Hello Readers,

As promised, I’m sharing my progress with illustrating my first children’s book. This past week I met with other artists at a local coffee shop. We gather once a week around a large rectangular table, sip tea or coffee, talk, and work on our own art projects.

This time I worked on my second illustration for my story. I outlined my pencil sketch in dark blue ink. That was easy enough & it looked pretty good.

I went home, thought about doing more, and put it away. Other tasks were calling. And, to tell the truth I was feeling some trepidation about the next step. Paint!

Then an artist friend invited me to meet her and another artist at a local library room to do our art projects. Yes! I replied. I knew it was the boost & the focus I needed. And luckily it was the same day (today) that I’d have to report to you about my progress (or lack there of.) I loaded up my art supplies and drove over to meet them.

We sat around a large wood table, sipped tea, talked, ate cookies and eased our way into doing our art. I was doing fine practicing with colors for the sky in my illustration. It’s a night scene with stars and a big old tree. I got a few helpful tips from my artist friend who’s been doing art since she could walk.

Then, time to dip the brush in the paint and begin.

Gulp. It feels so permanent. What if I mess it up and I have to start all over? My experienced artist friend said she feels that same nervous, hesitancy before she paints on a large expensive piece of paper. Good, I guess I’m “normal,” I thought.

Even-so, it felt like jumping off a diving board, only my brush was the only thing getting wet.

I dipped my wet brush in Prussian blue and let it flow across the page, brushing back and forth down the wet paper canvas.

Then something happened. The more I painted, the picture started coming to life! White stars I had protected with liquid masking were now bright against the dark violet blue sky.

My heart felt some hope.

Maybe I really can do this!

After the paint dried, I used dark blue & indigo blue colored pencils for the tree. They created a rough texture that looked like tree bark.

My artist friend suggested I use orange pencil on part of the trunk where the light of the rising sun was shining. I would have never thought to use orange. As it mixes with dark blue it made brown.

It was getting fun! The more I colored the picture, the more I felt like I was in the story.

Before I knew it, two hours had passed and it was time to clean up and go home. I wasn’t done yet, but I really enjoyed the process. We said goodbye and I got in my car and drove home.

Soon after I got home, I unloaded my art supplies and put my illustration on my art table. I sat down and picked up my colored pencils and continued doing all the colors and shading until it felt like it was done.

I took a break and then came back to look at it.

“It’s starting to look like a real picture book!” I grinned.

Two illustrations done!

Nine more to do!

I’ll keep you posted. More next Sunday, thanks for reading! 😊