Giant Robot is having another cool group show opening this Saturday, March 27th. The theme is artwork for small spaces, since most New Yorkers live in cramped quarters.
It's only March 17 and so far it's been quite a month. Superfine kicked things off with a Superfun Art Opening. 6 children's book authors and illustrators had work from our books displayed behind the funky bar where a large crowd gathered to celebrate art, passion and literature. I had the pleasure of meeting my colleagues Miriam Cohen, a legend in her own right, and Aileen Leijten, for the first time. These ladies, along with Meghan McCarthy, Melanie Hope Greenberg, Pat Cummings and myself, were in the show and have also been participating in a number of readings around town this month (see my previous blog post for details). Just last Sunday, I was on a panel at BookCourt with all 6 fantastic female authors and illustrators. It was extremely cool to share each of our unique perspectives with a lively, mostly adult, audience. Some of us read, some drew, we all told stories and did our best to answer questions. We were asked if there was an 'aha' moment for each of us with our work. I love this type of question, it forces me to reevaluate and assess how I got to where I am. It's also been interesting timing, since just a few days ago I became naturalized as an American (I am from Canada), after living here for 19 years. Needless to say, my own personal journey has been on my mind. But mainly, it's been refreshing to get out of the studio, do readings for children and meet up with my talented peers. There's just ONE more event that I'll be participating in: This Sunday at P.S. Bookshop in DUMBO at 4 pm for story time, where all 6 of us will take turns reading. Then I will go home, get under the covers and take a very, very long nap. 
Please join me to celebrate WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH with my talented colleagues, Melanie Hope Greenberg, Miriam Cohen, Meghan McCarthy, Pat Cummings and Aileen Leijten. 
Before writing and illustrating children's books full-time I made money illustrating in other ways. One thing I did was depict a performer each week for a Las Vegas publication called, "Showbiz Weekly". I did this gig for four years, and never did I miss a week caricaturing such famous (read: washed-up) celebs as: The Smothers Brothers, Phyllis Diller and Wayne Brady. I did hundreds of these portraits. Some likenesses were spot-on and some totally sucked. Such were the challenges of illustrating an on-going column. 
This week marked the release of LITTLE CLOUD AND LADY WIND, the children's book by Toni Morrison (& her son, Slade), illustrated by none other than my husband, Sean Qualls. 
Making a picture book can take a long time (sometimes several years!) to complete from beginning to end. Unfortunately, I will not have a new book out this year (please hold back your cries of horror and disappointment!) But rest assured, I will be crazy busy making the art for 2-3 new books that will eventually don shelves. They include: 
I'm pleased to report that the Brooklyn Museum Book Fair was a smashing success. This was partly owing to the dynamic craft activities that Sean and I had going on at our booth. Droves of children came by to make self portrait ice cream cones and draw their own family trees. These simple activities coordinated with the themes of our recent books: Ice cream flavors for, I'm Your Peanut Butter Big Brother (Knopf) and family lineage for, Who Will I Be, Lord? (Random House). Check out these awesome kids making art!
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