Thumbs up!

This is an illustration I did for the USDA's preschool series Grow It, Try It Like It. I still haven't seen the final product..and am hoping to get at least one sample in my hands sometime soon. It was a labor intensive project, but a great joy to work on.

"The ABCs of Yoga for Kids" poster

Because of the success of the book "The ABCs of Yoga for Kids", this accompanying poster is being released. I believe it will be sold through the official website, as well as Amazon.com. It is meant to be used as a fun poster for kids to hang on their walls, as well as an instructional tool for yoga studios.

Watch for more info on an upcoming "The ABCs of Yoga for Kids" coloring book as well.

Children's Dept. Mural at the Hamilton Lane Library

I have spent the last two weeks up on scaffolding, about 15 to 20 ft in the air... PAINTING!

And here is what I was working on... I started in December of 2008 painting the leaves and vines in the Children's Department of the Hamilton Lane Library. I was not able to completely finish the project at that time, because we could not find the right size scaffolding to be donated for use.

Jo and her husband Lionel were able to acquire the scaffolding and even built it for us.. So I would like to send out a special Thank You to those two.

The theme was a very contemporary take on Jack and the Beanstalk.

And now the entire project is finished...

Enjoy!

My First Book Signing in a store

I had my first picture book signing at Barnes & Noble last Saturday for Cora Cooks Pancit. I've done book signings at school visits and conferences before, but I was a little nervous about doing one at a store. What if no one came?

It turned out to be a smashing hit! Barnes & Noble sold out of the books they ordered for the signing, and then they sold 12 of my own copies that I brought in as backup. How fun is that!

The most fun part of it for me was seeing lots of friends from church, neighbors, in-laws, SCBWI friends, and friends of my mother-in-law (she sent the announcement to everyone she's ever known). It was quite the party! I brought a big pot of pancit (the Filipino noodle dish from the story - the recipe is in the book), and my husband handed out samples the whole time while I signed and chatted and hugged and "Wow - I haven't seen you in 2 months!" There was a lot of that, because I've been in bed for 2 months with severe morning sickness and dizziness. Being in the second trimester now rocks!

This is an illustration from the book.

Elizabeth Dulemba just interviewed me about this picture book on her fun blog: http://dulemba.com/blogger.html Check it out!

Kristi Valiant
http://kristivaliant.blogspot.com

Morning Walk and Research

I needed do to some active research this morning for my current dummy. Because I want to represent leaves, ferns, berries and pond water I took a long walk with my camera and gathered a lot of good info. We have SUN today, so the time was just right in the early morning. Dew is still on the leaves, the grass is wet and the forest is fairly still.

To make the photos work for me I put them all into a separate folder within the current project file and make a little thumbnail photo like this one, so I can easily find what I am looking for.

My work is semi realistic in a painterly style, so these just serve as a reference. My paintings will be accurate, but not photo realistic. I am not sure how a PC handles this kind of file, but I like having the Mac that can show me at a glance where things are and which file I need for a reference as I draw or paint.

July Issue of Stories for Children Magazine

July Cover for

Stories for Children Magazine

by Nikki Shoemaker

This is the first time I have ever illustrated aliens...

Remember...

© Kathleen Rietz
As you celebrate Independence Day 2009, please remember our soldiers and their families who miss them.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!

WISHING ALL A VERY HAPPY AND SAFE

4TH OF JULY

Thanks for having me!

I would like to thank Ginger and Amy for thinking about me and inviting me to join the group!

I have been a long time lurker of the Showcase and many of your blogs as well!

Since my first published work arrived in the mail this week I thought my first post should be sharing my favorite image from the book.

What's Wrong with Mud?

is written by Gillian Colley  

the story was the 2007  ABC Picture Book competition winner

and first prize got to go on and become published.

If you are interested in an signed copy. Please email me directly.

I am currently working on a series of three picture books, with the first one due to come out this fall.

I also have a day job as the graphic designer for the Lane Libraries in Ohio. 

Not sure how long that will last.. Projects are starting to pour in unexpectedly!

But no complaining here!!

Thanks again for having me! 

Enjoy!

New Book ~ When Wishes Come True ~ By Barbara B Slater

I had heard a few days ago that my copies of the book I illustrated were on their way to me. I am so excited to see it finished and hold it in my hands!
And it is now on Amazon.com as well.

The book I illustrated written by Barbara B Slater through the design director, Carol Pentleton, at the Digital Artist is finally OUT!

"When Wishes Come True" is a wonderful story of love and friendship between two creatures that wished for something different in their lives. When they find each other, a beautiful story unfolds that will capture your heart, and make you laugh and cry .... sometimes all at once. The reviews are worth reading as is Barbara's bio which details her many talents and gives one insight into her generous soul.

As happy as I was with the reviews, I was even happier to have been a part of this beautiful gem of a story.


“When Wishes Come True” , currently available on Amazon.com includes a section titled “Suggested Discussion Questions and Activity Guide” as well as an “Interview with the Author.”

From Amazon a short blurb:
"Make a Wish...It Could Come True.

When Penelope PeaHen and Oliver Owl decide they want to improve their lives, they each make a wish. Unlike most of us, however, they both do something about making their wishes come true. This is the story about how two most unlikely special friends found each other, and themselves."

Welcome Nikki Shoemaker *:)

The Picture Bookies are pleased to welcome Nikki Shoemaker as a new group member. Her work can be seen on her website and blog. You will be able to find out more about Nikki and her cut paper techniques for creating children's illustrations. You will also see the latest on her new book!
Please take time to welcome Nikki to the group. We are so pleased she has joined us!

SHAMWARI

Shamwari means friend in Africa.
This morning I received a beautiful photo from a "friend" in South Africa. Brettell Hone is the author of the book I illustrated that is out now. "My African Bedtime Rhymes" and he is also a great humanitarian. One of his recent projects involved working with the children of the Appel Farm school in his region presenting a play.

From the photo I chose a composite of several children to create "Shamwari." I had such fun doing this, because the children are so full of delight and energy. Brettell says they have "radioactive" energy and I can just imagine as a former teacher what it takes to corral that energy into positive action. The children are learning Edward Lear's "THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT" for their first presentation. Then they will move on to more difficult works.

I am so happy to have been involved in Brettell's book and look forward to hearing more about the children from the Appel School.

And now... for something completely different

Just experimenting...

One of my all time favorite paintings has always been Morris Graves' "Bird Singing in the Moonlight"... this is my version.

Photo vs. Scan

Water color Cat studies

I have this ongoing argument with myself. Will I scan my artwork? Will I photograph it?

Will I leave it as is, or transform it into a digital painting?

Most of the time I will scan a sketch if it isn't too big. I like seeing the texture that a scan can pick up. Occasionally a piece is way to large to scan and I will photograph it with and without flash to transfer it to the computer for finishing.

Here are three examples. I did some water color CAT studies, and then a "cat scan" and a photo with flash and with lamplight. While all three will have usefulness in future work, today I prefer the "cat Scan" for the color and texture. So that is one that I will keep handy for use in a current dummy I am working on.

Cat study photographed with flash

Cat study photographed with lamp light

And finally the

"Cat Scan" --- I just loved saying that *:)

MOCHA Art Exhibit

I have a couple pieces of art in an upcoming show at the Museum of Children's Art (MOCHA) in Oakland, CA - how fun is that! And you're invited if you're in the area! The exhibit will show art from recently published children's books alongside art that illustrator created in their own childhood, and there's also work by Don Freeman. Here's the info from MOCHA:

You are invited to the Museum of Children's Art (MOCHA)'s Annual exhibit, Once Upon a Time: Children's Book Illustrators, Then and Now, May 8-June 2. This year we are featuring work by Don Freeman, author/illustrator of Corduroy and Norman the Doorman, and 27 other artists.

Sarah Ackerley
Eve Aldridge
Bob Barner
Lisa Brown
Nancy Carroll
John Clapp
Claire B. Cotts
Angelo Dominguez
Julie Downing
Soma Han Stickler
Sara Kahn
Elisa Kleven
Angelo Lopez
Lea Lyon
Jenny Matheson
Jeff Miracola
Kathryn Otoshi
Todd Parr
Jeff Peterson
Joni Stringfield
Paul Tong
Dona Turner
Kristi Valiant (me!)
Lisa Victoria
David Weitzman
Ashley Wolf

The reception/book signing is May 9, 2-4pm. I won't be able to be at the reception, but some of the other artists will be there. If you go, send me a photo!

School Visit for Literacy Week!

I was invited by Timber Trails Elementary School in Hoffman Estates, IL, to read and demonstrate yoga poses from my latest illustrated book "The ABCs of Yoga for Kids". We had a great time! The book was a big hit. I was later informed that one little girl went home and immediately told her mom "We have to order this book, Mom!"

"The ABCs of Yoga for Kids" wins silver medal!

I am delighted to announce that my latest illustrated children's book "The ABC's of Yoga for Kids" has been awarded a silver medal in the category of Yoga/Pilates by Living Now Book Awards. Yay!

I will be reading from "The ABCs of Yoga for Kids" and demonstrating yoga poses with a group of first graders at a local school here in Illinois this Wednesday as the school celebrates Literacy Week.

My current book illustration project, "Little Black Ant at Park Street", should wrap up by the end of May, and I am looking forward to getting back to new projects and blogging again. I miss you all!

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

A new beginning for something old

I had submitted the story of Gunther the Underwater Elephant to about five publishers before one became interested but then after a long session and wait they finally turned him down. It wasn't so much the pictures, they loved those, it was the story.
Me, being a bit of a control (not quite freak) person did not want to let go of the story so I took Gunther back and put him on the bookshelf for 6 months.

Recently I started working on two other dummies and during the process I realized that Gunther had possibilities I had not thought of. So naturally he is back on the drawing table and being re-dummied. The text is far more minimal and the pictures are telling the story from a more childlike point of view. I think a child could now hear the story once and then retell (READ) it by reading the pictures. And isn't that what a picture book should be about?

Signing Contract for Another Book

I am so excited to have the opportunity to illustrate another picture book for Sylvan Dell Publishing. I love this manuscript. The title of the new book is Newton and Me and it's written by LynneMayer. The book is about a boy, his dog and how they learn about gravity, friction and force.
I will tell you more about it as time goes on. The manuscript is so fun, I can't wait to start the sketches! But for now I have to finish up this educational book I am doing, which should be very soon. Wahoo! Thanks so much Sylvan Dell for picking such a wonderful manuscript for me to illustrate!

The VERY Grimm Fairy Tales

This March and every March it is still winter up here in northern New England. To drive away the cabin fever our church players present a winter interlude. This year we chose to "re-load" some of the Grimm Brothers fairy tales.

I was asked to paint sets that could double as a cottage or a castle and create a tower for the Rapunzel story. In all, five tales were told with story and song.

My favorite of all was the Three Spinning Fairies, and more about that later, but here are some shots of the sets.

The total measurement was 38 feet across by nine feet high. The tree/tower for Rapunzel was a total of 12 feet wide wrapped around a structure that included doors to go in and out of and an unseen ladder in the back. The doors were invisible until opened as we cut them out after the scenery had been applied to the wooden structure.



I put a little figure of Rapunzel up there to show the scale.

And here is a close up of the corner of the cottage.


I would love to have had more time to work on the paintings, but we are usually limited to a few weeks before the sets have to be up and ready for rehearsals. Perhaps because I illustrate children's books, I am more demanding of myself and although I wasn't totally pleased with the final results, the audiences seemed to like the sets very much.

The paper comes on 9 foot by 36 foot rolls and is ordered from a stage set supply house. I use my own acrylic paints but when the sets require huge amounts of paint or more than one set of scenery I mix those with regular acrylic house paint to stretch the medium. The result is that the set paper gains a quality sort of like oil cloth and we can roll up the paintings and save them for the next production. Then we either reuse what was painted before or paint right over the old paintings.

Want to know what the hardest part of all this is????? Finding a place with enough space to paint these huge scenes before they are attached to the flats.

Grand Re-Opening of the Picture-Bookies Showcase

After a long hiatus the PICTURE BOOKIES SHOWCASE is reopening. We really look forward to welcoming everyone back.

The guidlines are a bit different this time in order to make it easier for participants to post and enjoy the gallery.

• The artwork submitted must be geared to the CHILDREN'S BOOK ILLUSTRATION MARKET
  
  
• The participants may post whenever they wish, and hopefully that will be often
  
  
• There will be no weekly or monthly theme
  
  
• There will be no comments
  
  
• Each illustration should be labeled with a title or subject, illustrators name, website or blog, and the medium you used to create the work

An advantage of this showcase is that if you have no website or blog of your own, you can still get your work noticed on a professional site for free.

So why not go on over and check out the new Picture-Bookies Showcase!

http://picture-bookiesshowcase.blogspot.com/

"TIME" for Spring

I found a really sweet birdhouse in our forest. Trapped under vines and old beyond use, it inspired this painting. It looked so much like a little clock that I decided to reinvent it as one, with fresh new paint. Now it can welcome a new family with pride.

©Ginger*:)

Winston Wednesday ~ CHAPTER X - HIC!!!

The newest chapter of Winston Wednesday is on Winston's blog.
Find out what is going on this week *:)

My First Book Signings!

Hi Everyone! The time has finally come - I will be flying out to California in just a few short days to attend two book signings for my new illustrated children's book "The ABCs of Yoga for Kids". One of the signings is at 6:30 Friday evening at Village Books in Pacific Palisades. They will be hosting a kids' pajama party and author Teresa Power and I will be demonstrating yoga poses with the kids and reading from the book. This event is open to the public, so come on out! I would love to meet you!

Sorry I have not bee around much in Boggerland lately. I am so busy with my books - I guess we all have been through this. I want to especially thank Bron Smith for his willingness to tell me what he knows about school visits and all of the other wonderful wisdom he imparted on me. He is truly one of the nicest people I have "met" while blogging!

Congrats to everyone on your latest successes. I do not always have time to comment, but I do read each post via my email.

The Way Out West Puppeteers performed Burro's Tortillas

The Way Out West Puppeteers performed Burro's Tortillas at Terri Fields, the authors, large Barnes and Noble yesterday. I thought you might enjoy seeing a few photos of it. Terri is such a fun author. She is so great at promotion. She is in the bottom photo second from the left. This made me so happy to see the photos! Burro's came to life! Opps maybe I should mention that Burro's Tortillas is a book I illustrated.

Are those puppets cute or what?

Spring Mailer and decisions

I had already sent out Spring postcards, but decided I needed to send out a flyer to key prospects. The mailer is two sided. One side has a brief resume and book and client list, and the other is a composite image from many illustrations. I decided to add some interest to the envelope as well.

I've been working for quite some time now at moving in the art workshop direction, so that I can mingle with other art people face to face, plus get paid to travel to exotic places. Today my first online ad was posted at: http://www.artshow.com/workshops/

Now I sit and wait for workshop participants to flock to my workshop in the Cook Islands. I hope.

If you ever want to teach a workshop, this site is one of the best for promoting it, according to Kristy Kutch, a colored pencil artist who has been doing workshops for 20 years. She told me that it has worked very well for her. It costs only $45 for three months on the front page. What a bargain. I bought six months for $85.

If you know anyone who loves the South Seas and enjoys mingling with fellow artists, our flight leaves next January 10, returning January 16. Details at: http://bronsmith.googlepages.com

Time for some reading of the old Tales.....

©Ginger Nielson 2009

Our astoundingly talented local theater group just performed an hilarious variety of VERY GRIMM Fairy tales, for which I did the set painting. Out of that experience grew this little drawing.

Kersplatypus is up for the Charlotte Award

The 2010 Charlotte Committee has finalized the ballot for their suggested reading lists for the next award. They will present the ballot on March 31, 2009 at the annual NYSRA Conference.

Kersplatypus, written by Susan Mitchell published by Sylvan Dell and illustrated by ME is on the reading list finals and up for an Charlotte award. Only ten books made the ballot in each category for the 2010 ballot so I am honored and very excited! Wahoo for us!

The award was named for the main character in E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web



The purpose of the Charlotte Award is to encourage students to read outstanding literature and ultimately become life-long readers. Additionally, the award recognizes the authors and illustrators of such literature. Students in New York State will read titles on the ballot and vote for their favorites. Votes were tallied, and the winners received their awards at the Annual NYSRA Statewide Conference.

Keep your fingers crossed!