Yesterday I went with
Vanessa Sorensen for a little walk at Spring Grove and some sketching. It is so beautiful there.
It is interesting because I did not know that Spring Grove was constructed in the 1830s after a Cholera epidemic and the overcrowding of little church cemeteries was unsightly.
This is the
Robinson Mausoleum. I found out after that it was built in 1874 for $35,000. The Robinson family owned Robinson’s Circus from 1824 to 1916 when they sold it to the American Circus which later merged with Ringling Brothers. The place is cram-packed with these historical goodies.
I forgot to post a couple weeks ago this sketch of the dock at my in-laws at Lake Barkley in Kentucky. It was a great place to view birds. I saw herons, a turkey vulture,and many others.
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| My little setup next to my sketch... |
Finally, I just started a new blog. It is meant to be a place where I develop children's stories. First off is Francis Tales. I did a dummy a few years ago. This is a new iteration of that to start, but it will be a home for stories, experiments and little nugget ideas. Stop by and say hi:
http://christinawaldtales.blogspot.com/
Deadlines are good things. They make you stretch yourself. You achieve things you thought were impossible. Sometimes things are even better because you have to work quickly. I relish them and - I dread them. But I know I am happier when I have them, than when I don't. I think that's one of the reasons I enjoy working in the illustration field. Mostly you are working for a client, and that client has expectations - after all they are putting food on your table. I often hear freelancers (in all kinds of work) saying that they have a hard time getting motivated. My advice: get yourself a deadline. And if you don't have one, create one for yourself.
The reason I am rattling on about deadlines is that there's a few on my calendar. This is excellent, means I am busy. Who doesn't want to be busy? I handle my deadlines by making a written calendar, right now it goes until August 31. I have 2 manuscripts to illustrate by then (the next two books in Anastasia Suen's cheerleader series for Kane and Miller publishing). Before you 'gasp' they are black and white with colour cover, so it's not colour double spreads!)
Mid way through this is wham bam ... SCBWI Summer Conference in LA. Just to make things difficult for myself I've decided to redo my portfolio with totally new pieces. So that's F-I-V-E weeks away. Plus I want to take 2 dummies with me. I will be entering the Portfolio Showcase again ... this year I feel like I know what I am doing. Well, more than last year anyway!
As I said, nothing like a deadline ... here's one of the new pieces with a more whimsical style than usual.
On the board for next week I also have designs to do for a pottery company in CA, they produce planters for the trade market (Target, Lowes etc). I used to do a lot of work for them, and was lucky enough to go to China to the trade fair and factories several years ago ... and then the economy nosedived. It's a good sign they are sending me work again. Of course, you can't choose when it comes along, so hence the planning calendar.
I guess I will be working some late nights on the portfolio!!
As a nice treat at the end of August I get to teach a drawing cruise on the Schooner
Isaac H Evans. It's shaping up to be a busy, fun and fruitful summer.
The trip to LA will be welcome - a big conference like this is always intense, as you want to hear all the awesome speakers and still network. (And have some party time). Bring it on. Last year I knew very few people ... this year I feel like I am going back to family. In the lonely life of the freelance illustrator I think that's an unusual feeling. If you are an aspiring children's illustrator or writer - make sure you join the
SCBWI and go to conferences and workshops!
Talking of deadlines, must get back to them.
Just want to say many thanks to everyone who sent me sympathy on the loss of my dog ... it's been a hard week.
Toodles!
Hazel
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These are terrific little watercolours Christina !
I have to ask - what are you painting on ? It looks like a moleskine. Do they make them for watercolour or are you using a regular one, and if so, how does it take the paint ?
Anyway - great work !
Thanks Larry!
Beautiful watercolor sketches. They have such a sturdy feeling and so much self-assurance; they have that powerful sense of mastery of the medium and a confidence that frees you to do exactly what you *want*, not what you struggle to *try*. Just a pleasure to look at, makes me feel I'm there.
Thanks Zina! I really, really enjoy doing them. I love drawing something just for me that really has no commercial purpose although I think it helps all my work improve.