ROUTINE IF*

There’s nothing like having a routine at bedtime.

This is a clip from the first picture book I've illustrated, THE WARMEST PLACE OF ALL. It’s due to come out Fall 2009 with Pleasant St. Press. I’ll have a book page on my website soon. yeah!
More to come…

SAIL IF*

Who wouldn't want to sail away?

I love it when daydreaming gets the best me, and I get lost in the artwork.
This was a part of a wordless picture book contest from a few years ago when I was studying book illustration. The little girl gets carried away by Queen Alexandra birdwing butterfly, narrowly misses an unfortunate encounter with a kio fish, and lands on a little island that seems familiar.

What you don’t see are the illustrations of a lovely tea party with Silkworm and Mr. Japanese beetle. The two have a gift for her. It’s a special purple silk shawl. They all dance about until it’s time for her hosts to sail away. The evening is coming and so is her way home. I huge Luna moth swoops down from the night sky and carries her away on its soft down- like back. She later awakes to find herself right back on the sofa where she started.

But where did the shawl really come from?

ENOUGH IF*

Is there such a thing as enough support from others when you feel like you are falling apart? Have hope and remember that true friends will always stay close by, when they know what you are made of on the inside.

I think this illo represents a lot more about friendship then I had intended. After it was done I took a closer look.

There are those who stay close by your side like the little Doll. She does her best to be comforting and keeps a pulse on the situation. The tiny Mouse may think of himself too small to help, but he remains close to your heart. There are those like the Nurse that have the knowledge and skill to assess the problem which keeps you hopeful that healing will come. The Bunny is genuinely concerned, but with no paws is unable to do anything. Others become Soldiers who protect you when you are most vulnerable and know who to call when action is needed from those from afar who can bring more aid. And then there those who I'd rather not name. They look down from their high place, focus too closely on only the damage, and speak in judgment. Yet, all of them can hold the title of Friend.

Which one are you?

SOUR IF*

I thought this little girl had a pretty sour attitude. Her perturbed gaze and wrinkled nose will do the trick nicely. She’s all dressed up to treat herself to a night of fun. When suddenly she opens the front door to leave and finds...
The full illustration is on my website; however, the picture might inspire someone to write a different story.

Have fun.

Hoard-IF*

HOARD is a weird word for the week. Perhaps this illo will do. It’s from a picture book story I started a few years ago. After many revisions and even throwing out the entire first manuscript of 800+words, it’s finally ready for a publisher to review. The new text is just over 250words and has a much stronger voice. If I have learned anything, it‘s that I have to be willing to sacrifice my favorite portions of a story in order for it to take on a life of its own and go beyond my original inspiration. A few friends from my critique group had a hard time letting go of the first manuscript’s direction. I had a ton of puns for coffee to punch up the humor, but in this case the text competed with the illos. I had a complete book dummy by that point, and I thought that I would have to start over with new character designs as well. On a whim, I removed all the text and treated it like a wordless picture book and that’s when something rewarding happened. The main character told me the story. I scribbled the words down in the margins of dummy, tweaked them a little, and didn’t miss any of the old text.
And yes, at the moment I’m hoarding the identity of the main character. She’s not there. Maybe I will share her with you next week.

FORGOTTEN IF*

When I was very young my grandmother sewed dolls for my little sister and me. My dolls were often dressed in purple and wore pigtails. I wore pigtails too. I still have most of my dolls except for my favorite one. She was left under my climbing tree during a storm. later I found her beneath some loquat leaves in a dried up puddle. The dirt wouldn’t wash off, her fabric became brittle, and soon she was gone. My heart sank. It was my fault. I had forgotten her, but only that one time.

WIDE IF*

Cats are widely found

in the garden of the Queen

much to her chagrin

I've been going back to a few older illos to see if I can put some new life in them. This is still one of my favorite drawings. I really love Photoshop! I am sure the cat is having a lovely time.

I tried a little haiku for the illo. I've been reading a lot of it lately. Perhaps I will write more if you think it's any good.