Since last post I have been making some good progress with this story. On Sunday I did 4 character sketches I was pretty happy with, and then another on Monday-Tuesday. You can see that one below. Today I scanned them in, and I tried adding some color in Photoshop. I really could use a paint program, but the Photoshop paint came out looking like markers, which seems okay. My favorite spots are the khaki pants and the onion.
I also did a reeeeealy rough dummy book today, so I can work on text and layout more tomorrow. Then I will get started on some more finished sketches. I thought I was going to do this all in polymer clay dolls, 3-D, but I started drawing in this cartoonish style and I really rather like it. I'm still not sure which would have a better effect, though. I don't want to lean toward drawing for lazy reasons. Tell me what you think.

Last week over the Christmas break I took a little break from picture book work and made some sketchbook/journals. I made nine books measuring a little over 5 x 6.5 inches. I had found some old books at the library sale which I really liked the graphics of, which I decided to use in several of the books. You can see them below. I enjoyed making them, but I started to miss working on my 3-D characters, as my table is only big enough for one project at a time. I plan to sell these locally (in Laurens, SC). I have a place in mind, but I still need to inquire about it. I also made a sketchbook for my mother for Christmas, but the photo is on Daniel's camera, so I'll post it later.

That's not to say I haven't been writing lately. I got a story idea on Friday afternoon, and wrote some in the car on the way to see Despereux, (which I have to say was a let down after reading the book). I made up a rough dummy, just printer paper stapled together, which I have taken apart a few times and removed/rearranged pages in already. I also made a dummy up for my farmer and chicken story, which those of you who went to Elizabeth Dulemba's workshop at JCC may remember.

I thought, well if I have two stories going, when I get stuck on one, I'll work on the other.


Then last night, MAGIC happened. I was just letting my mind wander where it wanted to, and it happened to wander toward the preview for the movie Inkheart, a movie where a story comes to life just by reading it, and the readers, actually get caught in the story world. And I thought, THAT'S IT! My pencil is my magic wand! Bring my characters to life! And that is when it happened for me. I finally saw my chicken story materialize out of the cosmic muck of the universe. I saw the funny expressions on their faces, the cinematic framing, the dramatic poses, the humor I enjoy reading and watching that I had been searching for in my own writing until NOW!

Yes. I am a happy happy person.

Onward I say! To the storyboard!

I once heard that December is the month a person is least likely to be creative in. I suppose because of the shorter days and wintry weather....or maybe it is the shopping and decorating for the holidays that takes so much time out of the schedule. However, I find I do the most creative work of the whole year in December! Hmm... it really doesn't surprise me that I am backwards from the norm. That seems to happen a good bit.

I have started working in polymer clay on the faces of the farmer from my story. I really really like the way it is working out. My only concern is that possibly my armature is too small for the big heads....but I can always build it again in any case.

I also found some fabrics at a local fabric store that I am excited about. At first I was looking at bright colors. I have almost always gravitated towards using them in my work. But this time I found some really subtle rather nostalgic colors that made me think about changing my color palette for this story. Maybe its because I spent alot of time in the fabric store in Japan and at the spa/inns taking in the more mature subtle nuances of color. Or maybe its because I have been looking at my husband's ceramic work lately.

So the big news is that after lots of prayer and discussion with my husband and family, I have decided to not continue teaching after the holidays in order to put both feet into illustration. It is a scary taking a leap of faith, but it seems even scarier thinking that at the current pace I won't get anywhere. Money may be tight, but it is just a material, and I can be creative with a small amount of any material.

The other day I had a surprise visitor. It was soooo cute! My husband was a bit horrified when I said I wanted to keep it. Unfortunately, it wasn't well (which is probably why it didn't put up a fight) and it only lived about 2 days. Poor little thing!

Welcome to my blog. I hope to start publishing a drawing, writing, or Illustration Friday sketch here once a week. I just learned about Illustration Friday while having a portfolio critique with Laurent Linn at the SCBWI Southern Breeze Fall Conference (Wik) in Birmingham.
Now I am full of inspiration and resolve to get my illustration career going!

First, I revised my webpage. Then I had some postcards printed with an image from my portfolio, which I am addressing and sending out to my favorite publishing houses. I am a little worried because my style is not the traditional watercolor, pen and ink type illustration. At least my current strongest work isn't. Being unusual, I'm not sure which publication houses will like it. But, I hope some art director or editor who is ready to try something new and fun will pick it up.

Meanwhile, I am ready to dig in to a project! I want to try building my next set of characters using plasticine clay to allow more expression in the face, and gauze wrap the armatures rather than paper clay, to give them more flexibility and movement. I was really super limited with my self imposed deadline of 4 weeks to finish the series of snow pictures (It was Frosty the Snowman with liberties taken which I did to share with my Jr. High students in Japan at the time. They had never heard the story). So I didn't get to work all of the backgrounds as much as I would like. I would love to give each background as much personality as the characters in the story. I am really inspired by the Japanese children's book series "Doko?" (Where?). The artist (Yamagata Akemi I think, I am not great at reading kanji in names) is inspired by Walter Wick, creator of the "Can You See What I See?" series and "I Spy". His art and process is just mind blowing and so exciting!! I feel like going to create something right now! But, I guess I better go to bed since I teach school tomorrow. Teaching is okay, but I'm so busy teaching the kids how to create art that I never get to make any of my own. Yes, I guess I am pouting. Well, there are only two more days until Friday and free time to create! Here's to looking at the bright side and voting! Happy Election Day!