Paintings

I have been doing some painting lately... and so have my kids! My oldest daughter just turned six, and I painted some outlines of penguins, seals, and polar bears on canvases for them to paint at the kid party. It was really fun watching them all create (and it was weird to see them sit quietly instead of running around like maniacs). I will post a coloring page next time with the aforementioned winter creatures.

Ouch!

My poor brother-in-law recently fractured his leg in a snowmobile race. He is doing well, but obviously bummed. Here's wishing him a speedy recovery!

Happiness

Could this be the bluebird of happiness? Quite possibly. More likely, it is the new bird for my website. Nothing really new or exciting to report today. I think I have avoided catching another cold and went to yoga tonight. Don't forget to cast your vote for Favorite Beatle. Coming soon: a new coloring page for the kiddies and more randomness from Nina. Thanks for stopping by!
How are you doing, by the way? What's new with you these days? Any fun weekend plans?

Cute

This is the drawing my almost-six-year-old came up with for her birthday party invitations. The green penguin's name is "King" and he is standing by the mom penguin, and just above the baby penguin (the tiny purple thingy). I would like to welcome my friend Sharon Wagner to the world of blogging- check her out, her artwork is amazing!

Home Work

Hoping to make some real progress on some homes that I am working on for a local builder this weekend. It is nice to paint the outside of houses while I am inside, warm at my desk. Well, my feet are cold, but you know what I mean. Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home!

Vintage Coolness

Ok, people.... This is straight from the seventies: my very own autographed copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. My Aunt Mary gave it to me as a gift when I was little. This is a real treasure. So, now that I broke out the big guns.... what on earth will I blog about next? My shoes? Macaroni and Cheese?? Calculators??? Things with the book are going really great, all of my sketches are now approved, as is the new-and-improved cover. I am busy and so happy, and LOST is back on tonight, too! Stay warm- it is really cold in MN!

Happy Family

This is my friend Ethan's cute family. I did this portrait for him to give to his wife as a surprise for Christmas. Ethan and I used to work together at the U of M in Small Animal Surgery. He is a great guy and a wonderful veterinary surgeon! I do have great news: my color palette piece is indeed going to grace the cover of the book! The accidental cover! I am going to re-paint it and extend the illustration on the left-hand side so the entire painting will wrap around to the back cover. So, this was really a great week (though I didn't get as much drawing in as I would have liked to). And there is a great MNSCBWI workshop tomorrow and then our CBIG party to follow, so I am really looking forward to seeing great art friends. I have found my people! Have a great weekend, everyone!

Confession

I voted for George and Ringo. I love them both.

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!

Hubba Bubba

Happy New Year! Looks like Hubba Bubba was the winner in the Favorite Gum poll. Very exciting news! To start the New Year, I would like to invite you to view my desk, cow lamp and all. Surprisingly enough, I get quite a lot done here and it is fun to have my own space at home to work. I have surrounded myself with favorite books from my childhood: Days With Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel, The Marvelous Mud Washing Machine and Pickle Pickle Pickle Juice by Patty Wolcott to name a few. I also have an autographed copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar that is a dear treasure (it sits by the cow lamp and makes me smile whenever I look at it).
The King Who Rained by Fred Gwynne (Herman Munster from the old tv show) is one of my very favorites, along with The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes by DuBose Heyward.
These photos were taken when I was working on a house drawing, and you can see here a photo of my kiddies, my favorite pink eraser and ruler, an owl mug that was my Grandparents, a pile of artwork for the book, and silhouettes I did of my daughters two winters ago. I am working now on a painting for the book that will represent the color palette I will be using. It is just a random drawing, too, and I think it is kind of funny. Stay tuned for more exciting updates from my desk, and be sure to cast your vote in our next featured poll: Favorite Beatle.