Liza Woodruff's Art Blog

More on the icon

2012-01-18T23:12:00.000-05:00

So I am close to finishing the art for the app, and the programmer hopes to publish shortly. Here is a more recent version of the icon. Apparently Apple reserves the right to round the corners themselves. ??

Who are you?

2012-01-16T21:38:00.000-05:00

Working on the story behind this character.

Juggling

2012-01-12T08:23:00.001-05:00

When I first started as a freelance illustrator, I had an idea of myself working on one children's book after another in a quiet studio somewhere. I have worked on many great children's books over the years, but instead of a manageable linear progression of books, my work looks more like a juggling act of several different types of projects at any one time.

On my plate most recently:
This past year I have been working on a science app with a local education engineer/programmer. This has been an interesting job with lots of little illustrations. I am currently painting a sun and have painted viruses, dna, and nebulas, among many other things. Stay tuned for more on that.

I have just finished illustrating an educational reader about two Indonesian villages.

I completed sketches for another reader about tidal pools in Northern California a week ago.

I finally finished layout for a magazine I design, and have just turned it over to the printer.

When I have free time, I work on some of my own ideas for stories.

When working in a creative field, it is important to be flexible and see opportunity in all that you do. In magazine layout, there is an opportunity to learn more about design. In educational jobs, there is an opportunity to improve painting skills. In app creation, there is an opportunity to learn about the subject you research and about technology.

There's lots for me to learn, and I hope for continued opportunities to learn on the job in the future.

icon design

2011-12-22T08:15:00.000-05:00

There is a fine art to logo and icon design. All of the importance and meaning of your brand distilled into 72 x 72 pixels?? I don't quite have the hang of it, but I needed to give it a try. This is for a yet-to-be-released project I am working on. It will be great once it's out. Something to use on your ipad!

The Story of Christmas

2011-12-13T08:55:00.002-05:00

This video is so sweet. . .

From start to finish

2011-12-02T13:55:00.001-05:00

I just finished a painting that I will use as a mailer this winter. I thought it might be interesting to see the evolution of the final product.
This was my first sketch:

not much to look at, but shorthand for my idea: a little girl and her friend bear buying roasted chestnuts on a snowy New York street.

My next sketch is a little more developed:

After I had sort of mapped out how I wanted the layout, I transferred it onto my watercolor paper.
I tried to keep my colors muted and the background loose, to give the atmospheric snowy feel I wanted and to keep the attention focused on the interaction between the characters. There was a definite awkward stage, that I am sorry to not have scanned. It would have been nice to see that I was able to push through (I hope) and get it to where I wanted it.
Here's the painting before snow, and final details:

I needed to add some higher contrast and detail in the foreground to help create depth, and it needed to snow.

So here it is, snowy and chilly. Now off to the printer!:

Well, almost. One more change suggested by my husband. I changed the streetlights so they weren't quite the same as the twinkle lights. While I was at it, I straightened out the buildings. Now it's time to put it down.

Marcel is back

2011-11-30T08:11:00.001-05:00

My favorite line is "Oh God, I can smell his face."

snowflake for auction

2011-11-20T13:39:00.000-05:00

PiBoIdMo

2011-11-01T10:41:00.002-04:00

Does anyone care to join me creating a picture book idea a day for the month of November?

Flooding in Vermont

2011-10-06T12:48:00.005-04:00

Tropical Storm Irene really hit Vermont hard. Lucky for us, we were spared major damage, but flooding in other parts of the state caused people to lose their homes and all of their belongings.

Apps vs books

2011-09-21T10:21:00.003-04:00

I fear what will happen to traditional books when kids can look at something like this instead. Or maybe it would be in addition to. Nevertheless, this is amazing, and no doubt would entertain my two children. I just wonder if a book with stationary words and pictures will begin to lose its allure. I certainly hope not!

sketches

2011-09-16T10:10:00.002-04:00

Upon the recommendation of friends, I purchased a Lamy fountain pen and Noodlers ink. I feel like the last one to the fountain pen party.
Unlike a crowquill pen, which I normally use, this pen allows a smooth back and forth without having to dip. No more black fingers, either.
I also bought a fresh new sketchbook in the hopes it might inspire me.
Here are some of my first sketches:

Nursery Rhyme

2011-09-01T11:10:00.004-04:00

I am working on modern nursery rhymes. I put in placeholder text to give an idea of where the two poems will go.

harpsichord

2011-06-06T22:59:00.003-04:00

Here's a little something I just finished. This is my first time giving someone teeth. They are so tiny and creepy in this picture, I think they are funny.

Evel Knievel

2011-06-03T14:01:00.003-04:00

Edie is working on a school project. She chose Evel Knievel as the subject of her independent study. I love her drawing of him in his Captain America suit on his motorcycle. He was actually an interesting guy. He was in and out of jail for minor crimes. Though he did break records and jump some incredible distances, my overall impression of him was of a charismatic guy who created an incredible whirlwind of publicity around himself.

2011-05-20T15:44:00.004-04:00

I thought I would repurpose an old Moleskine day planner of mine. I gessoed the pages and collaged this little snippet of an article about Lyme Disease for my title page.

I used a combination of gouache, pencil and pen and ink for the drawings.

On the icicles spread, I did use a glaze of medium and acryla gouache. Because the gouache is water soluble, I sprayed Crystal Clear acrylic fixative over the drawing to keep it from washing away.
You may notice that I have left a lot of white space on the spreads. This afternoon, I turned the notebook over to a friend who is also an artist. She has written some funny poems that go along with my anxiety drawings.

I hope she will have fun with my drawings and that together we will come up with something cool. No matter what the final tangible product is, I know we will both have fun getting there.

New Project

2011-05-20T12:20:00.002-04:00

Sneak preview

Beach Shadows

2011-05-04T20:15:00.003-04:00

This is my second educational job this year, which means I am ahead where I was this time last year. Does this mean that people are no longer outsourcing to India or Mexico? No, it does not. I'm just happy when one of these lands on my desk every so often now.

Road trip

2011-04-26T12:08:00.004-04:00

This spring vacation, we decided to take a road trip. Our first stop was in Rhode Island where we spent a few lovely relaxing days. After that we were ready to hit the road and head to New York, where we would spend the night. Our hotel was right next to Ground Zero. We had a fantastic view from the room of all that was going on down there. Here's a view of the Freedom Tower under construction.
Also under construction is what will be two really beautiful reflecting pools at the foundation of both twin towers. In nine and a half years, the dust seems to have settled and the wound is a little less fresh.

We ate lunch aboard the Staten Island Ferry and viewed the Statue of Liberty from a distance. (see it between my head and Thomas's?) The ferry ride will not be forgotten by the children, as we were seated behind a group of characters using very colorful language to describe how to elude the police. Ah- New York!
Last week was spring vacation for the entire East Coast it seemed, and we were herded on and off the boat like cattle. Definitely worth it!
We did other touristy things before heading out of town on to our next stop- Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. I have always been a big fan of New England. I love the history, the architecture, and the landscape. But after this trip, I think the Brandywine Valley gives New England a serious run for its money. A lush, green landscape, cris-crossed by sparkling rivers and creeks, stone walls, hills and fields with grazing horses, and beautiful old stone houses and barns. With this kind of beauty, it's no wonder this was the home of the artist colony founded by Howard Pyle, the Brandywine School. A student of Pyle's, and another great American illustrator living in the area, was N.C. Wyeth. His work can be seen at the Brandywine River Museum, along with the work of his son, Andrew, and grandson Jamie.
Tom and I visited a museum at the home of the woodworker/sculptor/artist Wharton Esherick, which was nearby. We didn't get any photos of the cool interior of his home, but I can tell you that it was filled with beautiful furniture and sculptures that he made. Here are a couple of photos of the exterior.

While in the area, the Longwood Gardens should not to be missed. Founded by Pierre duPont, these 1,077 acres of beautiful gardens are another highlight of the region. We estimated that southeastern Pennsylvania is about three weeks further into spring than northern Vermont. It was a real treat to enjoy the weather and the green.

Before our long trip home, we were treated to an Easter service at a chapel in the woods. The congregation was small, and some people arrived on horseback. Who should we see riding in via horse and carriage, but Jamie Wyeth himself.

The trip was wonderful, largely due to the hospitality of parents and cousins who hosted us.
If you have a chance, I highly recommend you add the Brandywine Valley as a stop to your next road trip.
ps: I wish a real photographer had been with us. . .

Killer Bees

2011-04-13T16:44:00.003-04:00

Like quicksand, I did not know where killer bees could be found. It is good to know these things, so. . .
Africanized Honey Bees and European Honey Bees may be similar in appearance, but not in behavior. Africanized Honey Bees will attack when unprovoked, and they respond rapidly and in large numbers to disturbances that European Honey Bees would ignore. Like European Honey Bees, Africanized Honey Bees can sting only once; they deliver a venom identical to that of European Honey Bees. Both types of bee die shortly after leaving their stings and ends of their abdomen in their victim.
They do in fact kill humans, unfortunately, because they attack in a swarm and sting in large numbers.

Quicksand

2011-04-05T21:33:00.003-04:00

Where one might find quicksand, I am not sure, but maybe that's why I'm worried about it.

UPDATE:
I was sufficiently curious about where exactly to find quicksand to do some investigating. This is what I found out:

Quicksand is not quite the fearsome force of nature that you sometimes see on the big screen. In fact, quicksand is rarely deeper than a few feet. It can occur almost anywhere if the right conditions are present. Quicksand is basically just ordinary sand that has been so saturated with water that the friction between sand particles is reduced. The resulting sand is a mushy mixture of sand and water that can no longer support any weight.

If you step into quicksand, it won't suck you down. However, your movements will cause you to dig yourself deeper into it. In this article, you will learn just how quicksand forms, where it's found and how you can escape its clutches if you find yourself hip-deep in it.

Quicksand is typically not very dangerous, but it’s one of the last things you’d want to run into if you were sandboarding. Check out the sandboarding article, video and images at Discovery’s Fearless Planet to learn more.

So, remember, if caught in quicksand DO NOT STRUGGLE.

Here's a link to where I found this helpful info: http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/quicksand.htm

Freezing to Death

2011-04-04T13:56:00.003-04:00

Somewhere along the way, someone warned me that if I was stuck outside in the cold, never to lie down and rest in a snow drift. The relative warmth of the snow would lull you into a sleep you wouldn't wake from. Seems like pretty good advice.

Wicked

2011-04-01T14:16:00.005-04:00

I didn't mention that I saw Wicked in New York. It was fantastic. The music, the set, the lighting, the characters and the acting were all awesome. The Broadway show is based on the book Wicked, by Gregory Maguire, which was based on the book the Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, and tells the story behind the Wicked Witch of the West. I highly recommend both the book and the show!
Here's a little doodle I did today while thinking about Elphaba.

manholes

2011-04-01T11:59:00.002-04:00

My trip to the city was filled with exciting things. Luckily, falling down a manhole wasn't one of them. I wandered mostly in Soho, checked out the R. Crumb exhibit at the Society of Illustrators, and independent children's bookstore, Books of Wonder. In New York, there's so much to do I don't see how you can even scratch the surface unless you live there.

Pug

2011-04-01T09:04:00.006-04:00

Sometimes something is so weird looking it is cute. Take a pug, for example. . .

Grandma

2011-03-21T23:29:00.001-04:00

Yes, this is the same grandmother as the one in an earlier post. This is before the goose lived with her and brightened her life.

Kutiman

2011-03-21T14:45:00.003-04:00

Ophir Kutiel (born 1982), professionally known as Kutiman, is a musician, composer, producer and animator from Israel. He is best known for creating the online music video project ThruYOU, as well as his self-titled album and collaboration with many artists including Maroon 5. (taken from Wikipedia)

This video, Thru you, was mixed from samples of youtube videos. I find this incredible to have the vision to sift through literally thousands of videos for a kernel of usable material towards an ultimate end.

This made a nice break from painting for me. Enjoy!

Anna's Eggs

2011-03-21T11:49:00.002-04:00

anna

2011-03-16T11:21:00.001-04:00

Discovered by cats. . .

2011-03-12T16:02:00.003-05:00

There's always choking while in the house alone. . . (thanks Paige)
Postage stamp size.

The Yo Yo

2011-03-12T13:38:00.000-05:00

Have you ever taken a close look at those traveling amusement park rides?

Happy Birthday Estelle!

2011-03-05T15:54:00.002-05:00

I just gave Muchacho some teeth:

Felted horse

2011-03-05T11:51:00.003-05:00

I made this horse for Tom's cousin for her birthday. She loves horses and from the day we moved to Charlotte has been so generous and kind to our family. It is only a small token of all of our appreciation for all she does.
For those who are curious, I started with a very spare wire armature and tacked a basic shape with simple white wool roving. I then covered it with the colored roving and felted it tighter and tighter, adding bits as I needed to form the shape- much like sculpting with clay. I used beautiful wool yarn to cover the lower legs and form the curlicues on the body. Finally, I strung glass beads on a couple of threads and sewed them into the mane and tail, which was made of unfelted roving. The color, curlicues and beads gave it a magical sort of look, and I dubbed it Diana's wishing horse. I hope it brings her good luck.

Ukrainian Folk Tale

2011-03-04T15:19:00.004-05:00

Sometimes a project I am working on makes me very happy. It can be the way the project flows with ease, the nice people I am working with, or a wonderful story. In the case of the current project I am working on, it is great in all of these ways. So, I am putting aside my worries and anxieties for a while and enjoying drawing.
Here are a couple of sketches I am working on:

flight anxieties

2011-03-02T12:29:00.002-05:00

Travel provided lots of food for thought:

Two new anxieties

2011-02-21T17:22:00.003-05:00

I have been a little lazy lately, and today feel cursed with the sleeping disease. Anyway, what I was going for in my first drawing I didn't really capture. We have a wood stove that we keep going almost constantly in the winter. It is usually pretty hot . When we have kids over, they love to run around the first floor of our house in sort of a racetrack that passes by the wood stove. I often worry that someone will trip over something and will fall, hands first, into the wood stove. Then I will have to use a spatula to get their hands off the hot surface of the stove. Yikes!
This one comes from my personal experience cross country skiing today. Thankfully we all made it back to the lodge safely.

Creepy. . .

2011-02-16T22:11:00.002-05:00

I have always had a bad feeling about this one, and now that I've finished the recent New Yorker article. . . .

Don't run into the street

2011-02-16T22:05:00.003-05:00

How many times were you told this as a child?

Happy Birthday Charlie

2011-02-16T10:48:00.000-05:00

For my brother:

Fifteen on the Sled!

2011-02-16T09:42:00.005-05:00

Last week, I did a program at Charlotte Library. We started by reading Ten on the Sled aloud. It was wonderful to have my huge teachers edition. The pictures were big enough for everyone to see. I explained how the the project went from words and sketches to a finished book. By the time we were done with that, everyone was ready to move around a bit. I brought with me a very long toboggan that I had made and some undecorated sledders for the kids to color and decorate. Each child did a fabulous job coloring their sledder and giving them their own personality. The sled and all fifteen sledders (plus the Caribou in front), was hung on the front of the circulation desk. Take a look at the finished product:

Thank you to the Charlotte Library and the kids at the program for a fun afternoon!

planning a New York Trip

2011-02-15T13:25:00.003-05:00

This has me thinking about my most current worry: BEDBUGS. Yuck.

Pan Handles

2011-02-14T19:01:00.002-05:00

I think I will be about 90 years old before I stop turning pan handles inward on the stove.

Sledding Anxiety

2011-02-10T13:47:00.002-05:00

Ice Skating

2011-02-09T09:36:00.000-05:00

Need I say any more?

Icicles

2011-02-07T12:29:00.004-05:00

Anxiety a day

2011-02-06T21:57:00.003-05:00

I am not sure if this happened when I became a mother, or if I have always been this way, but I worry constantly about completely irrational things. Things that may happen to me, our children, or really anyone. What better source of inspiration than these fanciful imaginings of my worried mind? Here are a couple of doodles:

Painted Stools

2011-01-26T22:16:00.004-05:00

When we completed our kitchen, we added a bar, and thus needed bar stools. We went with unpainted stools with the idea of painting them ourselves. I have been chipping away at them and am finally finished. I decided to do the four classical elements: fire, water, earth, and wind.
In researching the four elements, I found that the Greeks believed them to be the root of all existing matter. Eastern cultures incorporate them into their beliefs as well.
Each element corresponds to a direction on the compass and has its own individual traits. Quoted below are descriptions of each element:

Each of the elements is associated with traits and meanings, as well as with directions on the compass. The following directional associations are for the Northern hemisphere; readers in the Southern hemisphere should use the opposite correspondences.

Earth: Connected to the North, Earth is considered the ultimate feminine element. The Earth is fertile and stable, associated with the Goddess. The planet itself is a ball of life, and as it turns, we can watch all the aspects of life take place in the Earth: birth, life, death, and finally rebirth. The Earth is nurturing and stable, solid and firm, full of endurance and strength. In color correspondences, both green and brown connect to the Earth, for fairly obvious reasons!

Air: Air is the element of the East, connected to the soul and the breath of life. If you’re doing work related to communication, wisdom or the powers of the mind, Air is the element to focus on. Air carries away your troubles, blows away strife, and carries positive thoughts to those who are far away. Air is associated with the colors yellow and white, and connects to the Tarot suit of Swords.

Fire: Fire is a purifying, masculine energy, associated with the South, and connected to strong will and energy. Fire both creates and destroys, and symbolizes the fertility of the God. Fire can heal or harm, and can bring about new life or destroy the old and worn.

Water: Water is a feminine energy and highly connected with the aspects of the Goddess. Used for healing, cleansing, and purification, Water is related to the West, and associated with passion and emotion.

I think from day to day, I will pick my seat as my needs indicate.
Wind:

Fire:
Earth:
Water:

Hayley

2011-01-26T22:08:00.002-05:00

My most current illustration project is on hold for the time being. I am getting lots done here. I have felted the baby raccoon and now this, my friend's elderly black lab named Hayley. I think it is a pretty good likeness. I started with a simple wire armature that looked essentially like a stick figure of a dog. I then wrapped the armature with white wool roving (because I have plenty of white and not as much black) and needle felted it until it was secure. I then covered it with a thinner layer of black, and felted it on, sort of sculpting by adding a little here or there as I went along. The final touch was some white fibers on the muzzle and chest. Here's the finished product:

gangsta hamstas

2011-01-20T08:16:00.002-05:00

A driving chicken

2011-01-19T21:13:00.002-05:00

This post is for my friend Cheryl who finds it very funny that I took my chicken for a ride in my car. I found this photo today when Edie was poking around on the computer.
Here's our hen Tickleweed, where you could often find her, sitting on the car seat. For some reason she had a fascination with our vehicle. The way I figured, she was always watching the kids and I head off for the day in this big metal contraption and just wondered where we went and why. She would fly in through an open window or the door if we left it open, and just sit there, waiting, I think, to discover the answer to her questions. So, I thought it only fair one day when I found her in there, to take her for a ride. I can't say that I could read a satisfied expression on her face, but I definitely gave her something to think about.

Hippo footstool

2011-01-18T21:18:00.004-05:00

Am I crazy, or is this the coolest footstool you have ever seen? It can be found at Omersa, which is British a company that specializes in leather animal footstools and desk top items. I saw it in a house tour at apartment therapy (a cool place to look for interior decor inspiration). The stools were originally sold through Liberty's of London. Wonderful to look at, and I am sure to touch as well. Looks good and sturdy to hold up to the loads of kids that would jump on it in my house. But then there's the price tag. . .

Orphan

2011-01-18T14:12:00.004-05:00

Thistle, is very kindly taking care of the raccoon baby that was found in the orchard. When Millet went out to get wood for the fire last night, he discovered three baby raccoons alone in their home in an old apple tree that had fallen. He kept them warm in front of the fire for the night and pulled them by sled to Thistle's house this morning. Her children have grown up and moved away, so she was delighted to help. Any name ideas?

Thistle

2011-01-14T12:20:00.004-05:00

In addition to my daily writing about Sugar Hill, I have now needle felted a little character from the book. These blurry photos will give you an idea, until I am able to find the real camera. Her name is Thistle and she is one of the main characters.
The more I looked at her, the more I thought she needed a little something. I added a little white around the eyes, in her ears, and some whiskers.
Voila!

ALA announces youth media awards

2011-01-13T09:54:00.005-05:00

The ALA midwinter conference took place in San Diego this past weekend, and on Monday, the youth media awards were announced. Congratulations to this year's winners and honor books!
This list is taken from the ALA website:

John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature

“Moon over Manifest,” written by Clare Vanderpool, is the 2011 Newbery Medal winner. The book is published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.

Four Newbery Honor Books also were named: “Turtle in Paradise,” by Jennifer L. Holm and published by Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.; “Heart of a Samurai,” written by Margi Preus and published by Amulet Books, an imprint of ABRAMS; “Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night,” written by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Rick Allen and published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; and “One Crazy Summer,” by Rita Williams-Garcia and published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children

“A Sick Day for Amos McGee,” illustrated by Erin E. Stead, is the 2011 Caldecott Medal winner. The book was written by Philip C. Stead, and is a Neal Porter Book, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing.

Two Caldecott Honor Books also were named: “Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave,” illustrated by Bryan Collier, written by Laban Carrick Hill and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.; and “Interrupting Chicken,” written and illustrated by David Ezra Stein and published by Candlewick Press.

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults

“Ship Breaker,” written by Paolo Bacigalupi, is the 2011 Printz Award winner. The book is published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

Four Printz Honor Books also were named: “Stolen,” by Lucy Christopher and published by Chicken House, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.; “Please Ignore Vera Dietz,” by A.S. King and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.; “Revolver,” by Marcus Sedgwick and published by Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of the Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group; and “Nothing,” by Janne Teller and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division.

Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African American author of outstanding books for children and young adults

“One Crazy Summer,” written by Rita Williams-Garcia is the 2011 King Author Book winner. The book is published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Three King Author Honor Books were selected: “Lockdown,” by Walter Dean Myers and published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; “Ninth Ward,” by Jewell Parker Rhodes and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.; and “Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty,” written by G. Neri, illustrated by Randy DuBurke and published by Lee & Low Books Inc.

Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award recognizing an African American illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults

“Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave,” illustrated by Bryan Collier, is the 2011 King Illustrator Book winner. The book was written by Laban Carrick Hill and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc. One King Illustrator Honor Book was selected: “Jimi Sounds Like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix,” illustrated by Javaka Steptoe, written by Gary Golio and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent (Author) Award

“Zora and Me,” written by Victoria Bond and T. R. Simon, is the 2011 Steptoe author winner. The book is published by Candlewick Press.

Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent (Illustrator) Award

“Seeds of Change,” illustrated by Sonia Lynn Sadler, is the 2011 Steptoe illustrator winner. The book is written by Jen Cullerton Johnson and published by Lee & Low Books Inc.

Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Practitioner Award for Lifetime Achievement

Dr. Henrietta Mays Smith is the winner of the 2011 Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Practitioner Award for Lifetime achievement. The award pays tribute to the quality and magnitude of beloved children’s author Virginia Hamilton’s contributions through her literature and advocacy for children and youth.

Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience

“The Pirate of Kindergarten,” written by George Ella Lyon, illustrated by Lynne Avril and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division, wins the award for children ages 0 to 10.

“After Ever After,” written by Jordan Sonnenblick and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., is the winner of the middle-school (ages 11-13).

The teen (ages 13-18) award winner is “Five Flavors of Dumb,” written by Antony John and published by Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences

“The Reapers Are the Angels: A Novel,” by Alden Bell, published by Holt Paperbacks, a division of Henry Holt and Company, LLC

“The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake: A Novel,” by Aimee Bender, published by Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc.

“The House of Tomorrow,” by Peter Bognanni, published by Amy Einhorn Books, an imprint of G.P. Putnam’s Sons, a division of the Penguin Group

“Room: A Novel,” by Emma Donoghue, published by Little, Brown and Company a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

“The Vanishing of Katharina Linden: A Novel,” by Helen Grant, published by Delacorte, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc.

“The Radleys,” by Matt Haig, published by Free Press, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

“The Lock Artist,” by Steve Hamilton, published by Thomas Dunne Books for Minotaur Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press

“Girl in Translation,” by Jean Kwok, published by Riverhead Books, an imprint of the Penguin Group

“Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard,” by Liz Murray, published by Hyperion

“The Boy Who Couldn’t Sleep and Never Had To,” by DC Pierson, published by Vintage Books, a division of Random House, Inc.

Andrew Carnegie Medal for excellence in children’s video

Paul R. Gagne and Melissa Reilly Ellard of Weston Woods, producers of “The Curious Garden,” are the Carnegie Medal winners. The video is based on the book of the same name, written and illustrated by Peter Brown, and is narrated by Katherine Kellgren, with music by David Mansfield.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Award honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children. The 2011 winner is Tomie dePaola, author and illustrator of over 200 books, including: “26 Fairmont Avenue” (Putnam, 1999), “The Legend of the Poinsettia” (Putnam, 1994), “Oliver Button Is a Sissy” (Harcourt, 1979) and “Strega Nona” (Prentice-Hall, 1975).

Margaret A. Edwards Award honors an author, as well as a specific body of his or her work, for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature.

Sir Terry Pratchett is the 2011 Edwards Award winner. His books include: “The amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents,” “The Wee Free Men,” and “A Hat Full of Sky” published by HarperCollins Children’s Books; and “The Color of Magic,” “Guards! Guards!,” “Equal Rites,” “Going Postal,” “Small Gods,” and “Mort” all published by HarperCollins Publishers.

May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award recognizing an author, critic, librarian, historian or teacher of children’s literature, who then presents a lecture at a winning host site

Peter Sís will deliver the 2012 lecture. Born in Brno, Czechoslovakia, in 1949, Sís attended the Academy of Applied Arts in Prague and the Royal College of Art in London. He has lived in the United States since 1982. Sís was awarded the 2008 Robert F. Sibert Medal and has illustrated three Caldecott Honor books. Sís’ work is admired throughout the world, and in 2003 he was named MacArthur Fellow, an honor bestowed by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding children’s book translated from a language other than English and subsequently published in the United States

“A Time of Miracles” is the 2011 Batchelder Award winner. Originally published in French in 2009 as “Le Temps des Miracles,” the book was written by Anne-Laure Bondoux, translated by Y. Maudet, and published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.

Two Batchelder Honor Books also were selected: “Departure Time,” published by Namelos, written by Truus Matti and translated by Nancy Forest-Flier; and “Nothing,” published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division, written by Janne Teller and translated by Martin Aitken.

Odyssey Award for best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States

“The True Meaning of Smekday,” produced by Listening Library, an imprint of Random House Audio Publishing Group, is the 2011 Odyssey Award winner. The book is written by Adam Rex and narrated by Bahni Turpin.

Four Odyssey Honor Recordings also were selected: “Alchemy and Meggy Swann,” produced by Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group, written by Karen Cushman and narrated by Katherine Kellgren; “The Knife of Never Letting Go,” produced by Candlewick on Brilliance Audio, an imprint of Brilliance Audio, written by Patrick Ness and narrated by Nick Podehl; “Revolution,” produced by Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group, written by Jennifer Donnelly and narrated by Emily Janice Card and Emma Bering; and “will grayson, will grayson,” produced by Brilliance Audio, written by John Green and David Levithan, and narrated by MacLeod Andrews and Nick Podehl.

Pura Belpré (Author) Award honoring a Latino writer whose children’s books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience

“The Dreamer,” written by Pam Muñoz Ryan, is the 2011 Belpré Author Award winner. The book is illustrated by Peter Sís and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.

Three BelpréAuthor Honor Books were named: “¡Olé! Flamenco,” written and illustrated by George Ancona and published by Lee & Low Books Inc.; “The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette’s Journey to Cuba,” written by Margarita Engle and published by Henry Holt and Company, LLC; and “90 Miles to Havana,” written by Enrique Flores-Galbis and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing.

Pura Belpré (Illustrator) Award honoring a Latino illustrator whose children’s books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience

“Grandma’s Gift,” illustrated and written by Eric Velasquez, is the 2011 Belpré Illustrator Award winner. The book is published by Walker Publishing Company, Inc., a division of Bloomsbury Publishing, Inc.

Three BelpréIllustrator Honor Books for illustration were selected: “Fiesta Babies,” illustrated by Amy Córdova, written by Carmen Tafolla and published by Tricycle Press, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc.; “Me, Frida,” illustrated by David Diaz, written by Amy Novesky and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS; “Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin,” illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS.

Robert F. Sibert Medal for most distinguished informational book for children

“Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World’s Strangest Parrot,” written by Sy Montgomery, is the 2011 Sibert Award winner. The book features photographs by Nic Bishop and is published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Two Sibert Honor Book were named: “Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring,” written by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan, illustrated by Brian Floca, a Neal Porter Book, published by Flash Point, an imprint ofRoaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing; “Lafayette and the American Revolution,” written by Russell Freedman and published by Holiday House.

Stonewall Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award

“Almost Perfect,” written by Brian Katcher, published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc. is the winner of the 2011 Stonewall Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award. The award is given annually to English-language children’s and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered experience.

Four honor books were selected: “will grayson, will grayson,” written by John Green and David Levithan and published by Dutton Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.; “Love Drugged,” written by James Klise and published by Flux, an imprint of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.; “Freaks and Revelations,” written by Davida Willis Hurwin and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.; and “The Boy in the Dress,” written by David Walliams, illustrated by Quentin Blake and published by Penguin Young Readers Group.

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book

“Bink and Gollie,” written by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee and illustrated by Tony Fucile is the 2011 Seuss Award winner. The book is published by Candlewick Press.

Two Geisel Honor Books were named: “Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same!” written and illustrated by Grace Lin and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.; and “We Are in a Book!” written and illustrated by Mo Willems and published by Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group.

William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens

“The Freak Observer,” written by Blythe Woolston is the 2011 Morris Award winner. The book is published by Carolrhoda Lab, an imprint of Carolrhoda Books, a division of Lerner Publishing Group.

Four other books were finalists for the award: “Hush,” by Eishes Chayil and published by Walker Publishing Company, a division of Bloomsbury Publishing, Inc.; “Guardian of the Dead,” by Karen Healey and published by Little, Brown and Company/Hachette Book Group; “Hold Me Closer, Necromancer,” by Lish McBride and published by Henry Holt; and “Crossing the Tracks,” by Barbara Stuber and published by Margaret McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division.

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults during a November 1 – October 31 publishing year.

“Janis Joplin: Rise Up Singing,” written by Ann Angel, is the 2011 Excellence winner. The book is published by Amulet/Abrams.

Four other books were finalists for the award:“They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group,” by Susan Campbell Bartoletti and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; “Spies of Mississippi: The True Story of the Spy Network that Tried to Destroy the Civil Rights Movement,” by Rick Bowers and published by National Geographic Society; “The Dark Game: True Spy Stories,” by Paul Janeczko and published by Candlewick Press; and “Every Bone Tells a Story: Hominin Discoveries, Deductions, and Debates,” by Jill Rubalcaba and Peter Robertshaw and published by Charlesbridge.

Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards guide parents, educators, librarians and others in selecting the best materials for youth. Selected by judging committees of librarians and other children’s and young adult experts, the awards encourage original and creative work. For more information on the ALA youth media awards and notables, please visit the ALA website at www.ala.org.

Sugar Hill

2011-01-08T08:58:00.002-05:00

So, June noticed that I didn't post my project of working on the Sugar Hill project. She's right. On January 4th, I decided that I would start writing in a journal in the voice of one of the residents of Sugar Hill. So far I have written each day with a couple of sketches as well. I will post the first page of the journal and a sketch of its author. This is a tough one to share, because I would prefer not to post the writing. Maybe I could pick a sentence from each entry and include a little sketch.I think that would work.

more minor improvements.

2011-01-06T13:37:00.002-05:00

In photoshop, I tried to make the value changes I should have worked out in the painting.

Small changes. . .

2011-01-06T12:21:00.001-05:00

Trying to unify this painting so it isn't so spotty. Improved??

Better late then never.

2011-01-05T15:18:00.002-05:00

This was supposed to be my Christmas card, but life happened and I only just finished it today. I could pretend I was incredibly organized and that I am going to use this next year, but I'd like to share it now, while we might still be thinking about the Christmas tree and gifts.

New blog

2011-01-04T21:06:00.003-05:00

I am inspired by my friend Peggy to try something new. She has decided to do something creative each day for a full year. To keep her honest, she has a blog where she's recording what she's up to. The theme she chose was "birds". So far, her projects have been sewn. Check out this adorable embroidered needle case she made:

So, following in her footsteps, I have decided to challenge myself to my own 365 days of creativity. (sort of reminds me of the movie Julie and Julia where Julie cooked her way through Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking cookbook) Last year, I started to work on a book project of my own. I have named the place where my characters live Sugar Hill, and each day I will do something to flesh out the little world of Sugar Hill. Day 1 was today. I will post something tomorrow.

Thank You!

2010-12-30T11:21:00.004-05:00

This post is for Labadia family. Years ago they bought a snowflake that I painted and donated to Robert's Snow, a fundraiser to raise money for cancer research started by Grace Lin. Since Robert's Snow, I have published several more books. I was contacted recently by the Labadias about my most recent book. Around Thanksgiving they welcomed their grandchild, Vaughan Timothy Labadia, into the world. Congratulations Rick and Mary Ann, and thank you for your support!

Blobman

2010-12-26T20:20:00.003-05:00

Thomas made this short stop motion video with the help of an animation book he got for Christmas. Maybe if I can't be an animator, he can.

2010-12-23T15:16:00.001-05:00

Enjoy this holiday season with some friends!
With best wishes, Liza

Don't Write the Obit For Picture Books Yet

2010-12-17T08:10:00.000-05:00

Don't Write the Obit For Picture Books Yet

Snow dogs

2010-12-16T09:51:00.003-05:00

This is what it looks like if you love snow, but you're little and cold:This is what it looks like if you're not:

Marcel the Shell with shoes on

2010-12-14T23:12:00.002-05:00

This is just about the most adorable little shell I have ever seen.

My new handbag

2010-11-24T21:44:00.003-05:00

I will do just about anything to avoid doing some things. This is why I decided that I just had to make myself a felted sweater handbag yesterday while I should have been cleaning. I followed the instructions that I found on this great blog : The Inadvertent Farmer .
The whole thing took less than two hours and was very simple. I used my felting needle to tack things in place, but then needed to hand stitch as well. Definitely try this with any old sweaters you have hanging around.

Event this Saturday at the Brown Dog, Hinesburg, Vermont

2010-11-17T10:46:00.003-05:00

more Bible sketches

2010-11-17T09:30:00.001-05:00

sketch, sketch, sketch. . .

2010-11-16T08:04:00.002-05:00

That's all I have been doing these days. It feels wonderful to sit and draw, but I am ready to paint. Right now, I am working on illustrations for a children's Bible. In this sketch, Jesus is calming a storm.

work in progress

2010-11-12T11:00:00.002-05:00

Here's a sketch I am working on. Spring mailer?? It's not like me to think ahead.

Kitchen finally done!

2010-11-08T19:17:00.005-05:00

This was formerly our front hall and Tom's makeshift office.

This was the old kitchen and is now our family room.

This was our big project this summer. We moved our kitchen into the front hall, turned the kitchen into a family room, and redid the floor. It was a long haul, but thanks to a very hardworking and dedicated carpenter, we wrapped this up in September. I am just now putting pictures up for people who saw this in progress and want a peek at the finished product.
There's a little bit of distortion in the photos (I put them together as panorama in photoshop).
The family room is a sunny yellow and the kitchen is avocado. Thanks to Susan Sargeant for the color inspiration.

revision

2010-10-30T22:00:00.002-04:00

Oops. It turns out that no one knew what the purple cutout in the bow was. Thanks to Photoshop, I have now fixed it.
In case it is still not clear, this mouse lives in the wreath and she has cut fabric out of the bow on the wreath to make herself a dress. Let me know if this is still just a big mess.

with or without snow?

2010-10-30T20:49:00.003-04:00

Sometimes it's hard to decide whether or not to add snow to my illustrations. Most of the time I like a painting better with it, but this time, those who have seen it so far prefer it without. What do you think?

with snow. . .
without. . .

Happy Birthday Julia

2010-10-19T09:02:00.002-04:00

My friend Julia and I spent the day together yesterday as parent volunteers on a field trip to Fort Ticonderoga. I am not sure I would have chosen to spend my birthday that way, but it was a beautiful day, and the kids were great. The foliage was perfect, and from the fort, which was set up high on a rise beside Lake Champlain, we could see for miles. Happy Birthday Julia!

Mary Had a Little Lamb

2010-10-14T10:08:00.003-04:00

A little reader for this sweet nursery rhyme:

Great news!

2010-10-01T23:15:00.002-04:00

October 1st, Kirkus reviewed our new book Ten on the Sled! It's such exciting news. Thank you Kirkus. I hope this book now finds its way into the hands of many little readers who can enjoy it. Here's what they had to say:

TEN ON THE SLED
Author: Norman, Kim
Illustrator: Woodruff, Liza

Review Date: October 1, 2010
Publisher:Sterling
Pages: 32
Price ( Hardback ): $14.95
Publication Date: October 1, 2010
ISBN ( Hardback ): 978-1-4027-7076-0
Category: Picture Books
Classification: Seasons

A caribou, polar bear, moose, wolf, walrus, squirrel, bighorn sheep, fox, hare and seal all pile onto a toboggan, beginning a North Country riff on the familiar chant: “There were TEN on the sled / and the caribou said, / ‘Slip over! Slide over!’ / So they all slid over, / and Seal spilled out.” One by one, the animals tumble off, each with a different active verb (Hare hops out, Sheep shoots out, Walrus whirls out, etc.). The final line of each stanza is printed with lively disorder, swooping, jumping and sliding on the page. Woodruff adds extra humor by collecting all of the fallen animals in an increasingly bigger snowball that rolls down the hill alongside the toboggan. What with animal identification, counting, vocabulary building and print awareness all scaffolded on a can’t-lose rhyme, this one’s a keeper. (Picture book. 3-6)

Ten on the Sled due out October 5th!

2010-09-15T10:06:00.006-04:00

I am counting the days until this book will be on the shelves. Kim Norman is the author of this fun story. I loved every minute of creating the illustrations for this book: researching the arctic animals, creating the characters, thinking about their relationships to one another, and even packing it up and putting it in the mail. I really hope kids will have a fun time reading it and looking at the pictures.

A view into my studio

2010-09-14T14:27:00.009-04:00

I have enjoyed in the past looking at photos of other artists studios. Many are very creative and interesting, giving a little insight into who that artist is as a person. I thought I would give you a glimpse inside my studio on a neat day (believe me when I say that it rarely is this neat). I am not sure what my space says about me. You can decide for yourself. If you are interested, you can read an interview with me and see more photos at From the Mixed-Up Files, the blog of Jennifer Berman.
This is where I work:
come on in!
where I cut paper:
where I draw:
where I waste time. . . I mean work on the computer:

my studio is the corner room of our house:
and, most importantly, my studio assistant Emerson.

Off the Mat Into the World

2010-09-14T12:32:00.005-04:00

My friend Michelle, is a yoga teacher and outreach is a part of her practice. She is trying to raise money to go to Africa in 2011 to help orphaned children with AIDS. I have finished an image that she plans to use on tee-shirts and stationary. Check out this link for more information about the program: http://www.offthematintotheworld.org/

Birds

2010-06-14T10:53:00.004-04:00

One thing I find difficult to draw is birds. I am listening to the birds sing right now. In fact, we have a purple finch nesting on a beam over the back porch, and I think it's the dad who is making all the racket. This reminded me that it would be good to practice drawing them. I think I will take out my sketchbook right now.

New Home Page Image

2010-05-17T11:00:00.004-04:00

If anyone would like to weigh in on my new potential website (www.lizawoodruff.com) homepage image, I would be most appreciative. Thanks!

Monsters

2010-05-12T08:07:00.002-04:00

I have been doodling monsters. Now to get them into a story. . .

Nature by Numbers

2010-05-10T12:28:00.004-04:00

This movie shows the Fibonacci sequence, a series of numbers that follow a mathematical progression, in nature. Amazingly, the seeds of a sunflower, flowering of an artichoke and the lobes of a pine cone are arranged in the Fibonacci sequence.

A Fairy's Kitchen

2010-05-07T13:13:00.004-04:00

This fairy is baking on a rainy day for a tea party with friends.

Emerging artist

2010-05-04T09:19:00.002-04:00

I wanted to feature the art of an emerging artist who is working hard on a series of dinosaurs/monsters. Here are two examples of his fine work. Good job Thomas!!

Sprinkler

2010-05-04T09:12:00.002-04:00

While at my parents' house, I had a chance to sketch something belonging to my mother. She has had this sprinkler since I was little and uses it to sprinkle water onto clothes before ironing them. It is a simple thing, but something about the thick green glass of the old Coke bottle and the dented aluminum cap strikes me as really homey and well used.

Snow!

2010-04-27T14:38:00.003-04:00

The date is April 27th and we are getting snow. Luckily, I still have not changed my snow tires. The poor daffodils and tulips are looking kind of sad under their little blankets of snow. I am glad that I didn't put seeds in the garden yet either.

Pond Girl

2010-04-24T08:05:00.005-04:00

I thought it was about time to put some drawings up, and watching that Quentin Blake video inspired me to take out my dip pen. I like to use a crowquill nib because it has a little flexibility, but not too much. This helps create all those nice scratchy lines.
My first sketch is of me when I was little. I used to spend as much time as I could at Gibson Pond, (incidentally named for illustrator Charles Dana Gibson- of Gibson Girls, who owned acreage and an elegant, but now crumbling, house up the road at 1200 Hope Street in Bristol) which was about a ten minute walk from my house. I loved to catch frogs, tadpoles, snakes and turtles, which I would bring home to my aquarium. My parents would usually let me keep them for a little while, and then I had to let them go. Things have come full circle and I am now able to go searching for tadpoles with my children, which makes me very happy.
Here's an older pond inspired illustration:

Quentin Blake Video

2010-04-22T08:40:00.002-04:00

In cleaning out my email inbox, I came upon a link to this video. Quentin Blake explains his process in creating two of his books, Clown and The Green Ship. He is one of my all time favorite illustrators, having illustrated many of my very favorite books written by Roald Dahl.
http://www.teachers.tv/videos/32976#share

Golden Anniversary

2010-04-07T11:26:00.005-04:00

Today is my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. They met in Rhode Island all those years ago, and thank goodness they did! Congratulations Mom and Dad!! xoxo

Guilty pleasures

2010-04-05T11:22:00.002-04:00

I would say that this is one of Emerson's guilty pleasures, but he's actually not too guilty about his love for our blond dress-up wig. Must remind him of his mother or something.

Jack and Jill

2010-03-16T08:05:00.003-04:00

I am working on a fantastic project. It's a little book of the nursery rhyme Jack and Jill. It should be out in September of 2010. This is the cover, and Jack will be holding a little sign in his hands with the title. Here's a sneak peek:

2010-03-14T18:40:00.004-04:00

We saw Avatar today, and I was surprised by how much I loved it. It was very entertaining and hardly seemed like 2 hours and forty minutes had passed when we walked out of the theater. From a creative standpoint, the movie was amazing. The colors of the landscape, the characters, the animals. . . I did a little character sketch of my own after we returned.

2010-02-01T13:25:00.006-05:00

Yesterday I returned from a three day retreat for Writers and Illustrators called Kindling Words. It was so inspiring to be surrounded by such a creative group of people from all over the country.
Don Weisberg, President of Penguin Group, spoke about the state and future of publishing (both in good shape, he felt). He looks at the advent of electronic media as an opportunity, not a threat, for publishers. We need to learn to work with the changes not against them.
Betsy Partridge, a nonfiction writer, spoke about writing nonfiction and also about just writing. Most interesting to me is how she would find a way into her subject in unexpected places through her research.
Chris Raschka was the presenting illustrator. He spoke about his process and projects, gave us an assignment and we even had an opportunity to workshop with him.
I had a wonderful room of my own at the Inn at Essex, we ate delicious food, and I had our puppy pick up on Sunday, which made leaving a little easier.
Here are some sketches of Emerson that I did while listening to our presenters:

2010-01-26T11:45:00.002-05:00

wilderness. . .

2010-01-24T19:36:00.004-05:00

We're just waiting for him to receive his second shots and this little boy will be coming home with us. He comes from a local rescue group (all breeds rescue, inc.) and is being fostered by a nice family with his four other brothers and sisters. The kids have been begging for a puppy for years now, and we thought now would be a good time. Our Bernese Mountain Dog is 8 1/2 and she will get some overlap time with the puppy before she's too old and grouchy. We live on a busy road, so we are going to have to use a pen in the backyard. I am trying to prepare, but I know that nothing will really prepare me. I will put up more photos when he comes home. His name is currently Emerson, but that may change.

2010-01-22T09:38:00.004-05:00

Illustration Friday: Clumsy

2009-12-15T18:41:00.003-05:00

I have made my niece Sara an ornament for Christmas for the past three years. This year I wanted to do something with a milkweed pod. I finished the drying process on low heat in the oven and then created a little felted wool mouse to put inside. I have seen something similar done with walnut shells before, which would certainly be sturdier for little hands.

2009-12-13T19:37:00.002-05:00

Happy Holidays! Winter has finally arrived in Vermont inspiring another snowy scene. I am not sure anyone would recognize him, but the fox in the middle is my grandfather- well, what my grandfather would look like if he were a fox. He liked to take my mother and the grandchildren, skating on ponds that he'd find in the woods.

2009-11-14T22:08:00.001-05:00

snowflake!

Liza Woodruff's Art Blog

More on the icon

Who are you?

Juggling

icon design

The Story of Christmas

From start to finish

Marcel is back

snowflake for auction

PiBoIdMo

Flooding in Vermont

Apps vs books

sketches

Nursery Rhyme

harpsichord

Evel Knievel

more pages

New Project

Beach Shadows

Road trip

Killer Bees

Quicksand

Freezing to Death

Wicked

manholes

Pug

Grandma

Kutiman

Anna's Eggs

anna

Discovered by cats. . .

The Yo Yo

Happy Birthday Estelle!

Felted horse

Ukrainian Folk Tale

flight anxieties

Two new anxieties

Creepy. . .

Don't run into the street

Happy Birthday Charlie

Fifteen on the Sled!

planning a New York Trip

Pan Handles

Sledding Anxiety

Ice Skating

Icicles

Anxiety a day

Painted Stools

Hayley

gangsta hamstas

A driving chicken

Hippo footstool

Orphan

Thistle

ALA announces youth media awards

Sugar Hill

more minor improvements.

Small changes. . .

Better late then never.

New blog

Thank You!

Blobman

Don't Write the Obit For Picture Books Yet

Snow dogs

Marcel the Shell with shoes on

My new handbag

Event this Saturday at the Brown Dog, Hinesburg, Vermont

more Bible sketches

sketch, sketch, sketch. . .

work in progress

Kitchen finally done!

revision

with or without snow?

Happy Birthday Julia

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Great news!

Ten on the Sled due out October 5th!

A view into my studio

Off the Mat Into the World

Birds