I finished up 2011 with a few more commissions.  One of my favorites, if not the favorite piece I did this past year is the “Media Monopoly Octopus” for the October issue of Extra! Magazine.  Sometimes, a piece really comes together from conception through the final product and this illustration was one of them.

I must have been on a role, because right after this, came another 2011 favorite, this time a piece commissioned for MovieMaker Magazine.  This was the second piece from them this year, and like usual, the theme was a blast and so much fun to work on.  This commission was to accompany an article called, “Look Good in Your Shorts.”

I was thrilled to do a six piece series for Philadelphia Weekly’s Better Than Best issue, though the three day turn around nearly broke me.

I finished out the year with another cover from Extra! on Steve Jobs.

In between creating these pieces, I was also diligently working on Lavender’s Blue chapter revisions under the direction of my agent, Erin Harris.  Erin is helping tweak and mold my novel so that it reaches its fullest potential, and I am grateful for the tremendous amount of time and effort she’s poured into it since May.

The New Year is already starting off at a breakneck pace.  While I wait to receive my next set of revision notes from Erin, Iv’e already begun the February Cover Art for Extra!  (If I stick to my resolution, it will be unveiled in next month’s posting.)  I’m also working on a proposal for what could potentially be my largest illustration job to date.  So, fingers crossed I have good news to announce next month.  I’ll keep you posted.

Best wishes for a healthy & prosperous New Year!!!!

I hope you enjoy these gems as much as I do.

Gem #1 ~ I Am an American, What Every Citizen Should Know

This book was my grandmother’s.  I love how both she and her mother signed each and every book in their possession with their name(s) and the date.  I try to follow their lead on this, but in this day of electronic publications, it’s easier said than done.  The copyright of this book is 1940 by the Whitman Publishing Company.

Pages 4-5 contain the rights and privileges of an American Citizen.

I wish they’d give this out to elementary school students.  It’s contains so many pearls of wisdom.  I wish my daughter and her classmates would learn to recite “I have the right to try to improve my lot through various means,” and not feel entitled to it.  I wish my son and his classmates would be required to memorize, “It is my duty to obey my country’s laws,” if only as a reminder.

Flipping through this book made me nostalgic for a time I’ve only read about, but wish in some ways we could once again use as a touchstone.

On the Word Side ~ I made a map!

I can’t remember ever making a map before, but had I known it was this much fun I would have created one long before now!  For my beta’s who’ve read LAVENDER’S BLUE, here’s a bit of visual aid.  Hope you like it

Good Times ~

I’ve been holding off on sharing my news until I was able to post a piece of art along side it.  But since my latest cover piece for Extra! Magazine, hasn’t hit the news stand yet, I’m sharing an oldie, but goodie.

This piece was actually done for the band Schmedly, way back in the day.  The original has a funky swirled paper background, but for logo purposes, I’ve cut it for a crisp, clean look.  Ahh, it brings back memories of some very fun times.  <sigh>

But, onto my news…

I’ve been signed by literary agent Erin Harris from the venerable Irene Skolnick Literary Agency in NYC!  It hasn’t been an easy feat the last two years, carving out chunks of time between my full time library gig, mothering two rambunctious kids, freelancing illustrations, and my volunteer work with DGR Soccer and NEBTR, but I did none the less. And boy am I glad I did!  I enjoy writing immensely.  It gives me pause and draws me back to my childhood days of making things up in my head.  Who doesn’t like that?

I still have a lot of work ahead of me, but I’m up for the challenge and am looking forward to the days ahead…full of art, full of words, full of life.

An unexpected snow day gave me the opportunity to catch up on all things art and word related.

After spending the last three weeks on agent research, I’ve begun submitting to my list.  This past of being a writer can be crushing and it’s sometimes hard to keep a hopeful outlook in check.  Whether it’s writer’s groups criticisms or five minute rejections, I constantly need to remind myself that it’s part of the game.  And if I want to be a player, I have to take the shots just like everyone else.

So with a plastered smile and gritted teeth I press ‘send’ and hope for the best.

It’s been a quiet start to my year with anything art related.  I’ve begun work on a “Spring Thaw” related piece to use as a mailer ad try to garner up some work.  Today was spent pulling reference and tossing ideas around on the best way to approach this piece.  I’m looking forward to seeing it completed.

I also spent today touching up my B/W Lavender’s Blue chapter heading illustrations which seem to be stuck on Chapter 3.

So with lots still to accomplish and dinner to make, I bid you a happy, snowy afternoon.  Enjoy ~

I feel excited.  Something’s brewing.  I can’t really explain it other than it’s a pleasant sort of tickle deep in the gut.

I began querying agents for Lavender’s Blue yesterday which might be the reason or maybe the tranquil snowy evening just beyond my window.  Whatever the cause, my creative juices sprung a leak.  Now I wait.  Fingers crossed, that now’s my time.  I’ve put in my dues, worked hard, sweated (and later carved out,) many words.  I know the rejections are coming, they’re part of the game, so I’m braced for them but I’m going to pretend they’re not.  At least for now.

So on this beautiful white washed night, I will remain in bliss.  Content and hopeful, that 2011 is the one I’ve waited for.

Good night ~

I’ve really been trying hard to finish up some sketches for Lavender’s Blue on top of final edits before the YALITCHAT query contest winners are announced.  I managed to whittle it down about 30K words to fit in the middle grade genre where it fits much better than in young adult as I had originally intended.  One Sunday afternoon perusing the stacks at my local Borders convinced me that I made the right choice.

I need this novel to be perfect and am content to wait until January to start querying agents.  First impressions account for everything in this biz, so until it’s shiny and pretty it’s not going anywhere.  Some of my beta’s are trickling in and the feedback is encouraging.  What I really need to do however, is reach out and get some unbiased opinions.  I think I’ll put some feelers out to see if I can’t hook one tomorrow.

On the art front, I’m putting the final touches on another piece for Extra! Magazine that’s due in the morning.  It’s been an interesting to watch how my work has evolved this year to an entirely digital canvas.  My Wacom is my best friend in this regard.  I need to upgrade at home.  If you knew me back in college as I fumbles to find the ‘on’ button, (thanks Chris & Kyle!)  you’d be amazed at how far I’ve come.

The Flower Mound piece above was recently commissioned by Fort Worth Weekly and another favorite client.  I feel so blessed that in this year of working on my novel, my go to guys in the art world really came through for me.  I didn’t put much out in the way of self-promotion, so it’s good to know I’m dependable and consistent enough to garner some repeat business and I’m grateful.

I leave you with many thanks and good vibes for a brand new year ~

So, I know it’s been a while since I posted, and I apologize.  There just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done between a full time job, a family, freelancing, writing and coaching (youth soccer.)  But enough boo-hooing!

I was thrilled to hear from Kevin over at the Shepherd’s Express who commissioned another cover.  (This seems to be the year of repeat business, which is awesome, since I’ve been slacking a little on my promotional mailers!)  In the midst of this explosive election season, I was happy to hear that this would be a political illustration, which are always fun to create.  The politician in the cross hairs is a woman named Leah Vukmir a Wisconsin State Representative running for Senate.

This piece was a journey into an all digital platform, an idea I’ve been moving toward for quite some time.  It’s been received with rave reviews and might even be used on television ~ a first for my art work!

My novel Lavender’s Blue is in the revision stage where I’ve been feverishly bringing the word count down to where it needs to be for the Middle Grade genre.  I’ve been receiving positive critiques which I’m hoping carries over to when it’s actually being perused by potential agents and publishers.  My query letter is currently in first place in a competition to win a chance to have my manuscript critiqued by some top agents and a publishing power house ~ It’ll only take a minute to vote.  So if you haven’t voted yet, please drop by and vote for Lavender’s Blue: http://www.wizehive.com/voting/yalitchat/10/2

I wrote a young adult novel.  I finished it over the summer and after numerous critiques and revisions, I’ve been actively shopping it in the hopes of finding an agent who will be my champion in this field.  I’ve had requests for partials and fulls, but the process is painstakingly slow, so I’m trying to be patient.  Something I’m not very good at.

It’s been an invigorating process and I’ve loved just about every minute of it.  The hardest part are the rejection letters.  While I know it’s part of the process they suck just the same.  My thin skin is being peppered with them, but I smile and say thanks for looking anyway, and go about my business.

I’ve taken author Phillip Margolin’s advice to heart when he told me to forgot that I even wrote the first book and write more.  So I’m now writing a new book that I grow more and more excited about with every page. 

I have almost completed the outline for, my next novel. My goal is to document my journey from outline to published novel.  I hope you join me.