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Collecting wild things was an exciting part of my youth. My siblings and I were collectors of frogs, field mice, dandelions, acorn caps, and a few edible items like raspberries along the fence line and hickory nuts from the pasture. Of course we had to watch out for the ones that were crusty with cow leftovers. These are the memories that I draw from for my art and in my writing. Author Bruce Handy wrote in his book, WILD THINGS The Joy of Reading Children's Literature as an Adult, about how … [Read more...] about Wild Things

Before we tore off the old porch on our house, I would bring the last few harvest items from my yard and leave them there in the cool evening shadows of the porch. The last apples from the tree were now handy for a quick apple pie. Carrots, crusty with dirt, could be scrubbed up and steamed to savor like fresh picked jewels, for at least a month after the garden had been closed down. This last fall I brought the few remaining beets from the garden, into our new, smaller porch, just as all the … [Read more...] about Apple head Dolls

I just finished reading a book about an artist while simultaneously working on a few sketches using another collection of used markers. This collection of markers was massive, and the tips of a finer point. I decided it was a fine opportunity to try using some cross hatching techniques, with hopes that I wouldn't muddy the whole piece. I am after all still experimenting with this whole marker thing. My inspiration for the drawing, a photograph by Norma Joseph, that I saw in one of my reference … [Read more...] about Master Drawers

Afforded a few unseasonably warm days over this past weekend, I pulled out my bike and went for what was probably the last warm ride of the season. Even as the air seemed comfortable when I set out on my jaunt, halfway down the road my hands became stiff and cold. I decided I would pedal as fast as I could, into next SPRING. You can find many styles of bicycle art, but the piece I'm posting is a quick color pencil sketch. Check out some other bicycle art in Frank Viva's picture book, Along a … [Read more...] about Pedaling Along a Long Road that Simply Goes in Circles

Now that September has come to a close it means fewer days for back yard kiddie pool splashing, sun soaking bike rides and amusement park frolics. It also means that the SCBWI Fall Conference in Wisconsin has come and gone. Preparing for and taking part in the conference is not unlike the experience of an epic roller coaster ride. You build yourself up with courage and confidence. You know that it's going to be a bit scary, but also that you'll feel invigorated and eager to try something new … [Read more...] about The Roller Coaster Effect