I find myself at a crossroads...again. The same one that has come up multiple times over the last decade or so; when faced with a dauntingly overwhelming schedule, do I choose to put creating my art aside in favour of some period of time in the distant future that may or may not be easier to navigate? I am determined that, this time, the answer will be a resounding "no."

I've managed to create several pieces of art in this wonderful "breathing-room" time that's about to end; enough to feel re-inspired and, perhaps and most hopefully, that will be enough of a creative flame to carry through this maelstrom of "things."

Amongst these creations are mixed-media pieces, portrait drawing and painting pieces, and even a painted "abstract" - my first, at that!

Please note that some of these pieces are still available. Visit www.websterartgallery.com for more details.

When it comes to portraiture, I love soft pastels. Sure they can smudge if one is not careful, but they're not as bad as some think. I keep paintings stored between pieces of newsprint against the wall, and they're just fine. Shipping them requires a little more finesse (involving styrofoam boards, cardboard and tracing paper) but they arrive in excellent condition. Soft pastels have a gorgeous luminosity to them that I love.

Relatively recently, I started experimenting with digital media. I've worked with programs like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, of course, but this time I tried Corel's PainterX. Thrilled with my first essay into this new territory, I began to use it more, and now I paint most of my illustrations at least partially digitally. I first plan and sketch them out in pencil, and then they are transferred to the computer.
I've started working on a set of new illustrations for my portfolio. I was originally going to start with a sequence of images that tells a complete story (of how the stars came into the sky,) but since one of the illustrations is to accompany a recently finished picture book manuscript, it made sense to start with that one.
I've also got a whole set of fine art paintings I would like to start, using acrylic. We'll see how it goes...

It's been a very long time since I've spent a weekend doing so little in the writing and illustrating department. Even when we're watching a movie, I am usually doing some research or artwork. This weekend, however, our three nephews have been over, and so I've spent most of it enjoying their company.
I am happy to have finished two manuscripts in the last week, both for younger readers. I am also editing one of my YA manuscripts, and a middle-grade one as well.
A few things are simmering in the illustration department. I do believe I am almost ready to give body to them.
In the meantime, my work in the fine arts arena has been sadly lacking, and the brainstorming is in full steam.
And in other news...

I have to admit that I love the possibilities of words. They can be used to create an image as surely as any pencil, pastel or paintbrush, but the execution of it takes a different kind of approach, and a different kind of skill.
Words can be blended into something beautiful, horrific, peaceful, or ugly - you name it. They can transport the reader into other worlds, other realities. When carefully woven, they can impart emotions across the entire spectrum. They can build, and they can destroy. Words are powerful indeed.

As a writer, my great delight is having a blank canvas (or a blank Word document, rather) and painting a flow of language to tell a story. Of course, the delight is even greater when, 2 pages, 100 pages, or 300 pages later, the first draft of the story is completed. Then comes the joy of editing. "Joy" is a relative term, of course. There is something wonderful about going over a piece that I've written and allowed to sit. Hopefully I think that the work is as great as I thought it was when it was first completed. Rediscovering particularly strong phrases and/ or dialogue is definitely fun and fulfilling. Of course, much of the time I'll go over something and think 'this needs tightening,' or 'that shouldn't be there,' or, 'this is unnecessary.' Sometimes it's difficult knowing when to stop the thread pulling and leave well enough alone. After all, there is always room for improvement, right?

But such is the joy and the versatility of words.

The other day, I came across someone's lamentations about rejection slips. Apparently this individual prepared a manuscript, and sent it with a note (not a cover letter, it seems) to over 300 publishers. Within two months this individual received over 200 rejections, and only a few invitations to send more. Some of those rejections included those who simply don't publish the kind of material that was sent.

Now, obviously this hurts us, the dedicated (un-agented) sloggers who wade through tons of editorial guidelines, book line-ups and the like, in order to do the proper research and send our work, along with the respective requirements, to those who may (after all the work) be a good fit. I suppose that the kinds of people as mentioned above are the ones who fatten up the slush pile until it's a tottering heap on the editor's 'to do' list.

My thought is...do you think that, in a way, it also helps us? By the time the editor(s) shove through all the stacks of rubbish and lands on a manuscript that 1) is at least within the stuff they publish 2) comes with the required companions (i.e cover letter/ SASE etc...) does it give us some kind of a soggy edge because maybe they think "hey! here's one who's actually doing the legwork!"

I find myself living in a state of structured chaos. Almost each day is packed with writing, editing, critiquing, illustration, sewing, gardening...and, of course, daily responsibilities such as making sure that the house is at least somewhat presentable,and that the meals are cooked.
The other day I sat down and tried to devote myself to a solid hour of drawing. I started out very well. I made sure that I had all of the paper, pencils and other necessities that I would want. I put writing implement to blank sheet and began to sketch. Within ten minutes, my little canine boy Keani jumped onto the couch. Of course he wasn't satisfied with simply keeping me company by curling on one end. No, he pushed his head under my arm, walked on my lap, tugged and wrestled with the strings on my pants.
But how can I resist a face that turns me into butter every time? No matter how bratty he's being, or what mischief he's been up to. What's a doggy mom to do?

I was three-and-a-half when I drew my first picture; a skinny-petaled daisy, scrawled in pen. A proclaimed masterpiece that my mom immediately framed, and which stayed on display well into my teen years.
( 4 years old) (7 years old)
As I grew, drawing became a passion. I think horses were the predominant motif between the ages of five and twelve, with a few other animals thrown in.
(7 years old)
Then I decided that it was high time to learn how to draw people, and so I focused on that until I was satisfied with the results.
I continued to study art throughout high school and university, finally graduating with a BA in Art and Art History.

The fact that I also loved to write was not as obvious to me.
In grade school, I remember composing a short story that made our supply teacher dab at her eyes. A few ballads and poems came out during high school. Although I loved every second that I worked on them, I still didn't quite make the connection.

It was not until after university, marriage, a house and a dog that I realized that I could exercise both talents.

So, my name is Monica C. Webster and I am a Writer and an Illustrator. I also love to cook, bake, sew my own outfits and garden. In addition, I love to read, camp, go on nature walks, sing, and watch movies (just on the weekends, though!). I am also a music teacher and choir director.

I am a nature and animal lover, and am grateful that we share our home with two wonderful boys: our Hungarian Kuvasz 'Icewind Silver Dream,' and our Tibetan Spaniel 'Keani Evening Song.'

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