Jubilee's Artbox

five and a half, a collection of all things paper

2006-07-05T04:57:00.001+08:00

a place to share the tidbits of advice, references and resources, and stories on independent stationery design.

2006-07-05T04:57:00.000+08:00

from the artbox to 2/12

2006-06-20T03:24:00.000+08:00

i've neglected the artbox for a little while, because i've been caught up in a whirlwind of changes. it's time for something new, i've decided, and this time, it's going to be two voices instead of one. you'll still be able to hear about my handmade journals, my books, and my thoughts on crafty and artsey things i see around me. but you'll also hear another voice, one that muses about other things, like movies, photography, books, and music.

so i've packed up the artbox, and from now on i'll be writing on 2/12. please do stop by at our new place to say hello!

at 3r living in park slope, brooklyn

2006-05-12T03:27:00.000+08:00

an exciting moment this past weekend was to walk into 3r Living to see that samantha, the storeowner, has already put my handmade journals up on the shelves!

it was a wonderful surprise, and i'm hoping that they will sell alright. regardless, it's so exciting to even think that my first edition of books is now available in a brick and mortar store, and such a nice one too -- alongside beautiful pieces of furniture, accessories, etc., all made with the goal of being sustainable and recycled.

back to the drawing board

2006-05-11T04:00:00.000+08:00

after a very busy past few weeks, i'm finally settled into my new home in brooklyn. i've done a bit of marketing for my handmade books, and a store in park slope, brooklyn is now carrying them. i'm still waiting on a few more places, and i'm keeping my fingers crossed.

the one thing i haven't been able to do recently is sit down and draw ... it's time to get back to work on my portfolio, and especially those children's illustrations! i had some leftover pastel papers from bookmaking that i decided to try drawing on yesterday -- i made some rough sketches with charcoal pencil, then found my hubbie's ink brushes and tested them out -- and i absolutely love the effect of them! i think i'll keep playing around with these pens and maybe adding a gouache wash so that i can add more variety to my paintings.

five and a half. handmade, recollected

2006-05-01T20:54:00.000+08:00

the books are packaged, the website is up (thanks to help from my hubbie), and i'm now in the process of sending my information to consignment stores. hopefully some of them will be interested! i'll write more on that as i wade through it all and get a better understanding of what i'm doing. in the meantime, thanks to those of you who have been reading my blog and writing such encouraging posts and emails to me about my books!

almost ready

2006-04-21T03:13:00.000+08:00

my handmade paperback journals are finally ready, and i'm having so much fun with the idea that the two-color covers can be mixed and matched in so many ways. i must admit that while i was making them i was thinking of the ever-eye-catching colors of those dual-tone herve chapelier bags, which change every season.

tomorrow and next week will be spent on marketing -- such a daunting task! packaging everything to have a strong look, taking final photos (i just took a round and realized how the way i display the books can make such a difference in what type of overall feel i want to express) and to write to all the stores i'd hope to show samples of my books to.

in the meantime, i've started using one of my own journals to test its functionality, and i'm really getting a lot of mileage out of the accordian pocket at the back of the book -- mine is stuffed with important little scrap papers with names and numbers and other random things. and i'm making extra ones, to give to friends ... hopefully they'll be able to put my books to good use!

hundreds of books

2006-04-06T05:49:00.000+08:00

i took a few photos inside a bookstore, hoping that no one would see my camera and tell me to stop being disruptive or rude ... surprisingly, no one really noticed. this painting is based on one of those pictures. i must admit that compositionally it's a bit weird because the figures in the background seem to tower and somewhat overbear the girl in the foreground who is looking at the bookshelf, but i don't think i'll change it because i feel that's what makes this image a painting of an everday "snapshot" -- it's messy, a little strange on the eye, but it's true to what i see.

the color scheme is also a little odd too -- i could say that's because i'm still getting used to the new paints i'm using, but it's also because i get a little frazzled when i'm attempting to paint overly-detailed/colorful things, and there were just so many little books to paint in this piece!

it'll take a while for this painting to grow on me ...

early morning sunlight

2006-04-05T05:59:00.000+08:00

for illustration friday.

spring is coming slowly to new york city this year. while the weekend was warm, the temperature has dropped again this week and most people are back in their winter gear.

this painting is based on a photo i took on one of my morning walks along the upper west side. i think it's so cute how even if it's quite cold outside, when the sun comes out, you'll see toddlers bundled up and strolling along with their parents, on the way to pick up groceries or just to get a cup of coffee and some fresh air with mom or dad.

as much as i like the brisk cool air of early spring mornings, i can't wait for the weather to warm up again!

attention to detail

2006-03-31T06:55:00.000+08:00

this is a painting of a photo i took while sitting in a cute little cafe in hoboken called rue de jardin. they have the most delicious crepes there, and the owners have a bookshelf of all these interesting travel and design books for us to look at while we're in there.

all the details took forever to paint and i was getting a bit frustrated with it -- i almost gave up halfway through. added to that, the acrylic paints on my trusty little palette dried up because i forgot to add water to the sponge underneath! then, i realized the original paints i had put on the palette were different shades from the tubes of paint i have with me today (i like the old set of colors better) ... and that i didn't have my trusty golden brand naples yellow that i use for both skin and undercolor for wood effects. so with the disruption of setting up a new palette with not-as-nice colors, i managed to get it finished.

for the next painting, i'm going back to my cropped big close-ups, and this weekend i'll get my hands on the right paint colors i need!

pages of ideas

2006-03-30T06:40:00.000+08:00

for studio friday.

i don't have a secret stash of anything in my little apartment, so i thought instead i'd share a glimpse of the books sitting on my windowsill. they range from my favorite big thiebaud book to literary works and journals. my boyfriend keeps adding interesting art and design books to the shelf, and i find myself paging through them when i'm hungry for fresh ideas and images.

i've been so preoccupied with trying to perfect my handmade books that i haven't painted much over the last few days, so it felt really good to sit down with a cup of tea and work on this painting today!

books in progress

2006-03-29T05:50:00.000+08:00

i've been working on my books. it took forever just to get the logistics right in terms of what particular cardstock and bindings i should use. this week i'll be mulling over how to package the final product. i just handwrote a description of the item on the pink paper, and bound it all together to see how it might look. very clean and minimal ... which is nice, but maybe it's because spring is in the air, i somehow want my books to have a more vibrant/fun look -- the cover is too bland! hmmm. this means quite a few more days of mixing and matching, tearing out, regluing...
so much more to do ... but i'm getting ever so much closer to creating the final books that i hope to sell!

running errands

2006-03-22T02:17:00.000+08:00

for illustration friday.

i always get so amused when i see people walking their dogs and simultaneously running errands, whether it be buying groceries, stopping at the bank, or going to a cafe to grab a snack. the dogs always look so cute, teetering along quickly beside their owners on their little feet!

this was such a "busy" picture to paint, so many colors and tiny details. for my next piece, i'm going back to my more closely cropped composition (larger shapes) and limited color palette.

a collection of handmade booklets

2006-03-17T04:32:00.000+08:00

i made some more booklets, and i've decided that some will have covers made of thick mocha brown cardstock, while others i'll leave intentionally the way they are.
the largest is a journal size of 4 1/2 by 7 inches, while the smallest size is a 2 1/2 square inch booklet.

now i'm working on how to package each book for retail, including a little "about me" promo card (thanks to ellia for the suggestion), and then start marketing these booklets by sending them to consignment stores, etc. and i'll have to ask my boyfriend to help me take better online photos of the books -- i really can't seem to capture the color etc, and i need close-ups of all the colorful inserts!

cafe lumiere

2006-03-15T05:18:00.000+08:00

this is another little painting in a series i've been doing on small 6 by 8 inch canvas boards. i didn't start with any particular theme, but i'm starting to see that there might be one -- they're snapshots of the everyday things i see around me. i start by taking photographs which i then crop and reinterpret with my paintbrush in terms of line and color.

cafes are such interesting subjects to paint -- each place, at a certain time of day, evokes such a different mood and atmosphere. a film that captures this perfectly is cafe lumiere. this is a must-see for anyone who likes quaint little cafes, little bookstores, and urban scenes.

through my eyes

2006-03-14T04:47:00.000+08:00

for studio friday.

my little sketchbook is the place where i put all my notes, ideas, thoughts, and doodles that i gather from observing and thinking about the world around me. i'm always looking for interesting things to draw, and more often than not, things that don't stand out to me at the time i see them are the ones that stick with me, and will resurface in my memory later as a point of reference, or the starting point of a new idea or concept.

so my first posting for "studio friday" begins with this self-portrait: observing the world around me through curious eyes.

beetle

2006-03-09T05:37:00.000+08:00

for illustration friday.

my take on the theme "insect" -- i wasn't in the mood to draw a spindly-legged critter, and i remembered i had taken a photo of a cute little beetle on one of my morning walks along the upper west side. so i used that as my reference picture for this illustration.

i don't own a car -- don't drive, can drive, but have the absolute worse sense of direction so i don't think it'd be wise to ever have me behind the wheel. but in any case, many of my friends have told me that if i were to own a car, they'd see me zooming around in a little beetle. hmmm.

mini book blocks

2006-03-09T02:36:00.000+08:00

four completed book blocks.

i'm still musing over what to do for the book covers. hopefully when i'm rummaging through the drawers of paper at the center of book arts tonight, i'll come up with some good ideas!

infusions of color

2006-03-09T02:26:00.000+08:00

i started this painting with the entire picture outlined in orange and yellow. that was a bit too much to look at. then i switched to green. but the green got mixed in with the orange, and ended up in a muddy brown color that wasn't bright enough. so i resorted to the safe color, blue. sighhhh. then i tried to use brighter colors, and i think i went a bit overboard with the white paint! hmmm. i feel like with each painting i do in this style, i learn more and more about what works and what could be strengthened. note to self -- use less white, use warmer colors, try outlining a painting in green, etc.

it's funny how i always thought my sneakers were brown. until i was actually painting them, and i realized how they're actually purple.

mini booklets

2006-03-07T06:17:00.000+08:00

the first "model" of my handmade mini booklets. it's a teeny little paperback book, measuring 4 inches by 2.5 inches. the papers inside include an assortment of drawing (all-purpose, newsprint, vellum), writing, specialty (chinese calligraphy papers, fiber papers), lined and graph papers. there's a little attached booktag, to keep your place.

the booktag is made from the business reply cards that are inside lots of magazines, or that seem to always appear in my mailbox. i've always thought those are such a waste of paper -- printed on such nice cardstock, and almost always, they just get discarded, so i'm happy i thought of a way to put them to good use. part of the driving concept behind these mini booklets is how we always have bits (or in me and my boyfriend's case, huge stacks) of nice papers that seem to grow over time, faster than we can possibly use them. this is a way of re-organizing those papers into a more accessible manner, to both ourselves, and hopefully, to others. with the papers rearranged in these little collections, they're the perfect medium for doodles, sketches, and notes.

i haven't yet decided if i should just stick to this mocha cardstock as the cover for the booklets. it's simple, and i must admit that i think the biggest appeal of those fabulous moleskines is how they're simple little black books, and so the owner personalizes them with his/her own drawings, stickers etc. so i might leave the illumie bookcovers blank. i'll have to experiment with some of my other papers and cards before i make that decision.

tea

2006-03-02T13:04:00.000+08:00

for illustration friday.

a self-portrait. i always have a cup of hot tea next to me when i'm drawing or painting. there's something so soothing and relaxing about a good cup of tea. my favorites are lady grey, which is a mix of tea leaves and fruit, and chamomile. and there's nothing better than to have my hands around a cup of steaming hot tea when it's cold outside!

shoelaces

2006-02-25T02:03:00.000+08:00

another painting that i was working on in class. again, i used the blue outline underneath, and then built up thick layers of paint. i tried to incorporate more color, but the overall palette is still a bit too subtle/light. i really like this new stylized look, so i'm going to keep on tweaking it until i'm very comfortable drawing and painting this way.

new children's illustrations are under way -- more postings soon!

book arts

2006-02-24T04:51:00.000+08:00

last night, i took my first bookmaking class at the center for book arts. we made 3 simple books -- first we learned to rebind a paperback so that it was a "perfect bind", then we made two other sewn books (no glue used). i am absolutely giddy with excitement over getting a chance to learn bookmaking. i've never heard anyone say that it's a hobby or interest of theirs, but i can definitely say that it's now near the top of my list! its the perfect way for me to channel my crafty energies, since i get to arrange, rerrange and combine all sorts of papers and cards, and create such lovely things.

simple

2006-02-17T02:15:00.000+08:00

i received a lovely little present on monday, a wonderful book with a beautiful collection of work by one of my favorite painters, wayne thiebaud. i spent all of yesterday poring over his images, in awe at how he paints such simple subjects, like angel food cake, a gumball machine, a row of hotdogs, while making each painting so rich and exciting to look at. he uses an incredible amount of color -- colors that fall outside the immediate spectrum of hues and shades we'd mentally assign to those objects when we look at them, and he uses the texture of his paints in such a way as to conjure up the effect of a third-dimension.

i apply my paints very thinly, using a conservative selection of colors which i usually blend to the point that you can't see my brushstrokes. so for this newest painting, i decided to try something entirely different -- to apply my paint thickly, to try and pick up and interpret colors that i don't necessarily see in the subject, and to have a distinct outline to the shapes. i'm quite pleased with how it's turned out. while the color palette isn't as vivid and bright as i'd like, i do think that stylistically it looks very different from my previous paintings -- simpler, looser, freer. i'm going to keep experimenting with this style of painting, and somehow try to bring in brighter colors.

what's a little strange is that when i'm painting children's illustrations, there is a vibrancy to my color choices that seems to be lacking when i paint still life and environmental subjects. perhaps it's a mental block of mine that i have to work past, that i have to learn to make something as simple as a pair of shoes as expressive (in terms of color), as a child looking in a goldfish bowl.

seeing

2006-02-11T03:00:00.000+08:00

when i was growing up, i always liked to paint big things -- oceans, landscapes, towering buildings -- imaginary scenes of faraway places that, to me, evoked a sense of mystery, grandeur and beauty.

it's taken many years for me realize that sometimes the most precious things in our lives are those mundane, oft-unnoticed objects, places, and people beside us -- the things we often take for granted.

this is a painting i've been working on concurrently with the "chair" piece i finished yesterday. again, only late into the painting process, after i'd put down the layers of color, did i realize that there's too much going on compositionally, detracting from the focus of the painting, which i actually didn't realize till later, was the bag filled with painting supplies. i'd originally put in the bag as a space-filler -- just an interesting shape/color to break the monotony of the stair case. only as i was painting the bag's folds and shadows today did i realize how rich in texture, shape, shadow etc that little image held in itself.

chair

2006-02-10T05:56:00.000+08:00

for illustration friday.

this is an image i was working on in painting class tuesday night. i realized while i was putting in blocks of color that i'd made some compositional choices that would get me in trouble -- there's so much going on BEHIND the chair -- the textured wall and bricks, while the foreground of the picture is rather plain. anyways, i put in the scarf and shoes, hoping to create a somewhat nostalgic mood to the picture, but instead i think that the overall image is a bit too panned-out and the focus is lost.

now that i'm looking at this finished piece, i'm seeing that i was getting greedy, trying to paint too many things in one picture, and that each individual element is so interesting -- a close-up, cropped version of the chair to capture the wood colors and shapes, the scarf's folds, the pair of shoes.

quite a bit of self-criticism here, but hey, i can't expect to like every single piece i paint. and i think the whole process of understanding what i'd like to change makes the time put into it more than worth it.

and i'm back to posting pictures for illustration friday after a long hiatus!

wintery leaves

2006-02-01T04:02:00.000+08:00

after launching illumie and settling into my apartment in nyc, i've picked up my paintbrush again and am immersing myself in keeping to my new year's resolution -- to draw the things i want to draw, to really focus on images and subjects that i like and to develop a strong personal style. nature, reflection, the interplay of light and shadow, and architecture -- these are the subjects that i am the most fascinated with, and for the next few months, i will focus on creating new paintings with images of these things.

for this painting, i tried a different way of applying paint -- instead of being meticulous with line and detail, i opted for a rougher style, dabbing on paint and leaving the borders between colors somewhat obscured. the result is a softer, subtler look, and though i'm not quite used to it, i think it looks alright. of course, the painting doesn't do justice to the original photograph it's based on -- i have yet to learn how to paint effects like ice and frost. maybe i'll add those elements to the painting as i figure out how to create them. but so far, so good, i'm happy with the progress i've been making.

we start painting in my acrylic technique class tonight, and i'm really looking forward to it!

illumie

2006-01-16T23:55:00.000+08:00

illumie -- my collection of handmade paper goods crafted from quality materials (vellum, specialty textured papers, and fabriano coldpress) using unique designs.

these flat note-cards (4" x 6"), that come with matching handmade envelopes, are made to be both durable and archival.

the first set of four features vibrant colors, while the second has a more earthen look because of the kraft papers (made from recycled fibers).

the illumie collection is now available for purchase at my online shop as individual note cards (e-mail me if you would like to purchase the set of four). you can also order the items directly by contacting me at illumie.shop@gmail.com.

coming soon

2006-01-16T17:53:00.000+08:00

a tiny preview of my stationery line, featuring two four-card sets that i've designed and created from scratch with my two hands. today was spent photographing the finished sample pieces and packing up the papers and materials that i'll need when producing duplicates of them that will be available for purchase through my little online shop, which i hope to launch sometime soon!

paperworks

2006-01-05T14:12:00.000+08:00

several months ago, i first saw this online collection of amazing western paper cut art pieces. i was, and still am, swept away by its illusion of simplicity -- how such a complicated architectural design could be created from a single unassuming piece of white paper.

piece by piece

2006-01-05T13:47:00.000+08:00

it's a new year, filled with new hopes, opportunities, goals and undoubtedly, new challenges. with a fresh mindset, i've decided to begin this year by creating new designs in new mediums, and each day has been about trying out different ideas and concepts.

i've opted to put aside my paintbrush and acrylics (only temporarily!) and instead have picked up my paper cutter and scissors, to venture into the realm of paper cut art. i am in awe when i look at traditional asian paper cut pieces, where elaborate designs are created from a single thin sheet of paper and the twist and turn of a trusty pair of scissors. i know there's no way i can come close to creating things like that with my own two hands, so instead i'm doing it my own way. more often than not, the finished product ends up looking very different from the image i originally pictured when i set out to work on it, but at the same time, there's something so rewarding in that. so it's with a strange mix of patience and anticipation that i carefully cut out and paste each design, piece by piece, wondering where these things will take me.

handsewn cards

2005-12-01T17:04:00.000+08:00

as i was wandering around online discovering what lovely stationery creations people have made and sold, i came across this delightful collection of cards by art school girl. all of these images are from vintage books and handsewn onto chocolate/dark brown cardstock. i absolutely love the look of these!

a little friend

2005-11-29T16:55:00.000+08:00

another 3-image set that i'll be sending to the art directors this week. i usually spend a lot of time drawing meticulously-detailed backgrounds for my children's illustrations, but i wanted to try something different -- to use the simplicity of the images to carry the narrative. i also used the opportunity to try mixing and matching a softer color palette, and i'm quite pleased with the overall effect.

small

2005-11-27T20:03:00.000+08:00

for illustration friday.

i've just finished this painting, which i thought fits nicely with this week's illustration friday topic. this is part of a 3-image set scheduled to land on the desks of art directors this upcoming week.

i chose a very sparse background and color scheme because i wanted to emphasize how small and isolated the little fish appears in it's pretty yet artificial glass home.

swimming in swirls

2005-11-26T23:07:00.000+08:00

there's something very soothing about painting water. it has a freeness that is a part of its fluidity, and its reflections create strange shapes and forms which allow my mind and paintbrush to wander and experiment.

while most of my other children's illustrations are a rendered in a photo-realistic style with meticulous details, these two paintings are more abstract because of the swirly patterns that i painted into the water. i had a lot of fun doing this, and i'm surprised with the result -- not quite what i expected, but there's a fresh twist that i think works.

stationery

2005-11-23T19:16:00.000+08:00

i came across a handful of delightful stationery pieces at eslite today. in one way or another, each of these lovely creations has its own little twist. i'll be drawing from these ideas as a starting point when working on my own illustrations and designs.

batik

2005-11-23T00:47:00.000+08:00

it's been over ten years since i last looked at anything resembling a batik print. when i was younger, i used to love the colors and style of southeast asian batiks and it influenced a lot of my paintings. it was definitely not something i'd been thinking of as i set out to paint today. my goal was just to let the paintbrush take over, and then muse over the outcome.

the result is a softer, more abstract look. which is alright, but it lacks the impact i'd like my work to have.

not quite there yet, but at least i've taken a step closer.

color and contour

2005-11-20T18:28:00.000+08:00

an image i painted in my sketchbook this afternoon using the leftover acrylic on my palette.

stylistically, it's the rough draft of a new series of greeting cards i want to create. while painting my previous batch of nature greeting card images, which are all somewhat photo-realistic, i was feeling a bit stifled because the style i had chosen left little room for me to experiment. i realized though, that my favorite parts of the painting process are: blending colors using a limited color scheme, and emphasizing line and shape. in short -- color and contour.

so that's going to be the focus of my upcoming pieces. i'm really excited ... it's time to get creative and see where my paintbrush takes me!

twilight

2005-11-19T12:43:00.000+08:00

another painting for a greeting card, this time, i picked a mellow/darker color scheme because i wanted it to evoke a mood that is different from the previous images featuring the little bird. a quieter, more somber atmosphere, capturing a moment in twilight.

strength

2005-11-16T16:29:00.000+08:00

for illustration friday.

the little bird is standing on an iron railing that has an oak leaf pattern. the oak tree is a symbol of strength, and to me, so is the small bird. rain or shine, it holds its head high and sings its song.

i've been working on a series of greeting cards with a nature theme, so i decided to incoporate this week's illustration friday topic into my painting. the colors are really minimal in this piece because i wanted it to be somewhat abstracted, with the focus being on the lines and shadows. i think the chilly weather was a factor in my decision to pick a cooler color palette!

calla lilies

2005-11-15T16:50:00.000+08:00

one more greeting card image, of my favorite flower, the calla lily. as much as i love the minimal look of this flower, with it's graceful curves and simple lines, it wasn't exactly that much fun to paint this picture. the extremely limiting color palette and the delicate look of the flower meant that i couldn't be as free with choosing colors and layering the acrylic on as thick and as textured as i'd like. i actually had a better time drawing the folds of the green leaves.

the more i look at this piece, though, the more it's growing on me. i usually go for bold, stark contrasts, with a chunky solid feel to my images, and this one, i must admit, is quite ... elegant.

by the window

2005-11-14T23:58:00.000+08:00

yet another greeting card painting featuring a little bird. i was experimenting with composition, putting the heaviest elements (closed books and typewriter) at the center of the page, while the flipped open journal, the lighter element, is at the bottom. i don't know if i'd use this type of arrangement again since it's not too easy on the eye, but i am quite happy with how the brown and blue color scheme creates a clear but subtle contrast.

old-fashioned typewriters are such classy-looking little machines. i remember when i was little, i was so fascinated with pressing the keys and watching the lever go up, strike the cartridge ribbon, and stamp a little black letter onto the paper. i can't say i feel the same type of fascination when my printer spews out a sheet of text!

understanding

2005-11-12T20:54:00.000+08:00

another painting for a greeting card. i chose a limited color palette, and the big leaves were perfect subjects to paint with thick acrylic. i'm surprised at how solid this image looks when it took only a few hours to complete.

two little birds, sharing a moment in the autumn leaves. there's something so peaceful about the thought of that, how neither has to say (or chirp) a thing. there's a lesson in that, how sometimes we all tend to do too much talking, imposing our ideas and opinions brashly, instead of calming down and listening. it's in that quiet that we find the understanding we were looking for.

243

2005-11-11T01:22:00.000+08:00

an image for a greeting card. all the pastels and flowers are actually a bit too girly for my liking, but i wanted an image that has a spring theme.

at the same time, it's a tribute to the mailbox, handwritten letters, and the warm and fuzzy feeling you get when you look in your mailbox and find an envelope with the familiar handwriting of someone who cares about you.

paper bean bag toss

2005-11-04T20:27:00.000+08:00

the kiddies are going to use their adept little fingers to weave in colorful strips of paper (i know, the example i have for them is so un-inspiring!), put other decorations on their paper bean bags, stuff them with crumpled up newspaper and then tape them shut. i'm always so impressed by the creative things they do when i give them a set of materials and let them use them however they want.

since the weather's so beautiful, i have a feeling the kiddies are going to be out in the courtyard tossing around their paper bean bags after class!

stuck in the bowl

2005-11-03T18:48:00.000+08:00

a close-up of the little boy and the sad little fish.

i realized today that the fish i am envisioning in my mind, colorful asian fish (orange/yellow/white), are not called catfish (which are mud colored and have whiskers), and are instead called koi.

from a different perspective

2005-10-31T21:04:00.000+08:00

another scene in my series of pictures showing the little boy and the family of catfish. in this one, he's freeing the baby fish so that it can return to its parent fishies in the pond.

my several past attempts at aerial view or fisheye were rather unsuccessful so i'm really pleased with how this high angle view drawing has turned out!

a family of catfish

2005-10-29T20:22:00.000+08:00

a sketch. this one i'm definitely going to paint. i'm already getting excited just thinking about how fun it'll be to color in all the swirls and shapes. and i'm thinking of maybe drawing another scene or two showing this same kid near the pond. but then that means i'll have to think of some coherent narrative for all the pictures to follow. a story of a little boy and a family of fish. hmmm.

in black and white

2005-10-29T20:21:00.000+08:00

a pencil and charcoal drawing that i'm going to include in my next set of sample mailings. still have to clean up the edges, maybe redraw the frame b/c it's a bit messy right now. i'm so tempted to take out my paintbrushes and turn this into a color piece, but i think this drawing can stand on its own as it is. this is my first ever black and white children's illustration!

lots of little paper shoes

2005-10-29T09:48:00.000+08:00

made from construction paper ....

i'm going to have my 1st and 2nd graders paste buttons, string, and stickers on their pairs of shoes -- in other words, a shoe design contest! and then the kids themselves will vote on things like "most colorful", "coolest", "prettiest", "funkiest" etc etc.
....
oooh, this is going to be fun fun fun!!!

heaps of gratitude to those amazing people who offer templates for these cute little craft things online:
http://www.bydonovan.com/templates.html

looking back to keats

2005-10-29T00:44:00.000+08:00

with the turn of the page, we're drawn into ezra jack keats' colorful collage and paint world of black, white, hispanic, and asian children and their adventures on a quaint little block in harlem.

beneath the simplicity of ezra jack keats' children's books lies a subtle yet very powerful commentary on society and race. writing and drawing in 1960, keats was the first children's book author/illustrator to make a black child the main character of an american children's picturebook. while we are made very aware of the ethnicities of peter and his friends through their features and dress, the text of each story never makes any mention of race and color. the storylines are about the everyday ups and downs of children -- a toddler's disappointment in snow melting, the first time a little boy gives a letter to a little girl, and friends coming together to help each other out.

perhaps it's easier to understand things when we look from a child's viewpoint. suddenly, those big complicated words like multiculturalism and integration seem unnecessary. it's just about respecting individual differences, and at the same time realizing that we all share the same feelings of sadness, empathy, kindess, and joy.

books written and illustrated by ezra jack keats:
http://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/top/books.htm

... is it just me, or do those british teletubbies bear a remarkable resemblance to the little red outfit peter's wearing on the cover of the snowy day?