...be much better at keeping up to date with this and my other blogs. I must confess, the ol' grey matter isn't what it used to be and I forget my 'things to do' more readily now. I have just put my blogs on a shortcut on my desktop; the chances are better if I see it every time I open my desktop I may- just may- remember to post more regularly!
I have not been painting lately; Christmas usually sees to that but, now that the new year is here I have a few things I must do. I have a few children's illustrations that I need to do before the SCBWI conference in the Pocono Mts of PA and I am working (my 4th year) on an historical fiction YA novel set in the Indusrial Revolution. SOOOOOOOOOOO.......I have lots to do but also lots of which to look forward!

My brand new, exciting, color-filled, professionally designed website is now LIVE! I am very excited about it and thrilled with the results and service I was fortunate enough to have recieved from the designer. Thanks, Aaron! (That's Aaron Kline of Branded Designs Inc =)


For those that may want to know a bit more about my artwork, my portfolio is there as is a listing of "Events". I have a "Shop" page where my book and prints of many of my watercolors are available for purchase.

I hope you have a moment to visit and please feel free to send me a note. The writer in me LOVES to respond so you can be sure I will!!! See you there! www.marypaladin.com

It won't be long now until my newly designed website will go live; I am very excited! Months have gone by since I started to try and build it myself- to no avail... Well, there was a bit of progress but not enough to shake the timbers. I recently hired a web designer and things are rolling along very well! Nearly completed, it will feature my books, my artwork and my events. I am very excited about it and I feel as though I have really stepped into the new century- a decade into that century-yikes!
Bear with me once it does hit cyberspace because I will be a bit of a nuisance with its promotion. Feels somewhat like I hit the virtual lottery in Candyland! (It is very brightly colored... =)

I am having a bit of a meltdown today. It started yesterday- well last evening, actually.

I have been writing (working on my MG historical fiction novel) more than I have been painting. Having had a collection of short stories published last spring, I worked on that all last winter...SO it has been sporadic (at best) when I have painted.

I got myself situated yesterday...got an idea as to what to paint...sketched it out...spent 3 hours painting...and----- hated it. I am super critical of my own work as a rule but, this was BBBBAAAAADDDDDD! What the heck happened to my 'sight' I was not able to 'see' what I needed to do. I quit, I turned on the boob tube (which is exactly what I think of it) and just sat. I needed to hide from myself, from my inability to do what I love. It scared me. I went to bed and barely slept at all.

Now for one (ME) who determines their self worth by the degree of accomplishments and/or production...Yesterday was a complete bust!

Today, I did my computer work-without opening my MG work in progress- then went directly to my paints. I sat and stared, I sat and stared...I went at it with absolutely no direction in mind and I must say it worked! Not the best painting by any means but I broke through-I think!

Writer's have "blocks"...they can't find "it" in their heads.
Watercolorists do too I realized...and not the kind of blocks on which they paint.
Tomorrow... will be an even better day!

When the old paper calendar is taken from the inside of our kitchen cabinet (you know the one with the app'ts, scribbles and 'prospect' notes that control our lives)and the new one put up in its place, I get a feeling of excitement. A new year, a chance to start fresh!
When I removed our calendar this year(Norman Rockwell I must add)I got that same old rush as I do every year. Time to clean closets! Time to get organized! Time to lose weight(yeah, right)! This year, although excited, I promised none of those things to myself. Instead, this year I will take it as it comes...I'll do my best, I'll push myself(because that is what I do anyway) and I will not make promises to myself so I feel lousy if one or two are not acheived (the weight one, never is!).
TwentyTen will be a good one...I can feel it. It will be good because it is- not because I promised myself to make it that way!

It has been quite some time since I posted; I'm a bit dissappointed in myself. Although I never try to excuse my shortcomings ...I had a busy summer. I spent it doing book signings and presentations throughout the Adirondacks and had a blast! I met wonderful people; not only lovers of, and readers about the Adirondacks, but other Adirondack authors as well. It was a glorious summer (even if it did rain the entire month of July...) and the experience was one I'll never forget.

My next 'project' is to be more diligent in my postings on my blogs and updating my website so, we shall see how THAT goes!

I am back to revising my middle grade chapter book and will have that ready to send off in the very near future.

For any of you that are in the Glens Falls NY area on Nov.1 I will be appearring at the Chronicle Book Fair at the Queensbury Hotel 11am-4pm. Please drop by if you can, I'd love to meet you!

As the saying goes, "all things worth having are worth waiting for" has proven to be true.

My book, The Adirondacks that are the Other half of Me has come out! FINALLY!!! It is gorgeous (can you tell it is my first book?!?!?!). It hit Amazon on June 26th; I have had a book signing in Lake Placid (my first one ever!) and I am out and about marketing like crazy! It is already 'a hit' locally, with many kind and generous reviews. I must now however, make contact and ask everyone who has been so lovely with their feedback to go to Amazon and log their review there! It never occurred to me until last night that I should have been mentioning that to each and every one! My excitement was almost too much to contain(oh brother...).

My next signing is in Inlet, NY @ the Adirondack Reader on the 19th 11am-1pm. I hope anyone who is in that area can stop by-even just to say hi!

Thanks to those of you kind enough to comment on my blog; I truly appreciate it. My apologies if I don't respond promptly; I am not as diligent with my blog entries as I had intended to be (I strive to be a techno contemporary, but I fail miserably at times); your comments don't go unnoticed and I am grateful for them!

It is a gorgeous day here in the Adirondacks so I must rush out and get some of that elusive sunshine!!!

The time is drawer nearer...Yea!

My book will be out at the end of June! It was to be released at the end of May but as they say, "the best laid plans..."

I have updated the confirmed book signings on the side panel of this blog and will continue to update them as they become definate. I have quite a few tentative locations but I will keep everything current on my website. http://www.marypaladin.com/ It will be a bit easier on the 'ol, grey matter' to remember to do it in one location on a regular basis!!!
I hope you can stop by if you are in the area; I would love to meet you!

My book, "The Adirondacks that are, the Other Half of Me" will be available on Amazon as well as book stores (you may have to order it: ISBN #0-615-29279-8) in July.

The boys received a wonderful surprise when the peeked over the side of the rock...
There, was an ant band playing joyously on the crevice platform of their own little theatre!

I feel as though I should hang my head in shame. I have been quite negligent in regard to all (5 of) my blogs. It has been a month(!) since my last entry and I feel like a slacker.

I have been editing my book "The Adirondacks that are, The Other Half of Me" for the past 3 weeks, nonstop. I was getting a bit bug-eyed as well as doubtful of my brain and its ability to translate what I actually read on the page, vs. what I knew it should be. But...now it is out of my hands. Although out of my hands it is not out of my mind (that would me, I am more convinced on a daily basis that I have taken leave of my mind...).
It should be out in a month or so so please keep your eyes peeled for it on Amazon as well as at your local book store! (It will be available to bookstores through Baker and Taylor.)

At the beginning of the month I attended an SCBWI (society of children's book writers and illustrators) retreat in the Pocono Mountains. What an inspirational weekend! The energy from, and the camaraderie of, other writers and illustrators was invigorating. Those of you that write, or are artists, understand how solitary our days can be (which believe me- I LOVE). It is however nourishing and exhilarating to be among those that share your passions.

So...I will strive to be more diligent in my entries. I will try to stick more to the point. I will try not to make excuses...well kinda.

Today was my first day with Author status on Goodreads, I am thrilled. http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2878850.Mary_A_Paladin
I spent a good portion of my time today setting up my profile, this blog (one of my five!) will feed onto it. Thank goodness for that! I am amazed at the time and complexities, that are involved in setting up profiles, websites, blogs and the like. For those, who are techno-savvy, I assume it is a breeze, but I am still trying to find the "trick" to keeping everything current!
My Goodreads page will be updated with my book signing appearances, regularly- I promise- as the list grows.
I look forward to connecting with you. For those of you not familiar with Goodreads, please check it out. If you like to read, if you like to see what others read, if you want ideas for a good read (ta-da!), visit Goodreads. You'll love it!
http://goodreads.com

This is done with watercolor and pen.

My first book is coming out in Spring '09! I am very excited!
"The Adirondacks that are, The Other Half of Me" will be available through Amazon and various other online sites as well as brick and mortar stores.
I have a few signings scheduled already and I will keep the locations updated as I get them.

If you live in upstate New York, I hope to see you this summer as I make my rounds... if you live here in PA I am working on some local events as well.

Here is a brief summary of my book:

This book is filled with wonderful, and humorous, memories of the author's summer residency in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. A place that provides the feeling of home. A place that brings forth an emotion that burrows deep inside and never leaves. Anyone who lives in, loves, and visits the Adirondacks understands what that means and, have cherished recollections of their very own. The Other Half of Me will bring a nod, a smile, maybe even a chuckle, to you. In a region so vast, the adventures, memories and observations are, in the scope of things, very compact. Because of that, lovers of this gorgeous place connect through them. This book is an example of that fact.

I am truly looking forward to this new year. Not that the last one was terribly bad for our family thankfully, but I know it brought much heartache for many and as the saying goes: "Therefore but the grace of God go I". Here's hoping that 2009 brings hope, joy and peace to us all.

Today I spent the entire morning getting my studio back in order. I don't know about the rest of you but Christmas takes a toll on the organized chaotic system within, and appearance of, my workspaces! Last minute paintings, gifts, orders, repairs-and the like-all done at warp speed make every inch of it a landslide, or cave-in waiting to happen... It is whipped back into shape now and I feel GREAT! I can't wait to dive into the paints, conduct with the brushes and wield my #4s!!!

My website needs lots of work and that is on my list for next week. Not that it will be completed but I will muddle through, while I read the "Absolute Beginner's Guide" for it at the same time!
I must do some new illustrations for the SCBWI Eastern PA retreat coming up in April and I am going to try to present something for Illustration Friday each week. (Part of my noncompliance there is that I am not the best at producing and transferring to the web...Thus the need for "The Absolute Beginner's Guide"...)

I do not believe in New Year's Resolutions-because most of my life the success of my resolutions were determined by the number on my bathroom scale. So, my 'ponderings' are not resolutions but hopes:
Hopes that I am a bit more productive.
Hopes that I am appreciative of what I have, and what I have done.
And hopes that whatever does come to fruition I recognize as a gift and not a given.

Happy New Year!

Where does it go?
Time I mean...I have not updated my blogs for well over a month in preparation for the holidays; I am hoping to do better from this point on. Perhaps this desire is worthy of a 'Resolution' but I really do not like to claim those.
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas season with the festivities it brings to you and yours. We did and I am grateful for that. The absence of loved ones is always prevalent but the memories of joy make the absence bearable.
Back to art...
The piece pictured is an illustration for my short story "Winter's Magic Moonlight".

I love color. I remember the day I realized it.

I skipped kindergarten, so going to first grade was very exciting to me- an only child. The first thing on the first day I remember seeing, (other than all the kids!) were giant circles taped to the wall above the blackboard. Of course, they were red, orange, yellow, green, blue (my favorite!), a dark color for which I had no idea of its name, and purple. The red, yellow and blue were bigger than the other ones. I didn't know why they were bigger but on that particular day I didn't really care, they were beautiful, and blue was one of them! They were very bright; they were amazing!

Next to it was a rainbow; each colored stripe of the rainbow was made from small cut out circles of those seven colors; it was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen. I was in love with life; those colors made me feel alive!

Art has been my passion from that day on and it has never wavered; it never will. Color is my life's electricity; it lets me see...

This blog will be dedicated strictly to art: my art, the arts and, art in general.

I work mainly in watercolors although for many years I worked in acrylics; I enjoy them both. Many, many years ago, my medium was oils but I discovered that my enthusiasm waned as I waited through drying time!

For a long time I was intimidated by watercolors because I felt I could not perfect my control of them. I have however, over the last 3 years conquered that in most instances. My style is mostly realistic, although I would like to allow myself to 'let go' and give up some detail for the fluidity that watercolors allow.

I enjoy sketching very much too and have reawakened that part of myself this past summer. I was amazed at how much I had missed it! The only drawback in this self discovery was that I can no longer twist myself into the positions or places I did when I sketched 15 years ago!

I look forward to connecting with artists that are passionate about their work; although to me it doesn't feel like work! We are very fortunate people who were given a gift that others would love to have. (Of course my math and science skills leave alot to be desired...) I am grateful for this gift and I know there are many that feel as I do.