The Original Art Show 2012

I am extremely pleased to be included in this year's juried children's exhibition at the Society of Illustrators. Secrets At Sea was selected, and I cannot be more excited. To be included in The Original Art, books must be selected by a jury drawn from illustrators, art directors, editors, and experts in the field.

This year’s show features 139 books chosen from entries submitted nationwide. Two Silver Medals and one Gold Medal are awarded by the jury for outstanding achievement in children’s book illustration. This year’s Silver Medal winners are Jon Klassen for This is Not My Hat (Candlewick Press), and Steve Jenkins for The Beetle Book (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt / Books for Children). The Gold Medal winner is Laëtitia Devernay for The Conductor (Chronicle Books). Congrats, fellow illustrators!!

 I've gathered enough courage to head on down for the opening. I know... I sound like a big whimp, don't I! I am typically a tad shy with these types of events, but I cannot pass up this opportunity to see all of the amazing work that has been collected. Perhaps I will see you there, too?

 For more information, follow this link.

Opening Reception and Awards Presentation
6:00 pm Cocktails (YESS!!!)
7:00 pm Awards Ceremony
Annnnd, then I have to run to catch a bus by 9pm.

 Society of Illustrators
128 East 63rd Street New York,

NY EXHIBITION DATES
October 24 - December 22
Tuesday 10-8 Wednesday- Friday 10-5 Saturday 12-4

In The Garden

 At first people refuse to believe that a strange new thing can be done, then they begin to hope it can be done, then they see it can be done -then it is done and all the world wonders why it was not done centuries ago. ― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

FInding Lost Time

It's so important to have personal work on the back burner. I may not have been able to work on this painting in 2 months, but I know when I am done with my client work, this little world is waiting for me. Rewarding work with work. Nice. This will be a painting of my childhood woods. Complete with shed, pet cemetery, tree spirts, and the ghost of my cat.

A New Place With New Work

So, the whole apartment is finally moved, and we are SLOWLY settling into the new house. Because of the start of school and a boatload of deadlines, it's not quite presentable yet. I am figuring after moving all of my books, I won't want to do that again for another 6 years. We have time to settle in. The new studio is a little smaller than the last, but it's just what I need. Two great windows for light and ventilation. I will miss the great skylights from the last place. The fuzzy studio assistant has not skipped a beat, and she's still coaching me to success!

I've been scurrying to finish a multitude of projects which include two middle grade novels, multiple background scene for an animation, a book of poetry, and a difference game for Behind the Bookcase. Got to finish the projects... then I can start organizing all of the boxes from the move. Here's a snippet of the cover for Secrets At Sea's companion novel!

Hope everyone else is having a wonderful fall!