Priscilla ~ Hopping To It This Week!

The celebration of and the welcoming in of 2011 continues!  Hoping (or should I say Hopping?) this week finds you enjoying new sketches and artwork you are thinking up and creating!

Resolve - Snow can't stop me and my trusty Yeti!

Off to the SCBWI NY Conference today. 14 " of snow to contend with. The luggage- the framed art- and well- frankly more shoes than I should be bringing. Will check in with Priscilla and get a photo to post up here!

Priscilla ~ Its All About RESOLVE This Week!

"A heart to resolve, a head to contrive, and a hand to execute!"   ~ Edward Gibbon, English Historian (1737-1794).

Such a great quote! Though I don't know that it had anything to do with art or illustration when it was written.

Isn't it just how we create?  First it comes from the heart, then further formulates in our mind, and ultimately makes it onto the page as a doodle, a sketch, an illustration . . .

WhooHoo! Let the fun begin!

Joy • Peace

A peaceful moment in time...

If only we could all keep our child-like wonder about the world. Not worry about what people look like or where they come from. Learn about and enjoy the differences in cultures and lifestyles. Embrace the splendid variety there is in the world. Live peacefully and respect each other. It shouldn't have to be just a dream.

Thanks!
-Joy

Inner Peace - Kelly

 

I'm late posting this- and this sketch is a quickie because I was busy today- Defying Gravity.

You guys know the song right? From the musical Wicked.

I love it.

"I'm through accepting limits

''cause someone says they're so

Some things I cannot change

But till I try, I'll never know"

 

I have always had tremendous fear and self doubt about physical fitness. That elementary school gym rope. It has haunted me for 30 years. I could never make it up. I hung from my wet noodle arms, red faced, kicking... the whole grade watching. Mr. Lynn, my caustic and ridiculing gym teacher laughing. Childhood agony. I have equated all exercise to the acute feeling of failure I endured with each "Federal Fitness Check".

So what does this have to do with our theme of "Peace" this week? For me it's about the peace within that comes from doing things you thought you could never do. Trying the things that scare us. Today- I did a spin class. Up until the last minute I was chickening out. I did it- I did well and ----- I liked it.
I didn't drop dead (which I was afraid of) I didn't embarrass myself (no falling off or barfing) - I actually shed a tear. (which mingled with the sweat, so no  one could tell).  I may just climb that damn rope yet.

These thoughts can be applied to anything that you think you can't do; be it art, publishing,cooking, relationships...etc...  we make peace. It's not something out there- it's in here. In us. We just have to look for it.

"So if you care to find me
Look to the western sky!
As someone told me lately:
"Ev'ryone deserves the chance to fly!"
And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free
To those who'd ground me
Take a message back from me
Tell them how I am
Defying gravity
I'm flying high
Defying gravity  "

I'm cross posting on my own blog- where you can hear the song.

Peace

I first remember hearing Dr. King's speech when I was in 5th grade and the line that I can still hear him saying, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

That line rang through me like a bell and I have lived by it ever since.

Peace and love,

Heather

Diandra-Peace

All week long, we are honoring Dr. King with our topic of  'Peace.' I was inspired by this quote:"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." What better way to illustrate this than showing two supposed enemies enjoying a quiet past time together?

(Another MLK quote I love: “No person has the right to rain on your dreams.")

Priscilla ~ Happy Monday!

"Those who are not looking for happiness are the most likely to find it, because those who are searching forget that the surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others." 

— Martin Luther King Jr.

Balance in 2011

Here's a quick, poorly sketched "vision" for my main goal in 2011. My hands are so swollen now at this late time in my pregnancy, I can barely hold a pencil!!

So, hopefully you can see that I want to try and balance having a new baby boy with continuing my career! I'll be at home taking care of him and will need to still to bring in the bacon. I know it's been done by countless amazing people, so I know it's possible! I just need to figure out how. For sure I'll be relying on tips and advice from my wondrous Sketchables women!

Do any of you have any tips you can give me? I'd appreciate your words of wisdom :o)

What are some goals you have for this year? We'd love it if you'd share!

Thanks!
-Joy

2011 - The Pigs aren't waiting to fly and neither should you (Kelly)

 

Oh Yeah - it's about time. No more "feather in the wind". Go Big or go home. Walk out the plane - Jump. Spread those arms - feel like your flying - soaring even- then pull the cord. You've done the work - you know how, why, what... that ground is coming up fast - glide down. Enjoy the view. You've got shock absorbers, you've been workin on them.. even if you get a little bruised on impact-  

you've flown.

2011 is all about believing in myself. I showed my portfolio a week ago. Without planning it- I sat down, said hello- and said "I eat, drink, sleep and breathe cartoons" and to my delight the response was "Well, you're damn good at it." It was followed up with "You're not right for our publishing house"- but for the first time I said, thought and believed "That's ok."Still looking through my portfolio - the reviewer commenting on this and that, they added, "BUT, There is a place for you in children's books".

There's a place for me.

So- 2011, I'm gonna find it.

2011 Less of a Juggling Act

My goal for 2011 is to juggle less so I can get more done!

My focus this year is create dummy books for stories that I've written and submit a proposal for a kids craft book.

I also want to create a watercolor portfolio and plan to attend a few SCBWI conferences this year.

I'm looking forward to having fun with my Sketchables gang and living as creatively as possible.

So what are you looking forward to in the new year?

Diandra-Flying High in 2011

A new year and a fresh start.  With so much going on in my day to day life, I know there needs to be a plan of attack if I want to accomplish any of my career-oriented goals this year. (I go into much more detail on my blog.) My intentions for 2011:

*Portfolio-adding new work through personal art projects
*Promotion- a new website design, creating and sending mailers regularly, and establishing my brand.
*Progress- really push myself to experiment and try things I've been too afraid to try before. This means taking steps to take writing much more seriously, as well as exploring mediums I've shied away from.
*Community- taking part in the PB dummy challenge as well as participation here at The Sketchables, the #kidlitart chats and in SCBWI as an Illustrator Coordinator. I think it's just as important to give back as it is to get inspiration from your community.


What are you hoping to accomplish this year?

Priscilla ~ Goals & Resolutions On My Mind

Happy New Year !  2011 is here now and it's a great time for us to continue to create from our minds, hearts, and souls without restraint!

Children's book illustration is always on my mind, and although there are definite and sometimes challenging changes happening in this field, our subject matter - children - continue to provide the inspiration we love and need!

I'd love a pair of these slippers, to be quite honest.

Cheers!

Happy 2011!!!

Hi and HAPPY NEW YEAR from us here at The Sketchables!!!

We're looking forward to all of the new, exciting things that 2011 will bring and hope you'll be here to share with us. We all know how busy life can get, so we truly appreciate you checking in and seeing what we're up to. This year we plan on more sketches, sketch interviews and even more fun posts!

Thanks!
Heather, Priscilla, Diandra, Kelly & Joy