New Sketches- Yoga Girls!

Something new I drew this afternoon. Doing Yoga is how I practice staying present, and in drawing these, I found myself very present. It was an active meditation. Perhaps I'll draw some boys in various asana's as well.

Picture Book Writing/Illustrating Class in Chicago

If you live in the Chicago area and are interested in learning how to write and illustrate a picture book, this is the class for you! I took this class with artist/author Laura Montenegro a couple years ago and am so glad I did. Laura is nurturing, very giving, and filled with passion for her craft and for teaching. She taught us how to hand stitch a book dummy using booking binding tape and thread - a very awesome and easy process even if only to make your own sketchbooks or journal. We did a lot of mixed media projects, a different one in every class, which really got the juices flowing. And we also had writing assignments that tied into the art making process. By the end of class I had tons of new ideas and concepts for new stories, though I didn't finish a book dummy (that was optional, as long as you got something started!). I know of a few artists (all of whom are SCBWI members) who are still working on stories they started writing/illustrating in this class, and one person who even submitted her artwork to the 2010 Bologna Book Fair. Aside from all the amazing creativity and positive energy within the class, Laura has a way of taking the mystery out of whether it's possible to get published as a childrens author/illustrator and just leads the way into making it a reality with discussions about how to submit book dummy's, the importance of getting in front of editors and ADs at SCBWI conferences and the like. I highly recommend Laura's class if you want to start learning the business of picture books, or if you want to just come and experiment with illustrating and writing.

Her class is a the Noyes Art Center in Evanston, IL. Laura is the author and illustrator of several published picture books, including The Poets Bird Garden. Laura is an art educator, with a BA in Fine Arts and Anthropology and an MA and certification in Art Education. She is a puppeteer and movement artist, co-founder and ensemble member of Theatre Zarko in Evanston, IL.

Get That Spring In Your Step With Ivan Campuzano!

I first got to Ivan Campuzano's extraordinary blog viaTwitter some time ago. I'm always browsing through blogs of this nature (self-development), but his really stood out from the myriad of others on the same subject. It was obvious to me that this is someone who is writing from a deeply experiential place with wisdom, kindness, and passion. In a word, Ivan is authentic, the real deal. So I was REALLY honored when he asked if he could use one of my recent sketches for his post called "I Feel Good: How To Walk On Clouds". If you ever wondered why some people just have a natural spring in their step, Ivan explains it beautifully in this article. And he also advises on how you can walk with that same spring in YOUR step. I encourage you to visit his blog right now and start feeling good! Thanks, Ivan!

Moments From A Road Trip

I entered 80 stories into the earth in Carlsbad, NM.

Had an alien encounter in Roswell.

Planted a Tree where there wasn't one (White Sands, NM).

Hitched a ride with Saguaro (Saguaro Nat'l Monument, AZ)

Said a prayer of thanks in Sedona, AZ.

Took a nice long stretch at the Grand Canyon (North Rim).

And faced some fears here too.

I stood on unsolid ground at Pink Corral Sands, Utah.

And celebrated marvelous things in Bryce Canyon.

I've done 3 big Wild West Roadtrips 3 years in a row (soooo much to see!). Next year, I hope to get to Nepal or maybe the Amazon. If you've been to either places, please share your experiences!

Children's Illustrator Agents

Over the last year or so I've gathered a growing list of agents for the children's illustrators market and wanted to share. If you're a children's illustrator and in search of an agent, just click the link to read their submissions info. I'll update the list in the future so check back. If you have any you'd like to add, do so in the comment box. And let me know if you have any luck with any of these! Also, if any of the links don't work, let me know and I'll correct them. Here they are, in no particular order. hope this helps you- good luck!

Tugeau2

http://www.tugeau2.com/index.html

KidShannon

www.kidshannon.com

Wilkinson Studios

www.wilkinsonstudios.com

Langley Creative

http://www.langleycreative.com/

Storybook Artists

http://www.storybookartsinc.com/

Painted Words.com

http://www.painted-words.com/submit.htm

MB Artists

http://www.mbartists.com/cgi-bin/iowa/index.html

Byer-Sprinzles

http://www.maggiebyersprinzeles.com/contacts.shtml

Storybook Arts Inc.

http://www.storybookartsinc.com/contact.html

The Organisation

http://WWW.ORGANISART.CO.UK/submissions.php

WendyLynn

http://www.wendylynn.com/index.html

The Neisgroup

http://www.neisgroup.com/

The Illustrators Agency

http://theillustratorsagency.com/

Craven Design Studios

http://www.cravendesignstudios.com/contact.html

Cornell and MacCarthy

http://www.cmartreps.com/

Pippin Properties

http://www.pippinproperties.com/contact.htm

The BeeHive Agency

http://www.beehiveillustration.co.uk/contact-us.html

Jennifer De Chiara Agency

http://www.jdlit.com/illustration.html

Rodeen Literary Agent

http://www.rodeenliterary.com/index-3.html