How to use this Page

The Spring edition of the Picture Book Artists Association website is up!

Display Comments Add a Comment

The Autumn Edition of the Picture Book Artists Association website is up! Lots of great artwork there. Check it out.

Display Comments Add a Comment

PBAA's spring promotional poster!

Display Comments Add a Comment

Here's what I'm working on as we speak:

It will be my promo piece for PBAA as well as just a new sample (which I am in dire need of).

This is how it started.



I doodled a page of 'mouse with a cheese sandwich' ideas. I didn't know what I wanted to do, exactly. Maybe a group of mice; maybe 'kid' mice; maybe a whole big scene; maybe not.
I like the one holding the Swiss cheese up to his face, looking through the holes.
I'm not sure what the one on the bench is doing, I just felt like drawing one from behind.



After enough doodling I came up with this first draft and layout.


But I didn't like the chair, or the pot hanging in the fireplace.

I reworked it to be this, but now the flowers are too much and will change, and lying in bed last night I had a vision of a second character I might put in.

Do you do that? Do whole characters, dressed in specific outfits, just pop into your head?


So I will work on this all weekend because our art deadline is Monday! Nothing like a deadline to get your fanny in gear.

~~~~~~~~

Today I have to do things for my mom, and take some more art over to A Cottage Affair. Some things sold! So I get to restock. Evidently my chocoholic piece is a popular Hanukkah gift, so I came up with a couple new layouts for it as well as framing choices; so even though its the same art, its presented in different ways. How clever I am.


I put a chocolatey border on it and made it a 5 x 7 size and put it in a 5 x 7 plexi frame ~

And here I stretched it out and made it fit into a 3.5 x 10 inch frame that's a sort of redwood color. I fiddled with the dark background to get a color that worked perfectly with the frame. (No pictures of the actual frame, sorry, because I'm lousy at photographing glass.)

Now I have to make some labels for the backs. Better get cracking!

Its foggy foggy cold and soupy grey here today. Brrrrr..... Read the rest of this post

Display Comments Add a Comment

JK Rowling gave this year's commencement speech at Harvard. Its brilliant. I laughed, I cried.
(Thanks Jean Gralley for passing it on to the PBAA group so I could pass it on here.)

Watch the video of the speech.

Display Comments Add a Comment

This is kind of a new style I'm trying. I'm going to use this for my PBAA art this next quarter. Let's see if any nice publishers out there see it and like it and hire me.

I love to just draw, you know? And I thought a more relaxed style that has actual drawing in it might work well for educational work. Or trade. Although my "trade style" as I like to call it is still so tight it squeaks.

I like the idea that this kinda looks like I drew it from life. Like these two were sitting there on the bench and I sketched them. In reality, I did do a sketch, then tightened it, then did a pretty "inside the lines" kind of coloring job on it with colored pencils, then had fun at the end coming back in with black pencil and just drawing and giving it a little life.


I've always loved Patricia Polacco's work. She does a lot of actual drawing in her finished art. I like how you can kind of see how the pieces are made, and that she uses a combination of pencil, ink, paint, whatever. (I just read on her website that she doesn't use a computer. Now that's interesting!) And I hope she doesn't mind me linking to her site. I don't see why she would.

Anyway, I'm going to go out and admire my new patch of grass alongside the house that my "guy" put in for me today. The cats are a little unsure of it. They kinda liked the patchy grass/dirt/old bricks thing we had going on. Me, I can't stop looking at it. Its so GREEN and NEW and PERFECT. I'm happy.

Display Comments Add a Comment

Please welcome the author of Quaking, Kathryn Erskine!

First, how wonderful that QUAKING was chosen as a 2008 ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers! That’s fantastic! How did you get the news? What was your reaction?

A good friend of mine called me early that morning as I was heading out of town to a critique group meeting. I was SO excited because encouraging reading is one of my goals as a writer. Writing a "Top Ten" book for reluctant readers, those who would rather do something other than read, hopefully means that my writing is compelling enough to make people WANT to read.

How did you come up with the plot for QUAKING?

I was concerned about why we were in Iraq and how people respond to war and violence in general. That's why I didn't make it Iraq-specific but it obviously speaks to our current situation. I also wanted to relate the issue of violence in war to a more personal level. Matt is going through her own post-traumatic stress syndrome. War or violence in any form has powerful effects on individuals and society. I wanted to raise questions and awareness but not necessarily answer the questions. Those are issues for thought and discussion. Finally, the Quaker tenets of peace and tolerance were a good backdrop for the story and gave me an opportunity to share with readers what I've learned about Quakers.

I’ve read reviews for QUAKING and they’ve been great. But how would you handle a bad review?

I firmly believe everyone has a right to say what they think and how they feel about a book. Books are subjective and are going to appeal to some people and not to others. The bottom line is you have to read a book for yourself to decide what you think. Nobody else can tell you how you feel about it.

I love QUAKING’s cover! Did you have any say in it?

I did but I think my editor had a much better idea. I'd love to claim it as mine! I think it's brilliant.

Did it take long to write?

It took a little over a year to write. Once it got picked up by a publisher there were revisions, of course, which helped tie the threads together and make it a stronger story.

When you’re not writing, what are your hobbies?

I love traveling, exploring just about anywhere and anything, walking, spending time with family and friends, playing games (card, board, strategy, Sudoku, etc.), and I've just taken up fencing (the sword kind) -- look for that in a future book!

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Oh, gosh, there are so many! Some of those who have influenced me through their work or their wisdom are Katherine Paterson, Patricia Reilly Giff, Judy Blume, Jerry Spinelli, Patricia Lee Gauch, Lois Lowry, and Christopher Paul Curtis.

Who's one author you haven’t met whom you’d love to meet?

Christopher Paul Curtis. I LOVE his writing and his voice is so funny and thoughtful and caring all at the same time that I can't help believing he's like that in real life, too.

What advice can you give first time authors who have a book coming out soon?

Try get your book and name out there. It's not something most publishers have time or money to do for you any more. Even if you're an introvert, like a lot of us are, you can still talk to friends and keep an active website. And don't get discouraged. Your local Barnes and Noble might not carry your book even if you get on ALA and VOYA lists (mine still doesn't) but that's a factor of upper management. A lot still seems to happen through word of mouth and small, independent book stores (love those guys!) so you can still get your book out there.

Are you working on anything new?

Since QUAKING, I've submitted a novel about a 14 year old boy that, while it has serious undertones, has some pretty wacky characters. Right now I'm finishing up a novel that handles serious issues but has humor, too. Next is either my novel set in Newfoundland, Canada or my historical novel, both written in draft but needing work. That's if I don't get sidetracked by my latest idea (another 14 year old -- yes, I seem to be stuck at that age!) or one of my many other novels in progress. So little time, so much to write!

Add a Comment

Tomorrow's guest is Kathryn Erskine! Kathy's giving ONE lucky comment a signed copy of Quaking, temporary tattoos of the book jacket and peace stickers. Check back tomorrow for the Q&A and enter to win.

And I'm going to actually take the day off! I've got a hair appointment and am coming home to watch a movie, slather on a face mask and paint my nails a cheerful spring color. I felt like I needed a day after finishing my new YA before I jump into something new. Know the feeling? It's cold and rainy outside so it's the perfect day. :)

Add a Comment

Add a Comment