Cultivate

Eep! I have been so busy I neglected to post yesterday! I have had my nose to the grindstone editing images for my website (expected to be up and running by May 1) and preparing for an upcoming NESCBWI conference and a teaching stint. Also, last night I was invited along with three other colleagues Alexandra Endsley, Alissa Hendricks, and Laura Dorson to present work and speak to Glenna Lang's portfolio prep students at SMFA.

Even though I'm asked to present, it's always a learning experience for me. Listening to my former classmates, I gain insight to their styles and the types of work they do. I get to know Glenna's students and the markets they are interested in. Usually I get to participate in a critique of a current assignment which allows me to see student work and approaches to solving problems.

I also learned about Slow Food USA--the antithesis of fast food and factory farming. Hallelujiah!

One valuable aspect of Glenna's class is that student's have the opportunity to complete "real world" assignments. In other words, there are opportunities to get work published. Occasionally there are paid assignments, but often the work is pro bono, usually for worthy, non-profit organizations like Slow Food USA.

And so, I had this sketch above that I had done for Illustration Friday's prompt "cultivate, " but never posted. It was done from photo reference and I hoped to take it a step further. I think it works for this post, though.

Here's to cultivating healthy plants, animals, and ecosystems. Here's to cultivating informed and influential creatives.