Woohoo! I got an honorable mention in the 2016 Tomie dePaola Award through the SCBWI!! Check out the amazing winners and fellow honorable mentions at http://www.scbwi.org/2016-scbwi-tomie-depaola-winners/

Here’s my piece: 

More fun art to come. I’m a little unfocused today upon my return to illustrating post-holiday, and hijacked by the excitement of getting the honorable mention – and the personal note from Tomie that accompanied it. EEEK! It’s not like I grew up on his books or anything, or pored over his exquisite originals  in the Kerlan Collection while a student at the U of M. Not at all.

It is deeply affirming to have someone in the industry be like “Hey, you’re not wasting your time completely – here’s an honorable mention.” I’ve been referring to myself around the house as the honorable mention. Ha.

I’m also brainstorming my goals for my business for the coming year. I get so excited and write so much down and then get overwhelmed, because it’s hard to know where to start! Some of those goals/ideas include redeveloping my style to focus more on the line-work I love, revamping my color medium, adding cool products to my Etsy shop, approaching greeting card companies and educational publishers, exploring art fairs, etc. But what it all boils down to is, to quote the master Neil Gaiman, “Make Good Art.” Words to live by. Wish me luck!

Not to overload the bucket, but I also want to finish a polished young adult novel manuscript this year. (Rubs hands together maniacally)

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 1,800 times in 2015. If it were a cable car, it would take about 30 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

(A little something I made for a friend’s 50th birthday gift)

It’s fun for me to get my box o’ art out for taking to a new show – looking at it reminds me that, gosh, I kind of like the stuff I draw:) Nothing like a frame to spiff things up. It’s also kind of scary to be set loose with aforementioned box of art in one of my favorite public libraries, with kids gurgling nearby and people actually looking for books right by my display shelf. Don’t mind me! Just setting up my life’s blood on this bookshelf here and walking away. All in a day’s work for CAPTAIN CARMEN. *GO SEE IT. IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE, STOP YOUR HEART, AND REMIND YOU OF YOUR CHILDHOOD. I WOULDN’T MISS IT IF I WERE YOU. Actually, it’s not that exciting. But it’s actually kind of exciting. GO SEE IT.

No? Well, maybe next summer:( Feeling some autumn ennui.

Pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting help.

Check out some of my art in the September/October issue of the awesome magazine New Moon Girls, which can be found at bookstores and newsstands through November 1st. See page 8! I laughed when I heard what article I would be illustrating. P.S. If you know a girl between ages 8 and 15, this magazine is a great resource, and a subscription would make a great gift! Me and my friends grew up reading New Moon. 

Some more  babies with attitude: