bookmarks!

I've been working quite a bit actually, and have had NO time to post. I thought I'd throw these up on the blog, they should be here next week. Bookmarks to hand out at APE! So excited! The Sam and surfboard one will also be my banner. It'll be so cool to see it 6 feet tall!

San Francisco here we come!

It's been quite a month, and it's going to be quite a month.

Summer finished with a bang; there was the SCBWI Summer Conference and all that comes with that- friends, inspiration, connections, portfolios. The following weekend I roadtripped with my best friend Melissa, driving her recently relocated mommy's car from Mission Viejo to Denver via Las Vegas, Moab and Glenwood Springs. Arches National Park is just plain ridiculous. I need to spend more time there.

The following weekend (!) I taught leathercrafting to 125 Cub Scouts up in the mountains at Camp Tahquitz. LOTS of mallets punching holes in leather...

Came home Sunday, started teaching Tuesday at CSULB. At that time I still had luggage strewn about my bedroom from three successive weekends of being away.

Now this month. Our Studio Group, Studio 5, is having a show at the USF Thacher Gallery. Need a vacation? Come visit me Sept. 21-25, and Oct. 15-16. THEN I will be back in SF Oct. 1-2 for the Alternative Press Expo (APE) introducing Sam and Jade at booth 545. I've had the first 40 pages printed up as a teaser and will be on sale for $5 along with buttons, bookmarks and prints.

The rest of summer has meant HARVEST! I'm so stoked on my veggie garden this year, I tried some things I hadn't before, and we've been eating so well- tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, potatoes, peppers, strawberries. I'm looking forward to my fall garden. There's something really cool about cooking from your own garden that is very different than running to the market.

Please do stop in, especially if you are a San Francisco friend I don't get to see enough!

San Francisco here we come!

Junior Lifeguards Seal Beach

This has been an awesome summer. Today I hung at the beach while the boy had Junior Lifeguards, since I knew he was jumping off the pier and my husband requested a picture. So I sat on the beach thumbnailing out the next Surfside Girls page, then went for a run and swim in the ocean, sketched some Junior Lifeguard antics that will most certainly make it into Surfside Girls somehow, then took picture of said boy. I think this is the happiest time in my motherhood to date. I used to teach JGs at Laguna Beach and Lake Mission Viejo. It's the greatest thing in the world to see how it changes your kid for the awesomer.

I asked him on the way home if he could just stay ten forever; I could drive him to the beach everyday, and either surf or run or go home and paint, then I would pick him up with some Carl's Junior burger to feed the machine, and we'd go home and hang out. I wish it would never end. Maybe that's why I'm funneling so much into my book; it will remain immortal there...

Summer!

Summer is when I'm at my Kimmiest. Lots of beach runs, pool workouts, surfing, and painting painting painting! A busy one, this summer is! It's been too long since I blogged, so let's catch up.

I was invited in to a Studio Group called Studio 5, with some really really talented people. We will be having a show at the Thacher Gallery at USF the last weekend in September through October. It will be a blast to be up there doing workshops with people!

I'm also in a couple of shows at CSUF; the Art for Health show in October, and one I'm curating, the Art of the LA Times Kids Reading Room show, also in October. Because I didn't feel I had enough in October, I am also going to APE, the Alternative Press Expo, in San Francisco October 1 and 2nd. I'll have Surfside Girls printed up, at least the first 30 pages, with buttons and t-shirts.

Oh. AND I'm teaching at CSULB and CSUF in Fall. So this summer has been a ton of prep for a ton of things. I'm posting some Art in the Park photos, which I teach occasionally and are put on by my friend Trish (http://handmadepenguin.com/blog) as well as a new piece I'm working on. The color palette was (stolen) borrowed from Carl Larsson, one of my favorites. The piece is from a new book I'm working on, which is a really funny one if I do say so myself. I work alone a lot, and I have to crack myself up or I get bored...

art and all that

So I am taking the LAST class of the MFA, the one I had to put off due to teaching (a person can only do so much.) Anyhow, it's called Survey of Southern California Contemporary Artists, taught by Professor Mike McGee who I'm convinced has some sort of genius memory about all this. We saw a presentation on an "artist" last night, I can't remember his name, but I got so worked up during the presentation I doodled dragons with big nasty fangs. Oooh scary, I know. This "artist" tries to make "art" that no one recognizes as art, and then doesn't name or sign it, so it can't be catalogued (?). Like, for instance, he made a drinking fountain that looks just like a drinking fountain and works like a drinking fountain, out of mundane drinking fountain materials, and then "installed" it on a college campus in a place where you would normally find a drinking fountain. And didn't sign in, just in case you might wonder if that drinking fountain is actually art masquerading as a drinking fountain. !?! I HOPE he did not get a grant for this. There are other equally obnoxious "pieces of art" or non-art art, or whatever, that he has made, but I am going to end my rant. I just don't get it.

On that note, there are also those people who don't really think illustration is art. But I'm not one of them. And so I am posting a little thing I had to get done for a show. I much prefer this silly sort of art to any art that tries not to exist...

It's been a week of solid freelance. I busted out a lot of work this week and feel I deserve some face-down-in-the-sand time. Woo hoo! I finished a cool little Flash animation for a client, and the new Surfside Girls page, plus all of the work for this last CSUF class, which is a 45 minute video presentation on video artist Diana Thater, best known for her work on The Cove. Today I'm speaking at the LA Society of Illustrators with my friend Marilyn Scott-Waters and Professor Cliff Cramp, and I have one more little painting to finish. I predict beach time tomorrow morning after church.

All of this productiveness is really not helping my tan. Or really the cleanliness of my office. I think I'm going to start scheduling in beach and cleaning time. Does anyone have any suggestions for keeping a creative space clean? That doesn't involve a ton of money?

I'm posting some things that have been done for a while, and some I finished last night. :)

Oh Canada!

Just got back from a MUCH NEEDED vacation to the Great White North. Some good friends had a son get married, and we went to the reception in Saskatchewan, and then on to the end of the known universe, the Stockman Lodge Fish Camp. So so beautiful- after driving across most of Canada, then float-planing (!) in to an island, we relaxed in utter bliss. It was SO QUIET. I read, fished, hiked, and painted. Bald eagles were nesting just across the lake. I wish I could go there yearly and totally de-stress. My son got spoiled; now he thinks that fishing means dropping a line in totally clean water, in an uncrowded, beautiful environment, and multitudes of fish compete for the privilege of your lure! Anyhow, here are some photos, and also a little of my sketch journal.

my street and a potato head

Life is pretty good. If I had to complain, which I shouldn't, I guess my house and my waist have borne the brunt of grad school. However, with a little scrubbing and organizing, and a little extra running (and some good surf days!) life should be back in order. No permanent damage.

On the positive side, this is my street right now, thick in the middle of Jacaranda bloom. It's ridiculously messy and stinky, but just look at how awesome. Some days, first thing in the morning, all of the lawns and cars are covered in flowers, and it looks like it snowed purple. People have been coming by and taking photos, so I figured I would too.

Then there's the potato head, or Why I Teach. My Cartooning and Caricature students had me crying the last day of class as they presented me this Pirates of the Caribbean Potato Head, signed by the class. They are most awesome, this class, and this is currently one of my most prized possessions. I am looking for a vase shelf to put him on for my office. It pretty much sums up why I teach- I love getting so involved in these little young artists' lives. Plus, I know that at least half of the people on the Potatohead will be famous some day, and then he's going to be a very valuable Potatohead!

I am off to Canada for ten days, for a wedding reception, and then up to a fly-in fishing camp, where I will sleep and read and paint while the man and the boy fish and hunt things. Maybe I'll paint a fish.

graduation!

This is my life. It's full, fast, furious, and filled with lots of people I love. Today is my birthday. I celebrate birthweek. If you don't, I recommend you start. This birthweek, however, tops all.

My birthweek started last Thursday with my husband's birthday, exactly one week before mine. On momentous birthdays, we have a big old combined party. This year we're just having the family BBQ. Friday was a hoe-down at Ethan's school and I met with Aubry Mintz at CSULB about teaching a class. Saturday I graduated from California State University Fullerton with my MFA in Illustration. Those of you who have done this know how hard and rewarding this is. Sunday we planted an organic garden. Monday was my friend Frans from grad school's wedding- totally adorable. Tuesday I had this amazing lunch at La Vie en Rose- I was fortunate enough to be given a great scholarship from the Leo Freedman foundation, and this was the scholarship luncheon. What great conversation and amazing people I got to meet there! Recipients were from Theater Arts and Music, as well as Visual Arts. Kathleen played the most incredible violin for us! Yesterday I had breakfast with my illustrator group, also wonderful and talented people.

And now today! My mom is taking me to lunch, and then a quiet evening at home (I still have grades to turn in and artwork to post tomorrow! Work among the playing!)

Anyhow, if you are my friend or family and you're reading this, thank you. You make my life so full!

almost summer!

Well, it's almost summer but it doesn't feel that way. I spent Saturday at the SCBWI event "Agents Day" in Newport Beach, trying to find someone who might help me get Surfside Girls published. More than one agent commented on how they didn't think Southern California in May was grey and drizzley! However, things are winding down, school is ending, grades are due, and I have faith that in a short while I will be face down in some warm sand. Yum.

The picture is of Joe, figure drawing model extraordinaire. I introduced sequential gesture to my class. Joe is great and totally fired up, even though he had been modeling all day and would have been happier if I wanted a one hour sustained reclining pose! I never ever get a chance to really focus on drawing when I'm teaching because I'm moving around the classroom helping students. But these poses were so good, and Joe is so great, I couldn't help myself. Sequential gesture is what made me want to animate. I think these are five minute poses. Thanks, Joe!

Sally got a haircut

My puppy just got her first haircut. How pretty is she! We are just about to head out on a run before I dig into some grading and art stuff. Had to share. She is the happiest dog I've ever met. Dogs are so dang awesome...

LA Times Kids Reading Room

My Mothers Day piece printed in the LA Times on Sunday. Happy Mothers Day, all you mommies! I can't imagine how different my life would be without my son. Having a child gave me such an increased capacity for love, and a vulnerability, that I don't think I could have understood without. A little tiny bit of how God must feel...

Anyway, the piece printed a bit washed out in the paper, but perhaps that was my fault for wanting to use superduper spring pastel colors!

Semester's wrapping up, I'm walking in the cap, gown and MFA hood on May 21st. Lots of endings mean lots of beginnings...

Upwelling

This is the chapter heading for Surfside Girls' first act, Upwelling. I wanted the viewer to be underwater, looking up at the kelp. It's a metaphor for possibilities. Stuff is surfacing- in the ocean upwelling is where the nutrient rich cold water hits the shelf and comes to the surface. All kinds of little things start feeding on it, and it provides a start for the food chain. When you're surfing, it's a sudden cold spot in otherwise warm water. In the book, it's where everything is setting up.

I kind of feel like that's life right now too. I'm graduating with my MFA, I have students graduating into the Wide World, taking their toolboxes of skills and trying to make it. We talked extensively about that today in my Cartooning and Caricature class. What the state of things is, and where can you fit into it. Publishing is changing, print is changing, there are simultaneously less and more opportunities. I think the best we can do as artists is to keep learning, keep the skills sharp, be kind, and say yes to opportunities. And enjoy the ride. It is the best job in the world.

my visit with Kelly Light

SCBWI is such a cool organization. A couple of years ago, Kelly Light popped up on my blog. She is an illustrator from the East Coast who had grabbed my card from the Summer Conference, and we began to correspond. Turns out we have a similar background in animation, are moms and love lines. Plus, she reminds me a ton of my cousin Patty. We totally hit it off, and talked in person at last year's summer conference. We spent Easter with my Aunt in Massachusetts (just got back) and I thought while I was back there I'd give her a call. Kelly was kind enough to make time for me, even though she's on a deadline, and we went to the Eric Carle museum and then had a cuppa coffee. Talked shop. Totally fun! Kelly's got this great little house they've remodeled that's a little retreat- I had been following its progress on her blog. Darling place. I'm so glad we got to get together- being an illustrator can be a bit isolated. SCBWI did its job, and introduced us. Thanks for a fun visit, Kelly!

You can see her amazing work at kellylight.com, or follow her blog at prettygoodforagirl.blogspot.com

Yay surf

Sunday was a good day!

collaboration 2 and Leilani

My illustrator group is breaking up. I'm devastated. So many amazing people, and I know I'll stay in touch with all of them, but there is just something reassuring about knowing that a group meets at a certain time and place every month, and without that regularity I know it will be a lot harder to keep in touch. Marilyn (the Toymaker) and Veronica have hosted for five years. Sheesh. That's a big commitment. I don't know how I would have found my way without them.

I'm graduating with my MFA in May, just bought my cap and gown (I could really find a much more attractive outfit for $100) and that means that that group is breaking up too. Waa. Ten of us are graduating this semester from CSUF. All of the artists are amazing, and it, too, has been a great group to be part of. If you aren't doing anything for the next eight Saturday nights, you should head over to campus and check out the art. Katy Betz and Frans Kusuma are this weekend. Great stuff. Plus, they're always catered, so it's a cheap date night.

So I guess I'm really fortunate to have my writers group. I am groupy, if you haven't gotten that already, and being a Marine Corps Brat, I hate hate hate endings and goodbyes because my childhood was so full of them. I just got back, got great feedback on my latest page, inspiration for a new Surfside Girls cover for SCBWI's Agents Day, and support for plan B. I am posting the finished Leilani painting I did as a demo for class yesterday, as well as an anatomy handout I did, just because anatomy is so darn cool.

doors opening and closing

I'm having a little bit of a pity party. Surfside Girls has spent a bit of time at a publishing house, and I had all of my fingers and toes crossed it would go. I just got word that while the editor I was working with loved it, he couldn't rally the support needed to invest in it. Bummer. I totally believe you end up where you're supposed to, totally totally. And in a way this frees me up; I would love to print a bit of it and go sit some cons like APE in San Francisco with my writers group. But I'm still a little sad. I do have a couple of publishing houses in mind that I really want to send it to, maybe it will strike the right chord there.

I just finished another LA Times Kid's Reading Room illustration, and am quite happy with it. It prints Mother's Day, so I got to use Easter eggy colors. I used my beautiful neighbor Juana and her daughter Gabriella for inspiration- Juana is one of those people who is always beautiful, and keep her home and garden amazingly. Oh, if I had a little of that! I wish I could post the painting, but I certainly will after it prints.

I'm working on an upcoming character in the book, Leilani. Her haunting knowledge of hula and Hawaiian culture help Sam start to figure out what the heck is going on in her life. I'm going to do a watercolor demo for my Cartooning and Caricature class with her, so I'll post that result as well. Here's the drawing.

Wow. This has been the wackiest week. I feel like I used to after finishing a film. Getting an MFA is like throwing a wedding and giving birth. I have lived through both things, but never at the same time! I took the show down Thursday after I taught figure drawing, and was a little sad. I felt like a princess all week, holding court in my gallery of artwork, and answering questions when professors brought classes in. Thank you to all of you who helped paint the gallery and who came to celebrate with me. Special thanks to Melissa (Jade) who came out from Colorado, and Anders Swanson, awesome on the ukelele. I feel very blessed to have all of these awesome friends! Oh, and not to be forgotten, Penelope the Wahine Wienie, pet dog of Laura. She had asked if she could bring her dog, and I replied certainly not, unless it was in appropriate Hawaiian attire. We got a good laugh imagining the "walnut bra" covering all ten teats! I doodled it immediately in my studio, and scanned it to share. I got a really great response for Surfside Girls, fingers crossed friends, I want to see it in print. I am posting photos of the event if you weren't able to make it. Find more in my facebook album.