The art for The Story I’ll Tell is finally done (!) and now in the hands Lee & Low books. It was an exhausting April because I insisted on re-painting several pages that I had already finished in order to improve them. (Changes, in watercolor world, often mean re-doing the whole thing.) Eventually, though, I had to call it quits and just send it off.
Apparently the kitten wishes to be shipped as well.
I can’t wait to see how it will look when it’s all done. So far I’ve seen a preview of the jacket design and couldn’t be more excited to share it with you. Soon… soon.
Even though I don’t have any art to show you now, I do have some fun photos!
First off, the studio. Here’s where the magic happens. I only have the one desk, so I move the drawing board and put the computer there if I’m scanning stuff or doing things online. The board on the wall (far left) is blank now, but it usually holds the book’s latest thumbnails so I can see the whole project at a glance. I update the bulletin boards often for inspiration and reference. The large format scanner is a brand new addition. I feel so professional! (Compare to my studio setup five years ago, which involved a travel watercolor set, a folding camping table, and a hand-me-down PowerBook from 2002. And no scanner whatsoever–I took photos of my paintings back then with a crappy old digital camera.)
The studio, looking tidier than usual.
Sometimes I think that thumbnail drawings are the most important part of the process. They don’t look like much and most of them end up in the reject pile, but that’s where it all starts. I love to draw these while sitting at a cafe.
Too many to fit in the frame.
I make my own dummies at various stages of the process to see how it’s flowing with the page turn.
The cat finds the dummies amusing.
More info about the project should be available soon. I’ll keep ya posted.
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Wow! Congratulations!!! And your work is always lovely. I'm sure it's just the usual panic. Books are such an investment of work and emotion, it's hard to NOT have those doubtful moments. Oh, and any book about a Moose ends up on my shelf - can't wait to see YOURS.
Aw, Gina! Thanks so much! It really is like sending a child out in to the world... scary and exciting at the same time. And I'm glad you like Moose(s)! :-)
Wow... it's really impressive seeing them all piled on the table that way! We already know the quality will be high... but the sheer quantity, unbound! You don't see that everyday!!
Carry on the good work!!!
Jennifer, having seen your sketches and other books you've illustrated, I have total faith in you. Thank you for working so hard to bring my words to life!
M-- Thank you!
Stephanie-- Thank you for the vote of confidence! I absolutely love your story, with its layers of learning AND humor! It's truly been a joy to work on. Hope we get a chance to meet some time! :-)
I have the feeling a certain Moose is going to introduce us sometime. I look forward to it.
Me too, Stephanie!
Hi Jennifer - I'm new to your site. Love your work - so delightful and full of movement. I think most artists feel the way you do - whenever I see a past work of mine I think, why didn't I do this - or add that? It's just the creativity gene and the additional life experiences that want to be added to our work. I wonder what Davinci would say about Mona Lisa---I should have made her smile....? I'll be checking back in (P.S. love your cats in hats--made me smile.
Laura Anne-- Thanks for stopping by and for your kind words! I think doubt is part of creative process for sure... but good, if it keeps us exploring. Love thinking about the creative process. :-)