Monday, March 30, 2009

Postcards

Hello! Here is a bit of the finished painting for page 29. I believe I posted the same bit in sketch form last year. We are still waiting for spring to arrive here in the land of 10,000 lakes... I don't remember if March came in like a lion or a lamb, but it appears to be leaving as some sort of arctic creature. Happy to report that I have unleashed my second promotional postcard on all the unsuspecting art directors, editors, and creative directors out there (at least the ones who will see submissions from those of us without agents). Chances are that if you read this blog, a postcard is on it's way to you this very moment.... if you should happen to be a new visitor, I would send you one but I don't have your address! I just had a couple ferocious "tigers" attack my leg! Ah, yes... it is Spring Break, and I wish I was on a beach somewhere reading a lovely book. I guess I'll enjoy my time with the kiddies and paint when they "nap" instead.
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Thursday, March 26, 2009

Food For Thought

Salsa received the most votes in our Most Underestimated Condiment poll. Ketchup didn't get a single vote. I think we all know who the real winner is.....

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Honorable Mention

I feel honored to mention that I received an honorable mention at the Reflections show last night along with my friend and fellow illustrator, Barb Bjornson. Best In Show went to the talented and deserving Shawn McCann, who is an amazing artist and a fantastic guy! It was a really wonderful evening, and I enjoyed visiting with lovely art friends and hearing the poets read their winning poems. Have a great weekend, everyone!
p.s. just added a photo Christina took from the show. There is my painting (though these folks are clearly looking at the painting below mine....)

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Three Way Tie

The polling community is reeling with the results of our latest poll: a three way tie in the Favorite Pole Poll. The winners are North Pole, Bean Pole, and May Pole. In other news, I am happy to be attending the opening reception of the Reflections exhibit, co-sponsored by the Minnesota SCBWI and the Minnesota Center for Book Arts. This is the illustration I entered in the show. So, looking forward to an evening out with wonderful art friends on Friday night. Oh, I also completed another painting for the book. 8 down, 14 to go....

Monday, March 16, 2009

Famous Fred


One of the coolest parts of illustrating a book is that my favorite stuffed animal, Fred, gets to make a cameo appearance! I won my very first poster contest in first grade. It was for J.J. Hill Days (in Wayzata, MN). My prize was getting to choose a toy from the toy store in the Wayzata Bay Center. I picked a Breyer model horse, and on the way out of the store, saw Fred. You can imagine my heartbreak, as he is clearly a toy superior to all others.... My parents surprised me with Fred on my birthday, and he remains my all-time favorite birthday gift! Hope everyone had a nice weekend!
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Saturday, March 14, 2009

Homes on Parade




Hey, people! The houses I drew for LDK Builders are in the Parade of Homes Spring '09 Guidebook (no. 317 and no. 335)!
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Thursday, March 12, 2009

Penguin


Congrats to the penguin: winner of the Coolest Flightless Bird poll! Almost everytime we have pancakes at our house, we think of Chilly Willy...
More butter?
More butter!
More pancakes?
More pancakes!
More syrup?
More syrup!
In other news, the lovely people over at Alma Little seem to be liking the paintings for the book so far. I am going to begin painting a new one today! Be sure to vote in our Favorite Pole Poll!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Butterfly

This is what I would look like if I was a butterfly, according to my kindergartener. I am SO glad she remembered my glasses!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Poor Marcia, Marcia, Marcia....


Three Cheers for Jan Brady: winner of our Favorite Brady Poll! Aimee, I think your vote for Jan really made a difference- thanks for voting! Make sure to check out our newest poll: Coolest Flightless Bird

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

I spill my guts

Finally, finally finished the painting I have been working on (pages 10&11). There was a lot more detail in it than I realized. I am another year older now, and am trying to get grounded again. My friend, Christina, was doing a blog-a-day thingy, so I got all caught up in checking blogs every day. I am an enthusiastic friend- very excited to see what people are working on, how they are doing, and so on... If you are my friend, you probably already know this about me. I am happy to make new friends and meet new people. I really like pretty much everyone I meet. Plus, everyone I have met in the children's book community has been so nice, so it is both heartening and encouraging. Scaling back to checking blogs once a week, we'll see how that goes.... Illustration Friday was a new fun thing to try, I look forward to submitting something again sometime. I feel very fortunate to be illustrating this wonderful story I am working on. Seriously. It is an amazing, fantastic opportunity and a dream come true. I am nervous/excited to maybe be a part of a gallery show in March, and am gearing up to send out another promotional postcard. Had a nightmare about postcards, actually, the other night. Was really weird, there were dead people trying to get me to mail 500-some-odd postcards for them (and I was going to have to buy all the stamps, for crying out loud!). Well, that about covers everything up until now, I guess. Many, many thanks to the wonderful people out there who visit my little old blog. It means a lot to me. Thanks!
p.s. The Brady poll is closing tomorrow...any suggestions for future polls????