Comic Strip... Hobbit

Little Women Jo on fire!

 I've been a member of the SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators) for a few months now, and they have some great awards and scholarships to apply for.  I recently applied for their mentor-ship program and today I turned in a submission for the Tomie dePaola Award.  The winter will get to attend the Winter Conference in New York for free.  With 300 entries last year, I'd be very surprised to win, but no matter the outcome I had so much fun with this challenge.  For this piece I had a choice between 3 novels to pick an excerpt from to illustrate in black and white.  I picked "Little Women."

Submissions are now closed, but you can read more about the award here if you're interested in applying for next year:
http://www.scbwi.org/Pages.aspx/Tomie-dePaola-Award

Joe Kitty

Joe kitty sleeping.. I love how relaxed he is.  This was a really quick sketch done on the closest scrap paper I could find.  I just couldn't resist capturing this pose.

Black River Falls Christkindl Market

 

Sat. Dec 1st, 2012 I had a booth at the Christkindl Market in Black River Falls, WI.  It was a wonderful event with music, dancers, food, horse-drawn wagon rides, reindeer, and even a camel for the kids to pet!  Unfortunately sales weren't that great and I about broke even including what I spent on gas and lunch.  It was a long, hard day!  Still, it was great to see so many happy faces of people genuinely enjoying themselves.  I wasn't sure I should have put up my "Subarashii" sign, thinking it didn't really fit in a German inspired festival, but they belly dancers preforming and polish sausage, so adding something with a Japanese flare couldn't have been that bad.  I even made up some special cards with Christmas greetings in German thinking it would be cool for the event, but I only got lookers, no buyers.  They're up for sale on the esty site now instead!

 Along with my art prints and cards I brought the Christmas ornaments I'd made a few years ago but never sold.  I even made a few new ones like this cute little Musketeer here. I'll be at another event this weekend, if I don't sell any of these ornaments I'll probably just give up on it and keep them for myself.  They are really fun to make, but a little time consuming. 

 I'm not sure if I'll have a booth at the Christkindl Market next year or not, but if I don't I'll probably still go to check out the festivities because it really is a fun event!
http://downtownblackriverfalls.com/christkindl