Salome riding her elephant

I was thrilled to see this wonderful drawing, top, by Salome Lema Franco, six years old, who lives in Colombia, South America! She has books I've illustrated, given to her by our mutual friend, Patricia, and she was inspired by my illustration, bottom, in THE NEW QUOTABLE WOMAN book. I love the energy, the spirit, the flat out joyful friskiness she gave this image!  Love that little dancing tent. Six years old. I'm taking a lesson from Salome, and from Picasso, who famously noted that "All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up."  Thank you, Salome, and never stop drawing!

Darjeeling

The Picturebook directory arrived in today's mail. It's quite a bit thinner than in past years. This is my image that appears in the book, inspired by a painting workshop I took last summer with Jane Filer. I like her approach to landscape, which magically tips perspective and stacks space in a flat picture plane. When I took the workshop I wasn't thinking about how it might inform my illustration. It was, in fact, a surprise that this image began to take shape soon after. Good example of how important it is to suspend expectation and stay open to creative winds of all kinds blowing our way.

As for the subject matter, it's a memory from a past life when I had tea in the Himalayas with two cats and a violin-playing mouse, who was pretty darn good.

India

Most of this month I'm working on new portfolio pieces, taking advantage of some good creative energy that came my way via my August Skirt! Magazine cover. It's a virtuous cycle: you create something, it gets a bit of notice, which gives you more ideas, from which you create something new, and on it goes. This week, India is on my mind- all the rich color and pattern. Since I can't go right now, I'm arm chair traveling, looking at photos from those who have traveled there. Have you ever noticed how vibrant and varied the colors are, in clothing and objects, in some of the hardest places to live? I think it's a basic human drive to make something beautiful out of whatever is at hand. Color nourishes the soul.