Tag! I'm In The Next Big Thing Tour

Happy Spring, everyone! I received an enthusiastic tag from Leeza Hernandez, the ever-so-talented and delightful writer and illustrator of one our household's night time reading faves, Dog Gone! 

Her new book, Cat Napped!, a follow up to her successful first title, is in the works now. The tag signifies The Next Big Thing Blog Tour, a blog campaign that started in Australia promoting the awareness of current children's book authors and illustrators around the world. I'm honored to take part in it, albeit, a little late in posting. Can I blame (US) tax season?

I was asked to answer ten questions. Here we go:

1) What is the title of your latest book? 

No Dogs Allowed! by Linda Ashman

2) Where did the idea come from for the book? 

I am the illustrator of the book, so it came from the writer, Linda Ashman, by way of our editor, as a wordless picture book.

3) What genre does your book fall under?

Children's picture book

4) What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?

For the main players, Max Records for the part of the boy, Sasha Baron Cohen, as Alberto, and Ellen Page as the lemonade vendor. Total indie vibe. 

5) What is a one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Alberto turns away many a potential clientele at his City Lights Restaurant, be it furry, winged, or scaly, only to find he would rather win them back to gain a friendlier, more festive, bustling bistro.  

6) Who published your book?

Sterling Children's Books

7) How long did it take you to illustrate the manuscript?

Nearly a year. The manuscript was originally conceived to be an entirely wordless series of spreads, with the exception of the chalkboard sign outside the restaurant. Through many thoughtful revisions, we devised a way to make the story flow better and reworked a panel to panel storytelling format, not unlike The Red Book and The Snowman. The complexity of the pages contributed to the lengthy timespan.

8) What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? 

The Red Book and The Snowman

9) Who or what inspired you when illustrating this book? 

I'm inspired by those who have influenced my work through the years, as well as current artists and story tellers whose inspired work helped to move me along whenever I got stuck with a composition, namely Lane Smith, Jon Klassen, Ezra Jack Keats, Barbara Lehman, Raymond Briggs, and Evaline Ness.

10) What else about the book might pique the reader's interest? 

All the activity that happens among the animals in the background are fun for children to discover. The best part about (nearly) wordless picture books like this one, is that you can come up with your own dialogue and characterization. Also, I'm happy to add that No Dogs Allowed! was selected to be a part of the prestigious Society of Illustrators' 2012 Original Art Show, which showcases a select group of stand out children's book illustration. Currently, the show is on a tour around the country! 

That's it! Thank you, Leeza, for the tag! The following talented author and illustrators are next up. Please click on their links to continue the tour and discover their awesome work! (more links to come...!)

Doreen Marts 

Groundhog Day at The Voracious Reader

Westchester New York's finest independent children's book store in Larchmont, The Voracious Reader, will be welcoming all Groundhog Day enthusiasts to a story time with me and a book I illustrated called Groundhog Weather School by Joan Holub, this Saturday, February 2! Afterwards, children are invited to participate in making their very own groundhog sock puppet. Just bring your own sock in any color or pattern. The more interesting the pattern, the more fun the result. Stay for tea! All ages are welcome. The craft is recommended for children 4-7 years of age, since space is limited. 

THE VORACIOUS READER INVITES YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN

Date  Saturday, Feb 2, 2013, Groundhog Day!

Time 3:00PM

Place The Voracious Reader

1997 Palmer Avenue

Larchmont, NY 10538 

914-630-4581

ABFFE Children's Art Auction

American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) will be holding a Holiday Ebay auction of Children's Art by notable illustrators (click here for their press release). One of my signed giclée prints (shown below) from "Groundhog Weather School" will be among the works auctioned.

Update: The auction is on now and goes through December 3, 2012. Click here or on the logo above to bid on wonderful children's art, or for the direct link to my piece click on "Reasons for Seasons." Thank you for your support!

Workbook's Creative Circus

Certainly a departure from the regular creative routine, I had the opportunity to participate in this year's drink & draw event, which was brought about to promote illustrators, watch illustrators work, drink, and witness a spectacle of the sideshow sort, all in the name of art education.  It was held at the Art Directors Club in NYC, a really lively venue on the ground floor, where people from the streets could witness the scantily clad models and sometimes live reptiles in action through the floor to ceiling windows. We sketched and sketched to our hearts' content and posted our creations on a wall to be sold to charity. It left me wanting more...drawing from life of course!

An Original Art Kind of Night

I had a wonderful time at the very crowded and very inspired Original Art Show at the Society of Illustrators. My piece hung just above the drink station. I thought it wonderfully appropriate. Tomie dePaola was the guest of honor, receiving a lifetime achievement award for his work. The granddaughter of the late Richard Scarry also accepted a posthumous award for his body of work.

The events, the names read, the honors brought to light all the esteemed illustrators whose works have graced the Society's walls and inspired generations of children and artists alike. I had to pinch myself, as my work was now recognized to be among them. What an honor indeed.

The show will be up until December 22. Too many wonderful pieces to mention. Go see it!

 The esteemed placement

The crowd

 The Tomie

 The piece

Original Art Show Official Mailer

I just received the general announcement for the opening of The Original Art Show for the Society of Illustrators in New York later this month. Did you? Here's a shot of it so maybe you might like to attend. Look for me and my piece from No Dogs Allowed! Hope to see you there!

2012 Highlights Illustrators' Party

After all the prep work of designing and making our Superhero costumes, updating my book, and illustrating the superhero page, I was ready to go to the Annual Highlights Illustrators' Party. Sort of. On the day of departure, my daughter was getting over a nasty bug, my sister was suffering from a nasty bug, and I was turning into a nasty bug after a good, long, 3.5 hour night sleep, and I saw that my lovely weekend was quickly fading into a lovely dream. My Plan B for help in the child-care department, my illustrator friend, and her husband, who was also to attend, was sick. 

So Plan C was in motion. Now post lunchtime, daughter was doing well, no symptoms, energized and playful. There was still hope. I called Highlights to find out what other options there might be for an attendee with a little one. "Why not bring her to the conference?" The idea seemed impossible to me, but it was like an official stamp of approval, and I thought, "What's the worse that could happen? If she decides to have a meltdown, I could just leave." I had nothing to lose. So I geared up.

Simultaneously, I put a call in to my friend, via voicemail, at the off-chance I might still get some help. I offered the opportunity for a getaway, but with a childcare clause in the deal. By some miracle, my friend called back just in time with an "OK!" That's when everything fell right into place. 

When I and the little one arrived in Honesdale, we headed straight to our assigned quarters: the cabins at Beach Lake. It was perfect—two bedrooms and a living room—home away from home. We had the trademark, homegrown, gourmet dinner at The Barn that evening, on the Boyds Mills farm. I caught up with an old friend and wonderful illustrator Laura Jacques, and headed back to the cabin to await my friend's arrival. Thanks to the separate rooms, the little one got to sleep while I waited to greet my friend. 

The farm excursion for the families (Photo: Courtesy of Heidi Ward)

At the conference in The Barn on Saturday, we were presented with the company's rich history as a family company, philosophy, and plans for growth by Editor-in-Chief, Chris Cully, and a few of Highlights' Editors and Art Directors. They proposed numerous opportunities for work and made us Illustrators feel pretty special. We did a bit of sketching for auction, portfolio sharing, greeted more familiar faces, all of us gushing over each others' work. The food was stellar as usual (truly one of the biggest selling points of the weekend, not that they really have to sell us on an all expenses weekend). 

Painted pumpkins by the Illustrators' Jrs (Photo: Courtesy of Heidi Ward)

The little one and my friend were off at a local farm enjoying chickens and songs and painting pumpkins. She was so exhausted by nap time, she didn't nap. So she burned that overtired energy as a superhero, having a blast kicking around in her boots, flapping her cape, and running every which way. The day was concluded by dinner and the traditional square dance. And dance we did.

Superhero Bash (Photo: Courtesy of Heidi Ward)

Saturday Night Dinner & Dance (Photo: Courtesy of Heidi Ward)

Sunday brought a horse-drawn carriage ride, another glorious meal, and more delightful conversations.  By the end of the weekend, the nasty bugs were history and I was motivated to work. We came away receiving a refreshing, optimistic message, from a company worth cheering for in a downturn economy. My friend was exhausted thanks to the little one, though she still enjoyed the time away. After years of enthusiastically cheering us on, we thank you, Highlights, Superhero of Illustrators and children everywhere! 

(Photo: Courtesy of Heidi Ward)

Superhero Prep Work: Highlights 2012

It is always a big treat to be a part of the Annual Highlights Illustrators' Party. Going requires a bit of prep work, like making costumes for the selected theme, and updating portfolios. This year the theme was Superheroes, and this time, Highlights decided to compile a sketchbook based on our chosen characters.

It meant a bit of drawing and conceptualizing our ideas on paper using a template they provided for us. I called my superhero Queen of Diamonds (impossible strength), my daughter was to be Queen of Hearts (power to melt hearts), and my sister, Queen of Clubs (luck was her power). Together we made "Three of a Kind!" Dah dum dum.

On paper, it was a challenge to do, especially because time was short and I happened to be swamped with regular deadlines, but the project was fun.  The compilation was an amusing look into the creative minds of other fellow Highlights Illustrators.