Centronia Silent Auction

Took one of my collages to DC today. It will be apart of a silent auction to benefit Centronia school in DC.

Books and Books

Last night I spoke to a group of writers at the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) regional conference at Books and Books in Coral Gable. What an amazing book store. I opened with how wonderful it is to be alive in this particular time in history at the dawn of a new era with all the hope and promise it entails. And how as keepers of the culture, our responsiblity to be sensitive to and reflect the full diversity of America.

MIAMI COLOR

I'm still in Miami. 70 degrees and sunny! The opening of my COLOR ALL AROUND exhibit was Thursday at Miami-Dade Public library main branch. I addressed a group of children's librarians who had convened for their annual meeting. I talked about how I entered the children's book market through the back door and my exciting journey. I then walked them through my collage technique and showed examples of watercolored and textured papers I painted and use to cut out shapes in composing my illustrations. I've been visiting branches all over the city and working with children.

Cut It Out

Kids cut out self portraits from cut and torn paper at workshops I gave at 4 library branches thoughout the city while in Miami.

Children's Librarians in Miami

I addressed a group of Children's Librarians at their annual meeting at the Miami-Dade Public Library System main branch where my exhibit "Color All Around" was being shown. I talked about my process creating the mixed media collages for my books and how I entered the highly competitive children's book market through the back door.

"Color All Around" Travel Exhibit

NEXT STOP MIAMI
I've been preparing for the next leg of my travel show, Color All Around at the Miami-Dade Public Library System, January 15 - March 31, 2009. The show features 42 illustrations culled from the dozens of books I have illustrated over the years. I'll be also giving art workshops to children at many of the library branches. I've been working on creating a website for the show, where I can post the art and media reviews, plus updates on activities like the Writing Gallery Competition from Danville Museum.

FROM BRUSH TO PEN Writing Gallery Competition at Danville Museum

I traveled to the Danville Museum of Fine Art and History, in Danville, VA, on October 26 for an artist’s reception, and book signing for Color All Around, my exhibit featuring 42 works of art from children’s books I have illustrated over the years.

I also came for the award ceremony that day for the museum’s 5th annual Writing Gallery Competition. This year, the artwork in my national touring show was the impetus for the writing competition and the education staff’s school focus tours in which over 300 school age children participated. The writing competition drew 153 entries including 90 poems and 63 short stories.

That beautiful fall afternoon in Danville, I stood at the podium with the museum’s education coordinator Patsi Compton, as award after award was announced during the ceremony. Children came with their parents and relatives and many shyly walked up to the stage when their names were called. Monetary awards were given to first prizewinners from elementary school to adult competitors. Others winners received a bag of books and certificates. At the end, first prizewinners read their entries that ranged from an engaging short story from a high school student to whimsical poems read by young elementary school students.