000-05:00

Whoa, how did it get to be mid-December already? I was laid low last week with the cold-sinus-bronchitis thing that's been going around here, and am emerging from the fog. Still managed to make progress on artwork, thankfully. (One nice thing about working for yourself is you can nap if you really, really need to. At your desk! Shhh... don't tell anyone.)

Here's a new map for an upcoming issue of Connecticut Cottages & Gardens magazine. This one put me in a festive, wintery mood!

PiBoIdMo... Done!

2011-12-01T10:49:00.000-05:00

I finished November's PiBoIdMo challenge with 37 new ideas... from pretty well fleshed-out to just a word or two. What a great exercise for my usual early morning routine. Especially given that life is very busy lately and the days fill up before I know what's happened.

I gathered the ideas in a new notebook...

...with a pretty cover...

...much different than the utilitarian grocery store cheapo one I usually use. Plus now it will be easier to find them.

And now, there's this! I'm really liking these deadliney-writing challenges.

And this quote, recently discovered:

"Miles, if I just change the way I look at things, I'll never run out of ideas," said Hugo.
– from Hugo and Miles In I've Painted Everything! by Scott Magoon (Houghton Mifflin Co., 2007)

On The Desk & In The Queue

2011-11-29T11:21:00.000-05:00

I'm working away on final art for the Sled Ride book and thinking (again!) about how to decide when a piece is finished. It's one of those questions you have to figure out over and over...

And, two more exciting book projects are lined up in the queue! (Yay!) I'll post more about them in the coming months...

(Also, fortunately, my drawing arm was not strained by the amount of pie it shoveled into my mouth this past weekend...)

Happy Thanksgiving! And a Worthy Cause.

2011-11-23T14:24:00.000-05:00

Islandport Press is teaming with the Maine Credit Union League for their first ever Online Literary Auction, starting November 28th, to raise money to fight hunger. Authors, illustrators, and artists from around the New England area have contributed works, and 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to this worthy cause. Please take a look...

And, Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! This year, I'm thankful to have enough. (Family, friends, work, food... and so on. Enough is good.)

I See, You See

2011-11-15T10:02:00.000-05:00

What you see: Two adorable kitties.

What I see: Eight little paws just waiting to pitter-patter across the art on my drawing table.

Yesterday's Field Trip...

2011-11-10T13:16:00.001-05:00

... was to the Big Apple, to see the Society of Illustrators Original Art show. Wow. It's just plain inspiring to see works of art up close and personal. The variety is wonderful– traditional, digital, a mix of both... there's room for everything. Here are some of my favorites:

(And this is Grand Central Station. I have a thing for the architecture. It's spectacular.)

Painting, Happily.

2011-11-08T11:09:00.000-05:00

(And, we finally got our power back! After eight days without. 7 days of no electricity because of Irene + 8 days due to Alfred = way too many days without electricity! I'll spare you my rant.)

Whohoo, Reviews!

2011-11-02T12:42:00.000-04:00

So, we are powerless yet again, after Saturday's Epic October Snowstorm. I'm posting from my town's municipal center. (Free wifi and Starbucks, yay!) No worries. Other than the heartbreak of seeing so many beautiful old trees destroyed, none landed on our house, fortunately. And, we have a generator and wood stove. Water and heat rock! (We also managed to polish off all the Halloween candy ourselves, since they cancelled trick or treating. Well-deserved chocolate, I say!)

I'm thrilled to be posting a few lovely reviews for Maggie & Oliver. One from last week's Shelf Awareness, (scroll down), and one in the November/December issue of The Horn Book Magazine! Here's a snippet:

"This is Victoriana with no steampunk shenanigans and no tongues in cheeks, just well-orchestrated, straightforward storytelling for newish readers– with a bonus of warm pencil drawings reminiscent of Lois Lenski."

Wow. (Lois Lenski!) Just wow. Thank you, Shelf Awareness and Horn Book!

Hey! It's a Giveaway!

2011-10-27T08:01:00.006-04:00

To celebrate the release of Maggie & Oliver, I'm giving away two copies signed by me, the illustrator! Click on the link below to enter. The winners will be chosen on November 22nd.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

          Maggie and Oliver or A Bone of One's Own

          by Valerie Hobbs

            Giveaway ends November 22, 2011.



            See the giveaway details
            at Goodreads.

      Enter to win

(I'd pick the names out of a hat myself, but can't trust that my pup wouldn't eat them first. And who knows what the cats would do! Ahh... life with animals.)

Happy Book Birthday!

2011-10-25T11:34:00.000-04:00

Maggie & Oliver officially enters the world today!

Mappish Sketch...

2011-10-19T09:53:00.000-04:00

... from the Sled Ride book.

(We'll be sledding soon enough around here, I'm sure!)

New Fall Postcard

2011-10-12T09:09:00.001-04:00

Box O' New Books!

2011-10-05T10:41:00.000-04:00

Look what Mr. UPS guy delivered yesterday! Hardcover copies of Maggie and Oliver, or A Bone of One's Own! The official release date is in less than three weeks, on October 25!

Such fun to page through it...

The book is printed in a nice brownish ink, which fits the time period well, I think! Here are a few interior spreads...

While working on the endpapers, my editor and designer came up with the brilliant idea of having Maggie and Oliver separate on the front end... (See the girl and the dog close to the gutter?)

... and coming together on the back end, as they do in the story.

And it was a lovely surprise to see that they had taken one of interior spots...

... and embossed it on the hardcover of the book. Sweet detail!

I'll post more in the coming weeks, but for now, time for a great big Happy Dance!

Busybusybusy

2011-09-27T09:55:00.000-04:00

Work-In-Progress

2011-09-20T09:47:00.000-04:00

I'm working on final art for the Sled book. This may be my favorite spread. (I reserve the right to change my mind!)

More Books With Maps!

2011-09-13T10:11:00.000-04:00

This is a map I worked on over the summer for a book called Something to Hold, by Katherine Schlick Noe. It's the story of a young girl who goes to live on an Indian Reservation with her family in the 1960's. The book will be released by Clarion Books this coming December!

In this instance I wasn't able to read the manuscript beforehand, but was given enough key points to be able to tie in the map with the feel of the story. Really looking forward to reading this one!

"Reset"

2011-09-06T10:13:00.000-04:00

Transferring a sketch for a map assignment on my old-fashioned light box during the week without power.

I'm thinking of calling last week "The Lost Week," or "The Powerless Week," and I'd like to hit the reset button for the month of September, please! Like thousands of other folks across the Northeast, our power went "poof!" last Sunday morning due to Hurricane Irene, and we didn't get it back until seven days later. (Seven long, cold-showering days!)

We were fortunate to have use of a generator, without which there's no water from the well; and we have a gas stove, so we were able to cook. The husband even managed to hook up a TV and the wifi box halfway through the week, though the fishtank mysteriously kept blowing the fuse. It could have been so much worse– I can only imagine how devastating it must be for those who lose their homes to flooding and fires– so we can't complain too much. But still, the week left us feeling generally discombobulated. Glad to be moving forward now!

Below is a sneak peek of part of a sketch from this project (which I'm casually calling the "Sled" book.) I'm starting final art now. Yay!

Maybe I Should Do a Counting Book. With Tomatoes.

2011-08-19T10:52:00.000-04:00

You do the math.

Favorite Tools

2011-08-17T12:08:00.000-04:00

Pencil, tracing paper, and kneaded eraser: priceless for revising and tweaking. Photoshop, too. But sometimes the old-fashioned way is easiest.

I should be able to show some of the sketches from this project, soon!

Fall 2011 Children's Announcements!

2011-08-09T08:04:00.068-04:00

From Publisher's Weekly

MACMILLAN/HENRY HOLT
Maggie and Oliver or a Bone of One’s Own by Valerie Hobbs, illus. by Jennifer Thermes (Oct; $15.99; ISBN 978-0-8050-9294-3) relays the adventures of an orphan girl and an orphaned dog in turn-of-the-century Boston. Ages 8 to 12.

Vintagy (Is that a word?) Map

2011-08-04T10:20:00.000-04:00

Here's a new map for an upcoming issue of Adirondack Life magazine. This one was a lot of fun to do, because the Art Director wanted a sort of 1940's-vintage-linen postcard feel to the map. (Try looking those up on ebay... way to want to start collecting 'em!) This will run on a tilt across a spread, so I had to design it to keep the lettering out of the gutter– thus the blankish area toward the right. (That sneaky little gutter... always good for a challenge!)

Back from the Beach!

2011-08-02T09:13:00.000-04:00

We spent a lovely vacation at the shore. Somebody loved the water...

... and returned home to Squashapalooza.

So far I've come up with 14 ways to cook zucchini.

Ironic

2011-07-12T12:10:00.000-04:00

Today will reach close to 100 degrees. And it's humid.

And I'm drawing kids in snow gear.

I love my job! (No irony intended!)

How Does Your Garden Grow?

2011-07-05T09:23:00.000-04:00

Tomatoes

Cucumbers

Lettuce

Pole and bush beans

Swiss Chard

Kale

Rutabaga

Onions

Beets

Carrots

Too many varieties of squash to name
(Butternut, Acorn... you get the idea.)

Asparagus

Strawberries

Snap Peas

Kohlrabi

Broccoli (Though it always breaks my heart.)

Now if I could only find a way to grow ice cream...

Summer Postcard

2011-06-28T08:03:00.020-04:00

Here's my summer postcard mailer, and I've added a few new pieces to my black & white portfolio. Busy days around here!

Basket Case(s)

2011-06-21T08:01:00.018-04:00

My hairy little assistants do not stress over deadlines. Obviously.

Nice PR

2011-06-16T08:35:00.000-04:00

... at the Islandport Press blog.

I Heart Black & White Art

2011-06-14T11:04:00.000-04:00

Must Keep Drawing, Must Keep Drawing...

2011-06-09T10:03:00.001-04:00

Morning Visitors

2011-06-07T08:34:00.002-04:00

Better not let the puppy out, lest she be snapped up!

Dept. of Good Stuff

2011-06-02T10:10:00.002-04:00

I was knee deep in thumbnails when I hinted at it here. Now I'm thrilled to officially announce that I'm illustrating a picture book for award-winning, independent publisher Islandport Press!

The book is scheduled for late 2012, so I'll be posting more about it in the coming months. Onward to sketches!

Sketch-In-Progress

2011-05-26T12:34:00.000-04:00

Here's a cleaned-up sketch for an idea I've had in mind.

The beginnings snuck (sneaked?) in through the side door. Then there were more sketchy-doodle musings.

This time around, I scanned the bits and pieces into Photoshop, in order to play around with the shapes and sizes and design.

And then redrew some more, and listened to some surprising, inspiring music, and made lots of scribbly notes.

I've got a few projects going on right now so the finished art will get done in the in-between time. It's good to work on a few different things at once... keeps the mind brewing.

Spring Bugs

2011-05-24T09:20:00.002-04:00

Great weather around here lately for bugs. (And frogs. And ducks. And people with curly hair...)

Figuring-It-Out Friday

2011-05-20T11:18:00.002-04:00

I'm finishing up a new sample piece and cogitating over cover ideas for the new book project. Thinking time is really important, before pencil touches paper. (It's not procrastinating. Really!)

Hairy Little Assistant #1 agrees.

2011-05-16T08:00:00.003-04:00

Children's Books
reviewed in yesterday's New York Times.

(Illustration: Elwood H. Smith)

Sneaky

2011-05-10T09:18:00.000-04:00

Funny how, when you're deep into one project,
other ideas come sneaking in through the side door.

Random Garden Interlude

2011-05-05T10:07:00.000-04:00

Asparagus patch, 2011.

Alas, we'll have to wait one more year before we can harvest any. By year three, the asparagus (asparagii?) should be abundant. For now, the roots need to grow and become stronger.

Hard work, patience, love, a little luck– that's what gardening's all about.

(Hey, kinda like publishing!)

All Thumbs

2011-05-03T09:43:00.000-04:00

I'm starting thumbnails for a new project that I'm really excited about. Don't want to say too much yet. But it involves illustrations. And a book. Stay tuned!

Step-By-Step Illustration, Part Deux & Final Art!

2011-04-28T10:39:00.000-04:00

A commenter on the previous post asked about the blue tape... this was a wonderful recent discovery. It's blue house painter's tape. (I had to buy a second roll after husband stole the first one to paint our upstairs hallway. Note to self: hide art supplies!) I don't stretch my watercolor paper, as wetting and drying it too many times messes with the quality of pencil line, but sometimes it was a struggle to keep the paper from rippling. It wasn't a huge problem, but I figured there had to be a better way to keep the paper flat. Also, I wanted to keep the bleed edge neater, just because. Voilá, the painter's tape works great.

So, onward with the continuation of Part One...

6) Here, I'm continuing to build up the color and line, jumping back and forth between the two:

7) At this point I'm feeling better about the piece, and pretty sure it will work out. I'm also always making mental notes to myself about how I think it's going, and which part to work on next. Positive self talk is so important, especially when you have a nasty inner critic! The changes are more subtle from here on out:

8) Almost there. It's nice to have the luxury of time to take little breaks, in order to see a piece with fresh eyes. Color fatigue can be brutal on the ol' eyeballs! For this reason, I like to save final details for first thing in the morning:

9) And at last, the finished piece:

Many thanks to everyone who commented on the previous post. I really appreciate all the kind words! Now, back to the drawing board...

Step-By-Step Illustration, Part One

2011-04-26T12:37:00.000-04:00

I adore when other artists do step-by-step demos of how they work. I usually forget to pick up the camera, or find that the verbal part of my brain has been temporarily suspended while painting, so it's too hard to talk about what I'm doing as I'm doing it. But I thought it was about time for a demo of my own. So, here goes...

1) Rough sketch (from my sketchbook, a few weeks ago). I was thinking about wind, and motion, and sunlight peeking through clouds, and a more muted, late-winter-into-spring color palette:

2) Sketch transferred very, very lightly in pencil via lightbox to watercolor paper. (Can you see it?):

3) Here, I've started drawing with colored pencil. I like to have the basic lines and textures on the page before starting the color:

4) I work in pencil and watercolor, and go back and forth between the two, building up layers of line and color. I've tried to make a piece go faster by laying the color down darker in the beginning, but that approach always seems to backfire. Either the texture doesn't build the way I want, or I panic and think I've wrecked the piece. Slower is better, in this case! Here's the beginning of the color, in a faint wash:

5) I try to build up the color as much as I can before going back to the pencil line. There's no real formula for this. Sometimes it's just a matter of being bored with one and wanting to go back to the other for a while:

At this point I'm still not really sure if the piece is going to work or not. I like to call this the "Ohmygawditsawful stage." Seriously, I can't count how many times I've gotten frustrated and started a piece over, only to go back to the original later on. I should really have "Keep Going!" tattooed onto my arm, because that's the only way to get through this stage. Sometimes a short nap, or my kids telling me to step away from the painting helps, too. (I've trained them well!)

Stay tuned for Part Deux, and the final art!

Charlotte Magazine Map

2011-04-19T09:41:00.005-04:00

Here's a recent map for Charlotte Magazine. I love imagining the flavor and atmosphere of places I've never been to through working on these maps.

Coming Soon!

2011-04-12T09:30:00.000-04:00

Soon, as in, October!

Friday Fun

2011-04-08T11:35:00.001-04:00

Couldn't resist this. I want a Brontësaurus!

Office Assistants

2011-04-07T08:30:00.002-04:00

This one prefers to hide out in the stacks all day long:

This one is fond of gnawing on pencils:

And this one has very little patience for revisions:

Sigh. So hard to find good help these days!

Picture Book Artists Association

2011-04-05T10:07:00.001-04:00

The Spring Edition
of the PBAA website has sprung!

Spring Arrives!

2011-03-22T08:06:00.002-04:00

So, spring arrived this weekend and it snowed yesterday. Such is life in New England. At least spring snow is only pretend snow, right? This is a rough sketch for a portfolio sample– I'll post the final when it's done. Must keep creating!

It's been a busy month around here. I finished the Maggie and Oliver cover (book to be released in October!), sent out a postcard mailer, worked up a second color sample for a dummy, dipped back into a story that needed to simmer for a while, and completed a nifty magazine map assignment. And I even managed to plant a row of snap peas in the garden this weekend. (The day before it snowed, of course!) I like busy.

And...

...I've been getting ready for the Whispering Pines Writer's Retreat this coming weekend! (I feel like my puppy: So excited, so excited, so excited!)

I'll be speaking as the author/illustrator mentor. I'm so honored to have been invited, and must admit to being a bit nervous, but in a good way. (Hope you behave yourself, PowerPoint.)

I am really looking forward to meeting new friends and the other fantastic mentors. (Oh please, don't let me get tongue-tied...)

Must remember to take lots of pictures. In the meantime, Happy Spring, everyone!

History Lesson

2011-03-15T09:21:00.006-04:00

This is via a friend who taught me how to do magazine mechanicals, back in ye olde, fresh-out-of-art-school days.

(Thanks, SLW!)

What's On My Mind

2011-03-10T11:08:00.003-05:00

Windy Walk

2011-03-08T09:25:00.006-05:00

Long walks feel so good after a morning of sitting at the drawing table.

Everyone enjoys them.

Inspiring.

2011-03-01T09:26:00.003-05:00

My friend Lynda, on Defying Logic, Fighting Gravity, and Other Lynda-esque Kinds of Things. Read the comments, too. Good stuff.

Foodie Sketch

2011-02-23T10:04:00.001-05:00

Personally, I think it could use some anchovies.

Garden Plans

2011-02-17T09:30:00.003-05:00

This is a recent magazine piece. I love working on garden plans in the middle of winter. It reminds me that spring will come!

Iditarod Race ~ Promo Card

2011-02-10T09:47:00.001-05:00

I'll be sending this card out shortly. I thought it was appropriate for this time of year. Brrr.

(Is there an equivalent of the Iditarod race, say, in Key West? I'm in...)

Just a Little Something I'm Working On

2011-02-08T09:48:00.001-05:00

Friday Fun: A girl can dream...

2011-02-04T09:55:00.001-05:00

... of warmer places.

Projects, Puppies, and Happy New Year!

2011-01-13T11:27:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year, everyone!

I'm finally working on the cover art for Maggie & Oliver! Can't wait until it comes out this Fall. Ironic, isn't it, how things happen so slowly in publishing, but time seems to pass faster the older you get. That must make it all even out in the end.

Here's another peek at some interior art... these will be chapter heads. Can you tell the story takes place in an old-fashioned setting?

And some most exciting news... here's the newest addition to our family! (Whose brilliant idea was it to get a puppy in the middle of a winter of epic snow? I won't answer that...)

May 2011 bring you projects, and puppies, and whatever else you hope for!

Nice Art!

2011-01-04T09:32:00.003-05:00

The Winter 2011 edition of
Picture Book Artists Association is up!
(Here's my page.)

Rushing Around

2010-12-14T10:34:00.001-05:00

'Tis the season.

On My Desk

2010-12-07T08:59:00.001-05:00

Working on rough cover color ideas for this project.

(Notice, the cats have been displaced. For now.)

Shout Out!

2010-12-02T08:25:00.002-05:00

This is a huge thank you to my dear friend Sue, who brought me two discarded books from her local library. And look! They're map books! The top one is called Decorative Maps, by Heather Child, published in 1956; and the one below is Picture Map Geography of South America, by Vernon Quinn, from way back in 1941. How very useful these will be!

And now for a visual treat, check out Sue's latest creative endeavor, her photography:

www.lampewilson.zenfolio.com

(I know she's my friend and all, but I think her work is spectacular.)

As if this isn't enough coolness for one day, take a look at what she and her husband do in Vermont:

Mystery on Main Street

Yes, they run a book store... an independent book store! (I'm so proud of them.) So if you're in the Brattleboro area, please check it out. Here's to brave folks who follow their creative hearts!

Gratuitous Garden Post

2010-11-30T09:55:00.001-05:00

Hard to believe tomorrow is December 1, and the garden is still going. I probably should have been decorating and shopping this past Sunday, but couldn't quite bring myself to get into holiday-insanity mode. Not with the sun shining and weeds to be pulled!

Here are our homemade hoop houses. (Gotta love duct tape.)

Below, from left to right, are kohlrabi, beets, pac choi (?) cabbage, and carrots.

And here's spinach, broccoli rabe, swiss chard and some sort of green whose name I forget. It's supposed to grow when it's 30 below. Or something like that.

And finally, the take from what's still hanging in under row covers: more chard, kale, and baby carrots. Sure am enjoying this year's grand garden experiment.

To me, gardening is a sort of moving meditation. It also gets the ideas flowing. I don't know why this is– I'm happy just to keep digging.

(How Do You Say "Turkey" in Cat?)

2010-11-23T13:12:00.000-05:00

My hairy little assistants keeping an eye on the birds outside. No turkeys, so far. Happy Thanksgiving, all!

Who-Owl Promo Card

2010-11-18T08:13:00.002-05:00

Here's another promo card, from this sketch, way back when.

It always feels like a leap of faith to send these out into the world. (How do I know the post office guy isn't just snickering and shredding them in the back room? Mwahahahaha!) But I really have had people say they've kept a card for years until the right assignment came along. You just never know where things will lead.

Three Days of Sweat and a Bunch O' Gray Hairs Later, I've Finally Updated My Website...

2010-11-11T09:01:00.007-05:00

www.jenniferthermes.com

2010-11-09T09:43:00.007-05:00

The New York Times
Best Illustrated Children's
Books of 2010

(My blog doubles as a file cabinet. If I don't post this link
I'll lose track of it.)

Whispering Pines 2011

2010-11-04T08:48:00.000-04:00

I've been invited to be the guest illustrator at the 2011 Whispering Pines Writer's Retreat from March 25-27, 2011! People have been telling me wonderful things about this weekend, and I am really excited to take part. Here are some past presenters, and here's registration information.

Something good to look forward to at the tail end of winter!

Take-Out Wisdom

2010-11-02T09:25:00.002-04:00

"A truly creative person rids him or herself
of all self-imposed limitations."

(From Friday night Chinese food fortune cookie. Good point.)

Random Color

2010-10-28T08:17:00.001-04:00

New Map Promo Card

2010-10-26T08:56:00.002-04:00

It's been way too long since I've done one of these. My oh my, time flies!

What's On My Desk

2010-10-21T08:15:00.001-04:00

This week I'm working on endpaper illustrations and a few other bits and pieces for Maggie and Oliver, a middle-grade novel by author Valerie Hobbs.

There's always a stage in the process where I think the art looks like blech. Most times I can work through it. (Figured this out after years of self-torture.)

Usually my desk looks something like below. My hairy little assistants are always ready to help. (Between nap breaks, that is.) Luckily I also have a standing desk. Keeps the ol' spine happy.

Here's another piece from the book:

Rutgers One-on-One 2010

2010-10-19T09:56:00.001-04:00

On Saturday I was thrilled to get up at the crack of dawn to attend the Rutgers One-on-One Plus conference for the second year in a row. (I really was thrilled. I'm a ridiculously early riser anyway, and besides, that's why coffee was invented.)

Last year was fabulous, and I expected this year to be the same. It was. For those who aren't familiar with the conference, attendees are paired with a mentor– an editor, agent, author or illustrator– who spends 45 minutes giving feedback on your work.

This year I met with a lovely author who offered many insightful suggestions for my picture book dummy... ones that I think will help take it to another level. Meeting her was just one of the delightful surprises of the day!

There was also a great panel of speakers– Deborah Sloan, Alvina Ling, and Katie Davis– who talked about the value of social networking and some of the ins and outs of Facebook and Twitter. Check out #rcclbuzz on Twitter if you want to learn more. (Dear Twitter, I do love you, but have a hard time keeping up!)

Oh! And I can't forget the 5-on-5 group, where groups of five mentees and mentors meet to discuss whatever burning questions about the industry anyone might have.

The grand finale of the day was keynote speaker, the awesome Deborah Heiligman. (She really is awesome, and not just because she handed out waterproof notebooks to everyone in the audience in case we find ideas in the shower! If you ever get a chance to hear her talk, do it.) Deborah was funny and inspiring. Instead of me trying to paraphrase what she said, here it is in her own words. And here's another take.

Good, good stuff. Heading off to my bubble now...

Love This...

2010-10-14T09:41:00.004-04:00

...James McMullan's series in the New York Times about the basics of drawing; because there are so many different approaches to drawing and always something new to learn.

Teeny-Tiny Sketches

2010-10-12T08:32:00.003-04:00

These are two little sketches for part of the Maggie and Oliver endpapers. The editor and designer liked the one on the left. (Me, I couldn't decide! I'm bad like that.)

Night Owl

2010-10-07T10:08:00.004-04:00

Here's the finished piece. This was the sketch. I tweaked it around a bit in order to fit my postcard design.

Thank You, Highlights!

2010-10-05T09:23:00.000-04:00

This past weekend I went to my first Highlights Illustrators' Party at their company headquarters in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Wow, what a nice group of people– they sure know how to make you feel welcome! My buddy Julie and I drove out together, and one of the first things we commented on as we pulled into town were all the "Welcome Illustrators!" signs. Where else on earth would you ever see that? So cool!

People came to the party from all over the country, and Canada, too. One of the best surprises was meeting so many online folks in person– Susan Mitchell, Paula Becker, Jannie Ho– and a whole bunch of others. It was great to spend time talking face to face while we ate, listened to a presentation by the staff, ate, looked at each others artwork, ate, sat by the lake, ate, dressed up in costumes, ate, square danced (some of us!), and ate some more. (Did I mention that the food was delicious?)

Thanks, Highlights, for a wonderful time!

Dept. of Good Stuff: Update!

2010-09-28T07:37:00.000-04:00

I'm happy to be posting again about my Maggie and Oliver book illustration project, with an update! Things were put on hold this summer because my lovely & wonderful editor moved to another house. (It's publishing. It happens.) The book was reassigned to a new editor (just as lovely & wonderful)* and I'll be finishing up the cover and endpaper art in the next month or so. Look for a Fall '11 publication date! I still intend to blog about the whole process of working on the book– probably closer to the release.

Meanwhile, here's a sneak peek at one of the interior illos:

*(Just gotta say, I'm feeling really, really fortunate to have the chance to work with so many lovely & wonderful people!)

Imagekind Updates

2010-09-23T08:36:00.000-04:00

I've added a few new pieces to my Imagekind Gallery.

I also created a separate section for maps... most of the ones I work on are commissioned for a specific purpose, but these are a few that I thought may be more general interest. Hope you enjoy!

Whooo... Goes There?

2010-09-21T09:57:00.006-04:00

Rough sketches for a new promo piece. I think it shall be black & white.

Dept. of Illustrators I Love

2010-09-02T14:21:00.006-04:00

So You Want to be a Great
Children's Illustrator
An interview with David Small.

(Via Fans of SCBWI on Facebook.)

Veggie Days

2010-08-26T09:06:00.001-04:00

What? It's August, and I haven't blogged about my vegetable garden since March? Well, here we go then:

First, there were radishes and baby spinach.

Then, snap peas, snow peas, and parsley.

Mountains, and I do mean mountains, of zucchini.

Lettuce and Italian broad beans.

Pecks o' purple peppers!

Zucchini, a.k.a. "baseball bat."

A plethora; and attack of the killer tomatoes begins.

And more tomatoes. Lots of tomatoes. Lots and lots of tomatoes...

Next up: Kale Invasion.

Yay!

2010-08-24T09:34:00.001-04:00

Thrilled to say I've been accepted to this year's Rutgers One-on-One Plus conference! Last year was my first time going, and it was a fantastic experience. I highly recommend applying to anyone who is serious about writing and illustrating for children. (I blogged about last year's conference here.) More notes to come...

Sketchbook

2010-08-19T11:06:00.004-04:00

Watched old home movies last night. So many memories... I laughed and cried and laughed again. Where does the time go?

Dog Days

2010-08-17T07:29:00.001-04:00

It's very quiet around here.

August is an odd month.

WriteOnCon

2010-08-12T17:02:00.002-04:00

WriteOnCon's Schedule of Events

(Tons of great information here.)

3 O'Clock in the Morning...

2010-08-03T10:18:00.000-04:00

...can be a very productive time for your brain. Even if you're tossing and turning and trying to sleep. The trick is to write it all down at 6 o'clock in the morning when you get up. With coffee, preferably.

Good Perusing

2010-07-27T15:59:00.002-04:00

Publishers Weekly
Fall 2010 Children's Announcements

(and Spring 2011 Sneak Previews)

PBAA, Summer Edition

2010-07-22T07:00:00.003-04:00

The Summer 2010 edition of the
Picture Book Artists Association is up!
(You can find me here.)

Revision (Or, The Story of My Life!)

2010-07-20T09:30:00.000-04:00

I'm working on yet more revisions for a picture book idea. So true what they say, the simpler the story, the more difficult it is to tell. One thing that tends to gunk it up for me is which part to tell with words and which with pictures. The joy comes in little moments of figuring it all out.

It's That Time of Year Again

2010-07-15T07:00:00.002-04:00

Time to sign up for the Rabbit Hill Festival of Literature!

Home Again, Home Again...

2010-07-13T11:27:00.000-04:00

We're back from vacation. Does anyone else bring projects with them when they go away? Part of me feels like a loser for not being able to put things aside completely. But I've learned that if I do, it's painfully hard to pick up the thread again when I return. Besides, at the risk of sounding Pollyanna-ish, I love my work!

Since I'm an early riser anyway it was easy to get up and spend a few hours writing and drawing before the bustle of the day began. Sunrise, plus beach, plus coffee made for an inspiring time.

Here are a bunch of sunrises... it was fascinating, how the colors and light were constantly changing:

Oh, and I did spend a fair amount of time doing this:

Good Eats in Charlotte

2010-06-22T09:29:00.004-04:00

Here's a map for the July issue of Charlotte Magazine, for an article about restaurants on Central Avenue. (Not wise to work on this kind of map when I'm hungry.)

I Kid You Not

2010-06-17T06:52:00.005-04:00

Saw three boys and their ducks sitting on the back steps of my local library last week. They said they were "taking them for a walk."

I love my library.

Ripple Effect

2010-06-15T10:12:00.001-04:00

My illustrator friend Kelly Light is causing a ripple. She decided to start creating sketchcards-- tiny 2-1/2" by 3-1/2" pieces of original art-- to sell for $10 each to benefit the animal life being devastated by the deluge of oil in the Gulf of Mexico. (Sorry, I just can't call it a "spill" anymore.)

She put out a call to others to see if they would contribute, and the result has been an outpouring of art from professional illustrators, designers, fine artists, kids, and anyone who wanted to help.

Sometimes we can only do small things and hope they make a difference.

Please visit ripplesketches.blogspot.com to see artwork created with love by people from all over the world. The cards are $10 apiece, and 100% of each purchase is being donated to The Institute of Marine Mammal Studies and the International Bird Rescue Research Center.

Catching Up (And Cat Non Sequitur)

2010-06-10T08:48:00.000-04:00

I'm playing catch-up this week. Reflecting on projects completed and those to come. Thankful for old and new friends; bowled over by kind words.

Life is good.