Capable - Illustration Friday February 24/2012

Inspired by the Illustration Friday quote:

"If we all did the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves". - Thomas Edison

As one of four siblings, hurrying, squabbling and noise were the order of our mornings - until the wonderful day I hauled open a resisting drawer and decided for myself what I would wear. Sticking my head through the neckhole of a stiff polyester knit shirt always resulted in sore ears - doing it myself, I could ease the ears through one by one, and if I had to turn the shirt around because I'd put it on back-to-front, at least it was not inside-out. I chose pants in the shade of brown that matched the stitching around the neckline and found acceptable socks where I'd left them, crumpled behind my bed. My older sister was sure the matching shirt and pants were accidental, but I didn't care. I felt as though I were floating.

To this day, that sense of accomplishment at age three, of being capable of choosing for myself and taking those choices into the day is like a trophy I gave myself - and memory polishes it brighter than graduating from high school or even university.

"Popularity" Illustration Friday February 10, 2012

Inspired by the Illustration Friday word: "Popularity"

"Avoid popularity if you would have peace". - Abraham Lincoln.

So thrilled was he with the popularity of his performance that Ralph did not stop to consider on what this popularity was based...

I'm afraid he had never heard of Abraham Lincoln nor his thoughts on peace.

Suspense - Illustration Friday February 3, 2012

Inspired by the Illustration Friday word: Suspense.

Childhood imagination is wonderful - fills in blank spaces, the unknown beyond the horizon, answers the question: what will happen next? As a kid, what your imagination provides may not always be pleasant. And the suspense of waiting for the imagined to befall can be interminable.

I'm glad I still have that imagination - and even more pleased to have context for what it conjurs up. Still, I don't do suspense.

Petey's Mamma

Pulling out the tablet for some other work, it invites doodling. No crumpled up or wasted paper, just ideas and play. I should do this more often.

"Forward" Illustration Friday Jan. 27, 2012

Inspired by the Illustration Friday word: "forward"

Thoroughly energized by the SCBWI conference in NY this past weekend. Still catching up on sleep, digesting everything.

Now, forward!

"Grounded" Illustration Friday January 6, 2012

Inspired by the Illustration Friday word "grounded"

As one of four noisy, energetic and - above all - inquisitive children (I'll admit the word "hooligan" has been used to describe one or more of us at times with some accuracy) one of the things I longed for most was somewhere I would not be disturbed.

In the summer, even a call of nature did not necessarily mean a period of solitude, as the outhouses up in the country were two-seaters, and "take your sister with you" was a phrase we all had to live with - and learned to sidestep with some skill as we got older.

I used to watch squirrels and groundhogs with some envy - to my eye, they could just wander off, dig for a while, and voila - a new house. All the peace and quiet they could want.

These days I've learned to enjoy, even gather the noise around me. Solitude comes of its own accord.

"Highlight" Illustration Friday December 31, 2011

Inspired by the Illustration Friday word: "Highlight"

Mulled over this word choice all week, in between various holiday gatherings, tidyings and while working on my portfolio, getting ready for the SCBWI conferece in NYC late January (anyone else going?)

Although the highlight of the holidays was the wonderful, noisy tribe of kids tromping through the house, drawing that while my mind was on other work did not develop.

And then I noticed - the toes, leaves, branches and shoebuckles in this image, all highlighted in the moonlight. I rarely post an image not created specifically for the I.F. challenge, but I think this one took shape influenced by the challenge, eve if I was unaware of it until just now.

Happy New Year, everyone.