MY ETSY STORE

 I always thought it would fun to have a store---perhaps there are shopkeepers amongst my ancestors.  I also love holding Open Studios, but there is a limit to how many times a year the creative work space can be bundled away to make room for a party.   With the internet, however, it's now possible for me to have a never-ending Open Studio, and run a shop, without ever leaving my physical studio or disturbing my ongoing creative work.  I've just opened my Etsy online studio shop:

http://WendyWatsonStudio.etsy.com

 I'm starting out on a small scale:  a few Christmas cards...

 ...a few out-of-print books with either accompanying prints...

...or with enticing decorated envelopes in which to present them...

...and my favorite---a small 6 oz. mug with a couple of cavorting foxes adorning its side.  All of the art was designed and executed by Yours Truly, of course.  My shopkeeper mind is bubbling and bursting with more ideas for things I could make to put on my virtual shop shelves.  My other more sober mind is saying "Let's just wait a little while to see how this goes before we do anything more."  In any case, no matter which mind-set prevails, right now I'm having fun!  Please drop in for a visit---I can offer you some virtual tea and cookies!
http://WendyWatsonStudio.etsy.com

SCHOOL & LIBRARY VISITS, PART 2

After my previous post (http://thewendywatsonblog.blogspot.com/2012/07/school-library-visits.html) the reference librarian at the Windham Public Library unearthed the following from the library's archives:

1998

Wendy Watson Artwork at Windham Public Library (left to right, Bill and Barbara Tolman, Steve and Sandie Mizerak, photo likely taken by Children's Librarian Laurel Parker)

An original piece of artwork by children' book author and illustrator Wendy Watson is in the Windham Public Library, thanks to many people.
        In July, 1998 Barbara and Bill Tolman of Scarborough, Maine attended an Elderhostel presented by the Hulbert Outdoor Center of Fairlee, VT at Dowds' Country Inn in Lyme, NH. One of the topics for the week was Children's Authors and Illustrators. On Monday, July 5th, following the fitness walking session, the Elderhostel participants had their class session with Ms. Watson.
        Wendy asked them what they had seen on their walk. She listed their animals, including a dog, a squirrel, and a robin. Then she asked questions such as, "Was the dog skinny or fat?" and "Did it have on any clothes?"
        Using crayons and newsprint Wendy sketched a very large dog chasing a squirrel running away with a pile of clothes and a very noisy robin letting the dog know where the clothes had gone. With the artist's body blocking the far left side of the paper, Wendy sketched in a No Swimming sign. She stepped aside revealing it to the class, surprising everyone. When it was complete with color the class had a lesson on how to create a story with a few familiar elements.
        The Tolmans asked what would become of the piece. Would it be possible for them to take it to Maine and donate it to the library where their daughter was the Children's Librarian? When they left at the end of the week it was rolled up on a tube for safe travel. On July 12, 1998 the art was presented to their daughter, Laurel T. Parker. The art work was now in Windham.
        The next step was to find a framer who could do the work for such a large piece. Sandie and Steve Mizerak, owners of Little Sebago Gallery and Frame in Windham, wanted to study the piece, confer with colleagues on the best methods to use, and they were interested in a community service project. They agreed to take on the project for only the cost of materials while donating their time. The only catch was that the library would have to provide transportation because it would be too large.
        The call came; the piece was ready. It was taking up a lot of gallery space. That afternoon Jeanne Thurber, a Friend of the Windham Public Library, transported it to the library in her truck. Snugly tucked in a back room in the library for a few days, the piece was ready to hang in the Children's Room.
        On Thursday night, October 29, 1998, Barbara and Bill Tolman, framers Sandy and Steve Mizerak, and daughter and Children's Librarian Laurel Parker met after the library closed and hung the original art by Wendy Watson. The blue mat and silver frame fit the Children's Room perfectly, the art work looked home.
        The library thanks all those involved with this project: Wendy Watson for her artwork, Deb Williams at the Hulbert Outdoor Center for allowing the piece to come to Windham, Barbara and Bill Tolman for thinking of our Children's Room and transporting it to Maine, Sandie and Steve Mizerak for their time and expertise in framing it, Jeanne Thurber for providing local transportation, and the Friends of the Windham Public Library for funding the project.

SCHOOL & LIBRARY VISITS

I just received a lovely email from a good friend and colleague, Bruce McMillan, a fantastic photo-illustrator and author of many children's books (http://www.brucemcmillan.com/).  He writes:   

Hey Wendy,

Look what I found at the Windham Maine Public Library (http://www.windham.lib.me.us/), an original HUGE Wendy Watson.

Yep, it's an original.

Nice and big and wet and splash.

The reference librarian at Windham is a friend and had always mentioned their Wendy Watson, so I stopped by to see for myself.

Bruce

When I do a presentation at a school or a library, I alway make up a story and draw a picture for my audience.   And I always invite plenty of input from the audience as to who, what, when, where, and how!  I used a giant black magic marker, and Craypas, to make this picture.  I left it behind for my hosts, as I always do.  How nice to think that it is still hanging in the Windham Maine Public Library.

ORIGINAL ART SHOW: OPENING NIGHT

The Original Art Show, the annual exhibition of original art from children's books, held its opening on Thursday evening, October 28th, at the Society of Illustrators in New York City---and I was there.  The Society was founded in 1909, well before there was a separate category known as "Children's Book Illustration."

The Society is housed in a lovely old building on East 63rd Street---you can read more about it and its history at the Society's website, http://www.societyillustrators.org/Default.aspx.  

My book BEDTIME BUNNIES was part of the show, a very great honor for me.  My friend and I arrived at the Society in the rain around 6 p.m. along with other enthusiasts---checked our coats---got our tickets and our name tags---and waded into the crowded room.  I have to confess that the first thing I did was find my own piece of art, and have a photo taken of it with me, its beaming creator. 

After that, I was able to concentrate on looking at the entire exhibition.  It was amazing to be able to see, hanging in two rooms, 150 examples of the best of children's book illustration today.  I wished I had planned one more day in the city, so that I could have come back the next day to view the show more thoroughly.  It was equally amazing to mingle with all the illustrators, art directors, editors, and publishers who were responsible for the art.  The energy in the room was palpable, almost over the top.  One of the speakers proclaimed, "Some  predict that picture books are on their way out.  But looking around this room, I'd say:  We aren't going anywhere!"  The room roared back in confirmation.

      The Original Art awards medals annually.  This year the gold medal was given to Rosalyn Schanzer http://www.rosalynschanzer.com/.  The two silver medals were given to Kadir Nelson http://www.kadirnelson.com/   and Lane Smith http://www.lanesmithbooks.com/LaneSmithBooks/Lane_Smith_Books.html.  A lifetime award was also given, to Tomi Ungerer http://www.tomiungerer.com/.  The posthumous lifetime award was given to Robert McCloskey http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_McCloskey.  Since I have always admired both Ungerer and McCloskey from the very beginning of my artistic career, I was especially pleased to be present as those awards were announced.  

The gallery was now closing---but the evening was not over.  My friend and I climbed the stairs to the Society's dining room, where we were served a shockingly decadent and delicious meal.  Executive Chef Quelbyn Sanchez is a real artist with food, and the Society---and all the rest of us---are lucky to have him there. 

      And so ended a wonderful evening, an evening that was exciting...inspiring...and filling. 

MY...BRUSH...WITH THE LAW---PART TWO

After a friend/colleague of mine read my blog "My...Brush...With the Law" (http://thewendywatsonblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/mybrushwith-law.html) she and I held an email correspondence about it, which I repeat here (edited for length):
          FRIEND:  Wow!!!  College professor!!  Felon harboring ammunition!!  Society of Illustrators!! 
          ME:  The avalanche of good news is really great, isn't it!  (Except for the ammo part, of course...)
          FRIEND:  All really terrific...but I like Ammo Felon best!  If they put you into the Witness Protection Program, please let me know first.
          ME:  OK...
          FRIEND:  Do you think the creep who buried the ammo is going to come back and dig it up?
          ME:  The odd thing is that especially in the first few months after I had moved in here, various people kept coming by "looking for X"...There were two young men who were especially creepy---they looked very respectable, well dressed, etc, but they came by more than once, ostensibly looking for some woman, and one day they actually parked outside my house and sat there for several hours.  I'm at the end of a cul-de-sac---there's no other house they could have been observing.  Stupidly I did not call the police---I was still in my small-town, everything-is-safe mode, where a car parked by your house for several hours meant nothing (except that maybe the driver was out hunting deer...or blackberries).  Later my daughter scolded me; and when I did finally call the non-emergency police (after the two guys had already left) the lady said:  "Don't take any chances.  They might be armed.  If you see them again, call 911 immediately."
          FRIEND:  Wendy.  Your neighborhood life is surpassing your professional life.  Be careful!!!  Dig some more in the backyard (but not at night.)  Join the NRA if necessary.  If you incorporate this into your school presentations, I would think your fees should double!
          ME:  Ha ha...
          FRIEND:  Seriously!  In addition to being a nationally known author/illustrator, when you throw in the additional drama unfolding in your backyard, you will have those third grade boys eating out of your hand!!!!


So.  My new career...True Crime for third-graders?

I'M IN THE "ORIGINAL ART" EXHIBITION

I am delighted to learn that my book BEDTIME BUNNIES has been chosen for inclusion in this year's annual exhibition "Original Art" (http://www.societyillustrators.org/Awards-and-Competitions/Original-Art/Overview.aspx).  The exhibition is sponsored by, and held at, the Society of Illustrators in New York City, at 128 East 63rd Street.  This is a competitive show, meaning that books are submitted by publishers, illustrators, or others; the participating books are selected by a jury of illustrators, art directors, and editors.  This year there were 590 entries; 150 of these were chosen for inclusion.  The Society of Illustrators itself is an illustrious organization that was founded in 1901, and has been highly active ever since (http://www.societyillustrators.org/).  It's a very great pleasure and honor for me to be part of this show.  The opening night will be on October 27, and the show will run from October 26 through December 29.  And the original piece that I have chosen for hanging?

VISIT THE SHOW!  You'll see my original...and 149 other examples of today's best children's book illustration.

TEACHING AT HOLLINS UNIVERSITY

I have just agreed to teach at a new summer graduate program at Hollins University, in Roanoke, Virginia:  The Certificate in Children's Book Illustration (http://www.hollins.edu/grad/childlit/childlit.htm). I am deeply honored to be joining faculty members Ruth Sanderson---and here's a piece of her art:

Ashley Wolff---and here's a piece of her art:

and Barney Saltzberg---with a piece of his art:

Although I've made many presentations, given many mini-workshops and programs, and mentored young artists and authors over the years, teaching this full-semester course---Picture Book Design---will be a new experience for me.  At the same time, much of it will be familiar and beloved ground, as the design of picture books is something that I of course have been practising for more than 50 years.
Hollins University is already host and home to outstanding MFA and MA programs in creative writing and literature, so I am doubly honored to be joining this program.  I'll be posting more about the program as time goes on---but for now, I 'm simply savoring the good news!

SCHOOL VISITS: MALDONADO

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting Amelia Maldonado Elementary in Tucson, Arizona, to talk with their first and second grades.  The school is named in honor of Amelia Margarita Maldonado, who lived from 1895-1988.  I quote from the school's website:  "She became a pioneer in bilingual education teaching in both English and Spanish around 1919.  A third native generation of Tucson, she was the youngest of three daughters of Francisco and Josefa Maldonado.  The Maldonados considered education a 'sacred honor', and encouraged their daughter to continue.  Amelia was one of the first Latinas to graduate from the University of Arizona in 1919.  She began teaching at Drachman Elementary at the heart of the barrio.  More information can be found in the book Latinas in the United States, A Historical Encyclopedia, edited by Vicki Ruiz and Virginia Sanchez Korrol."  

I planned to drive down to Maldonado the morning of my visit.  I left my house at 6 am for the 2-hour drive---plenty of time to arrive before my 9 am program, I thought.  Perhaps I would even have time for a second breakfast before I presented!  But it was not to be.  First there was  an automobile accident---fortunately not serious, but enough to delay traffic considerably.  Then there were the long, long sections of road repair work.  Again, more delays.  And last but not least, miles and miles of all traffic travelling at just 35 mph or less.  When I finally got up to the obstruction myself, I found that it was a huge, two-lane-wide piece of machinery on an enormous rig, travelling along the highway at a snail's pace, escorted by multiple police cars with flashing lights, fore and aft.  All of us by-now-anxious commuters had to inch around this behemoth one vehicle at a time.  I glanced at my watch more and more frequently.  Eight-thirty...eight-thirty-five...eight-forty...and I was still miles away from Maldonado.  I called the librarian on my cell phone and alerted her to the problem.  At eight-fifty-five I wheeled into the Maldonado parking lot, dripping with persperation.  Whew!  I grabbed my satchel, jumped out of the car, and bounded into the inner courtyard where the librarian was waiting for me.  She rushed me to the library, I taped paper to the rolling bulletin board, and was ready to go---just as the students began filing into the room!  Whether because of the rush, or in spite of it, my program was a complete success.

MARCH INTO READING

At the beginning of March I had the privilege of participating in one of the best book festivals I've ever attended, "March Into Reading," hosted by Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island.  This is an annual event that brings a visiting author or illustrator into every Aquidneck Island school on Friday, and then follows up with activities on Saturday at the University.  I made some of the presentations...

...and autographed books for my fans.

I also checked out some of the other Saturday events.

One of my favorites on Saturday was the "petting zoo"!  Especially because some of the baby goats were Nubians, the same breed that I helped to raise when I was a child.

You can find out more about this festival at   http://newport.patch.com/articles/salve-regina-hosts-8th-annual-march-into-reading#photo-5161787 or at http://riedmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/MarchIntoReading_flyer.pdf

TUCSON FESTIVAL OF BOOKS

I just returned from the Tucson Festival of Books in Tucson, Arizona (http://www.tucsonfestivalofbooks.org/) where I was one participant in a cast of 450!  Or more accurately, Father Fox and I were two participants in a cast of 450.  The crowds of attendees were enormous.  Father Fox and I both felt a bit overwhelmed, country folk that we are.

I had the great honor of being part of a panel on Saturday March 12 with Adam Rex and E. B. Lewis.  What wonderful company!  Our panel was titled and described as: "I Didn't Write it, But...Illustrating for Other Authors:  Illustrating a manuscript by another author means listening to the manuscript by reading and re-reading until the manuscript becomes as familiar as an old friend.  These illustrators will talk about how they create new perspectives and connections to the story, creating a whole that reflects but goes beyond the words."  The three of us together represented three generations of illustrating and publishing---all the way from the early 60's to the present.  Kind of amazing!

Father Fox and I also took our turn on the Story Blanket, where we entertained a small group of babies, toddlers, youngsters,and their accompanying parents and grandparents.

Father Fox taught them the delightful poem about Bert who ate his buttons, from Father Fox's Pennyrhymes (written by "another author" Clyde Watson) while I drew a picture of Bert.  Then I drew portraits of two or three child volunteers, who seemed quite OK with the way their portraits turned out---complete with furry ears, big teeth, and tails.  Lastly I read aloud from my own titles Bedtime Bunnies, Lollipop, and Has Winter Come.  I'm looking forward very much to going again next year.