Once a year, I like to make up a collection of empty book dummies in various sizes and shapes--usually 24, 32 and 48 pages.
It's easy to cut and taping/glue text and sketches into the pages to test the pace of the story.
I start with folding 11x17 bond paper, folding in half, cutting to the size I want the book to be to create.
The folded pages are sewn together on the sewing frame--2 at a time.
Fear isn't my usual genre, so I thought I would listen to one of Stephen King's books for inspiration. Okay, I was too scared to listen to his work at night -- but then I discovered his book, "On Writing. It was inspiring, brilliant, and kept my mind off how scary the studio is at night while I worked. Thank you Stephen King.
The illustration above is of my studio at night from my desk with the door to the secret room partially open. Since the weather in Upstate New York has turned chilly, we've noticed strange sounds coming from inside the walls. It's worse at night and a bit creepy.
Close up of the secret room off the studio
Exhibit
NOVEMBER 29 - DECEMBER 29, 2011
Museum of American Illustration
128 East 63rd Street
(between Park and Lexington Avenues)
New York, NY 10065
Gallery Hours:
10 A.M.– 8 P.M. Tuesday
10 A.M.– 5 P.M. Wednesday - Friday
12 noon– 4 P.M. Saturday
Closed most holidays
]]>
The Silpe Gallery, Hartford, CT.
October 19-25 2011
Juror Helen Hsu, Assistant Curator at the Guggenheim Museum.
]]>I discovered these unique watercolors at this wonderful art store in Seattle -- Daniel Smith Artist Materials.
I discovered Daniel Smith back in the 1990's on a visits to Seattle to hang out with the Cartoonists Northwest group, at the now closed Doghouse Cafe.
I love "story" so to learn the story of these mineral watercolor paints, see below (the process is in the second half of the video).
]]>The rabbits are often visible from the plane at dusk and dawn during landing and departure at the Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris France. Check it out next time you fly to Paris.
Left: Hala is testing to see if the ink is dry. It wasn't! Right: Watercolor paint made with ground lapis lazuli from Greenland and Italy. Click here to to see a video of how the paint is made.
Once I have a good print, limited edition prints are made on hand-made watercolor paper. Then each print is hand-painted. To see a close up view, see the Limited Edition Print Portfolio.
]]>
This painting was inspired by a backpacking trip my son took when we lived in British Columbia.
The black and white originals are made by hand, then limited edition prints are made on hand-made Twinrocker watercolor paper.
The prints are then hand-painted with watercolors made with bronzite stone from Brazil and lapis lazuli from Greenland and Italy. These semi-precious minerals in the paints add dimension and sparkle to the work. Paints are made by Daniel Smith in Seattle Washington.
Framed and ready to ship to the Silpe Gallery, Hartford, CT
]]>
The end of June the mouse family moved out from under the stairs
and a family of frogs moved in.
Here is what they look like. They are quite distinquished, painted here by the renown
illustrator, C.F. Payne.
The rest of the furniture hadn't arrived yet. We are expecting decorators, Anais, Zoey and Amalie,
from Canada on Saturday and a trip to the miniature furniture store.
We're hoping master Obed Otto and Miss Aurora will have some decorating
suggestions as well.
]]>
]]>
