It was really coming down when I awoke the other day. The news was showing that just about every school was closed in our area. My car was already buried and outside the window the snow seemed to be blowing in every direction. It was gorgeous and this time it was not the powdery kind, but heavy snow, which clung to every branch and surface. I made a teeny tiny snowman on my windowsill–with capers for eyes and a slither of carrot for a nose. I spent the day working on gathering more files for my agent but around 2 pm I allowed myself time to just paint. not illustration. not anything representational. just free creating. Bliss.
the original art show at SOI...
It’s an annual tradition-usually in late fall, to attend the Society of Illustrators Original Art show in NYC. It’s always so fun to see the illustration art on the walls and then look at them in the actual picture books, which are displayed in the gallery. My friends and I are often surprised to see the mediums used on the art. Sometimes it is digital (Procreate) and other times what we think might be digital could also turn out to be acrylic. There was a lot more collage in the show this year. That was my fave.
A new year...
happy 2023! I always love the fresh start to a new year. So far, it has been a relatively quiet one with lots of time working in my sketchbook, reading or taking walks in the park. It gets dark so early, so I wake even earlier now to enjoy the daylight. In fact, watching the sun rise each day has become one of my favorite things. I grab a cup of coffee, watch all the colors unfold outside my window and wonder what the day will bring. I hope this year is a creative one & one filled with adventures, love and laughter.
Yes!
creative play
I always feel a little sad when a book project wraps up. I had my head down all winter working on the picture book for Little, Brown. Aside from some color tweaks and minor revisions, it’s all done. I’m not great with too much unstructured free time so I have been taking on different creative pursuits. One is to just paint for the sake of painting vs. for publication. (Code: messy!!!) First up? Crayons! :) I find that getting lost in one creative project often sparks ideas for another. I’ve been writing a new book so I keep my notebook nearby to scrawl when something comes to mind. Soon I will begin the dummy, once I figure out the main story.
Aside from that, lots of administrative things to complete. Luckily I already finished my taxes, but there are mailing list updates and file organizations ahead. Hmm, painting seems more fun…