Rozzie Land

Take your child to work day!

Yesterday was "take your child to work day". Emily and Jesse stayed home with me to experience the day of a freelancer.  I had Jesse (nearly 15yrs) work on his 7 page essay that's due on Monday (since he hasn't started the blasted thing!) and Emily (10 yrs) was assigned a one page magazine poem to illustrate.  I provided her with the poem with its layout and after she finished her sketch she decided what medium she wanted to work in. I figured she'd want to work with watercolor and colored pencils (it's her favorite) but I think the stash of papers I've been collecting was calling her name.

YAY, Emily! I love it.
I especially love the wet feet marks and how she decided to show the duck waddling away AFTER his swim. I would have gone a different way and I like her idea MUCH better.

Of course, we all know how frustrating writers/illustrators block can be. We were experiencing some of that so we decided a trip to the movie theatre might help a bit.  =o)

Karma Wilson

I want to share an author who is inspiring me at the moment. I'm currently taking Anastasia Suen's Poetry Workshop and in this workshop you have to read several stories in rhyme daily. I can't get enough of Karma Wilson.

Not only are her stories entertaining, her skill for near perfect meter, fun alliteration and catchy refrains are to be envied. (See, I told you I was taking a class, look at all the cool words I know now!)

If I was Karma, I think I would be awestruck by the choice of illustrators for her books. She is one fortunate gal!

Look at, "Bear's New Friend" by Jane Chapman, for example. She creates the most idyllic settings and endearing animals with her acrylics and brushes.

I've been collecting books illustrated by Margaret Spengler, Jeff E. Davis and Buket Erdogan for years. You've guessed it. They've all illustrated a Karma Wilson manuscript. Amazon must be loving me right now. I wonder whose child I'm putting through college with all the books I'm ordering?

More Hoping ,Less Moping

Last year, my freelancing was going great. I finally felt like a real illustrator, y' know? I landed a fabulous agent, started getting regular assignments and felt validated after all the years of paying dues. Yay, I'm working!

And now the illustration market is painfully quiet. At least, it is for me which has made it easy to believe that it was a grand fluke and now it's over. Mope, mope, mope.

This is not to say that I want to give up. Not at all. But getting past that dejected feeling is challenging and I've been thinking a lot about what I need to do to keep going and not go INSANE with doubt.
And the answer is simple, really.
HOPE.

But hope alone is not enough. I've found that I can't just sit and "hope" something good happens. I have to create situations to be HOPEFUL about. I can't be a passive spectator in this, I need to work at it a little.

So how am I doing that?

*I'm working on my own storybook dummies...seriously working on them. Writing manuscripts, having them critiqued, working on them some more, fleshing out the sketches and finishing a piece or two in color.

*I'm taking a writing course. (Anastasia Suen's poetry workshop) I took her Intensive PB workshop a while back and found it invaluable. Not just because of all the "meat and potato" info but also because it gives me a reason to sit down and focus on my writing.

*I'm reading. A lot. (For the class but also for pleasure. Reading good books is very inspiring)

*I'm working on some fresh pieces for my rep. The ol' portfolio never tires of fresh work.

*Sending postcards to past clients, reminding them I'm alive and querying new ones.

Much more productive than moping, I think.
Even though, a few chocolate filled moping days are allowed from time to time. But not too much! It's going to take a heck of a lot more than HOPE to get back into your jeans if you do. Trust me on this, I know.

Woof

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I want them all.

Good Friday and Happy Easter