At the beginning of this year I was in a bad place, artistically. I had been searching for an art agent for about a year. I had received form rejections, nice rejections, encouraging rejections and no answer rejections. Then in late January I received an email that was so amazing, so awesome that I think the husband and I screamed and cheered so loudly the house shook. Flashlight Press wanted to publish a story I sent them a long time ago. And to make it even sweeter, I would be their first author/illustrator. (go here for the long version)

Finally, all of the hard work and determination had paid off. I decided it might be a good time to start looking for an agent. Not an art agent, but a lit agent because had I re-discovered my love of writing to complement my love of illustrating. So began the emotional roller coaster of rejections, full requests, encouragement, requests to revise and re-submit and to re-submit future works. I felt like I was closer than ever before but I was not there yet.

Along the way I made new contacts that turned into new friends who gave me honest feedback on my work and encouragement along the way. I wrote more stories, worked on my art and relished in the joy that is working on your first published book.

I felt like quitting many, many times and I did. But then, I decided to try again and that is why I can tell you this today.

I have an agent.

She is awesome. Her name is Joanna Volpe with Nancy Coffey Literary. My feature page is also up.

Hip, Hip, Hooray!!!!

Up, up and away!!!!

I am generally a cheery person. I love to laugh, smile and encourage the same in other people. But don’t let that peppy facade fool you. You see, I am an artist.

And as an artist, I have serious periods of self doubt, loathing and fear. My optimism and pessimism are often at battle. Especially when reviewing my professional development for 2011.

In one corner, my sunshine and roses,cool breezes side throws out things like, “I sold my first book!” “I regained faith in my artistic style!” “I caught the eye of some really awesome agents!”

The other side, my gloomy, dreary, dirty snow side mumbles, “I don’t have an agent yet.” “I have to do some serious work on my portfolio”, “I really thought my viking story was “the one”, “What am I going to do after January?”

But, in the middle of the dark battlefield, strewn with self doubt, and tattered lumps of ego, there are shiny bits and pieces. They are phrases and ideas, they are hope and new opportunities . They are irresistible. They are what will push me forward after I have finished with my paintings for “Maya was Grumpy” and attended the NY SCBWI conference and sent out revisions. They are what the pep uses uses to smash the self-doubt back into it’s deep, dark cave.

They are 31 Picture Book Ideas.

September-December is my most favorite time of the year! pumpkin spice lattes, chilly weather, quirky-ness abounds! What’s not to love?

I’ve been swamped with book work lately. I’m trying to get the final drawings completed and approved in the next few weeks. So, that means total nose to the grindstone, every free minute spent working on the book. I love it! It is truly a dream come true and I’m trying to cherish and be present for every moment of it. I get giddy every time I get an email from my editor and keep the hubby updated on every step of progress. Fun times, Indeed.

Over on twitter at #kidlitart, Bonnie and Wendy put together an awesome dummy preparation workshop that ran from January till June. Then they hosted a pitch contest with the prize being a dummy critique from an agent. There were some really great ideas and I was lucky enough to have my pitch as one of the three chosen. I’m really looking forward to what the agent has to say and want to offer up a huge thank you to the ladies for putting everything together!

(the image is when I was playing around with patterns and eventually discarded)

I am going to go out in a big way here and tell you that the annual NJ conference rocks! An amazing, well organized event put together by Kathy Temean and her legion of volunteers, with editors, agents and art directors galore, great speakers and the chance to connect with people who “get” you and your crazy need to create. I could name drop here and tell you I actually talked to Grace Lin, Alvina Ling, Mary Cole and Ammi Joan Paquette at the friday night social (but I won’t.) I was nervous, babbled a bit and might have spilled wine on one of those gracious people, but thanks to my (incredibly outgoing and sweet) pal Leeza, I did get to actually talk to people I admire from afar. I also got to connect with Kelly Light, Katia Wish, Penny Weber, Tara Lazar Kelly Calabrese and Deborah Cuneo. I attended great workshops by Leeza, and Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen. Will I be going back? You betcha! With bells on!

I have not been to an SCBWI conference in two years. That is what happens when you have twins. But, this weekend, I will be attending the NJ SCBWI conference. Why trek from DC to NJ, you ask? My pal, Leeza, is one reason, an awesome line up is another. Getting a book deal was a big factor. I felt I had reached the limit as far as pre-publishing conference info. But, now, NOW I get to learn what to do after you are published. I’m getting excited and a little nervous. So far, postcards have been designed and delivered, portfolio is almost ready ( that is a snippet of the final piece up there) and outfits have been pretty much decided on. I just need to choose which piece to enter for the contest (comments welcome) and make a few color copies. Yay!

Sleeping in, French toast, thick bacon slabs, coffee, painting time with the big girl, walk to local book store, 2 books by polly dunbar, sandwiches from favorite local shop , and cuddling two crazy monkeys. That is what makes an awesome mother’s day for me. I hope yours is filled with your favorite things.

not sure how much I like it yet

I have been reading about vikings lately and I can assure you that this image is completely,  totally historically wrong. But, when ya wanna draw viking girls, what can you do? I have a whole little story brewing for them in my head. We’ll see if it goes anywhere. I don’t know if I’ll be able to paint it this week. We are leaving for NY on friday and packing for 5 takes me at least 3 days.

Ever since we moved, I have been working in the playroom, usually sitting next to the fence while the boys run rampant. It has worked for a while but the hubby decided I needed my own space to work. He planned out a studio in the basement sitting area and I have to admit that is is pretty darn awesome to have a space I can call my own.   (click to enlarge)

My favorite thing so far is this mirror:

Close up of my work space (in its pre-paint neat state with latest favorite picture book) :

New box of art supplies:

All I need now is a wire and clips to hang up finished drawings and paintings. Another thing I want, is this print by Gustav Klimt: