Grace Lin's Blog, page 53
March 11, 2013
on my desk monday
At night, when the baby is sleeping and packing is too noisy, I've been experimenting with my Star Baby book idea. I remember an editor telling me once a long time ago that every time and illustrator has a baby he/she changes his/her art style. I'm not sure if that's completely true--I don't know if I want a permanent change--but I do understand the sentiment because I've been playing around with some new art styles, trying to see if anything sticks. This one is a return to watercolor, which I haven't done since college:
We'll see where it goes!
We'll see where it goes!
March 8, 2013
fortune cookie friday
"A friend made is a road paved; an enemy created is a wall built."
-Chinese Proverb
March 6, 2013
Original Art Trunk Sale
As you know, I'm moving! One of the things I've been thinking about is lightening my flat files. They are just stuffed with art and I can't fit anything else in. It's time to make an art purge!
But what to do? At first I thought I'd just give it all to an archive like the Dodd Center but it does seem a little sad to think of all of it just sitting in a vault (not that it's doing much more in my flat files). I'd love the art to be seen and enjoyed.
Then, my good friend Janet Wong suggested that I have special online "trunk sale" of my artwork for schools and librarians. I could offer them the opportunity to purchase my art at a discounted price, it would be displayed instead of put in a vault AND I it would be financial aid for our move!
The first 12 pieces will go on sale in a couple of weeks and I'm making a special list for it. If you are a teacher or librarian* and would be interested in purchasing my art, please sign up to be on the list HERE. There will be a choice to be on my newsletter list or the trunk sale list---make sure you click "Original Art Trunk Sale" to be on the list but feel free to sign up for both (I have special giveaways on my newsletters, too).
Please spread the word! If you are a PTO member, please let your teachers and librarian know and have them get on the list! Tell your public librarians. I'd love for my art to be at your library!
*if you are a collector yourself, you are welcome to put yourself on the list, too.
March 5, 2013
My last booksigning at Porter Square Books!
I'll be signing and reading at Porter Square Books on Saturday, March 23 at 6pm in support of the Cambridge Friends School. Come and support a great school and bookstore--Porter Square Books will donate 20% of all sales at the event to the Cambridge Friends School Fund!
Also, this will be my last event at Porter Square Books before I move away (sob). So this is the perfect chance to get any personalized autographed books of mine! Pre-ordering is advised as I might not be able to stay long (Rain Dragon has an early bedtime!).
Also, this will be my last event at Porter Square Books before I move away (sob). So this is the perfect chance to get any personalized autographed books of mine! Pre-ordering is advised as I might not be able to stay long (Rain Dragon has an early bedtime!).
March 4, 2013
on my desk monday
on my desk today is....NOTHING!
We're doing the first "wave" of our move! We got one of those pods:
and it's full of my studio...and some other things:
There's still a lot left to pack, though. This is going to take a while...
Rain Dragon says, " Don't forget to move me, too!"
We're doing the first "wave" of our move! We got one of those pods:
and it's full of my studio...and some other things:
There's still a lot left to pack, though. This is going to take a while...
Rain Dragon says, " Don't forget to move me, too!"March 1, 2013
fortune cookie friday
"Happiness is something to do, something to love, something to hope for."
-Chinese Proverb
February 26, 2013
Children's Book Week Bookmark
As I mentioned a couple of time earlier, I am the creator the 2013 Children's Book Week Bookmark. I can't tell even begin to tell you how excited I was when I was offered this opportunity. One of my life long pipe dreams is to be the illustrator of a Children's Book Week poster--this is pretty close!
So, I really wanted to do a good job on this. The Children's Book Week people asked that the bookmark include an activity of some kind-- other artists had made their bookmarks into door hangers, even paper dolls!
I racked my brain for a long time trying to think of something as creative. Paper fortune cookie instructions inspired by Fortune Cookie Fortunes? I didn't think it would work out of context (so many people don't realize that fortune cookies are not Chinese and the subtlety of Chinese-American pride might be lost in the misunderstanding). Origami inspired by Lissy's Friends? I thought that might be hard to follow. How to write the Chinese character for "Book" or "Read?" Maybe... but then at the dentist's office (had to get an old filling replaced!) I saw a Highlight's Magazine:
and remembered how I always loved their "hidden picture" features:
....and the light went on!
From there, I decided to create the bookmark hiding the letters R, E, A, D, I, N, G in the image. It was a lot of fun! Here's the sketch:
can you see the letters?Here'e the work in progress:
adding the color in! Trying to make the letters not too obvious, but still not too hard to find. And the final painting:
I decided to add a bonus activity to the bookmark (like I said, I really wanted to do a good job!), so I included instructions on how to draw a Chinese dragon using letters (I thought that kind of went with finding the letters on the dragon bookmark--letters, dragons, reading--it kind of works, right?):
And then the bookmark was done! See what the finished thing looks like and download it FREE at the Children's Book Week website ! Hope it makes you excited for Children's Book Week--I know I am!
So, I really wanted to do a good job on this. The Children's Book Week people asked that the bookmark include an activity of some kind-- other artists had made their bookmarks into door hangers, even paper dolls!
I racked my brain for a long time trying to think of something as creative. Paper fortune cookie instructions inspired by Fortune Cookie Fortunes? I didn't think it would work out of context (so many people don't realize that fortune cookies are not Chinese and the subtlety of Chinese-American pride might be lost in the misunderstanding). Origami inspired by Lissy's Friends? I thought that might be hard to follow. How to write the Chinese character for "Book" or "Read?" Maybe... but then at the dentist's office (had to get an old filling replaced!) I saw a Highlight's Magazine:
and remembered how I always loved their "hidden picture" features:
....and the light went on!
From there, I decided to create the bookmark hiding the letters R, E, A, D, I, N, G in the image. It was a lot of fun! Here's the sketch:
can you see the letters?Here'e the work in progress:
adding the color in! Trying to make the letters not too obvious, but still not too hard to find. And the final painting:
I decided to add a bonus activity to the bookmark (like I said, I really wanted to do a good job!), so I included instructions on how to draw a Chinese dragon using letters (I thought that kind of went with finding the letters on the dragon bookmark--letters, dragons, reading--it kind of works, right?):
And then the bookmark was done! See what the finished thing looks like and download it FREE at the Children's Book Week website ! Hope it makes you excited for Children's Book Week--I know I am!
February 25, 2013
on my desk monday
It's the finished portrait of one of my contest's winners!
That's one! Now only three more to do. I have to admit these are taking longer than I thought. I might not be able to do commissions after all. Or maybe I will limit the commissions I agree to. I'm not sure. Any suggestions?
That's one! Now only three more to do. I have to admit these are taking longer than I thought. I might not be able to do commissions after all. Or maybe I will limit the commissions I agree to. I'm not sure. Any suggestions?
February 22, 2013
fortune cookie friday
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible."
— Dalai Lama
February 20, 2013
the necessity of a new studio
One of the reasons we are moving is that we've outgrown the condo. What used to be the studio is now overrun with baby things--now I work in the living room.
This has become problematic because at night, when the baby is sleeping, I like to keep/start working and the Sasquatch wants to unwind by watching a movie. He likes to watch in the dark. I like to work in the light. After many nights of a well-exercised light switch, the Sasquatch came up with this solution:
Yes, it's a light for me to attach to my head!
I did try it:
But in the end, the head lamp was a bust (I do use it to sneak in to the room to cut the baby's fingernails, though). And the light negotiations continue. Can't wait until I get into the new studio!!
This has become problematic because at night, when the baby is sleeping, I like to keep/start working and the Sasquatch wants to unwind by watching a movie. He likes to watch in the dark. I like to work in the light. After many nights of a well-exercised light switch, the Sasquatch came up with this solution:
Yes, it's a light for me to attach to my head!I did try it:
But in the end, the head lamp was a bust (I do use it to sneak in to the room to cut the baby's fingernails, though). And the light negotiations continue. Can't wait until I get into the new studio!!
