The Plaza and Eloise

The other day I read in a news paper something fun.  The Plaza Hotel in NYC is opening "Eloise Suite"
Eloise is a children's book about a little girl who is six years old and lives at
The Plaza, written by Kay Thompson and illustrated by Hillary Knight.
 What fun would that be sleeping in a room that is designed like one of your favorite books, kind of blows away Spider Man bedsheets doesn't it?
I personally never read any of the books written about Eloise (even though I may pick up a book now after reading about how the story came about) and  I do enjoy Hilary Knights artwork and have always recognized the book. I even had lunch once at the Plaza and somehow new Eloise story was based there.
It made me wonder how it must feel to have that kind of impact; that a story of as little girl living in a hotel could become so famous. Who knows maybe one day I will know for my self. (okay you can stop laughing) 
More about Eloise story can be found at her official web site "Eloise Wed Site".
  

So what is going on?

Not much at the moment like everyone else the heat has taken a lot out of me, I'm trying to get back into the swing of things and do some original artwork but it has been very slow going. I realized that even though I have done a lot of artwork over the last several years very little has been just for for me.   

So were to being?  I'm looking at older work to kick start me creative juices also need to go to a museum and or art gallery would help.

 Quick up date Hamlet is doing well.

After his seizure on Memorial day. He is walking on his own, we are not walking as far but he is doing it on his own power with no help from me. I have to say this has aged him between the the heat & the seizure certain issues he had before all this happened seem to be more prevalent.  But nothing can be done about that.

             07/11/2010

                "The Giving Meadow" 

Will be on a blog tour in August. I will be hosting or letting Stephanie Burkhart take over my blog on August 12th. When I get the dates of the whole tour I will post them.

Well that's it for now

stay cool!

Stephen

Rena Jones is Running a Contest!

Rena Jones

 is

Running a contest!

So off you go to her blog site 

click me to leave a comment on Rena site

Run, run, run, as fast as you can,

You can't catch me, I'm the Marshmallow Man!

I'm sure most of you have heard of that goofy, flat Gingerbread Man and how he ran all over the place trying not to get eaten up by all those shady characters. But ... have you heard of The Marshmallow Man? Written for kids ages 4-8 years, this is a retelling of the classic story, but with all-new hungry characters and an all-new, twisted ending.

I've decided to run a contest for an autographed copy of my third picture book, The Marshmallow Man. There are two ways to enter ...

1. Leave a comment here on my blog telling me something about marshmallows. It can be anything you want to share -- a story, how you like to eat them, a favorite recipe, a childhood memory, etc. (Rena's Blog Site)

2. For those who have read the book already, you can be entered a second time simply by leaving a review on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. You can give the book as a gift, to your child's school, or keep it for yourself.

Pretty simple, huh? The contest will run for two weeks, ending Friday, August 6, 2010. I'll pick a winner (from a hat) that night and announce it the following Saturday. Please help me spread the word by telling your friends (your kids can enter too!), posting on your blog, on Facebook, etc. And don't forget, the book can be ordered through my website, 4RV Publishing, LLC, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, or any bookstore. And finally, I have some fun activities on my website for kids to do, so don't forget about those. Thanks and good luck!

The View

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   I posted a couple days ago about a wonderful review I received from a client about how they enjoyed my work as a massage therapist, it made think maybe I should do more post telling about why I became a therapist maybe tell some of the funny and frustrations of being a licenced massage therapist living and working in Manhattan. Something to break up all the posting I do about my artwork to see more then one side of me. To educate others to show how what I do can be beneficial to  the wellness in your lives.
Maybe get people to realize that how we are not always portrayed in a good light by TV, movies, and by those who are just ignorant.
Well this was sent to me the other day just in time for my first post.
 I still don't plan to make it a habit on talking about my work as a therapist but I think from time to time just to break things up a little bit will be okay.
This type of ignorance is insulting to my profession.

Cold Spring NY (book shelf)

Well it's not B&N but its a shelf,

 in the heart of

 Cold Spring NY 

you will find many charming stores and restaurants. You will also find now

"Angeline Jellybean", and "Would a Kangaraffe Make You Laffe?"

(Q) Where?

(A) Sandy's Casual Corner Antiques 93 Main street  book shelf  of course.

If all goes well more of the books I illustrated may find its way there  

My other life

I do not speak often of my other passion, I seem to focus more on my artwork on my blog site. But yesterday I was sent a link that is special, it's about me and I thought to share it with all of you.

I have been a NYS Licenced Massage Therapist since 1994, except for the term Masseuse it's a great review.

Spa Finder Guest Review

(Click on Spa Finder)

  

Picture Book Cover Art

It's amazing what a picture can do.

For about a year there was no image (cover art)  for this book.

 Yes frustrating, how can you sell a book on Amazon or Barnes & Noble web sites and not have a front cover being shown. Somehow it was lost in the wash so to speak, I was busy working on illustrating other stories so I did not pay close attention to how long ago the book was published, and the publishing company has there hands full as well.   

It was not till I finished "Libby the Odd Squirrel"(maybe coming out in September) that I realized how long it has been, So after sending out some emails inquiring on the book cover. Then latter posting what I've done to promote the book and  letting who ever reads these post that there is still no image for the book, someone Anonymously made a simple suggestion on how I can fix it on my own.

 (Original post just click)

Well the Book is not  ranking at #1 but it is now ranking at #1,653,874 in Books and it is ranked the top seller of the books I illustrated.

This is in no way saying that this picture book is better then the others because they are all special in one way or another and even though I have my favorites, I will never tell because I don't ever want any of the picture books get jealous of one another.

Happy Reading! 

Well I didn't win

Not to long ago I did a contest to see if I could win a "albino python"

for my nephew

Sorry to say it didn't happen

But here is the artwork!

Look what I made!

Look what I made!

 A past client of my gave me a call wanting something new for her wall.

 She sent me this photo a black & white of "Sekhmet" an Egyptian Warrior Goddess.

I thought it was a male god until I started finding other references pictures of her on  "Flickr" and of course Wikipiedia is always helpful in finding thing out. 

So I started with my sketches until I liked one well enough to send to my client. 

    She approved the sketch and off I went on my marry way,

 like every thing else I draw, I start by sketching, then pencil followed by inking then scanning and finally color digitally, So your not reading anything new about me . But thanks to sites like Flickr I was able to find full body shot of her but also color references as well to give her more of an authentic touch.  Well the end result is a good one she liked the work and is now hanging on her wall . 

sketch

Pencil and  Pen & Ink versions 

                                                        Finished artwork

I am Honored

So I'm playing along,
Thank you Beverly Stowe McClure for the award.
I really don't deserve this and I'm sure there are better blogger then myself who deserve it but here goes.

Rules:

1. Thank the person who loved me enough to bestow this gift.
2. Share seven things about myself.
3. Bestow this honor onto 15 newly discovered or followed blogger – in no particular order – who are fantastic in some way.
4. Drop by and let my fifteen friends know I love them

I promise to try to get to all fifteen in the next week

1) I don't like awards ;)
2) I still enjoy reading Winnie -The Pooh
3) I never wanted to be a fireman as a kid
4) I eat Frosted Mini Wheat's
5) I love animals
6) I'm thankful for spellcheck
7)  I can fall a sleep just about anywhere

Now for those fifteen blog sites that will have to deal with this next

(kind of like the game telephone)

1) Ginger Nielson

2) Hillary Wagner 

3) Nata Romeo

4) Page -a- Day Sketches

5) Sruble's World 

6) Terry Lynn Johnson

7) Rena Jones

8) Romance Under The Moonlight

9) Cartuneman's Doodle

10) Eric Barclay

11) The BookWood Blog

12) Tilly the Rescue Dog's blog  

13) Diana Evans

14) The Chocolate Chip Waffle

15) Michael Sporn Animation Splog

(This was a lot of work took me an hour just to post this one with all the links)

Help Each Other Out

Four simple words

"Help Each Other Out"

followed by

"So how can we help each other out on in this group? "

This is the start of a thread I created back in February of 2009, part of a discussion in a group I belong to. As of today there are 70 comment posted, and I'm guessing the moderator of the group pined it the top of the page (Featured discussion).

There have been many wonderful responses and of course some that made me scratch my head. I personally never thought my four simple words would be pined to a wall. It has made me smile.

It has also brought on something I did not expect that someone would email me telling me to give him a Job.

With out given any names this is what was sent to me.

The emailer wrote:

U r right. I m illustrator so can you help me to get the freelance assignments of illustrations.

Me:

Sorry no

The emailer:

Then why u speaking abut healp eachother?

ME:

When I asked the question it was not meant for some one to email me saying I should get them work; It was and is how to support each other to give each other ideas on how to or were work may be found outside of the norm books, magazine & so on. It took me three years of pounding on doors for my first illustration assignment. I’m still struggling.
So I would suggest reading through the comment for ideas and the advice that is already there and if you have any question just ask.
Good luck
Stephen

So outside the fact I found this person rude, I also don't like to get emails unless from friends that are written in shorthand, I have done my share of managing companies; this has always
comes with a stack of resumes looking to fill vacant spots. Would anyone hire a person who can not write out full sentence? Or word? I do hope he find the rest of his words and does find work. I'm happy to say he has never contacted me to asked any questions or have I seen any odd post from him. I'm sure as time goes on more emails will be sent to me like this one. I just hope someone teaches these kids about not to abbreviate there words when look for a job.

(I have no idea were I was going with this post)