Merry Christmas!!

Rhyming Picture Book Revolution Auction

I am marching to the rhyme and participating in an auction by offering a Picture Book Dummy Session and a Portfolio Critique to support the Rhyming Picture Book Revolution. Your support
will raise funds for the Best in Rhyme Award and Rhyming Picture Book Revolution Conference
(RPBR) weekend.  Plus a portion of the proceeds will go to the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) and scholarships for future RPBR events.

The Rhyming Picture Book Revolution Conference  will be held in NYC at the KidLitTV on December 4 -6, 2015. The weekend will be dedicated entirely to writing rhyming picture books with an all-star faculty including authors, Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Lori Degman, Karma Wilson and Corey Rosen-Schwartz, editor's Rebecca Davis and Justin Chanda and agent Kendra Marcus along with the Kidlit TV-ers!

The auction has a great list of donors: Karma Wilson, Rebecca Davis, Corey Rosen Schwartz, Kendra Marcus, Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Jodell Sadler, Lori Degman, Tanja Bauerle, Angie Karcher, and Randi Sonenshine. You will be able to bid on great books, scholarships, a Skype visit, manuscript critiques and more.

The goal of Rhyming Picture Book Revolution is to guide and support those aspiring to write rhyme and poetry. For more information about this wonderful conference please see their website. http://rpbrevolution.com/

I hope you will help me get the word out to support this wonderful event.

Thank you!

SCBWI Featured Illustrator, Wow!

I'm so excited to be the featured illustrator on the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators website for the month of June. What a honor! I had a few weeks notice to update my website and (long overdue) head-shot.  Thanks to my son, Ryan I now have a new picture to post. I hope to be more diligent with my website and blog updates. 

I'm busy working on a series of board books, a PB dummy and getting my portfolio ready for
attending the Summer Conference in LA.  Thanks for visiting my blog!

Holiday Postcard Preview

This year’s holiday postcard was designed to announce our new mailing address… 

but we have NOT moved yet. I hope you enjoy a sneak peek of the art until a postcard arrives in your mailbox. Wishing everyone a Happy Holiday Season!

Painted Goose Eggs

2014 Great Goose Egg Auction -Oct. 26, 2014

It's time again for The Great Goose Egg Auction!  The auction helps raise money for the
Open Fields School, a small non-graded private school in Thetford Hill, Vermont. The Great Goose Egg Auction was started in 1996, when a parent donated more than 100 blown goose eggs for use in the school. The late Trina Schart Hyman (April 8, 1939–November 19, 2004), a friend of the school and illustrator of children's books, suggested that decorated eggs, sold as unique works of fine art, would benefit all Open Fields students. Her idea hatched into an annual on-line auction that supports the school with the sale of artist-decorated eggs. The goose, quail, hen and emu eggs are sent to artists all over the world and returned to Open Fields School as works of art!

This year I had 2 extra goose eggs in my studio, backup eggs from past years… in case one rolled off the drafting table.  I will be moving this November and thought it best to paint both eggs and send them off to auction before I pack up the studio. My egg designs were inspired by children all over the world world who are hoping for peace, love, and a healthy earth and sky.
First sketches:

The medium is black colored pencil and acrylic paint.

I hope you can take a few minutes to look at the beautiful eggs and perhaps buy a one-of-a-kind work of art. http://www.openfields.org/egg_auction.html

Happy Dot Day!

 

International Dot Day a global celebration of creativity, courage and collaboration, began when teacher Terry Shay introduced his classroom to Peter H. Reynolds’ book The Dot on September 15, 2009. What begins with a small dot on a piece of paper becomes a breakthrough in confidence and courage, igniting a journey of self-discovery and sharing, which has gone on to inspire countless children and adults around the globe. The blog Celebri-Dots is a site filled with other authors, illustrators, and celebrities who share in the dream of a more creative world. 

Art for the Humane Society

I have donated the art below for a silent auction that will benefit the Hamilton County Humane Society http://www.hamiltonhumane.com. The art is titled, Adopt a Pet it is 3 x 4.5 original acrylic and pencil, matted and signed.  The auction is at the Art IN Hand Gallery in  Zionsville, IN.  Many of the artists in the gallery will also have art available for bidding! All the proceeds will go to help many animals in need. : )