My Bags Are Packed...

... I'm ready to go,  over to Word Press that is.  I will be trying out the whole Blog thing in that neighborhood.  I'm not sure if it is a temporary move or not (I spent quite a bit of time today cursing at my computer) but check out my most up to date posts here, until further notice.

On My Easel 6/8/12

In the studio today trying to get my assignment done for Studio Goodwin Sturges.  Here is how the book cover design for "The Gift of the Magi" looks now.  I'm not happy with the image quality that I have been getting from my camera, I always seem to have spots washed out by glare from my lighting. I scanned this image, but I'm still not happy with it.  The original is crisper, with deeper color.  This is still looking washed out to me.  It feels good to be painting, though after many days spent at school teaching.  Two more weeks until summer vacation = more time painting in my studio and working on my illustration career.  I. Can't. Wait!

On My Easel 6/4/12

Magi - In Progress © Mari Dieumegard, 2012

Here is an update on my "Gift of the Magi" book cover design.  Still in underpainting stages.  I need to work on his skin tone & add detail to his clothing/ graphic elements to her dress.  I also need to work on the brick and the outside vs. inside.  I'm just glad to have gotten some time in the studio tonight.  I have been picking up a lot of substitute teaching & it's been hard to get everything done.  Two more weeks of school and then it is summer art classes in my studio, but more time for my work and even some time for fun in the sun.  It may not feel like summer right now (in fact I'm wearing a wool sweater! :(   BUT it is right around the corner!!

Thank You to everyone who braved the wet, dreary weather to make it to my opening at the Isaac Dyer Galleries.  It was much appreciated!

Summer Studio School

Announcing Summer Art Classes @ Raven Roost Studio!! (click on link below for more info.)

http://ravenrooststudio.com/art-classes/

On My Easel 6/30/12

On My Easel (& in my Sketchbook) 4/30/12

Today wasn't an incredibly productive day in the studio (and neither was last Friday for that matter!)  I think I am feeling torn in many different directions right now and it is really hard to feel focused on anything. 

So, today I continued to work on something I've had kicking around a while.  I've been thinking a lot about following your heart when it calls to you.  It's scary.  It's a lot of hard work and it's overwhelming.  I can be prone to second guessing & questioning myself & wondering if I am hearing my heart correctly half the time.  But I want to follow my heart, really I do!  So here are a few sketches about that.

I actually really like this one, but after having my peer portfolio review at the NeScbwi Conference last weekend I realize I have to start breaking myself out of the habit of the "head tilt" as one person put it.  It is my go to pose, unfortunately!

So next I tried this.  OK, not great.  Kind of a boring composition I felt.  (Although I do like the pencil sketch of the cage in this one.)

Another thing my portfolio needs are people with different emotions / facial expressions.   I took this opportunity to try out "Surprise!" (you have a bird coming out of your chest for crying out loud!)  

It's still not finished.  She has a bit of "hemet head" and it's still pretty much underpainting.

 

I also did a lot of thinking today.  I had a portfolio review with Judy Sue Goodwin Sturges and she gave me a few assignments to complete in the next month.  One of which is to do a few sketches for a "Gift of the Magi" book cover.  She also wants me to pick a real life woman to do some character sketches of. (She would like me to show her growing from child to an adult.)  I did a little bit of internet searching for some interesting people.  I think I have a few ideas, but I haven't narrowed it down to any one person yet. 

I also have to re-frame a bunch of my work for a group show I am part of at the end of the month (more details on that later.) And I am finalizing my plans for some art classes I will be teaching out of my studio this summer.  That's not to mention my regular teaching gig and my puppet making and claymation classes that begin this week.  

Like I said, I feel like I'm torn in many different directions right now.  

Deep Breath.

On My Easel 4/16

Normally Mondays and Fridays are my studio days.  The kids are at school and I ignore the dishes and the laundry to work on my painting and illustration projects.  BUT, this week is vacation week so my studio time looks a bit different.

I woke up this morning and made pancakes.  Once all the little bellies were full I told my two kids that I needed to get some work in the studio.   Until lunchtime and they would have to entertain themselves.  Luckily it was a warm spring day so that meant they could go outside.  I was able to put the finishing touches on my two double spreads and emailed one of them ("The Magic Paintbrush") as a submission for the poster contest at the Conference I'm attending this weekend.

"The Magic Paintbrush"

That was all I was able to get done before it became apparent that my two kids needed my more focused attention. We were all just a little testy with each other.  SO I put down my work with the intent to get back at it once I had put them to bed for the evening. Instead the three of us dug and weeded our garden boxes.  A little fresh air and physical labor seems to help my mental state & that in turn seems to help theirs.  

Then it was a trip to get my daughter a new dress for a recital coming up followed by a trip to "Mima's" house.  Her dock was just put in the water this morning so the kids put on their swimsuits and had a water fight (it was still a bit cold for swimming.)  A trip to the grocery store on the way home, making dinner, reading books and finally the kids are in bed and sleeping.

All of this is just a long winded way of saying vacation sometimes feels very un-vacation like.  

But I am here now putting my portfolio together for the conference.  

Tomorrow I will attempt to squirrel away more time in the studio, but we are planning a nice long family bike ride as well.

"Althea & Bird" 

Illustrating for Children

"Althea's Bird" © Mari Dieumegard,  A double spread illustration from a work in progress

In about a week and a half I will be attending the Spring Conference for the New England chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.  It's a big deal for me.  I have a long held goal of one day illustrating and publishing a children's book.
About 15 years ago I attended my first NESCBWI conference and was utterly overwhelmed.  I was fresh out of art school, shy and not very self confident.  I was energized by the speakers and the amount of creative genius I was surrounded by, but I didn't reach out and meet people.  Again, too shy, too scared, whatever.

This year's conference is a three day affair.  I have signed up for the poster design competition, a portfolio review, and an illustrator intensive workshop.  I am determined to ask the questions I desperately need to ask, reach out and make meaningful connections and hopefully come home energized and ready to take the next step.

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."  ~ Anais Nin

This quote could be my mantra. I have reached the point where it is WAY more painful to remain as I am than to risk blossoming.  When I think back on the 15 years that have separated that first conference with this one I know that I have regrets.  If I had more self confidence would I be further along in my goals than I have now?  Probably, yes.  I know that I have accomplished some great things in the past 15 years.  I became a wife.  I birthed two fabulous children. I bought a house.  I became a teacher.  I continued to paint.  I started Raven Roost Studio.

BUT I haven't become an illustrator of children's books.

It is time to let go of past regrets and learn from life experience.  Time to step out of my comfort zone and bloom.

"Magic Paintbrush" © Mari Dieumegard 2012, (work in progress)