New York, New York.

I am on my way home from the SCBWI New York conference. 

I am so very tired, and so very inspired. 

This whole weekend has been a whirlwind of information and networking, but if I had one word I could use to describe the entire thing, it would be relationships. 

It was the highlight of the illustrators intensive, working on empathy in our stories and pictures, making that deep emotional connection. But it did not end there.

I used to live in the city, but I am a small town gal now, and I was soooo nervous about going to New York, even though I was among friends. I thought it would be cold, fast, impersonal... But I could not have been more wrong.

I LOVE New York. People look at you and make eye contact. Strangers always willing to help. Weddings in grand central station. People greeting, hugging, kissing, saying hello and goodbye, smiling... So much smiling. Grand central was amazing. I walked around by myself a few times and just watched... So many people sharing a small small space and it works.

Something else I noticed... New Yorkers are REALLY good at their jobs. All the service was wonderful, engaging, prompt and professional. There seems to be a real pride in doing a good job that permeates all, from the porters, hot dog vendors, servers... Everyone seems to enjoy what they do, even if they don't really. This is not something you see in Canada everywhere... When people don't like their jobs, most want you to know it.

Another thing, walking downtown, I hardly saw ANYONE texting or talking on their phones. When people were sitting together, they were not sitting around on phones, they were sitting and talking together... Maybe it is risky to text and walk in NY, no doubt it is, but it was so refreshing. I have been assured that it is not always like that, but as far as my take of it. This meant something to me. I loved it.

SCBWI is an incredible organization, they put on a awesome conference, with lots of chances to network, party and most of all, learn, hone and celebrate the craft of children's books. 

Spending the weekend meeting people I have known online for years, meeting new people and travelling with my friends has been amazing. The energy that exists in a room with over a thousand people that love kids books is... Incredible.

I met Tomie Depaola, Gordon Korman, Kelly light, E.B. Lewis, Roxie Monroe, I SAW Oliver Jeffers, Jon s. And so many other people on a start studded Friday night... 

If you haven't joined yet, you should.

Postcards for New York!

So, I splurged, I am off to New York for the SCBWI conference, and I am so excited and nervous. My good friends at JB Printing printed these postcards for me, I wanted something a little different, hoping to stand out a bit, it's a pretty big crowd of super talented people at this conference and I'd like to meet an art director or two that digs my work... So here's hoping for an excellent time and opportunity for all!

The BEST thing about teaching is...

That I get to give out assignments that I would have LOVED to do... and I get to do them. I love it so much, it is inspiring and fun - the assignment I gave this week was to create a character from How to Train Your Dragon - but not just ANY character, Themselves. Who would they be, where would they fit? Here is my rough go at it...

Happy holidays!

So, I am taking a break from Facebook for the holidays. There are lots of reasons for this, not the least of which is, I think I am addicted! I love it. I love looking in on everyone's successes, beautiful children, new works of art, commiserating with other mommas... but there is also a sad side... And to be truthful, I enjoy trying to help with that too... But I was doing it too much.
It hit me when my daughter told me I should post something on Facebook. It hit me when my husband said I was spending more time with that screen than I was with him. It hit me when i was putting off playing a game with my kids while i updated my status to what we were doing...
I have so much wonderful work to do, friends to keep up with, pins to share, pictures to share, comments to make..and the list goes on. But you know what? I have a family to do stuff with, a husband to spend time with, books to write and illustrate, apps to design and so much more. I need those hours back, I need to learn to control them. A moment, looking before I started working in the evenings turned into hours, and the constant chatter going on in the background made it really, really hard to concentrate fully. Last night I stayed off, mostly... And I got SOOO much done. Today I have stayed off... And I feel less anxious. Less busy. Less... Less... Because the downside to too much Facebook is that everyone else's life seems charmed and wonderful. That people had perfect houses and children, take wonderful trips to Disneyland and Mexico... And in those moments, I feel a teensy bit of envy, and I don't want that. I love Facebook... But we have to stop going steady. I am taking the holidays off to enjoy my kids, my family, my messy, teeny, fixer upper of a house that will be packed full of friends and their kids (who mostly, curiously enough, DON'T FB). Then, I hope, Facebook and I can have the odd coffee and talk like old friends, and it can be a little less of a teenage love affair.

Happy holidays my friends.

PS, because of this development, there is a good chance I will actually blog again...

Drawing at the Ballet Studio...

So, what seems like forever ago, but was really only last year, I started talking to the lovely folks at the Quinte Ballet School about possible models for my classes. An option to actually come to the studio seemed to be the best one, and today I brought the 3rd year animation students. I think it was successful, the students did quite a bit of drawing. Here are some sketches of mine - looking forward to seeing more of theirs!

Ballerinas are incredible to watch - they go from average teenager, to art - beautiful lines, movement and power - so much power! Can't wait to take the next group in a couple of weeks.

MOvember maquette

This was a 35 minute sculpt... Now I am going to build him in maya.. Minus the mustache! 

BIRDMAN MUSTACHE THINGY