The First Day of Christmas

Sadly, being a partridge, Penelope possessed poor reading skills. So it was only after having trained vigorously to become the next pear-eating phenom that Penelope realized the sign, in fact, read “pie-eating contest”.

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Although the tradition and history of the Twelve Days of Christmas is deep, complex and fascinating and the twelve days typically begin on December 25th and go to January 6th, we at the Doodle Diner decided to break tradition and start our twelve days today and go until Christmas Eve.

We’re just rebels like that.

So, the Doodle Diner denizens would love it if you would check back each day until Christmas Eve to take a gander at what illustration goodness we have in store for each of the next twelve days.

Check out the Second Day , Third Day and Fourth Day.

Oh, and make sure to have yourself a merry little Chrismahannakwanza!

of Whos and snowmen

When someone asks me what my favorite holiday book is, at the risk of being cliché, I just have to say (hey that rhymes), it just has to be How the Grinch  Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss. This book has been part of my holidays since I was knee high to a who, and whether it be the book or the animated television show created in the 60′s, it just wouldn’t be Christmas without the grinch and max with his one reindeer antler.

I’d also like to add another book that has charmed me. I love Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner and illustrated by Mark Buehner mostly because it was a present from my husband, who knows I have a thing for all things snowman. But I also love the funny, lively, whimsical illustrations. It mostly takes place at night (hence the name) and the lighting that Mark Buehner is able to pull off with his brush strokes is nothing short of magical.

The rhyme is very charming and fun to read out loud to kids, but it’s not the book’s strength. But put the rhyme together with tobogganing, hot chocolate swilling snowman images and you’ll have yourself a few giggles and some mighty warm heart cockles.

TDAC Holiday Contest

Got my contest entry for the They Draw and Cook holiday recipe submitted yesterday, right in the nick of time. Now it’s time to kick back and visit the site every day during December to see all the entries and find out who was the day’s favorite. The Day’s favorite will be on the Food Network’s blog – The FN Dish.

Fun, right?

Ok, did I say kick back earlier? Not so much. Now time to cram for the Sketchbook Project! Waiting until the last minute makes life so much more interesting. Especially during the holidays, hee hee!

The Doodle Diner wishes you…

SCBWI L.A. Illustrator’s Day 2010

SCBWI L.A. Illustrator’s Day was yesterday and what an amazing and inspirational day it was… and, huh,  wouldn’t you know it, the them was “Be Inspired!”

So wow, the speakers were fantastic!

Author/illustrator Brian Floca spoke about making picture books from concept to finish and all the trials, inspirations and triumphs in between.

Literary agent, Jennifer Rofé, talked all about how to promote your book, and for those of us who don’t quite have a book yet, how to promote yourself and your art.

Sr. Creative Director at MacMillan Rich Deas gave us a glimpse into the agony and the ecstasy of designing the cover of  Y.A. novels.

Tricycle Press Editor, Abigail Samoun gave us 6 easy, (or not so easy) steps to becoming a Children’s Book expert. Many things are involved but two books she suggested were Uri Shulevitz’s “Writing with Pictures” and Molly Bang’s “Picture This: How Pictures Work”. She even gave us a few lessons from Ms. Bang’s book which blew me away. I have Uri’s book already, but I’m running to get “Picture This”.

Then last, but certainly not least, Dan Santat gave a hilarious and inspirational speech about how he got into the biz. What a crazy-talented, yet humble guy he is.

There was also the illustration contest in which we were to interpret and illustrate the sentence (taken from Edgar Allen Poe):

“It was night, and the rain fell; and falling, it was rain, but, having fallen, it was…”

The winners (pictured and numbered above) were:

Joan Charles – 1st place

Carolyn Le – 2nd place

Cliff Cramp – 3rd place

There was also a portfolio contest with a people’s choice winner and 3 winners judged by the speakers… now if only I could remember who they were. Soooo sorry! I can’t find them listed anywhere, but they will, no doubt be listed on the SCBWI site at some point. They were all fantastic. It was a tough choice. Oh the one I voted for won first prize! I know a good thing when I see it, eh?

Oh yes, there were also raffles and books for sale. Not to mention all the schmoozing. It was like a mini-conference!

Anyway, all that, a box lunch and catching a terrible cold is what I got from Illustrator’s Day, and I have to say, the cold was worth it. It was a wonderful, wonderful day! Sniff! Achooooo!

Flooded Zoo

The Illustration Friday word for the week is “burning”. Ok, this is a bit of a stretch, but it sort of works, eh?

I’m heading to the SCBWI L.A. Illustrator’s Day tomorrow and this is what I entered for the illustration contest they are having. We were asked to illustrate something for the following sentence:

“It was night, and the rain fell; and falling, it was rain, but, having fallen, it was…”

So I thought … a flood. A flooded zoo to be exact. I know, always with the stretching I am.

Anyway, wish me luck!

Promo complete

A detail of the back of my promo postcard I just finished, (the front looks like this) sent it to the printer and should get it Tuesday. Just in time for the L.A. Illustrator’s Day on Nov. 13th.

Weeeee! Making progress.

They Draw, Cook and Contest!

Exciting news over at the They Draw and Cook blog!

Check out their Holiday Recipe Contest!

More Jack

Finished up our “this year’s” pumpkins just in time for the big day!

Booooooo and more booooooo!

Jack!

Waiting until the last minute to carve pumpkins today. But here is one I did a couple of years ago.

Boo!