California color

Coming from Vermont in mid-winter, our eyes were used to a limited palette of white, brown, and the green of pine trees.  Though most of the week it looked mostly like this:

There was sometimes a little color to be found between the clouds (look closely for the rainbow):

These guys didn't seem to mind the rain at all:

Things are blooming in California, and when we did see color it was amazing:

I guess I was feeling a little color deprived, because I started to look for it everywhere.  There was lots to be found at Britex in San Francisco:

More color could be found in the murals and street art in The Mission in San Francisco. We hit the jackpot on 24th Street. It was hard to capture it all from a moving car, so next time, I think we'll take the tour by foot.

And when the sun finally did come out, it looked like this:

What a beautiful place to visit, and a sight for sore eyes during this very long winter.

Phone covers

I have used my cuckoo ideas to design some phone covers.  I started with sketches and finished these up in photoshop.  What a fun project this has been.

cuckoo for cuckoo clocks

cuckoo clocks

up up and away

New York

I just returned from New York.  What a beautiful time of year to be in the city.
Decorations are everywhere.

Though I couldn't figure out the good camera I brought, my phone managed to catch the mood and some cool window displays.
These Yetis were interesting:

and there were some very beautiful dresses:

The New York Public Library Lions dressed up for the occasion:

There is a wonderful exhibit of children's books inside: The ABC of It: Why Children's Books Matter.  If you can check it out, do. You will find lots about the history and significance of children's books.  There is some original art, like these pieces by Ashley Bryan:

This background of the working relationship between Tenniel and Carroll on Alice in Wonderland was interesting.:

I got to see my wonderful editor for Ten on the Sled and If It's Snowy and You Know It Clap Your Paws.  Polar Bear joined her friend Puffin in her new home in the city:

I left Emerson at his new home at Henry Holt with Christy Ottaviano. I know she will take great care of him.

New York is a great town for walking and people watching.  We had some delicious food, and enjoyed a great meal with my writing mentor, editor Elizabeth Law. The next night, we had a delicious Italian meal in Chelsea, and I am sure we saw Blondie (Debbie Harry) leaving the restaurant when we were going in. Unfortunately, I didn't catch that on film.

Now I am back home in my studio, where it a lot quieter and colder, but I love it here for very different reasons.

Top Five Reasons I Love the Library

I love our library in Charlotte, Vermont. It's a beautiful space with a diverse collection that works to meet the needs of the town's population. Beyond books our library has a lot to offer.

Here are my top five reasons why I love the library. 

  5. Our library isn't just a library, but it also acts as a community center.  It's a place where kids can come to make fairy houses, learn about reptiles, and run around outside. Adults can learn about gardening, cooking, and travel.  High Schoolers can do their homework there too.  A person could also just sit quietly and rest or enjoy the interesting artwork that's displayed.  I know that other libraries have similarly diverse offerings too. 

4. The library is the right place to come if you want to learn.  You can learn about making stone walls, mathematics, the universe, or pretty much anything.  Usually the library has something on the subject you are interested in, but if they don't, there's inter-library loan, and sometimes they'll even order a book.

3. Librarians are smart.  The librarians in our library have read A LOT.  Our children's librarian hasn't missed yet with a recommendation for my son.  I am not sure how she finds the time, but she does, and I am sure she doesn't just read books that appeal to boys because she recommends books to girls, too (of all ages). Books are what librarians love, and our librarians are interested in what a reader has liked and why. 

2. Library patrons take books back into their homes, the words within them move outside of the paper covers and into the minds and imaginations of their readers and then out into the world through discussion and action.  That's pretty cool when you think about it. 

1. Libraries are free and open to ANYONE.  You don't have to have cash in your wallet to enjoy a library. Books are for everyone!

One more thing that I love that probably fits into one of these categories somewhere is the availability of state park and museum passes.  I am not sure how many people know that you can check these passes out for free admission to many museums and parks in the area. We have used our library's passes to Shelburne Museum, The Maritime Museum, and my favorite state park, Kingsland Bay.

Go explore! 

Every library has a lot to offer.

PiBoIdMo

For the month of November, I will be joining this group focusing on one picture book idea a day.  If you're interested, join me.  It's a great way to get your brain looking at the world in terms of picture book ideas. http://taralazar.com/2013/10/24/piboidmo-2013-registration/

Before vs. After

I think I overworked this one. . .

So I tried to hold myself back this time.

Writing tip of the day

If I cringe from embarrassment when reading a passage I have written out loud, it is probably bad.  Sentimentality and sappy flourishes are my specialty. 

New work

I am really enjoying playing with a new medium.  The wonderful thing about using the computer is that you can create a multi media look with one tool.  It's fantastic.  My next question is how do you get the pencil line a little smoother.  I haven't tried playing with the brush settings yet.  Could that work?  I'll let you know when I find out.

Digital art

I am trying to paint digitally to improve color consistency between painting and printed work.  So far it has been fun to play around with new materials.  The best part about it is working with layers in photoshop. If I make a mistake, that layer can be discarded and I can start over.  I have found that I take many more risks, and the looseness of my drawings is preserved.  It gives each illustration an energy that I lose sometimes in painting in watercolor.  I hope you can see what I mean comparing the two proposed covers.

a little more sparkle

And now for a little more bling:

New work

I am working on a painting for a book that includes many nature scenes. Light plays an important role.

Red Efts

After an extended break from everything, I am back.  The kids are off to school and I am back to work.  I started the day with a long walk through the woods and saw nineteen red efts!  I wasn't even looking that hard.  I wonder if they were headed off to school too.

sometimes I feel like I am being followed

maybe I'm just paranoid. . . 

or maybe not

Miss Cross

I am playing with ideas for a character who is very grouchy.
Number 1:

 Number 2:

 Number 3 is a bit scary.  I feel like she was inspired by someone I saw in the sheep and wool area at a fair.  Probably best not to include her in a children's book.

Self portrait

Here I am when I was about six:

 and then a little older, around age 9. 

 

Growing up, I was the kid with papers flying out of my backpack.  I loved animals and poking around our local pond. After a visit to the pond, I would return home with a coffee can filled with pond water and fat tadpoles that I would keep for a few days.