HOPE

These thoughts came to my mind with the importance of the election this week. I jotted down a few things in my journal and got out my paints this afternoon to create this sea blue illustration. It is a reminder of where I physically get to live-near the ocean. I do not take for granted all the beauty God has place right around me. It is why water shows up in my illustration themes and often ends up as the backdrop to the stories I like to write.

HOPE is the feeling I have as being a character in God's story. As Christians, we have the confidence in knowing that God's story will be completed to perfection because he is the author.

Whether you choose to be a protagonist or an antagonist in his story, he will still use you as a character. You are part of his plan. As election day nears, our new president will also be part of God's plan.

There may be waves. They may be rough at times. Do not be afraid.

You have the life-line of HOPE offered to you and the confidence that God's story will be fulfilled as planned.

Smiles,

Wendy

This Is The Day

This is the day the Lord has made. How powerful is that?

Do you ever stop to think that you are God's child? He made you! He loves you! He organized and created everything for you to enjoy.

You might be thinking, WOW! I never thought of that before. How can I ever repay Him? The answer is you can't. If that makes you feel bummed out, don't let it.

As a good father, a Dad likes to see it when his kids are happy. God is the best father. He wants you to be happy too. He doesn't expect you to pay Him back. He wants you to acknowledge Him in your life by praising Him, rejoicing if you will. When we share His love with others, we can't help but feel happy, GLAD.

We can be GLAD that we have THIS DAY to REJOICE.

Let's do it!

Smiles,

Wendy

Good Old Summertime

I've been working on a few illustrations lately that are color examples of a picture book that I am currently writing and illustrating. The song, In The Good Old Summertime, kept playing over in my mind as I was finishing up this piece. (Of course, I only knew the refrain).

This scene shows our feathered friend basking in the glow of work well done. Now, it is time for him to enjoy a little R&R and Summertime!

The lyrics to In The Good Old Summertime were written by Ren Shields in 1902. When Shields approached publishers about it, they were apprehensive since it seemed seasonal and would have a short shelf life. As it turns out, it remained a timeless classic used by many over the years including Walt Disney in "The Picnic" from 1930. 

After watching the clip, I realized this Disney book was a favorite at our house years ago. I did project my very best Mickey and Minnie voices on every reading!

Like our feathered friend, I hope this weekend has you relaxing after your work is completed. Now it's time to enjoy some Good Old Summertime.

There's a time each year

That we always hold dear

Good old summertime

With the birds and the trees'es

And sweet scented breezes

Good old summertime

When your day's work is over

Then you are in clover

And life is one beautiful rhyme

No trouble annoying

Each one is enjoying

The good old summertime.

 

Smiles,

Wendy

Late to the Party?

My current fifty something season poses some questions about picking up a paint brush again. Questions like, “Are you late to the party?”

Seasons give us time to reflect and review. The times leading up to this season have shown me four things consistently. You may relate to some of these as well. 

#1 Creating Stuff is Fun! I have always enjoyed art. My five year old self has fun memories of coloring with the neighbor kids on the picnic table under their apple tree. This insight pushed me on to crafts in 4-H, private painting classes in high school and a college degree in graphic design. The great thing about discovering what you like as a kid is that it is true. There is no agenda or goal when you are five. 

#2 It’s Good to Know Jesus. As we enter new seasons, whether it is moving to a new location, starting a new job, entering a new school, making new friends or picking up a paint brush again, Jesus knows all about it. We might not know how it is going to work out but He does. And His plan is perfect. I like to think about His aerial view, which allows Him a much greater perspective.

#3 Kids are Gifts! My own two daughters have brought me so much joy. In their toddler days and as adult women they continue to make me happy. As youngsters, seeing things through their eyes was awe-inspiring. Now, I'm in awe of their abilities and hearts. I'm also enjoying the bonus gift of two wonderful son-in-laws.

#4 Enjoy the Journey- it is sad to think of all the things we miss because we are so busy trying to get the thing.

So, am I late to the party? 

No, 

I’ve been eating the cake.

Tips for Cake Eating:

#1 Remind yourself what the little you enjoyed- do some of that.

#2 If it has been a while since you connected with God, talk to Him. He is still there.

#3 Give your time to a child today. You will both feel better.

#4 Enjoy the journey.

Smiles,

Wendy

Behind the Scenes With Little Shrimp and Mr. Crab

Words and pictures are important. Put them together and they are the best way we have to communicate our stories and feelings to others. I’ve put together a few steps from my most recent illustration to give you a little behind the scenes perspective.

Step One: Research-

At the marshes along Fort Fisher.

I’m incredibly blessed to live in an area where I can launch a kayak in the name of “research."

Step Two: Roughs

Back from the kayak adventure. With ideas swimming in my head, this is where I get the lead out!

Thumbnail sketches are used to bring the best idea to light.

Step Three: Concept Development

Believe me. No crabs were injured in the making of this illustration.

In this step, I work on issues with scale, proportion, character design, composition, etc.

Step Four: Design Development

Sometimes those little faces just make me laugh.

The chosen concept gets tightened and is transferred to watercolor paper.

Step Five: Paint!

First I paint in the lines then go back and fill in the color. Assess and repeat (if possible). In this illustration, I decided the sky was a little too bland so I gave it a magenta boost.

More visual impact and clarity was still needed to tell the story.

After I gave Little Shrimp a flag, I needed to give him antennas (again).

For some reason, it seems like many of my pieces highlight the food chain. However, Little Shrimp’s flag is not a sign of giving up but rather a plea for help. Once I put in the S.O.S., then Mr. Crab’s heroism became apparent. It was so very nice of him to help Little Shrimp out...

...especially in a pinch!

Make it #simplefunmeaningful

Smiles,

Wendy

"You're going to get it. I'm telling!"

Look at the title of this post again-"You're going to get it. I'm telling!"

When I was in third grade you heard that kind of stuff on the playground all the time, or was that just me?

My third grade teacher, Eldo Schnackenberg, (I know what a great German name, right!) took these "playground opportunities" as teachable moments. He explained to our class (me) that the word grace, which seemed so abstract and intangible to an eight year old, simply meant undeserved loved. I have a feeling Mr. Schnackenberg handed out a lot of grace. He taught third, fourth and fifth grade at the same time in the same classroom. Amazing Grace!

As we are in the midst of Holy week we see the true meaning of grace played out through Christ’s death on the cross. Jesus was true God and true man. He followed all the playground rules and yet it was him on the cross. He could have removed himself from the cross and told the rest of us, “You’re going to get it and I’m telling!" but that was not God’s plan of salvation. His plan was full of grace, his undeserved love. Because Christ took on our sins and died on the cross for us, we have new life, new hope, new joy, new energy to be his Easter People. I hope some of that comes across in this illustration.

Because of Jesus’s death on the cross, "You're going to get it, his undeserved love…. and I’m telling!"

Happy Easter!

Smiles,

Wendy

Bravery vs Stupidity

Look at this illustration. Not quite sure what is happening.

Me either.

That is good.

I just entered this in an SCBWI Carolinas competition. The criterion was simply to create a square format, picture book page turner. This may sound easy, but it is not. It may look easy but looks can be deceiving. Creating and successfully carrying out a hook is hard. Oh, did I mention, no text is allowed.

How do you establish a cliffhanger with a single image and no text? You make it compelling enough to entice children to want to know more.

Some of you have seen this little penguin character of mine, named Steve. Steve shows up a lot. It really is not surprising to see him here as he has a strong sense of adventure. But in this illustration is Steve being brave or stupid?

I’ve read that bravery is when one jumps in the sea to save another and stupidity is when one jumps in the sea to save another without knowing how to swim. Steve is an excellent swimmer but I doubt if he knows anything about pulling shark’s teeth.

If stupidity is acting bravely for a selfish reason and bravery is acting stupid for a selfless reason, I would venture to say that Steve is being brave to help Sharkie with his loose tooth. But if Sharkie turns on him, Steve ends up being a stupid lunch.

So which one is it, bravery or stupidity. The answer is found in the outcome.

You have to turn the page.

Yay!

Smiles,

Wendy