Daily Sketch- Jack and Jill

Jack and Jill made it up the hill.

Ever since our trip and being on Central time, I've been waking up early, NOT CHECKING E-MAIL and working in my sketch book.  The best thing, is that anything can happen there, if I let it.

Illustration Friday- TALL

My tall cousin LennyIllustration Friday- TALL loved to feed the Giraffes.

Illustration Friday-Teacher

A little girl I taught in preschool is starting Kindergarten and she called me on the phone, this was part of our conversation.

Very Quick Mural Design...

Very inspired.

My new favorite- Evelyn Ackerman

I went to the Autry museum California's Designing Women today and am so inspired.  I loved all the work and the stories behind them.

Actually I'm freaking out I love Evelyn Ackerman's work so much!  And she also made art that was inspired by her daughter's and her school....yeah art mom!

P.s. If you go, take the time to listen to the women's stories.  They are inspiring and thoughtful.

Wakey Wakey

Waking them up for school....when it's still August.

First Day Musings

The new 4th grader bounced off to all her friends
The little sister bounced her backpack and liked the noise it made
Parents tried to remember the other parents names
And the sun starts to heat up the black top

Let go of one hand and take a picture
Now she's with all the kids that go upstairs
We leave her there, confident and smiling
And cross the sunny playground all the way to the other side.

Nervous as we pass familiar faces
Hey who's your teacher, she's nice, nice to see you too
Hand is held tighter in anticipation
Introductions are made as reality sets in

The bell dings, a familiar sound that the parents remember
and one that the kids hear for the very first time.
The door opens to a smiling teacher wearing an alphabet skirt
She finds herself letting go of the hand that holds hers tightly

and walks in

Sits on the rug checking back to see if we are still there
looking back again each time with more worry and holding back tears.
Be brave, I mouth.
A little girl pats her on the back and she bites her lip.

Time to go, I whisper to her Daddy
We are too big for these chairs.
The first day of Kindergarten
and we walk home to an empty house.

I can't wait to go get her.

Illustration Friday- FREEZE

I know this one from experience.  Who doesn't love a good Freeze dance with pre-schoolers!!!!

Illustration Friday

Sketch Book Painting

Write You

So at the SCBWI conference this is what Arthur Levine said, "We have heard  the words write or illustrate what you know... I'm going to say take out the what and the know, and just write or illustrate you."

I know he didn't mean it literally like this painting I did at the end of my sketch book this morning.  But, I am inspired by all  the musings at this year's conference.

Illustration Friday- BOUNCE

Benny the Bouncing Boy

I'm excited!

It's really fun when I like my paintings, my story, my style.  This is not always the case...but maybe, just maybe listening to everyone talk about voice, voice, voice and going back to my favorite medium, oil painting, and maybe well, it's all just starting to sink in.