Friday, May 3rd, 2013
Life in a snowglobe
And other news...
Do you ever feel like you're living inside a toy on Jack Frost's shelf? We do in Minneapolis. It's snowing again, and it's May. It's May! May.
Fortunately, we got some warm, sunny news to chase away those winter blues... Hot Rod Hamster just won another awesome award! Wyoming's Buckaroo Award is voted on by students in grades Kindergarten through 3rd and our Hamster man won! Rip-roaring thanks to our young buckaroo friends in the state of Wyoming for this great honor! Hot Rod Hamster will don his cowboy hat and take a victory lap now.
Friday, April 26th, 2013
17" X 13" Acrylic on paper, 2011
Once upon a rainy day...
I'm always experimenting with characters, palette and painting effects when I'm not on deadline for a book. Experimentation is a part of every artist's growth and development. We have to peel away expectations, forget the roads we've already traveled and search inside ourselves for new and interesting directions. I painted this fellow in April 2011. I don't know if it was raining at the time or if I just wanted to explore drizzly rain effects. I laid in the atmosphere and ground with as little brushwork as possible to keep the focus on the character. This pig has a bit of mystery to him with his umbrella, glasses, hat and overcoat, so I gave the painting a title that reflects that curiosity...
"He couldn't even remember why he'd come here.
But he was glad he came, glad indeed."
It's a long title that doesn't give you any answers. It just causes you to want to know more, which is exactly what a good painting should do.
Friday, April 19th, 2013
A word from Mr. Einstein
There isn't a lot that needs to be said about this one. But it's something our federal government and nearly every big corporation in America should listen to...
"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex...
It takes a touch of genius- and a lot of courage to move in the
opposite direction."
Friday, April 12th, 2013
Hot Rod Hamster WINS
Mississippi's Magnolia Award!
And other news...
It was just announced... Our speedy Hamster man is taking home another trophy! Hot Rod Hamster won the 2013 Magnolia Award, a children's choice award voted on by students in the state of Mississippi. Hot Rod Hamster won in the Kindergarten through Second grade category. He's jumping for joy over this terrific award! Go Hamster!!!
And... the Minnesota Book Awards Gala is this Saturday night (April 13th). Waking Dragons is a finalist in the Children's Literature category. We have our dragon fingers (and tails) crossed. We're looking forward to a fun evening with the Minnesota literary community. The awards will be televised at a later date.
And finally... a grumble. Yes, a grumble. Either Mother Nature has overslept or she's in cahoots with Old Man Winter. In case you hadn't noticed, it's mid-April, which usually means spring. And this is the view outside my window. How am I supposed to frolic in flowery meadows and bask in the endless blue, sun-soaked skies when the world is still gray and covered with snow? It's time for winter to go. Mother Nature is getting dangerously close to being charged with some sort of fraud. We've done our time, the holidays were three months ago. It's time for spring... please!
