Exciting Convention in Seattle

There are a lot of very lucky students out there that have wonderful art teachers. I've had the pleasure of meeting so many of those teachers these past couple of days.

I'm having a wonderful time in Seattle. It has been such a treat meeting my publisher and marketing director from Finney Co. Imagine working on a project so important in your life, with people you have never met face to face, and then getting to spend hours with them. It has inspired me to work harder and finish my illustrations so we can get the next book out for children, parents and teachers. I've been touched by the positive feedback my book has received and know I'm on the right track.

I am also going to start learning more about artist-in-residents programs and find a way to apply to elementary schools to be included in a rotation. There was a man in one of the sessions that shared how he travels to schools to collaborate with teachers on art projects. How cool would that be?

Perhaps there is still hope that I won't have to return to an office in the near future:) I can find a way to make a living that will allow me to continue sharing my passion for art and animals with children. At the moment, I'm going to enjoy all of these opportunities and the thrill of meeting so many amazing people.

Preparing to Speak

It was so funny, I was chatting with someone about my upcoming presentation at the National Art Educators Convention, and she said "you must be terrified to talk in front of all those people." I simply laughed and told her that I absolutely LOVE speaking in front of people.

I've had my fair share of embarrassing moments being up in front of people, yet I've always been compelled to go back to the "stage." In middle school I sang solos, and one performance I was clearly not as good as the other soloists so I stomped off the stage in a huff. Needless to say, I don't stomp off stages anymore and did have the chance to sing again in front of an audience in college.

As long as I know what I'm talking about when I'm speaking, I'm okay.

Travel, Contest, Articles, oh my!

I have no idea who this girl is,
but gosh can I relate to her.

Stepping forward, backward and off the road. Roads and how we take them are such great metaphors.

The Gotham Writing Contest announced the top six out of 20 winners today. I wasn't one of them, but I feel like being in the top 2% really told me something and I've put a lot of work into my next book. It was the kick-start I needed to embrace pausing my progression on one novel to work on another.

I have traveled to two schools this week to read and promote my "Through Endangered Eyes" book. A third grader (who I met last year at the school doing a reading) came up to me today after my reading and told me that I inspired her to experiment with acrylic paint and she loves it. I think it's those kinds of moments that make it all worth while.

I also had and opportunity to visit my nephew's school Rancho Rosal school in Camarillo,California and had a wonderful assembly. If you would like to read more on the event, click here (the photographer that covered it took some amazing shots.)

I am working on my next  painting for the desert book. The desert pupfish is taking on a unique set of colors:) I'm really excited to update the site next week with a possible finished image!

The last bit of news is in regard to an article I wrote about my technique for Wildscape Magazine a conservation wildlife art magazine in England. It is due out in Europe in a couple of weeks. I'm really looking forward to seeing the issue when it is released.

Cheetah Book Illustration & Contest Semi-Finalist

I have two blogs. Each with their own direction, and each indicative of the motivating facets of my life. My art blog has had only a few entries, while my writing blog is consistently 3-4 times per month. 


I've often thought about doing just one that combines all of my work, painting, writing and little thoughts every now and then. And then I think, does anyone really want to see my my children's art plans? And then I remind myself that the blog is really to organize me.


So, I have just decided to combine them and keep up with one. There, I've made a decision while literally biting my lip - ouch.


To start off - I thought I'd post the first painting for my "Through Desert Eyes" book. I won't post all of the illustrations, since of course when it comes out in 2012(?) you'll want to buy it to see them all and read the poems. 


The Cheetah (8"x16") Acrylic Paint

I love big cats, and I love to paint big cats. It was a great way to get me excited about these illustrations. I really feel like my technique is blossoming. All this teaching art to kids and practicing has really paid off. I was nervous that the small cheetah wouldn't work, since my dots are so small on it, but I'm really pleased with the results.

I left space for the text in the upper left hand corner. Building a painting with exact dimensions of the page spreads is new to me. I got custom-made canvas that would be the size of my finished book spread and take into consideration the gutters and bleeds. I really wanted the text to sit on my canvas, to enhance the relationship of the words to the illustration.


On another happy note - I am a semi-finalist for the YA Discovery Novel contest, hosted by Gotham Writer's Workshops, Inc. Out of about 1,000 entries my first 250 words of my YA novel "Only on Mondays," made the top 20.


I'm really excited about this book. I love the story and my characters. I have gone back and forth between my two YA novels, but "Only on Mondays," is my top priority. 

Here is my pitch: 
Chloe, a fourteen year old witch, finds a spell that can bring her mom back from the dead. With her power limited to Mondays, she has only eight days to do the spell and needs to convince four other witches to help her. Chloe's long-time enemy is one of the witches that can help, but the girl refuses. As time starts to run out for Chloe, a tragedy forces the girls together. Can they work together to save a life and will that person be Chloe's mother?  

Polar Bear Commercial Brings Tears

It is rare that I watch an entire game of football, and even more rare that I don't mute or fast forward through commercials. I saw one commercial today that I was glad to see, in fact it brought tears to my eyes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WxC1PtIvsY 


The commercial is promoting an electric car, and it includes a grateful hug from a polar bear. I have blogged in the past about how emotional I get when I think about the melting Arctic. I'm especially moved by the struggle of the polar bears, so this commercial is quite touching.


The image is of the polar bear painting from my book, "Through Endangered Eyes."

5 Things I've Been Surprised by Writing my Novel

I'm one of those people that loves numbers in titles. "Eight Ways to Reduce Stress," "Three Things You Should Know About...," "Twenty-Five Ways to Blow Your Nose," you get the picture. I've decided to give it a try and see if anyone else has five things that has shocked them about writing their novel.


Over this past year I have learned a lot about writing a young adult novel.
1) It isn't as easy as Stephanie Meyer (author of "Twilight," in case you've been asleep) said it was for her.

2) Re-writing is not an option - it's mandatory.

3) Most of my family and friends are not as excited about the details of my characters as I am, and talking about my protagonist as if she is alive can get really annoying to them.

4) A critique group is a necessary ingredient in my process. The people in my critique group can relate to having their heart ripped out, stepped on, and put back in their chest only to ask for someone to do it again.

5) I miss my characters if I haven't visited my pages after a couple of days.


Next year I'd like to write about the Five Things I Learned About Getting my Novel Sold. Wouldn't that be great?

Holiday Opposites

The holidays are so much fun! They are so stressful! I love spending money I don't have! My emotions scatter across the board. Truly, I do love the holidays, especially with kids who make it so magical. I finished my shopping today and I am one of those strange people that love to wrap presents. 

I was in my daughter's classroom today where the children shared traditions and recipes. Of course this discussion raised the questions of my own traditions during the holidays and what I'm passing on to my kids. It also makes we wonder what new traditions we should start. There are the regular traditions - making cookies (hundreds and hundreds of them,) watching holiday shows, being glad we don't have snow. 


Okay, I've just bored myself with my own writing. The one thing I haven't been doing in all this madness is write and paint. We'll see if having time to do those things, which is one of my Christmas wishes, actually happens.
My wish is for health and happiness:)