The Writing and Illustrating Process: Author/Illustrator Blog Tour

  Waiting To Take You Away.............

Thanks to friend and fellow author/illustrator, Jenny Betton Rogers, for the invitation to participate. I first met Jenny in L.A. at the SCBWI national conference where she won a coveted Mentorship Award. This last May she scooped up the Portfolio Showcase Grand Prize at the New England Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators conference! Enjoy more of her work:

 

Jenny Betton Rogers

Oh, look! The Magical Mystery Tour Bus   has pulled up to my studio.

What's that? What am I currently working on? Well, first of all, nice hat. You're welcome. I am currently juggling a lot of balls. Art for moi. Art for thee. Art for sale. Art for glee.

F.Y.I. I wrote a poem that goes with this image.
Send me a note or some smoked salmon and I
will send you the poem. Just kidding about
 the smoked salmon. And for the
record, I never said I was Dante
 Alighieri, Emily Dickinson,
or Pablo Neruda.

Currently I'm in the thumbnail stage of a fabulous picture book project for young readers (some of which haven't even opened their eyes yet) which I will talk about later.

This painting is of my friend Joe, a fabulous barista & juggler on display at Simon Mace Gallery 

.

Here, have some fresh roasted, fresh brewed Ethiopian coffee. Why do I write what I write? Well, since I am juggling both words and images the question ought to be, Why do I write or paint what I write or paint?

 

I write or paint because if I did not I would be vexed. Sad. Drowning in the Firth of Forth. Wallowing in some Hogwartian Netherland.  Why I'd be sunburned on Saturn or chilblained in Chile. It's what I love to do.

 How does my writing/illustrating process work?

 Whether I'm writing, illustrating, or free-fall-moshpit-giddyup-painting/sculpting, I re-call my childhood openness to the universe. Then, miraculously things show up or evolve into a phrase or image that wants to become more.

 

 Like this painting. My other friend, also named, Joe, walks around town every day followed by forty or fifty crows.  Well, I ask you.  There was no way I could not paint this curious slice of life.

Sorry but this painting called, "Confluence" just had to happen.  When we first came to Port Townsend, we went to the William James used bookstore. There are at least twelve or thirteen authors or references to great books  in this image.

Other than some possible mural projects, that's what I'm working on these days.  And splitting wood for this winter.  Not counting the long term Chaucerian epic projects in the works.

Now step right this way! Next stop on our Blog Tour ––––––––>>>> •

Please visit the delightful blog of writer, poet, illustrator, and my beautiful daughter, Faith Pray here at her blog Sacred Dirt.