Exciting news! I have an illustration featured in this quirky little book: 
   Sundance Film Festival A to Z
  Edited by Todd Oldham, this fully illustrated ABC book celebrates a selection of films, directors, and actors who have contributed to defining the Sundance Film Festival as a home to the innovators and dreamers of independent film.  Each letter is illustrated by a different artist. The book includes work by a wildly talented and accomplished bunch. I created artwork to accompany the letter R.

   Many thanks to Todd Oldham for including my work in the book and to the talented and gracious Greg Kozatek for his guidance throughout the process.
   I also have to say, Robert Redford is my all time favorite. Films like A River Runs Through It, Out of Africa, Electric Horseman, and of course Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid have a spirit and power that I find remarkably beautiful and inspiring. Needless to say, working on a portrait of Mr. Redford for a project associated with his festival was a dream.
   If you'd like to find out more about the Sundance Film Festival, or to purchase a copy of this book, click here. All of the artwork created for this book will be on display during the festival this year. If you find yourself in Park City this January, keep a look out for my art!

Imagine living where you can pick succulent figs from a tree just outside your living room and smell citrus wafting in your kitchen window all summer. Sounds glorious, doesn't it? That place, is California. I grew up in the Santa Monica mountains and still have family living in the area. My multi-talented aunt has a lovely collection of fruit trees in her backyard and makes preserves every year. She often gives the jem-like jars of jam or marmalade as gifts and asked for my help in putting together labels to finish off the packages. I loved working on this design project, but enjoyed the jams even more. Thanks, Patty!

Since my trip to California this summer, I have settled in Buena Vista, Colorado for now. Long hours at my new job haven't left me with many opportunities to paint. But how I love working outdoors and having my days marked by the pink light of sunrise kissing the peaks and the deep blue of evening as the sun slips behind the mountains revealing galaxies and constellations in the night sky. I fear my paintbrush would fail to capture how the aspens seem to glow during this heavenly season. Until I have some new artwork to share, here are a few pictures from my fall in Colorado.

The release of Monet Paints a Day has come with so much fun and some happy surprises.

I got a sweet note from a close RISD friend recently telling me that she had shared the book with her art-campers this summer in the woods of Massachussets. Sara is a wonderful teacher, artist, and designer. After reading the book with her group to teach about Monet and his creative process, the kids all made their own impressionist artwork!  Take a look at Sara's website to see the young artists at work and to read her lovely review of the book.

Another fun surprise... a dear friend sent me this picture of Monet Paints a Day on display in the bookstore of the New York Botanical Garden. How awesome! Thanks, Melissa, for spotting Monet in NYC!

I have been on the road for the past few weeks. The trip included a few major events, such as...

...delivering a copy of Monet Paints a Day to my 94 year-old grandmother. She loved it.

I made the trip out west in part to attended the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Summer Conference in Los Angeles. I was moved, amazed, overwhelmed, and inspired by the whole experience. I left feeling so grateful and excited to be entering a field where there is just as much emphasis on making great books as there is on living great lives.

Here is the ballroom where the brilliant keynote addresses were given by Arthur Levine, Bryan Collier, Patricia Maclachlan, Karen Cushman, Clare Vanderpool, Ruta Sepetys, and Gary Schmidt...and the list goes on.

I had the opportunity to show off Monet Paints a Day at the conference and loved talking about the experience of illustrating my first book with fellow artists and writers. The SCBWI members I met were so supportive, encouraging, and excited for me and the book.

I also had the treat of signing a few books at an outstanding independent bookstore in Montrose, California. Once Upon a Time is definitely a gem of a store, and a place where you could spend hours letting your imagination roam free.

The booksellers there could not have been more loving. Here is a picture from the visit with Once Upon a Time's Amelia Palacios, me, my mom and my aunt. This picture was featured as a Publisher's Weekly Photo of the Day! My stop at  Once Upon a Time was a highlight of my California visit.

I have been thrilled to read reviews of Monet Paints a Day as they pop up. Here are a few reviews to read for yourself:
Waking Brain Cells
Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

Now, off to new adventures!!

    July First is the official release date for Monet Paints a Day, the book I illustrated for Charlesbridge Publishing. Seeing as I started working on the illustrations waaaayyyy back in October of 2010, I am beyond excited to finally be able to walk into a bookstore and find it on a shelf.
    Sharing the story and artwork with friends and family has been a thrill. A good friend of mine is a classroom assistant in a first and second grade class, and she teaches kindergarteners too. During the last few weeks of school, she read the book to her students and they were kind enough to write me notes and letters with wonderful praise and some terrific questions! Here are just a few letters. They all tickled me to pieces, but these especially did:

    If a bunch of letters from 6 and 7 year-olds don't make your day, I don't know what will!

    I've been keeping busy with a few projects and am doing my best to spread the word about Monet Paints a Day. Keep your eyes peeled on the shelves of your favorite library or bookstore come July!

    Today marks the launch of a wacky and wonderful book project that I am excited to talk about. Chocolate Chips and Rocket Ships is a book of 99 1/2 poems by John O'Marra, illustrated by 100 artists.
    Every day, a poem and illustration will be released on the web here. To watch a terrific video about the author and his kids who inspired the poems, to donate to the project, and to purchase a printed copy of the book, visit Chocolate Chips and Rocket Ships on KickStarter.
    John (who found me and my art on 1200 Posters) sent me an email back in March describing his vision, sharing some of his fun poems, and asking if I'd like to jump on board to illustrate a poem of my choice. The silliness and sweetness of his poetry had me hooked! I feel honored to be included in the book and am grateful to John for reaching out to me.
    I picked a poem titled "Bugs" and had a ball filling a painting with things that crawl, buzz, and flutter. I think it is only right to wait until the poem and the art are released with the book before I post them here, but I figure I can share a little sneak peek...

    Travel always seems to reignite my sense of wonder. I spent last week touring northern New Mexico as a guest art instructor with a great group of high school Freshmen and their brave and dedicated teachers.
    New air, new light, new color, new scents, new friends, new vision. Sometimes it takes a trip to the desert to shake off the dust of the familiar and to rediscover how light and space can open thought.
    One day of our trip was dedicated to hiking at Ghost Ranch, where Georgia O'Keeffe lived for the second half of her fruitful life. It was so inspiring to experience first hand the landscape that O'Keeffe trekked daily and long revered. I am grateful to have shared the day with so many  bright eyed 15 year-olds.
    I didn't have many opportunities to paint on this trip, but when I did have a paintbrush in my hand, I sure didn't want to put it down.

    In January of 2011, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to 7 European cities in 3 weeks with my aunt who plays bassoon and contrabassoon for the LA Philharmonic. Being on tour with the orchestra was a remarkable experience and I'm so grateful to have had the chance to go!
    The first stop on the tour was Lisbon, Portugal. The tiled roofs and sunbathed buildings of this seaside city are unforgettably beautiful. I hope to return some day, but in the mean time, I loved remembering it's magic while working on this piece.