MNSCBWI Summer Workshop

There is a great workshop coming up this Saturday at Elva Resa Publishing! We will learn all about the publication process at small presses. Elva Resa has published a couple books with the lovely Christina Rodriguez (The Wishing Tree and My Dad's Deployment). Their imprint, Alma Little, published Cedric and the Dragon this June! It was such an honor to work with the folks at Elva Resa. They were so supportive and kind, I feel very fortunate that they took a chance on me and gave me such a fantastic opportunity! Hope to see you there!

Saturday, June 19, 2010

noon-3pm

Elva Resa Publishing

1890 Wooddale Drive, Suite 100

Woodbury, MN 55125

$25 members/ $35 non-members

DUCK!!!

This is a bit from my new postcard (ordered Monday). Hoping they put some luck in the ink when it goes to print! Since finishing my last illustration class, I have been busy scanning in new art to go up on my website, still working on my book dummies, and am contemplating farming out greeting card printing instead of doing it at home (the good folks at Your Art's Desire in Minnetonka, MN sell a few of my greeting cards, along with framing all of my artwork!). Also, I found out that the official release date of my book, Cedric and the Dragon, will be June 1st! There is even a teensy blurb about the book in the Publisher's Weekly spring announcement issue (scroll down to Elva Resa Publishing/Alma Little)! It is really starting to seem real!!! Hope that all is well with you!

Bunny

Whomever guessed that the mother bunny visits her nest twice daily was correct! She pops in at dusk and dawn to check in on her babies, part of the reason people worry that the babies are abandoned. We are currently living in the middle of a rabbit farm, I hope they don't mind us being here...
With any luck, I will finish my final two illustrations by Sunday, scan them in on Monday, and drive to Alma Little to turn them in the week after. It was the last day of school today, so summer vacation has officially begun. I have a feeling it is going to be a nutty summer.

Purring Cat

The book is not about cats, specifically.... but happens to feature one that lives with us. And, this is the same cat that really is my sister's cat. The same cat I was cat-sitting when she was out-of-town. The same cat who ate a plastic thingy and obstructed his intestines and required surgery to extract said obstruction. The kind vet who removed this obstruction is the one-and-only Dr. Philly Cheese whose engagement to the lovely Amy inspired me to create the Cheese Cake. The Cheese Cake postcard landed at Alma Little and landed me my first book. So, it seems only fitting that Gus Gus should find a place in it, because he has had a hand, or paw, in it from the beginning.

Poor George

Looks like George Harrison is lagging behind in the polls..... This is a sketch that did not make it into the book, but does represent how I am feeling today. Happy and relaxed (except I am not a cat and will have to wait another 3 or 4 months before flowers arrive again up here in MN). I found out that the painting I submitted to Alma Little (as an example of the color palette I plan to use) not only went over well, but there is a good chance it will be on the cover of the book! That was a great, huge, wonderful surprise and I am feeling as close to elated as a Midwesterner can muster!

Howdy

I realized that this poor cat is missing his whiskers! Don't worry, I'll remember them in the book!
Had a nice talk with Karen at Alma Little yesterday. They put my sketches in with the text and now I have some rearranging to do, but the call went well. Luckily, Karen is super nice . I worry too much and want things to go well and for people to be happy...Even though they are patient with me because this is my first book, I still don't want them to think I an a knucklehead.
Next comes the cover, I will start on that as soon as the kids start quiet time (not always quiet, but whatever!). Mailed our Chistmas cards, need to print up thank-you cards for my cousin (I should blog the cake I drew for her), and have a few other irons in the fire. Here's hoping next week will be less crazy, but at least I haven't crashed my minivan into anything yet!

A Horse Is A Horse

Apologies to Mr. Ed.... and now that song's stuck in my head!
Here is one of the steeds from my seven horse sketch. Happy to report that I did a lot of drawing today, so I am feeling great, a little tired, and am ready to veg. Once again, Karen at Alma Little steered me right, and my artwork is the better for it. Hot dog!

Coloring Page No. 2

Here is another coloring page for the kiddies. I sent off 6 sketches to Alma Little today, so I am excited to hear what they think of them. Had a very weird art dream last night: I was drawing in a waiting room somewhere and someone tried to sit on me, so I left and ended up an extra in Tobey Maguire's new 70's-based-peace-love-and-hippie drama. Oh, my website has been freshly updated with a few new illustrations and a better link to my blog. Happy Monday!

Coloring Page!

After submitting my storyboard thumbnail sketches to the folks at Alma Little this week, I received some great feedback and now have a few sketches to revise. Very cool! As I am still not 100% certain what I should or should not post pertaining to the book, I will instead offer up a coloring page for any kids who might like it. My oldest daughter has trained me to scan in my images before I paint them, so she can color them. I am happy to. Plus, my friend's daughter has been itching for a picture, too. Emma, this one's for you!

Chapter One

After being contacted by Alma Little, sending in sketches, and signing the contract; I am now starting to work on the storyboard and layout for the book. I feel a bit relieved because everyone I have talked to at Alma Little has been extremely nice and helpful. Plus, I can always count on my wonderful art friends for advice and support. The artist's reception for the gallery show was nice, and I did a lot of painting this weekend (in my kitchen and dining room). I am bummed that my mentorship with Christina is almost over, and I am excited for the next mentorship winner because they will get a chance to work with Shawn McCann. So cool.

The Cat Is Out Of The Bag!

First of all, Christina Rodriguez is way too wonderful for words! I just read her blog and all the nice things she said....wow! It took me a while to clear off my desk, but I have officially begun working on my very first picture book! I can honestly say that I am winging it, but feel very lucky to have Christina and the rest of the Art Ninjas to lean on, along with all the super nice people at Alma Little (who have been supremely supportive and helpful already). And of course, my family and friends (am I having my Sally Field moment or what!?!). Stay tuned for more exciting updates from Nina's desk....
p.s. Alma Little is an imprint of Elva Resa Publishing, based in St. Paul, Minnesota!