Why didn’t I think of this?!
Check out this (now complete) brilliant project/blog of artwork inspired by Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are.
I’m not sure I would have the guts to tackle something I see as perfect, but luckily there are many braver (and more talented) artists out there!
Urban Skyglow 2: Dark-eyed Junco
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Here is the third of my bird paintings, and the second related to urban skyglow. It’s acrylic on a 30 x 30″ canvas. This time, I wanted to use a blue-green palette, much like the cast of fluorescent lights, rather than the warmer tones of the previous canvas.
This little bird is a Dark-eyed Junco. We had many of these birds visit our garden quite frequently in the late winter/early spring on their route north. These perky little birds migrate at night and tend to fly quite low, and are therefore often victims of the host of problems associated with the lights of our cities.
Simply Read
As part of the children’s book workshop course I am taking, the publisher from Simply Read Books was invited to speak to our class. I have admired their books for quite a while. They are a local publishing house and have the most wonderful aesthetic. The books seem to be illustrated and designed to be as beautiful as possible, rather than to pander to a market or what parents and kids are perceived to enjoy. The books are simply as lovely as possible. They publish the charming board books by Paola Opal, including Saffy. Matthew Porter has illustrated a whole series of books, including the beautiful Flowers. 
Can’t imagine why I’d like that one so much (wink)! They have also published Julie Morstad’s books. 
One of their authors is Kari-Lynn Winters, a professor of mine from the UBC Education program, a former student of the same children’s book workshop course, and an increasingly prolific author.
It is refreshing to see a publishing house put faith in a child’s ability to enjoy something modern and well-designed, and to put faith in an adult’s desire to read, gift, or keep a well-designed book for children.
New… to me!
Michael Katz, the instructor of the children’s book workshop course I’m taking and the publisher of Tradewind Books, mentioned illustrator Helen Oxenbury to me during class last night. This talented woman has been illustrating for years, and yet this is the first I’ve heard of her! Check out her charmingly English pencil and watercolour illustrations…
She makes drawing anything seem like the easiest thing in the world – like anyone could do it. That’s when you know you’ve got a real master on your hands. There are so many English illustrators with a wonderfully accomplished line drawing style. Is it their art history, schools, scones and cream? I’ll test the scones and cream theory first….
Hondo and Fabian!
As with any discussion or study of children’s books, often the most fun part is being introduced to new (or just new-to-me) books. Hondo and Fabian is a gem of a book illustrated by the very talented Peter McCarty. Check out his website – watercolour and pencil! Mad skills! SO jealous! More exclamation points!!
