2012 - A wonderful year of websites, consultations, art, picture books, and e-courses

2012 has been unbelievable for me. I'm calling it My Magical Year (so far). I took a huge leap of faith and signed up for the Hello Soul Hello Business e-course and since then all sorts of magic has been coming my way.

So here's My Magical Year (so far)

• I worked with the wonderful Dixie Chan, children's book author, horse breeder, and tax preparer, helping her with the initial copy, designing her website and stationary, and creating all the custom textures. Do read her site and blog, which includes terrific tax tips and a wonderful little description of my upcoming Hero's Art Journey. She's very funny. Here's some of the fun that Dixie and I had. Her website is www.dixieleechan.com

• After Dixie's website, I got an email from fabulous children's book non-fiction/history author Jeri Chase Ferris, whose work I have long admired. Jeri wanted me to work my magic with her and I really wanted to do it. So we are in the process. Here are some before and after screenshots tho the after isn't completely done yet. Jeri is also a history person and the picture of the girl on the horse in the new website is Jeri as a child. Unfortunately, I only had a "rinky dink" little image to work with but am still pretty pleased with it so far and the best part of course is.. so is Jeri. Here's the current site... at http://www.jerichaseferris.com/  Check back for the new and improved version : )

• Another exciting recent client is children's book illustrator Doug Dworkin. Doug has great drawing and compositional skills but his work is/was (?) very Disneyesque, cartoony, computery, and flat, which is fine for working at Disney or doing mass market but most contemporary publishers are more fine art oriented. I love his old style, but it's not doing what he needs it to do for the publishers he'd like to work with. Here's an example of his old style, which would be great for greeting cards but not so good for the current market.

 

I'm hoping in the end that he has a portfolio with both styles. So... We played around, a lot, and was it fun. I'm showing the before, the layout, and the very beginnings of working differently using color and texture. Am not 100% thrilled with the color yet (I'd like more pink perhaps on the elephant) but will see what Doug does. Doug is also going to be changing his line quality so it's less uniform and more lively and perhaps adding cross hatching. Can't wait to see what happens. We also came up with a wonderful story to go with this illustration - Yay Doug and Mira!! Here's his website where you can see more of his work www.dougdworkin.com

• I also started working with sociologist Ruthie Tyson consulting on a way too long picture book manuscript and fell in love with it, agreeing to co-author and co-illustrate it (Ruthie is an extraordinary pumpkin carver, which gives you a clue about the book but that's all I'm telling for now). Normally, I tell my students not to do things like this but what can I say, I'm a fool for love.
  
  
• My work with seniors continues to be an absolute source of joy and nourishment for both me and them and although financially not great, it feeds me in so many other ways.

And finally,

I've been video taping and interviewing all sorts of extraordinary contributors for my upcoming hero's art journey e-course that starts in just 2 weeks!!! I'm really hoping that you sign up before I get a producer for the event, when the price will go up substantially. I'm also including a free keep forever e-book with this course and this course only of all the course content so that those who take it can refer back whenever they need in the future. Here it is for 5 weeks of magical transformation plus an additional 3 weeks of access after that. It's live but you get to log in and participate whenever you like. The people signed up so far are a wonderful mix of very beginner to professional and all of them are warm and caring, which helps when we're vulnerable. Starts March 5th for only $99 (payment plans can be arranged if needed) AND it has a 100% money back guarantee if you don't think it's tremendous value. See www.herosartjourney.com for more info or just sign up here for a life changing adventure - http://tinyurl.com/7a9qdwv - and if you sign up soon, you will get a wonderfully inspiring thank you gift :)

And just to intrigue and tempt you further...

I even came up with a bunch of descriptive keywords that you'll learn about with my unique methodology that you won't learn in any other course  -

easy, fun, empowering, very beginners to professionals, artists, therapists, children's book writers and illustrators, teachers, coaches, aspiring artists, drawing, painting, watercolors, acrylics, pattern, texture, collage, glitter writing, mixed media, stamp making, masking, transfer and xerox transfer, animals, faces, figures, landscapes, tree of life, family tree, Victorian silhouettes, gods, goddesses, or guardian angels, mandalas, monsters, dragons, portraits, self-portraits, composition, balance, perspective, cave paintings, renaissance, surrealism, multiculturalism, historical art, contemporary art, multicultural art, children's picture books, anthropomorphism, colonial expansionism, manifest destiny, visual culture, mythology, spirituality, Joseph Campbell, The Hero's Journey, Valerie Estelle Frankel, From Girl to Goddess: The Heroine's Journey, Van Gogh, Van Eyck, Ashley Wolff, Elisa Kleven, Hugh D'Andrade, Maya Gonzalez, Claire B. Cotts, Lissa Rovetch, Marissa Moss, Jim Averbeck, Paul Rodeen, Deborah Warren, Yuyi Morales, Maria Van Lieshout, Max Ernst, Picasso, Basquiat, Warhol, lesson plans, worksheets, art history, and more...

Oh and the VERY last thing...

I'll be speaking with other authors and illustrators and publishers (including the publisher of New York based publisher of Lee and Low) here on March 3rd. Here are the details. It will be a memorable evening plus it's just after my birthday : ).

Just a reminder to please join us on Saturday, March 3rd for THE NEXT
CHAPTER: A gathering to celebrate Children's Book Press' past and
future!

Saturday, March 3rd, 2012
7:00 PM (Program begins at 7:30 PM)
The Green Arcade Bookstore
1680 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
FREE and open to the public
All ages welcome!
Enjoy light refreshments while listening to tributes by authors,
artists, former staff and other community members. A limited number of
Children’s Book Press’ archival paperbacks will be sold at their
original 1975 prices!
Please RSVP to cbp.nextchapter@gmail.com

by February 27th.
Hope to see you at The Green Arcade!
Take good care,
Harriet Rohmer, Founder & Former Publisher
Dana Goldberg, Former Executive Editor

I would love to see you so do come to any of these events if you can. AND I'd love your support in continuing my magical year, so far : )

Mira

PS As always, feel free to email me at miraguy AT gmail.com (including if you would like the bring a friend special discount rate for the Hero's Art Journey course) and Please forward this to anyone you know who might be interested.

And the Winner is!!!!!

There were so many fantastic entries, it was really hard to choose!!! I often found myself laughing out loud - But choose I did. Thank you so much for participating. As a consolation prize for those who participated, please email me and I will send you a high resolution of the image without the text for you to print out and keep (it's quite lovely) AND a $20!!!! discount for the amazing Hero's Art Journey e-course starting March 5th (see button on left for more info), which is insanely helpful for both writers, and illustrators, artists and non-artists (and it's even got a 100% money-back guarantee)!  Email miraguyATgmail.com (and even if you didn't participate - feel free to email me).

So, here is the winning entry and the reasons why I chose it.

mouse stood on bird
who stood on elephant
who stood on alligator
who stood on turtle
who stood on snake
and still they
could not see...CATERPILLAR.

All they saw were beautifully-painted wings.
All they heard was a soft flutter.
All Mouse felt was joy.
"High enough!" Mouse called down. "The view...is amazing."
Butterfly winked. "It sure is."




Miranda Paul of Rate Your Story channeled me when she wrote this entry and sometimes it takes someone else to show you what you intuitively or unconsciously knew all along. See below for the original painting WITH a butterfly. The other things I like are how concrete the answer is (abstract ideas can be challenging for young children), and the many illustration opportunities it offers as the animals go in search of caterpillar. Most of you did both of these with beautiful language useage and if I hadn't originally painted this with the butterfly... .

Speaking of language, this entry also offers great language learning opportunities for children with imagistic language related to places e.g., under the flowers, around the bushes, above the rocks, and on top of lion's head as they keep searching, overcoming the "No, not there" obstacle, until they reach the climax of finding butterfly! Yay!!

Finally, if this manuscript and dummy when completed gets published, Miranda will receive a credit in the book and a free copy as well as her choice of a free 1hr picture book Skype consultation or free admission into the Hero's Art Journey course.

Here's the original painting before I reworked it and congratulations to everyone else who submitted. I'd love to see you in the Hero's Art Journey course or one of my upcoming children's book writing or illustrating courses coming later this year : )

Creative problem solving CONTEST

Here's a brain challenge for all you creatives out there. Below you'll find an image that I created for our Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Illustration CritiqueFest. It was lots of fun to do and I have  a really good sense of how the story is going to go but no idea right now what the "it" is. I came up with trying to see the moon during the day as it has to be something in the sky or up high (I think).

So anyway, the winning prize for "it" is your choice of a 1 hr Skype picture book consultation with me or a high quality print of this piece, or free participation in my Hero's Art Journey e-course starting March 5th. This course, which features interviews with and inspiration from award-winning children's book people Yuyi Morales, Magaly Morales, Jim Averbeck, Elisa Kleven, Ashley Wolff, Hugh D"Andrade, Maya Gonzalez, Francisco Alarcón, Lissa Rovetch, and a ton of other amazing picture book people and fine artists and even a couple of agents is a life changing fun and empowering creative adventure for very beginning to experienced artists, kids book people, teachers, therapists and adventurers and has received wonderful responses from everyone who has taken it. You'll get to "draw" out and make peace or slay your inner critical monsters, create your own Victorian silhouette tree of life, access your inner goddess, and much more. Do visit the website to find out for yourself. http://www.herosartjourney.com

To win, all you need to do is come up with that special what "it" might be - be as wild as you like - post it in the comments, and link this blogpost to your blog or social media and sign up for my fun infrequent newsletter (if you're in Northern California use this link http://eepurl.com/cz7vE and if you are anywhere else in the world use this link http://eepurl.com/hJCmQ. (you'll also get some litle giftees for signing up).

Be as brilliant, clever, soulful, funny as you can - but no pressure : ) Results will go out via newsletter or here (or maybe both). Good luck and turn off that critical inner voice monster : )

Great Inspirational Opprtunity for Children's Picture Book People

From the awesome Sharon Levin who does sooo many good thngs
Hey all!

Yes, it's getting to be that time of year again.  Please do help me spread the word.  It's going to be my last year affiliated with the festival (10 years is a good run, but my 'baby' will be in 10th grade next year, the eldest will be in college and it's time for me to move on), so I'm hoping for a HUGE turnout.

Thanks gang!!!!

WHAT:  The TENTH ANNUAL ORION CHILDREN'S AUTHORS AND ILLUSTRATORS FESTIVAL

WHEN:  Saturday, February 4th, 2012, 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

WHERE:  Orion Elementary School, 815 Allerton Street, Redwood City

WHY:    A unique and FREE opportunity to hear presentations by a wide range of children's authors and illustrators.  The lineup includes Jennifer Holm, 3 time Newbery Honor Winner as well as the author of the best selling Babymouse series.  Also presenting,  Elisa Kleven, Bruce Hale, Deborah Underwood, Teri Sloat, Thacher Hurd (not just a wonderful author/illustrator in his own right, but the son of Clement Hurd - illustrator of Goodnight, Moon), Shirin Bridges and our own amazingly talented Orion Parent - Elizabeth Gomez.

We have been doing this Festival for ten years.  It was started by a parent and the school librarian.  The main purpose was to have children meet the people who create the books that they love. We wanted to help break down the barriers between reader and author.   The festival has been and will always be free - we never want cost to be an issue for those who want to meet these amazing people.

Each classroom adopts an author or illustrator and studies her/his work in depth.  They then create beautiful banners based on their person's art.  Every child in grade 2 and above may serve as a docent to the author(s) of their choice.  It truly is a school wide event and Orion's gift to the greater Bay Area community.

Thank you for your time.

More information on the Festival lineup below:
Elisa Kleven
http://www.elisakleven.com/books.html
Thacher Hurd
http://thacherhurd.com/
Deborah Underwood
http://www.deborahunderwoodbooks.com/
Elizabeth Gomez
http://www.elizabethgomezart.com/wp/?page_id=4
Teri Sloat
http://www.terisloat.com/books/gallery.html
Shirin Bridges
http://goosebottombooks.com/site/OurGeese_sybridges.php
Bruce Hale
http://www.brucehale.com/
Jenny Holm
http://www.jenniferholm.com/index.html

Sharon
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
From me - And just to kvell a little (kind of means boast but it's more like sing or trill - OK I looked it up - "beam with pride and pleasure") New York Times best selling author Deborah Underwood is a former student from one of my kids' book courses, Elisa Kleven and Elizabeth Gomez are both good friends featured in my Hero's Art Journey e-course (next one starts March 6th) and I know and love Teri Sloat. They are all fabulous speakers and gifted creators. Makes me feel mighty lucky!!!!

Lessons learned in 2011 from A-Z

Art heals the heart and makes the soul sing

Car accidents are awful – leave earlier, drive slower. Also, courage comes in many forms.

Dental surgery sucks – brush and floss really well

Everything creative is not necessarily great (but most things are)

Finding out what's true for me changes with time but the essence of who I am remains the same

Goodness begets goodness

Help (asking for it) can be a really good thing and gets easier with time - helping others, even better

Independence is also good

Just do it and trust that it will be OK regardless of expectations

Kangaroos are not the only things that hop all over the place

Learning is its own reward (so is loving)

Marriage has its ups and downs (tho mostly ups).

Never give up on something you believe in (and if you lose faith, act as if)

Old people have often learned what’s really important (love)

Practice kindness to yourself and others (self part isn’t always easy)

Question what’s really important

Realize that this is it – “your one precious life” and try to live it with integrity

Seek out like-minded souls to grow with

Understand that life leads from one mystery to another

Very often we think we’re going one place when we’re really going another

What matters most is taking the journey with heart

eXtraordinary things happen when you take risks

Yellows like Quinacridone Gold can look light golden light

Zesty energy comes from eating well (no flour or sugar), being creative, and loving well

Wishing all of us a magical and transformational 2012 full of unicorns and rainbows and other fabulous miracles

Here’s a wonderful link to the symbolic meanings of unicorns http://www.unicornleanmanufacturingchangemanagementservices.com/about-unicorns.htm

Kids Books, Successes, Last minute Gifts, International Online Adventures, Victorian Silhouettes, Love and More

It's been a busy time since I disappeared into teaching my first online Hero's Art Journey course, which was a wonderful and transformative experience for all of us. The last passage of time has been a magical time - I took my children's book writing, illustrating, and publishing students to San Francisco to see and hear Chris Van Allsberg and Lemony Snickett (AKA Daniel Handler) moderated by the delightful Mac Barnett and it was awesome! I managed to spend some time in the beautiful Sierras, have continued bringing art programs to seniors - loving them and learning to accept their passing or their diminishing facilities, while celebrating their many successes in art. I also managed to make some time for my own art projects. Here's the seasonal greeting card that I was invited to do for our region's Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrator chapter. Quite the honor.

I realized that two of my former students were New York Times Best Sellers this year - Yay Deborah Underwood for The Quiet Book and Yay - Yuyi Morales for Ladder to The Moon ! Another former student self-published a really unique and intriguing book Yay David Tribble for Lord of the Scribes (http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lord-of-the-scribes/id463952767?mt=11)! And another of my former students, Mati Rose McDonough, illustrated her first and second picture books  - you can even enter to win one in a competition here. And she's releasing her first painting book Daring Adventures in Paint which I'm sure will be magical. Yay Mati!!!

To celebrate my students' successes I am offering a super-discounted online consultation for your picture book manuscript or illustrations. If you have a picture book in you, I can help! It's $30 off so instead of it being $210 for a guaranteed to blow your mind 3 hr consultation as it is here  www.artspractice.bigcartel.com it's only 180 for a guaranteed to blow your mind 3 hr consultation if you click below -

This special is good until January 15th but you can redeem it for up to a year so sign up soon  : )

And speaking of magical - my new online art (and crafts) course is up and awaiting your viewing pleasure and personal and creative empowerment. Spirited Gift Making takes a spirited and spiritual (whatever that means for you) approach to creating gifts for others and for yourself. I've created it as a self-paced course where you don't have to wait for anything - it's all right there with tons of fun video demonstrations, step-by-step directions, a private gallery and comments page, AND your own e-book of course content and instructions at no additional cost for the ridiculously low price of $25.

It's for complete beginners to professionals alike and everyone will learn something valuable. You'll be learning how to make Victorian Silhouette Portraits, acrylic paint and sculpted wish boxes, needle-felted brooches, watercolor peace cards, framing love frames, serenity bracelets and more. Any one of these projects is worth the price of admission so do check it out  www.spiritedgiftmaking.weebly.com  Please read the testimonials above and forward this blog post URL to ANYONE you know who's artsy/crafty or wishing to access their creativity.

Here's a peek

I've even made gift certificates for last minute gifts for that special person - only $25!!

And lastly but not leastly here's the link to the new updated Hero's Art Journey online art and transformation course with fresh interviews with inspiring artists and new content www.herosartjourney.com

And guess what? I'm also running an early bird special until January 7th for this course too. Only $89 for 5 glorious weeks of personal empowerment and transformation accessing or improving art techniques and creativity. See the post before this one for more info and this one is even better! Here's the link to the course www.herosartjourney.com

Here's the link for the discounted price

Here's a sneak peek of the new Hero's Art Journey video



And another gift certificate

And finally here are a few testimonials from heroes all around the world who took the first Hero's Art Journey course:

What I liked most about the course was that it was not just technique, not just personal growth, not just art history, but a fabulous combination of these things and more. It also felt like a very caring community of artists, which I desperately needed being an insecure beginner! This was a terrific experience! :) ~ Michelle Lansdowne

I spent the day thinking of myself and other people as goddesses and gods. It was a really cool experience/exercise. Highly recommend it, changed my 'reference point' quite a bit. I have enjoyed all the interviews because they give me insights into the way other artists do/see things. I really like the filmed interviews. The course has been a wonderful mix of 'everything'. Life happens and art happens, and this class is a wonderful catalyst for making art happen while life goes on it's busy-body little way. ~ Kirsten Carlson

There is so much material, including demos and interviews. I consider this course a “must have” experience. Most of all, it is highly affordable, and very convenient. The videos are very well done. The material is well organized and presented at just the right pace. I am very thankful to have found Mira because her gifts of instruction have helped me immensely. ~ David Le Roy

Mira, I love the course, and the Flickr community where we get to see each others' work on the different subject matter--very inspiring. The technique videos are great, you make things look easy and very do-able, and I know I will try more new ways of making images because of what I've experienced here…. I love the journey concept, it feels like we're going somewhere, and we do! This is definitely a growth experience for me as an artist and a human being. Thanks for sharing! ~ Diane Stewart

it's so fun to watch you work. it's like dessert topping! i just eat up the visuals with my eyeballs. and i love monster stripes and dragon glitter!  ~ Maya Gonzalez

Dear Mira your course has been a delight in every facet … this was my very first art class, and I had a great time. The Hero's Art Journey melded itself into all the myriad other things that life sends our way in a typical week and also how it stood out as inspiration instead of "to do.” I liked knowing about the different skin colors too, but I fell on my knees in thanks for the how to draw a person video. You made it so easy - I can do that. I've loved the course, the company, the comraderie, the tiny bit of deadline pressure offset by the hugeness of the artistic freedom. Thank you for all your hard work and your enthusiastic honesty. Thanks to you, I've learned oodles about technique and come to the end of the course feeling richer in very deep and personal ways Thank you for all your hard work, but especially thank you for your honesty and for sharing your open-hearted generosity with us. Mira is an enthusiastic and talented teacher who puts her all into her classes in order to draw as much as possible from her students. ~ Nancy Laughlin

If you need someone to push you outside your box I highly recommend taking Mira's course. Even if you're not sure you have the time, its still worth every minuite you can squeeze in. Attending Mira's course is like having a personal trainer. And, the input from all the other students builds on the entire experience. Through her concept of 'hero' I was able to identify with the themes and truly take my 'journey' to the next level. I feel 'unstuck' after several years of spinning. Just do it! Really! ~ Kary

Mira, thank you so much for your honesty and your commitment.... I will treasure this experience and your teachings ~ Barbara T.

Thank you for reading all the way to the end here. I would love to have you in one of my classes. As always - feel free to email me miraguy AT gmail dot com  or contact me in the comments section with any suggestions or questions : )

much love

Mira

Adventures on this Hero's Art Journey

Calling out around the World!

I'm definitely deep in my hero's journey creating my first Hero's Art Journey international e-course. Course starts this Monday the 12th so if any of you folks are interested in learning how to draw and paint or work with collage, deepen your existing art practice or reconnect with it, meet some fabulous fine artists and children's book illustrators and authors AND have an amazing life changing experience, now's the time to sign up.

click on images to enlarge

The people already signed up range from total beginners to phenomenal artists. We'll have tons of instruction for those who want or need it on drawing, watercolors, acrylics, collage, stamp making and more, tons of inspiration, and guest interviews from the likes of incredible children's book illustrator/authors and fine artists like Maya Gonzalez, Elisa Kleven, Claire B. Cotts, Hugh D'Andrade, Elly Simmons, and TBA. You do as much or as little as you like in whatever way works for you using eay tech in the comfort of your home and the safety of our online environment.

I'm really proud of the work I've done creating this course, which is loosely based on Joseph Campbell's seminal work on universal myths where each person receives a call into the unknown and extraordinary things happen for those who heed the call. I hope you'll join us. Here's a sneak peek www.herosartjourney.com  and here's where the discounts are

Join some incredible people for a once-in-a-lifetime experience (truly). Are you up for taking the leap of faith? Do you have an adventurous friend open enough to take the leap with you into a world of creativity, mythology, and creativity? Simply sign up here and then email me at miraguy@gmail.com Family members welcome.

Take a peek at www.herosartjourney.com

Regular price $89

And here are some hopefully intriguing samples from Marge and me (you get to tweak projects so they work for you)

My Little Movie About An Amazing Global Online Transformational Art, and So Much More e-Course

Here it is! The 2.5 minute movie about Hero's Art Journey, the transformational, experiential, online, multicultural, art, mythology, and personal growth course that I've put everything I know into. I'll be teaching drawing, painting, mixed media, life lessons, and so much more for very beginning and/or experienced artists, teachers (lots of lesson plans), therapists, coaches or anyone wanting more courage, creativity, beauty and fun in their lives and work. 

I've made the technology really easy to use and taken choice bits from Joseph Campbell's work on The Hero's Journey. We'll explore meaningful and fun projects while learning lots of art techniques through easy clear instructions using multiple methods of learning (here's where the PhD comes in handy, but don't be intimidated). We'll also form a wonderful interactive community of support.

Class starts September 12th - October 31st with course content remaining for another 3 weeks so folks can really take their time if they need. Size is limited  to have the best possible experience so click on over to www.herosartjourney.com or email me at miraguy@gmail.com for more info or to arrange alternate payment.

This course will be life-changing (as I've heard from many of my past students) in the best possible way and is priced to be fantastic value at $89.Please tell EVERYONE you know and help spread the magic.

Check back to meet more of the fabulous artists whose interviews and techniques will inspire you (including historical, contemporary, and famous picture book artists).

Artists lives, friendships, collaborations, and art

I've been an artist for as long as I can remember. As a child when adults would ask what I wanted to be when I grew up, I'd say "artist" to everyone's horror. For most of my life, being an artist has been one step up from being a heroin addict or a serial killer. Decades ago a friend took me to her office party and the usual question of "what do you do?" came up - of course I said "I'm an artist." The looks were truly disdainful as if I'd said I had a majorly contagious disease, but then when my friend said, "Mira illustrates children's picture books" the change was amazing. Suddenly I was respectable and worth knowing. Faces were smiling. I'd been redeemed.

With the phenomenal rise in the information age and technology came a greater public valuing of images and image making and visual culture. Image making became more valued through this image driven media. And even though there's been a huge increase in respectability, and even money and status for some folks, and even though the emotional and psychological, intellectual, spiritual, and aesthetic rewards are tremendous, being a committed artist is still a big struggle in terms of economics, security, health care, and the daily challenges of doing the work and getting paid for it.

For me, one of the biggest rewards of being an artist (besides doing the work and teaching others how) is meeting other artists. As an artist, children's picture book creator, and art teacher, I have become friends with lots of fabulous artists. I wanted to feature some of them here. I'm also delighted that brave souls who want to learn art or deepen their art practices will meet some of them in my upcoming fabulous global online art course Heros Art Journey on September 12th. Follow the kitty to find out more : )

I recently got to visit 2 wonderful artist friends Briana and Peter for their 30th anniversary. They are exceptional people as you will see from their art and home which was a total fixer-upper. Weaving their usual magic, they transformed it into a magical abode. I took a bunch of pics, which I'm randomly showing some of here. Peter makes wonderful recycled stained glass from glass plates and such and they both make fantastical talismans, sculptures, jewelry, and objéts d'art from recycled metals. Click on images to enlarge.

 

Something strange happened with my camera amidst all the socializing, so apologies for the weird color (sigh). Unfortunately you miss the glorious color of this stained glass piece which you can only imagine, especially when the light is streaming thru.

As I'm only focusing on 2D art for my course, Briana and Peter won't be featured in it, but the next artists will.

At the party, I ran into a dear friend Claire B. Cotts who had just come back from an exhibition of her work in Tennessee. Her work is brilliant (always has been) and while we were talking she "whoopee" agreed to be interviewed for my course! Knowing Claire - it will be fabulous. One of the things that is especially wonderful about Claire is her equal commitment to realistic narrative and abstract narrative in her work. The girl knows her stuff! Oh and she's also an awesome children's book illustrator.

One last friend I want to share today, who will also be featured in the course is my old mate Hugh D'Andrade (check back in a few days for more fabulous featured artist friends - too many for one blog post). I was lucky enough to be one of his students and then to have him as one of my students. I was also lucky enough to play a very small part in his and another one of my students falling in love in class and they are now both happily married successful artists. Yay! Am hoping Mati Rose McDonough will be in at as well but depends on whether her book projects' deadline is extended. Here's hoping she has time.

Don't forget to check back to meet Elisa Kleven, children's book author and illustrator extraordinaire, Elly Simmons another extraordinary artist (whose also done some children's picture books), Maya Gonzalez ditto, George Littlechild (hopefully), and more. Oh and here's my kitty if you want to register or find out more about this phenomenal course starting September 12th. Oh and can you folks who show up on my feedjit that someone really is reading this, help me out and do that magical exponential social media thing and help me get the word out about Hero's Art Journey? Thank you sweet things.

Art, Passion, and Life - Art as Healing

I love passionate people (mostly). Some passions border on obsession or obsessiveness where you can't stop thinking about it and it's pretty much what you live for, dream about, and want to do with all your heart for all your life. Making art, children's picture books, and teaching/mentoring are pretty much it for me.

My obsession started as a child in a difficult working class neighborhood where art making was my refuge and my joy. I could literally draw out my pain or I could create fantasy worlds that I could escape into (self-portrait mermaids were a common theme as were lovely landscapes). Art making helped me survive many difficult things and heal from them.

My parents were war survivors and died young. After that I pretty much raised myself. If anyone mentioned parents or war, I would simply leave the room. I was scared that if I spoke about them I would start crying and never stop.

One day I did a painting using our family's iconic "family portrait" photo as reference. I was so scared I'd just cry and cry and cry. And I did. But then I stopped and in the process of painting that painting and allowing myself to feel the sadness, something profound shifted. I still have and love that painting (I'm the sad twin in the lower right).

For years, many of my paintings were about sadness or grief or about being confused, conflicted, or angry, until I'd drawn out so much of that stuff. When I lived in San Francisco, I had a year where I just allowed myself to paint darkness, mostly black ink on white paper with a big brush, but also quite a few color paintings about my family and the Holocaust. My best friend and I went to the beach and built a fire and burned all the art. People rushed up offering to buy pieces but I needed to burn them and watch all that sorrow go up in flames. It was fascinating how the canvas on the back of the paint burned first and then the paint turned into chalk and then it was just gone. It was incredibly beautiful.

When I came to the US, I was lucky enough to have a solo exhibition curated by one of my art heroes (and crushes) Enrique Chagoya http://tinyurl.com/3ter9dm . Enrique encouraged me to  show my most intense work and take elements out of the paintings and continue them onto the wall so it was even more intense. I got the most amazing responses to that show including an invitation to illustrate a bilingual children's book about change. This began my career as a children's book illustrator where I got to create empowering anti-racist kids books. Talk about healing.


Now my work is very often about light and color and joy. Even tho I still sometimes paint about difficult things or things that I'm questioning, I do it with a much lighter heart and palette. Am so grateful for the power of art as a force of transformation and good in the world.


When I was a grad student, my dissertation chair asked me "What is your agenda?" I said "to be a force for good in the world." I feel grateful that I get to do this through my own work and by teaching others skills to access their own art making or deepen it. It's always sweet to be in a place of gratitude. Now I'm off to obsessively paint!