Subway

Last week was the Original Art Show Opening at the Society of Illustrators. It was a fabulous evening, and I met Eric Carle. He was receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society. Lots of other people that I knew by name -both illustrators and designers, publishers, art directors.

Lots of beautiful artwork. Get out and go see it all for yourself- if you are in New York.

Since I was without my little ones, I had loads of free time to sketch like mad. Here are some folks on the subway.

Is one of them you? I was the person trying to pretend she wasn't sketching anyone.

Original Art Show

Well here it is folks! The Original Art Show at the Society of Illustrators. I haven't been before, but I know it will be amazing. I am Assitant Chair this year (which means that I cheated and already know what is in the show). Two of my books made it in the show, Bear in the Air and the Brother's Kennedy ( I didn't cheat for that-it was all fair and square).

I happen to think that the Original Art show is an interesting concept with regards to Picture Books. A book in its mass produced form next to the only one true original art work. I CANT WAIT.

I ♥ illustration.


here is a link to the society of illustrators:
http://www.societyillustrators.org/At-the-Museum/2010/2010-Original-Art/Opening-
Reception--2010-Original-Art.aspx

October

It seems a little behind to post this mid- October. BUT I love the word October. There is a lovely sound to it that speaks to the heart of fall and something very old. If there is something a little green and rotten - but not quite dead yet, that is okay too. Probably the true pessimist would enjoy November more; all the leaves are gone, winter is on its way. For sure it would take a bleak outlook to truly revel in February, the beauty of winter on the wane, only greyness left, but Spring is still too far away to look for it. Spring it can definitely be said is only for the optimists. But this was supposed to be all about October.
IT is in the air.

Dragons

This Friday I am talking to Evan's school about illustration. No sweat, right? Well other than it is a Japanese public school and I don't speak Japanese... My drawings will just have to do the talking.

They have been reading "My Father's Dragon" written by Ruth Stiles Gannett and expertly illustrated by her daughter-in-law Ruth Chrisman Gannett. So, we will be using this book as a place to start. Now I have to say first of all that I love the illustrations in this book and since it is one of the oldest books in my memory they have for me a sort of elemental "truth" to them. SO it feels weird to rethink the wheel a bit.

I used to think that every text had a "platonic" ideal-the perfect interpretation. I don't think that anymore. There are so many thousands of ways to visualize something, reinterpret, add on to. None of which are 100% right or wrong. Even if you are both the author and illustrator. Once you send your story out into the ether anyone can visualize it in their own unique way.

Besides, I like drawing dragons.

Sky and Spy

Have you ever had the experience of having an incredible idea and getting so excited about it only to find out later that either it wasn't original or that someone had already done it regardless. Well anyway its a bummer not to mention confusing. Like when George Harrison got sued for unintentionally using the the tune of "He's so Fine" (which I don't buy anyway). Not that anything like that has happened! I just had to was the slate clean on a little idea I had in the back of my mind. These are a couple of characters that ARE mine. I love designing characters. love, love, love...

What a summer...

Many of you know that we are living in Japan for a year. If not, now you do, I guess. Before we made it to Japan we were at my Sister-in-law's wedding. Happy Day! Before that we drove across the country from New York to Utah. Before that I was in New York City as assitant chair to the Society of Illustrators Original Art Show. I met a load of great fellow illustrators and had a generally amazing time. I also got a look at the archives which included stacks of Dulac(love Him), Dean Cornwell, Charles Dana Gibson. On and on.

I am not sure why I told that story in reverse.

Somewhere in the middle of all that, about South Dakota to be precise, we accidentally hit more motorcycles than I will ever see in my life. Sturgis, South Dakota is a mid-summer Mecca to 70,000 motorcycling crazy people. I am the only one in the universe who did not already know about this. Well I love people-watching. So, here are a few lovelies:

Banjo Pigs

A couple of friends have a blog completely devoted to images of Pigs Playing the Banjo. ...WEll why not?...here is my addition

http://banjopigs.blogspot.com