Illustration Friday: Water

I live in NC, where we're just starting to add sweaters to the wardrobe rotation- a welcome relief from a long hot summer. This is my first submission to Illustration Friday, and in so doing, was moved to finish this image, which had languished in my "in progress" file for months- a real "problem child". I think we're on speaking terms now, as I look out my window at autumn leaves Falling.

Back to School

This is a new illustration for an on-line promotion my agent, Tugeau 2, is sending out.

The direction was to think back to what is best, or worst, remembered about this transitional time of year, when everything changes- the air is crisp, the leaves are turning, it gets dark earlier, and the long slow summer days are history.

My first thought was the intoxicating smell from that just-opened new box of crayolas, preferably the 64 crayons one. It was the smell of limitless creative possibility. I raced out to Walgreen's and bought a new box, brought it home, cracked it open, took a sniff. Just as with Proust's madeleine, I was 8 years old, getting ready for first day of school tomorrow.

Not bad for a $5.35 (tax deductible) investment.

Has anybody seen my skate key?

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!

Earth Day

Earth Day came and went. I did not plant a tree, but I drew someone who did. She's my alter ego, Julia. I've mentioned her before. She does everything right, starting with staying 10 years old. She likes to climb trees, collect interesting sticks, rescue spiders, ride into the wind, and draw. Julia is always dressed for adventure; you never know how the day will unfold!

All you need is

http://youtu.be/BAm3D626NLI

Happy Val's Day!

Love, Judy

Angels and Cowboys- why not?

Hello to the season of serious feasting, frivolity and merriment that begins around now and continues through New Year. This illustration appears in Gulfshore Life Magazine's November issue, with the Here & Now monthly column. It's always fun trying to combine several seemingly unrelated events and activities that are happening on Florida's lovely gulf shores (where they really know how to celebrate), and end up with an image that makes both sense and non-sense, if that makes any sense! Here we have the Ritz-y Angel Ball, the Bootstrap Boogie Barn Dance, and Florida Blues Festival all happening simultaneously in my digital parallel universe. Illustration is so much fun :)

Among the many things I have to be thankful for this turkey day, there's having something I love to do, and someone willing to pay me to do it. This is actually J.K. Rowling's recipe for happiness, and I couldn't agree more. Happy Thanksgiving!

MOO!

Today I'm sending out a batch of new postcards I had printed at moo.com. This image is another from The New Quotable Woman book, illustrating a quote by Margot Fonteyn (whom I actually SAW dancing with Rudolf Nureyev in NYC at the very end of their careers):

"The one important thing I have learned over the years is the difference between taking one's work seriously and taking one's self seriously. The first is imperative and the second is disastrous."

The ballet "Coppelia" lept :) to mind. It's about a doll that comes to life with some silly robotic choreography that makes it a fun ballet to take children to, but for the dancers, it's no less serious work than "Swan Lake".

Back to the postcards- it's not often I see my work in print and it looks better than I hoped it would. A lot better. I ordered 60 using 6 different designs. Now I have to find 60 people to send them to... preferably people who hire illustrators.

Suggestions gratefully accepted!