The "Joy" of walking to school!

My whole pre-college, educational "career" I always walked to school. All three institutions, Elementary, Middle and Highschool! Luckily we lived really close and I had good friends to travel with.  It was always a nice way to start the day, even though it was hecka early!

I'll always remember the excited yet nervous feeling that first day back. Seeing classmates again that you haven't seen all Summer. The new supplies you get to break in. Thinking how you're older now and just can't wait to grow up.

It's the first day of school for these two. Both are excited, but I think one is looking forward more than the other. The Wiener dog is home awaiting their return at the end of the day.

This is just my usual mechanical pencil with 0.7 HB lead drawn in my sketchbook. What can I say, nothing too fancy.

Thanks for stopping by and for any comments!

- Joy

Back to School Perils

The first day of school! Into the backpack goes scissors- folders- paper towels- wipes- markers- pencils- crayons- rulers- 5 marble cover composition books - erasers- tissues- and more. Off those little kids go.. looking like giant tortoises crawling under the weight of their enormous shells. I just wait for one of them to tip. - Oh it'll happen! - and their feet will be stuck up in the air- and they will be unable to right themselves. (And it will be amusing.. as a Mom- who will now go get a super venti non fat latte and enjoy the quiet until 2:45 pm.....Aaaahhhhhhhhhh.)

I sketched this in prismacolor pencil- I like to do that more and more - because it is unforgiving. It forces me to loosen up- knowing there is no erasing and fixing going to happen. As an artist with crazy perfectionist issues- it's good therapy.

The saddles are an homage to Lucy Van Pelt - my personal fashion icon.;)

Back to School - Heather

Wasn't the best part of school the art projects?  The holiday crafts, poster paint, pinch pots, presents for your mom (usually something with Popsicle sticks and your school photo) - ah good times.

Regular art classes in public schools are a rare luxury.  

Here is a website with some great advocacy resources for keeping art in the schools. http://www.keepartinschools.org/

Invest in the future - volunteer at a local public school

You could do a drawing session, a bookmaking session, many schools have mentor reading programs or participate in a career day. 

Get Schooled with the School Visit Experts

If you are a published author or illustrator this blog has all the information you need on creating successful school visits as part of our career.

Back To School Supplies

I don't know about you, but for me back-to-school was always about the school supplies, never the clothes. I reveled in the smell of new pencils and paper, agonized over which kinds of pens I wanted to use...color coordinated my spirals w/ the binders they'd accompany.  Yeah, I was a big time supply nerd.  When I became a teacher, it didn't get any better.  I practically skipped down the halls on the day the principal handed us the office supply catalogue to choose what we'd need to restock our classrooms for the year.  Oh, man was THAT fun!

Now I have no excuse to be lusting over the supplies in stores...my babies are too young for that.  But that feeling still hasn't gone away.  However....there is the art supply store with its inks, paints, pencils, papers....oh my, oh my!

Priscilla~ back to school treats

With Summer days winding down ~ calendar-wise, perhaps more than weather~wise, it's back-to-school thoughts on our minds!
This little girl loves, loves, loves bugs and especially grasshoppers, but didn't expect to see one her first day back to school!

Joy- Flea Circus- Take 2

So, I don't know if you remember my original sketch for the post Sketch Dummy Beginnings: Breaking up the text but this is my second pass at the first page layout of a side project I'm working on. I wanted to make it a bit more dynamic and I definitely think this is an improvement at least. I don't know if it's the final composition yet, and unfortunately it's been pushed farther down on my priority list due to my busy schedule. It's a really fun story and I can't wait to get to work more on it. Thanks for stopping by!

-Joy

A quick sketch this morning

I have wanted to participate in "Dueling Banjo Pigs" 
for awhile now!What has kept me too busy to do it? Hmmm- I don't know.... must be something. 

But a girl's gotta have some fun!!  So this morning I did this!!! Wait for it.........

AMAZING RIGHT??

Wow - sometimes- I amaze myself. :)

That chicken scratch is how I begin every drawing. Can you tell what it's going to be? A banjo playing pig - of course- but- it's a vaudevillian banjo playing pig- and three showgirls in the wings - just completely besotted with him.  Those  thingies in front are going to be old fashioned foot lights - and those wavy lines everywhere are the curtain.  Here's where I left off....

They're pretty cute- but not sure If they do the trick.  I may just change it completely and have all 3 girls playing banjos. More action needed. Alas- this is all the time I have today- as that other something is in need of attention now.