In my sketchbook

I am in Cross Lake Maine which is north of Caribou, you may be thinking there is somewhere north of Caribou? I wish I could say my son was frolicking like the boy in the picture but after 5 minutes in the water his foot was covered with one big leech and a ton of babies. He acted like a superhero when his dad poured the salt on his foot and shriveled them all up.

Uncharted Waters

At the Smells Like Crayons critique group meeting last night, one of the things we talked about was the Sketchbook Project sketchbooks we had all ordered. We all had different themes and ideas, but agreed how hard it is to make the first marks on our pristine books.

I decided this morning to jump into the "uncharted waters" and start my first page. Due to the thinness of the paper, I think I'm going use mainly colored pencil. I tried a little watercolor wash to see what the paper could handle, and it wasn't too bad, just a bit wrinkly. I'm excited to keep drawing, and to discover where this sketchbook tale will take me.

In My Sketchbook

Girl and Duck

In My Sketchbook

Right now I'm doodling some things - hoping to get some more art to make my wood tiles with. While doing the art fair this summer I've gotten requests for dogs and cats (how do I NOT have a dog image?! Sam is so disappointed in me.) and ducks and turtles. I will turn these guys into full color illustrations soon, and hopefully have some new wares to sell for the next fair on July 24th. See you in Portsmouth!

My Latest Creation

   So I've been feeling like a slacker lately, but in my defense, I have been creating something, just not a lot of illustration work...

   Little Pecorino #2 will be making his/her entrance around Christmas.

   I'm just now getting my energy back so maybe I can start doing some more artwork.  Last week I finished a companion project for a book I illustrated, "For the Love of Emrys".  That weekend I had a visit from the author herself, Barbara Ann Simone.  It was great to finally meet her in person since we had been corresponding through email and phone for almost a year.

  I've gotten preliminary information about an artisan show that I am invited to for a second year, Artist Collective.  I wasn't able to make it last November because of an overlap in deadlines, but I'm starting to get some ideas moving so that I can be part of the show this year.  I should be fine traveling six weeks before the baby is due, right?! :)

promo card from 2010 show

The Sketchbook Project

I have decided to participate in this year's Sketchbook Project (if you don't already know what this is, click here.) And just received my sketchbook in the mail! I know Smells Like Crayons members have participated in this in years past, but so far I have not been one of them. This will be my first year, and the topic I picked to sketch about was "Fill Me with Stories". The possibilities are endless. Can't wait to post what I'm working on!

What I'm working on

As you may have seen on my blog, I've been working on sketches for my sketchbook project/picture book dummy.  Here is another I've added to the bunch... what do you think?  Are they working?  Do the characters look consistent?  Would love your thoughts...

Art show at the Black Bean Cafe

Smells Like Crayons art is on display. Taintor Child ,who brings and hangs all the art to the Black Bean Cafe in Rollingsford, hung our show with a little help from me Thursday night. It is a small little show but looks really great on the brick walls. The restaurant serves breakfast and lunch and is delicious, so check it out for the art and food.