Mabel and Elky Ride the Orphan Train

Mabel & Elky is now with the printers. This new picture book published by the National Orphan Train Complex is due out in late October, early November. 

This story is based on the true story of a little girl and her toy elephant who rode a train from New York City to Missouri to find a new family as part of the Orphan Train Movement.

I've learned so much through this project: about the orphan train movement, the stories of the riders, about book production and increased my skills as an illustrator through hours and hours and hours of painting. : )

Assignment - 25 Painted Paper Cards

    I've given myself an assignment to create 25 painted paper collage cards.

    I really like painted paper collages. I've been wanting to create some for awhile and finally started making them on my travels this past year. I use gouache and watercolor paints on whatever paper is handy: junk mail, receipts, papers from the past that can be recycled...anything. Sometimes, I put down a base of lines or designs first using ink, crayon, watercolor pastel, or pencil...basically anything that will make marks. I create stacks of painted paper. That process alone is so relaxing and satisfying.

   So far, I've finished 9 in my goal of 25. You should try it...so fun.
   Here are a few of my finished pieces.

        

Behind the Book Workshops

 

   Late July and early August, I enjoyed working with Behind the Book as a teaching artist. I've worked with this wonderful nonprofit literacy organization since 2007 as a visiting author/illustrator. This summer, I added teaching artist to my resume with them. : )

I had the pleasure of working with students on art projects around the books they were reading and studying. The books and art projects included: I Am Yoga by Susan Verde inspired watercolor paintings; Something's Fishy by Kevin McCloskey inspired undersea mobiles; Sea Creatures from the Sky by Ricardo Cortes inspired deep sea water color, wax resist, sea salt paintings; My Mummy is an Engineer by Kerrine Bryan inspired assemblage sculptures; and The Honeybee Man by Lela Nargi inspired mixed media collages.

   What a wonderful time! : )