pencil, ink, gouache, and oil

You'll notice, positioning images is beyond me!

Rabbits illuminated

The Pacific Northwest Children's Book Conference in Portland, Oregon was last week. Many stories and illustrations were transformed with the help of exceptional faculty. We had incredible teachers who work in children's book publishing as editors, writers, and illustrators including Linda Zuckerman, Editor, Ann Whitford Paul, Kirby Larson (Newberry Honor winner), Suz Blackaby, Susan Goldman Rubin, Margaret Bechard, Susan Fletcher, among others, and the incredible illustrators Marla Frazee and Elsa Warnick. We were also honored to have Marcia Leonard, editor from Clarion Books as a speaker on more than one day. Every reading seemed to demonstrate the evolving of a writer. Marla and Elsa inspired us to surge ahead in our own visual voices. We were kept busy for 5 days without wasting a minute! It felt as nurturing and exciting as camp does to a kid. While we didn't have marshmallows roasted over a campfire, there were way too many desserts. Consider attending next year's conference. I'm hoping to attend. I should be done with at least a four-step dessert abstinence program by then.

Art work spaces, an oxymoron

You can find all the usual suspects in my art workspace: chair, desk, easel, pencils, brushes, and paint. Art-work-space seems a bit of an oxymoron. Art does not seem like work and when there's space, it can be a sign of a problem.
The final photo is one of my favorite places to work. It looks inviting and warm doesn't it? It is just an illusion however, because being a short distance from deep, cold water, you really need snow pants and mittens to sit outside here. After having lived in Europe and loved cobblestones, a patio seemed a way to quell the longing to be lounging outside at a French or Italian sidewalk cafe. I had forgotten the temperature difference between Italian summers and Pacific coast summers. Actually, July and August do afford some opportunities to sit outside here. Come over to my house for tea, and bring your ski wear!

Dog's Picnic illustrations

These illustrations are from a story, Dog's Picnic, and are in watercolor, gouache, and ink. Experimenting with media is a lot of fun.

Recently finished an art & illustration program. Learning is such a joy! It took some years on the path of life before completely following this passion. Enjoy the pictures, and live your passion too. e*