With the New Year beginning it's time to make some resolutions or goals. Apart from the obligatory join a gym; become a yoga goddess; meditate daily; stop eating so much chocolate; become a balanced human being (nah, that would be boring) etc, I've been thinking about what I'd like to achieve artistically.
My main ambition, which I've mentioned on this blog before, is to get my children's book published. So perhaps before everything else this is what I should commit myself to. Starting this blog has really inspired me to continue with this drawing thing. It has also made me believe that I can do things. So I'm going to put my energies into getting my children's book out into the world (I am kind of making up this plan as I go along - can you tell?).
I've wondered whether I should start another blog for this work? It could keep all this kid's stuff together or at least put it in some kind of context. It could also chart the journey of my characters out of my sketchbook and into the world.
Thanks for all the support since beginning this blog. Happy New Year to you all. I hope you achieve what you set out to do in 2007.
"children's illustration blog"
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! You're so talented - get those characters out here!
Happy New Year Andrea, love Andrea! :)
ReplyDeleteI saw no the the children's illustration blog. I like to see ALL your work and how it evolves. And I saw YES to shouting from the rooftops your intention to do a children's book and then start doing some research!
ReplyDeleteHappy new year dear Andrea!
xo
jane
oops, here's the proofread version!!!
ReplyDeleteI say no the the children's illustration blog. I like to see ALL your work and how it evolves. And I say YES to shouting from the rooftops your intention to do a children's book and then start doing some research!
Happy new year dear Andrea!
xo
jane
Yes, do. Or combine it in... Just looked at and enjoyed your pictures from the beginning of the blog.
ReplyDeleteNosey questions: Do you have a text? Did I miss that news as I flitted through your blog? If not, did you write the text? Or are you doing a fairy tale text (thinking of your Princess and the Pea)?
It would be lovely to see how the first glimmerings of ideas turn into a book. That would make a very interesting sequence.
Happy new Year Andrea. Hope you and yours have a great one too. :-)
ReplyDeleteWalking (talking) your way through your goals has helped you to zoom in on the most important one.....getting your children's book out into the world....and the children of the world are waiting for it!! Do it!!!
ReplyDeleteYou have so much talent to share and I love looking at all of it! Wishing you all the best in 2007.
I have tremendous faith in you and your ability to get a book published! You can count on me being along to push you forward! I like the idea of an illustration blog...however, sometimes I think its easier to keep up with it all in one place.
ReplyDeleteWhen I see that a blogger has several different blogs I'm never sure which one to check...which one is current, etc. But, these are just my thoughts...today.
I have tremendous faith in you and your ability to get a book published! You can count on me being along to push you forward! I like the idea of an illustration blog...however, sometimes I think its easier to keep up with it all in one place.
ReplyDeleteWhen I see that a blogger has several different blogs I'm never sure which one to check...which one is current, etc. But, these are just my thoughts...today.
Sorry about that double post... I do have a lot of faith in you though:)
ReplyDeleteWowee! Thanks everyone.
ReplyDeleteSo it seems that maybe I should just continue the way things are? Suzanne I know what you mean - when people have more than one blog you never quite know where to find what you were looking for. I just sometimes think that the odd children's pictures that I post can seem out of context? And that maybe having a children's blog would give me a kick up the arse in getting them sent out to publishers!! I guess I'll think about it for a while.
Marly - I have two picture books all written (not that there is much text involoved in picture books), storyboarded and some samples of finished pictures. I am proud of them and I think they work well. I don't know what I'm waiting for, althouh I have theories!
Thank you all for the comments, I value your opinions. Happy New Year guys! And the double posting is fine, looks like I'm very popular!!! Hehe!
Dear Andrea: i wholeheartedly agree with Suzanne -- i too was toying with the idea of another blog, sort of a spin off of what's going on -- but it gets overwhelming, especially for the person who owns it. I say -- keep it simple, and if need be, post many drawings a day... i know we won't complain!
ReplyDeleteI am so looking forward to seeing your upcoming illustrations. Happy new year, my friend.
Makers of books are often procrastinators, aren't they? Yes, show a bit! And I do think that the fewer the words, the more important it is that the distillation be right.
ReplyDeleteHi Andrea, I'm over the moon that you're doing a children's book and want to put my name down now to purchase it! Seriously. And I actually think that a blog specifically for it is a good idea -- helps you separate and track the progress ... er, ok, helps ME heh. Bet that isn't helping you make a decision is it? Good luck, and I look forward to seeing the illustrations and/or not, new blog. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteAndrea-
ReplyDeleteI think your work is perfect for children's book illustration. So fanciful and fun. Definitely go for it!
I'd have to say I agree with keeping it all in one place ... especially if you're busy. Just easier on you.
Best wishes!
Happy new year!! This si beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteCheers guys.
ReplyDeleteI think I'll think about it for a while. Now that IS something I'm good at!!!
Hey there, the happiest of New years to you!
ReplyDeleteAlways late to the party, I think that the crux of the matter is not where you put your work, but rather that you do it and do it and do it!
Visitors will find what they want, but if you find it helpful to catalogue your progress towards a goal then split your blog. But do it for you.
But really what you need to do is believe in your book and you are half way to making it happen!
And I'm all of us out here in the audience will be queuing up to get our hands on it!
Good luck in 2007!
Andrea,
ReplyDeleteI think having it all one one blog will be easier for you, and I would be interested in seeing your children's illustrations, and I think almost everyone else in EDM would like to, also. Maybe I'm biased (my art resolutions for 2007 involve children's art, too)! If you've upgraded to the new blogger, you can take advantage of the new feature which enables you to add tags to all your posts, so if someone wants to only see Everyday Matters challenges, for instance, they can just look at those posts that are tagged that way.
Thank you for your comments and opinions. I really feel quite overwhelmed by the response to this post. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteTy Mawr - I certainly believe in my book. I really do - it's always been myself that I've lacked belief in but I've been working on that too!
Redheadedstepchild (!!!) - that is a very good idea. I really hadn't thought of it before but I could tag the posts. Good ideas. Cheers guys!!
Hello, Andrea. I've been reading you for some time;in fact, your gel pen sketches made me buy some gels.
ReplyDeleteBack to the coloured dangly-thing on the doorknob - I think it's wonderful;really points up that grain work.
Re. children's publishing. It's one of the toughest markets I know, so start now and keep hammering them.Always bear in mind that even Jo Rowling hawked Harry P. around for ages.
And please continue to post these little fixes for those of us now addicted!
Dinahmow - thank you so much. I am really touched by your comment.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of just one blog so I'll be sure not to miss anything...but it's important to do what works for you. One of my painting group members is on her third children's book illustration contracts. She's found a publisher who loves her illustrations and they publish really thoughtful and award-winning picture books about things like bullying, not playing war games, and the new one about a new kid at school who's blind. She's also shopping around one she wrote herself. I'm just saying all that to say it's totally do-able, you just have to get started.
ReplyDelete