Good news for “Good Fortune”

This just in… “Good Fortune” has been chosen as a 2012 NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies book! I hope this means that it will end up in even more school libraries for kids to read (like me in the Loma Linda Elementary School library, back in the day.) Congrats to Renee and Joan and everyone else who made this book happen! It has been such fun watching the project come to life.

In other news, I’m excited to be exhibiting some of the paintings from Good Fortune in the 2012 Children’s Book Illustrators Exhibit at the Sun Gallery in Hayward, CA from February 15-April 7. Here’s the cool postcard they put together for the show:

Sun Gallery - 2012 Children's Book Illustrators Exhibit Continue reading

Happy Holidays!

Just in time for the first day of winter, we received about 16 inches of snow at my house over the past day. It started out innocently enough; the cheerful white flakes were sprinkling merrily down, making Pearl Street look terribly photogenic. In the morning I woke to a house full soft light and a text message from the CU Chancellor stating: “campus closed today due to snow.” A Christmas present from Colorado! And since tomorrow is a staff holiday as well, I think this is the perfect time to post a little painting to commemorate the season.

Just to prove that I’m not kidding about the huge amount of snow, here is a picture from my walk to the grocery store this morning:

Happy holidays everyone! I hope that the season is full of fun and laughter and joy and all those wonderful things that you read in greeting cards.

 

India

Here’s a new illustration I just finished last night. It makes me nostalgic for India. I imagine this is somewhere in Rajasthan, maybe Pushkar or Jodhpur (hence the blue buildings!) I just love how full of color and life India is. Where else would you find a bus that was so elaborately decorated? It’s a pretty incredible place!

The enthusiastic chef

Last weekend I packed my bags and hopped on a plane to Carlsbad, California for a gathering of fellow illustrators. It was an incredibly inspiring weekend with some amazing artists, and from looking at old sketches and learning new techniques to demonstrating our processes and talking about the pros and cons of an agent, we covered the gamut of illustration topics. I think we spent the majority of the time either lounging by the fireplace with various beverages and snacks or hanging out on the beach (It’s a hard life, I know.) But in addition to illustration, another main theme of the weekend was food. Delicious food. There seemed to always be something cooking in the kitchen, whether it be popovers, pumpkin pie, perfectly seared steak, German pancakes, delicious salads, or something that I have decided can only be called the “heavenly fluffy Italian cheesy dish.”

To commemorate all the deliciousness that happened last weekend, I present to you with no further ado, the enthusiastic chef:

The enthusiastic chef

Little Red

Here’s a new piece I did recently. I had a vague interest in making a few samples from common folk tales in order to diversify my portfolio a little, but it wasn’t until I looked at an old National Geographic image of a Slovakian forest that I felt inspired to complete something. The photo in question was a little ominous and creepy and yet beautiful and full of light, and something about the atmosphere made me think of all the European fairy-tales that feature children wandering off in the woods.

Little Red Riding-Hood, unaware of the wolf behind herIn painting this I made a conscious effort to loosen up a little. One of my recent critique comments was about letting the paint be paint, and to not attempt to make it “perfect.” It’s challenging to loosen up when I know how easily a watercolor can be ruined, but I’m trying to let dark areas blend into one another and allow the foliage to be a little more free. It’s still not where I want to be, but I think it might be a tiny step in the right direction.

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SCBWI Summer Conference 2011

Well, I still haven’t resolved my WordPress-comment-issue, but nevertheless I shall (word)press on (Update: comments are now working! Hooray!) A post about the SCBWI Summer Conference is seriously overdue, so here you go! This year, like last year, was a whirlwind of workshops by all-star faculty, keynotes that brought everyone to laughter and tears, and endless fantastic conversations with other nerdy individuals who, like me, are obsessed with children’s literature (and/or illustration.) And, just like last year, it was air-conditioned to the frigid, meat-locker-like temperatures that people in warm climates seem to inexplicably enjoy. (I am convinced that next year the bookstore needs to offer SCBWI “snuggies.”)

I snapped this picture of the lobby, which I think is gorgeous. Someone told me that there was talk of tearing down this hotel, but people revolted and thus the old-Hollywood glam still continues:

The Hyatt Lobby

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I’m on my own bookshelf!

On my own bookshelf... how did this happen?

I’ll have to admit, I was pretty excited when I opened the package from Shen’s containing 20 copies of the book. It’s been the better part of a year since the project began, and the final product is the culmination of many hours of thinking, researching, doodling, sketching, and of course painting. I spent most of my work day today just showing it off to co-workers, which was probably not the best use of my employer’s time, but hey, how often do you publish a book? I nestled it in with my other books on my bookshelf. I took photos of it. I put it on my desk. I read it about sixteen times. Good thing it’s only 32 pages.

But how exciting is this really? After all, I have technically been on my own bookshelf nearly two decades, if we are to count the great and magnificent “Skeleton Dog,” which I penned (and penciled) in 1992.

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Illustration Friday: “Journey”

This is page 31 from the upcoming book, Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth (to be released in May.) I thought it was appropriate for this week’s Illustration Friday theme of “Journey.” Read more about the book at www.shens.com! Here’s an excerpt from the publisher’s website:

“Ji-su’s mother has been chosen by the Korean king to be a seamstress at the palace and sew bojagi, or wrapping cloths, for the royal household. It is a great honor, but to Ji-su it means saying good-bye to her mother. The only way for them to be reunited, Ji-su realizes, is for her to become a seamstress just as talented and be chosen to serve the king.

Through the changing seasons, Ji-su sews, learning the craft from her great-aunt and practicing her stitches tirelessly. One day, she finally has the chance to show her work to the palace Sanguiwon master, who has the power to bring her to her mother or to dash her hopes of being reunited. Is her sewing fine enough for the king?

Joan Schoettler’s warm text brings the landscape and culture ancient Korea and to life. Together with illustrator Jessica Lanan’s breathtaking depictions of Korea through the seasons, Ji-su’s story of longing and determination will capture the hearts of readers of all ages.”

The book is also available for pre-order on Amazon. (Click here!)

Page 31 from Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth.