Jack's Christmas Present

I wanted to share with you a wonderful opportunity I had to get to know a little boy by the name of Jack.  Jack is the sweetest little boy whose grandfather discovered me at the Cornhill Arts Festival this summer.  He told me that Jack loves his swing as much as the boy in my book "The Swing".  He asked if I could paint a picture of Jack in his swing in a similar fashion to the artwork in the book.  I thought it would be fun!   

I had Jack's grandfather send me all kinds of pictures of Jack so I could make some sketches. Although I have never met Jack, his personality shined through in the pictures, so I really felt like I got to know him.  He has this impish little grin that I really wanted to capture in the final painting.  I created a final sketch with a few color studies for his grandpa's approval, then I created the final art in oil on illustration board.  Below you can see the finished piece and the work in progress with a several photo references of Jack and the color studies. 

The painting was intended as a Christmas present so I finished and mailed it out in early December.  I hope Jack has a wonderful time opening his present and discovering himself in the painting:)

Merry Christmas Jack!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Open your hand to the Poor

As you may already be aware, with the launch of the book "The Swing" I committed to donating 50% of the proceeds of the sale of the book to a wonderful organization called Feed My Starving Children.  This organization feeds hungry children around the world.  I have volunteered many times with my own children to pack the food and pray over it as it makes it's way to people in need.  I could not think of a better organization to support with the sale of "The Swing" than FMSC.  Their vision is:

With God's help, Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) will strive to eliminate starvation in children throughout the world by helping to instill compassion in people to hear and respond to the cries of those in need.  

As I did last year, I have kept count of all the books I sold in 2015 and for Christmas I am making my donation to FMSC.  Drum roll please...........

This year "The Swing" will donate $450!!!!

According to FMSC's website $50 will feed a starving child with Manna Pack food for 7 months!  In that time the child's life is literally transformed.  That means that with your support of "The Swing" this year we will feed and transform the lives of 9 precious children.  That's 9 happy faces like those below compiled from the FMSC website.

Thank you for your support and for supporting Feed My Starving Children. 

 Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving Weekend Book Signing

After your Thanksgiving turkey and shopping are done, take a refreshing break and join me at the Local Author/Illustrator Book Signing & Sale at the Buffalo History Museum this weekend.  The event is free and there will be over 65 local authors and illustrators in attendance.  I will be there with The Swing and all the many great books published by Buffalo Heritage Unlimited.  It's like "Shop Small" for authors and illustrators:)  Hope to see you there!

Mastodons, Lava and Art!

Wow!  I can't believe what a wonderful weekend I had at the Rochester Science Museum's 45th Annual Holiday Bazaar! This has got to be the coolest art show I have ever been in!  My booth was in what I like to call, "the lava cave".  It is an exhibit at the museum that talks about the tectonic plates of the earth and how they form land formations that we see today.  I had lava flowing down one wall and an earthquake display on another.  And the right across from me was a Mastodon!  Check it out!

The people at the show were great and so many of them gave me wonderful complements on my work.  I exhibited "The Swing" book, art from that book, my Five Hungry Mice art and my new 4 Seasons of Dresses series.  The children that wandered into my booth were so full of light and Holiday cheer that is was contagious and it was so much fun watching them discover my book and leave through the pages.  One little girl who bought my book was so happy with her purchase she asked me if she could take a "selfie" with me:)  She was adorable!  Another little boy, Wyatt, came by my booth and talked me ear off about all the things he had discovered in the museum.  He was such a joy.  

Many grandparents were out too and they were looking for that special gift for their grandchildren.  I was so honored when they decided it would be my book.  I had the pleasure of signing books to all these little children.  I wrote each name on a piece of paper first to make sure I had the spelling right.  Afterwards I realized I had made Santa's List.  Look at all the children who are definitely on the "nice" list for Santa this year!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by and offered me their support.  It was a really exciting time and a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season.  I can't wait to see you all again next year!

I wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday! Gobble,  gobble, gobble:)

Keuka Art Festival - A successful weekend

What a beautiful weekend I had at the Keuka Arts Festival in Penn Yan, NY!  Even though we had to set up in a rain storm, and we had to tear down in another rain storm that actually lead to flash flooding....during the festival itself we had beautiful sunny skies and wonderful turn out!  Check out the beautiful scenery I had all weekend!

That's my tent with the dog painting on the outside:)

I brought with me my new "The Swing" picture book, some new prints from the book and from my other picture book artwork, and some new paintings.  Here's a look...

The Swing was a big hit at the show!  Not sure if it was the candy that I lured the children in with (heeheehee) or the artwork itself!  But I was so pleased with the many parents who stopped to look at the book.  The older parents and grandparents who were familiar with the poem by Robert Louis Stevenson, enjoyed my interpretation of his words, while the younger parents who were not familiar with the poem, seemed charmed by it and my "reintroducing" the poem to a new generation of children!  They also really appreciated that I am continuing to contributing 50% of the proceeds of the sale of the book to the organization Feed My Starving Children.  It's such a great cause and I love that I can do something positive with my art.

Sales of the book were good and many people were excited to see that I am working on a new picture book as well.  They said they would come back next year to see it so count on me being at the Keuka Arts Festival next year.  I also picked up several new little fans, two of them are pictured below.  I love the little girl with her feet in the air:)  

All in all a great weekend!  Thank you Keuka Arts Festival organizers.  Can't wait for my next show!  I'll be in East Aurora at the East Aurora Art Society Fine Arts Festival on June 27 - 28, and then in Rochester at the Cornhill Arts Festival on July 11-12, 2015.  Hope to see you there!

Keuka Arts Festival Preparation

Summer kicks off art festival season!  I am participating in four fabulous art shows this summer to promote my children's picture book The Swing and to sell my art.  The first one is this weekend - the Keuka Arts Festival in Penn Yan, NY.  This is a wonderful festival in the heart of the Finger Lakes along an outlet of Keuka lake.

So this week I have been preparing for the festival.  I ordered prints of my artwork from The Swing and also from my "as of yet, not released" Five Hungry Mice picture book.  They are all signed and numbered and cellophane wrapped.  I have also been putting the finishing touches on a few new paintings that I will debut at the art show.  A series of little girl dresses and some sweet ducks.  Here are some sneak peaks of what I will be bringing...

Boxes of artwork are piling up inside my studio...

And piles of tents, walls, and supplies are piling up in my garage....

I will be promoting my book The Swing as well as selling prints that I have made of my favorite illustrations...

Plus some new work!

My new studio is working out great for preparing for the art shows.  There is room for me to lay my work out and curate it.  I also have space for two easels, so I have two paintings in process on them as well as one on my desk.  My husband just made me a new work bench that is nice and high so I can stand at it and cut mat boards or fix hangers to the back of my paintings without having to bend over to the floor, like I was doing before:)  So happy with my new space!  This show season is going to be great!  Hope to see you there!

Book Signings Galore!

Sorry I have been out of touch for a while....It has been quite busy here with many good things happening.  My publisher has secured several wonderful opportunities for me to attend book signings and tell people the story of how "The Swing" came to be.  So I have been spending my spare time preparing for the signings or attending them:)  I have another one tonight so I have been gathering books, book marks, stickers, coloring pages, and all the fun stuff that kids love!  I love to make a wonderfully inviting environment that just draws the kids in.  I'm not sure if I do it for the kids or for the kid in me, but either way I love it and enjoy adding something special every time I attend a signing:) Below is the signing I'm attending tonight.  If you can make it out I'd love to see you!

Here are some pictures from the other signings I have attended lately.  I was at the Small Press Book Fair at the Karpeles Manuscript Museum, the Trimania Arts, Music and Mischief event, and Knox Farm Art Fest.  All great events where I met great people and had a blast sharing my book.  I'm definitely doing them all again next year!  We are so lucky to have so many great local events that support local artists!

Friday on Elmwood

I had the coolest experience that just goes to show you why it's so important to support our local retailers....

A girlfriend and I met for coffee this past Friday.  We decided to meet at Spot Coffee on Elmwood in Buffalo, NY so we could relax and do some window shopping afterwards.  As we were walking we spied this interesting looking shop.  It is called Thin Ice and it showcases a lot of local artists work. 

Here is how they describe themselves....

We support the local arts community in Buffalo, NY and surrounding areas by selling predominately locally handcrafted jewelry, pottery, glass, metal, fiber and wood creations.  Everything is handmade in AMERICA.  

I love that statement, and there was even a kitty sitting in the sunny window so we just had to go in!

There was wonderful work and very reasonable prices for handmade one of a kind art.  They also have a little studio where they hold weekly art classes in all kinds of mediums.  I really like this store and highly recommend that you stop in and visit.  But now for the surprise...

As we were browsing we found a book section, and you know I love picture books, so I had to stop and browse....when my eyes fell upon this!  A display of books from Buffalo Heritage Unlimited including my book The Swing!  How cool is that?  I was blown away.  First of all to see my book in a store was so cool, but then to think that the owner of Thin Ice supported me as an artist.  It was humbling and wonderful at the same time.

So if you want to support your local retailers and local artists please shop Thin Ice and stores like it!  They are a real gem in our community:) 

Thank you Thin Ice for your support of me!  :-)

A Christmas FMSC Donation!

Well, as you probably remember, with the launch of The Swing I decided to donate 50% of the proceeds to Feed My Starving Children.  Feed My Starving Children is a Christian 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.  A single meal costs only 22 cents to produce, and 92% of total donations goes directly toward the food program.

I wanted to make the donation before Christmas and now that I have fulfilled all my book orders I was able to make the donation yesterday.  Thanks to all of you and your support we were able to raise $507.60 to donate to FMSC!!!  That means we gave 2,076 meals to starving children around the world!  Thank you for your support of The Swing and FMSC!  If you are interested in getting involved with FMSC you can find our more at their website:  http://www.fmsc.org

Thanksgiving Book Signing Event

Just a reminder, if you are out and about this holiday weekend doing some shopping, stop by the Buffalo History Museum!  I will be participating in a local author/illustrator book signing there.  There will be over 50 local authors and illustrators represented and lots of books!  It sure to be a wonderful event.  If you missed the book launch and still wanted to see my new book "The Swing" then stop by!  Hope to see you there!  I have attached the details below.

First Copy of The Swing!

IT'S FINALLY HERE!  THE FIRST COPY OF THE SWING!

I met my publisher in the parking lot the other day to receive from her the very first copy of my picture book.  It was a little funny....like a hand off of something illegal...LOL!  We were trying to find a time in our mutually busy schedules to meet so she could give me the book to look at and approve.  Since we were like two ships passing in the night she finally suggested a strip mall parking lot that was half way for both of us.  There, under the light of the street lamps (cuz it's now dark by 5pm!) she handed me the first soft cover version of the book to come from the printer.  It was like being given gold!  It felt so special to me.  I was incredibly pleased with the quality of the reproduction of my artwork.  The hardcover version of the book is still being printed so I will have to wait till tomorrow or Saturday to see that, but if it's anything like the soft cover, I will be overjoyed:)

So here is a sneak peak for you all!  Hope to see you at the launch on Sunday!

November is National Picture Book Month

Picture Book Month is an international literacy initiative that celebrates the print picture book during the month of November.  The found the following information about National Picture Book Month on their website.  The founders of this event are: 

        Dianne de Las Casas (author & storyteller) www.diannedelascasas.com, 
        Katie Davis (author/illustrator) katiedavis.com
        Elizabeth O. Dulemba (author/illustrator) www.dulemba.com
        Tara Lazar (author) taralazar.wordpress.com
        Wendy Martin (author/illustrator) wendymartinillustration.com

These talented authors and illustrators put together their worldwide connections to make an event that celebrates the simplicity and beauty of the picture book.  Here is a calendar of events they have planned and you can go to the website link I provided above to find out more.

I love what they have started because I feel picture books are so important, especially in our media driven society.  We live in a highly visual world where we are constantly being bombarded with media messages, entertainment and immediacy.  While it's fun and exciting, it is also overwhelming and creates a feeling of temporariness.  Nothing seems to last, everything is constantly being updated and refreshed.  Think of the impact this must have on our children.  While I know children today are growing up in this media rich world, I also know that children need a sense of order, structure, and connectedness for healthy development.  This is where I think the picture book is so important.  A child can sit with a loved one and have that wonderful page turning experience of a beautifully crafted picture book and slow the world down.  The picture book puts the child in control and they can chose to linger over a picture or speed to turn the page to see what happens next.  Picture books offer numerous perspectives on the world, and can transport the reader to another time and place.  They can be a safe haven where children can retreat from the "noise" of the media they are surrounded by every day.  

So in our digital age, where people are predicting the coming death of print books, I feel picture books (the print kind) are needed more than ever.   Read a picture book today and enjoy the respite!  And if you are looking for a good one....I have a suggestion:)  The Swing is launching this month, during National Picture Book month on November 16th!   I can save you a copy if you e-mail me or comment on this blog post!

Read *Share*Celebrate!

The Swing Cover Art

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays.  I'm so excited about getting the kids ready for trick-or-treating tonight!  I also thought it would be a great day to give you more good news about my book launch!  I received the initial proof of the book and it looks great!  I wish I could share it with you because it is so fun!  But because it hasn't launched yet I have to wait.....it's so hard to wait.  I feel like a kid at Christmas.  But my publisher said I can share the cover with you so I attached it below!  Doesn't it look wonderful!  The book designer did such a great job with the font and treatment of the title and the author/illustrator.   She also did a fabulous job with the whole book especially the treatment of the text, which I why I can't wait for you to see it:)

I have also been busy pulling together promotional materials for the launch of the book.   I have created post card invites which went out to my database, plus additional post cards that I can hand out to people I work with and who I know from my art society.  I have also created new business cards and fun little stickers of my art for the kids to play with at the launch.  I used moo.com which I highly recommend!  Their quality is wonderful and the delivery was quick.  Here you can see some of the printed materials I have had made so far.  

So now we are just waiting for the final digital proof of the book and then it will be printed and ready for the launch on November 16th!  I hope you can make it out for the launch, but if you can't I will be putting the book on my website with a link to the publishers e-commerce site so you can order it if you like:)  

Let me know what you were for Halloween, (I'm going to be Jack Skeleton) and what you think of the book launch materials:)