What are your favorite artist websites?

I realize I haven't blogged all week. My husband and I spent the Memorial Day weekend on a mini-getaway to a gorgeous bed and breakfast to celebrate our one-year anniversary. I haven't really gotten out of vacation-mode since then. (Hence the slacking off.) In fact, it's to the point where I'm thinking about taking a personal day tomorrow and not coming in to work. The weather is beautiful, and I can't deal with being stuck at the keyboard right now.

That said, a few computer-related things do need to get done. Specifically, my personal website. I've been paying my brother-in-law (who is a graphic and web designer) to host my site for the past several years, but we haven't actually created it. I only have the summer before my insane school/work schedule gets going again, so I need to do it soon.

This is where you come in. I want to look at the personal websites of your favorite illustrators. You know, it'll usually be "their name dot com". Some examples are: Keri Smith's, Tomie DiPaola's, or Jan Brett's sites. I want to look at illustrator sites in particular, because I need some inspiration. What are the basic ingrediants to a sucessful site?
Anyway, I look forward to taking a peek at everyone's choices. Thanks for your help!

Illustration Friday: Worry

Aren't you a bit worried about this kitty's fate? Me too!

Tag! I'm It!

First, a little game. I got tagged today by Gina. So, here are the rules:

1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.*
3. Find the fifth sentence.**
4. Post the next three sentences, so if my math is correct that’d be sentences six, seven and eight.
5. Tag five people and post a comment to the blogger who tagged you.

Here's mine: "Trade books have become part of the curriculum because we hope they will interest children and help them become literate in the full sense of the word. Given this goal, it is important to let the trade books be as interesting as they can be. It is important not to ruin the power of trade books by turning them into nothing more than material fore exercises, mere sources of information on topics or for teaching moral lessons."

Meh. I'm at work (at a literacy-based school), so whaddya expect? Lol. I don't have time to tag others right now, so I'll have to get to that part later. Thanks for the little brain-break, Gina! (o:

In other news, I got a ton encouragement from everyone yesterday regarding entering that local art contest in two weeks. So much so, in fact, that last night I went back to work on my long-abandoned painting. I only had an hour to work on it before bed, but you'd be surprised how far you can get with a mere 60 minutes. I feel pretty good about it (so far). I'll try desperately to get it done in time for the competition. Thank you for all the support and feedback. I'll keep you all posted!

For some reason...

I'm a nervous wreck! Let me give you a little background first:

Two years ago, I submitted a painting to an annual art contest, and won second place in the professional category. (Cash prizes, folks! Woo-hoo!) I didn't submit last year because I had no finished and framed artwork to enter. This year, the contest is going on again (I just found out today) and I really want to enter. The problem? The deadline to turn in the registration form is June 9.

I kinda sorta have something to submit this year. It's a painting I started working on last summer that was put on hold (I was interrupted by 4 commissions, and then school), so it's still not finished. I have a lot of work to do on it, as it was going to be a rather complicated piece. I am absolutely DYING to submit something this year!!! The question is - can I finish a rather complex piece in 2 weeks?!?! What if I send in my registration form, but then can't complete the piece I said I was submitting???

Anyone care to help me with a solution to this dilemma? Or should I just start painting my butt off and pray? (C'mon guys, tell me I'm nuts or cheer me on! I need one or the other. Lol.)

SCBWI

Creatively speaking, the first few years after I graduated art school were terrible. I was desperately trying to find my way in my field, and doing temp work for barely any pay in the meantime...just to survive. I felt so isolated from other artists - all my art school friends were miles and miles away. I was sorely lacking any feeling of community. Not to mention a solid critique. Your family looking over your painting and stating, "That's nice." is simply not going to cut it. I needed solid criticism and suggestions from another artist's eye. But the art pulse in NH felt to me as if it had flat lined. Dead. I couldn't find "the scene" or any scene, for that matter. I started to wonder if I was the only artist in the entire state. You might as well have dropped me off in the desert.

Even back then, I was an avid National Public Radio junkie. NHPR was on all the time. In the car, in the house. I honestly don't think I could live without the radio on. I'm still that way. (If anything, I've just gotten worse!) One night, on the very long drive home from another miserable day of temp work, I was listening to the (now retired) NHPR show "On The Front Porch" and heard an interview with the illustrator John Stadler:

Of course any interview with any illustrator was going to grab my attention and keep it. And here was a published children's book illustrator...IN MY STATE! During the interview he stated, "In New Hampshire and Vermont, there must be the highest per capita children's book population in the world. We have picnics three times a day, then we feel much better and we go back to work." In the interview, he went on to say that he couldn't leave his house without bumping into a fellow illustrator or children's book writer. WHAT???? I thought my head was going to explode. Where was this "close and supportive community"? Have they been hiding from me all this time? Finding them out felt like a search for a faerie village.

I got home, ran into the house, logged onto John Stadler's website where I found his e-mail address. And I e-mailed him. Oh yes I did. I don't remember exactly what I wrote but it was probably along the lines of, "I heard you on NHPR and you said there was a huge illustration community in the state...where oh WHERE??? HELP!!!" (I probably said it less crazy, but that was my point none the less.) To my surprise, he e-mailed me back promptly. He was really nice, and directed me to the Society of Children's book Writers and Illustrators.

Through their website, I found a local SCBWI children's book illustrators critique group near my house. I signed up to join the SCBWI, paid my dues, and was off. Our crit group meets up approximately once a month. It's been a part of my life ever since. Though certainly not as big or prevalent as in NYC or Boston - yes, Virginia, there is an arts community in NH.

We have some great people in our little group. Some published, some not (like me!). Though I can't talk about them all individually, I have previously mentioned Gina Perry. (She's the one whose gallery show I recently attended.)

Illustrator and children's book author, Lita Judge is also a member of our SCBWI branch. Lita's career has really taken off. She has published several books, been interviewed for tv and various other publications, and basically works 24/7. Though she's unable to attend meetings these days, she is always supportive and helpful with any questions that our group has about publishing or illustrating full time. At one of the last meetings I attended, our group went to see her read from her book One Thousand Tracings at Barnes and Nobles. Here are a couple of her book covers:


I haven't been attending the SCBWI meetings very regularly over the past year. Last year, the run up to my wedding was madness, so I missed quite a few meetings. This year, I started attending night classes and that was insanity. Going anywhere would mean homework got neglected for 2 seconds, and that was pretty much out of the question. School is finally over for the summer, so at last I get to attend tonight's SCBWI meeting. (Hooray!) I'll keep you posted on how it goes. (o:

"Free" time?

As most of you know, I completed the final class of spring semester last Tuesday. It's amazing how wonderful free time feels after you haven't had any in a year. The funny part is that I couldn't even use my newfound time to relax. I feel like I now have to play "catch up". I was SO productive on Saturday. I was up early, getting estimates for things that needed fixing in the house, writing out bills, doing errands, cleaning my studio, and generally being overly productive. I've also been able to kick my work-out schedule up a notch now that I actually have time to make it to the classes. Aaaaand, I got a chance to make a few phonecalls and even went out on Friday night to catch up with close friends who've been neglected.

My schedule over the next few days isn't any better. Tonight the hubby and I have to catch up with my sister-in-law who is visiting from Florida and my MIL who is about to head back down. Tomorrow, I have a long-awaited SCBWI meeting. Wednesday, I have a hair cut appointment...etc.

Oh, and I forgot to mention...no sooner do I finish classes for the summer, but I get an e-mail from my college saying that I need to register for fall courses by June 2. Ugh!

I'll finally get to unwined (I'm hoping) this coming weekend. My husband and I are taking off to a bed and breakfast for a couple nights to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary. I think we're both counting down the days. Sigh...

When it rains, it pours

I suppose I also could have titled this blog "zero to sixty", "all or nothing", or any other cliche you'd like.

The point is that within the last week, I seem to have received a mimi-avalanche of exposure online. Today I got an e-mail notifying me that I was included in yet another treasury. This time, it's Beeda Kahlo who is making an appearance:
Keep your fingers crossed for me that this one makes it to the front page. Really, that's my biggest Etsy dream (second only to the dream of oodles of sales, of course). Lol.

Happy Friday!!!