My newest artist book for children “This Rabbit” is rolling out! It’s a whimsical look at self-awareness with lots of different rabbits liking a variety of things. As I mentioned in my last post “This Rabbit” shares a cover design similarity with some of my other artist books that also have a bunch of different characters exploring a life concept. In the photo below you can see the covers for my series of books.
Here’s a closer look at the hardcover version of “This Rabbit“
And here’s a look at the page design. I made the artwork large so that it mostly fills each page with a small space at the bottom for the poem lines.
More of the inside of “This Rabbit” can be seen on my portfolio page here or as a preview on the page where the book can be ordered here
Book signing during a pandemic is a challenge. I’m solving that in a few ways and one of those is by placing a few signed books at the Aurora Gallery. Some of the original artwork for many of my books is there too. In the photo below is an assortment of books signed and destined for the Aurora Gallery. https://auroragalleryonline.com/
And while I waited this week for my copies of “This Rabbit” to arrive from the printer I worked in my sketchbook and over short bursts of time towards a new painting using all of my recent rabbit research. This painting is one of several that will be in new art exhibits later this year.
While working this week I was thinking about human development. In addition to learning what you like as one lives you also learn and practice attention to your feelings. With that in mind I’ve been thinking of what Dr Bob says in the book I illustrated some time ago…”feelings are guides not gods to be obeyed“. For example we’ve all done things like cleaning up yucky messes even when we didn’t feel like doing it at the time – but once it was done we were glad it had been done. So we’re capable of using our executive brain to decide when to listen to our feelings and when to go ahead and do something despite our feelings.
In the picture above is my breakfast: overnight oats (made in a small wide mouth mason jar) along with coffee. And here’s a recipe article link about this quick-easy meal. I like quick-easy breakfasts so I can spend more time in the morning drinking coffee, reading and sketching.
In the photo below I’m working (after breakfast) on a new painting. There’s a collage bit in it from the falling apart copy of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice that I’d talked about in another post.
Here below is what the new painting became: “Attention To The Feelings” – 12 x 9 – acrylic and collage on board.
One of my favorite authors who write about sketching and creative efforts is Danny Gregory. Here’s what he wrote about dealing with feelings in his book “Art Before Breakfast” :
This is inner-voice phenomen is true for any creative effort. Including trying a new recipe for breakfast.
So please be gentle with yourself and the other people in your life this week. We’re all just muddling though trying to remember what we like, trying to pay attention to our feelings – but not too much attention – and trying to regularly eat a good meal.
See you here next Monday? Hope so…
I’m loving that last rabbit’s harlequin pants! I’m very taken with them. I think the little ones will LOVE This Rabbit.
Thank you!!! Hopefully you’re right about kids loving it!! 🤞 And thank you again for sharing my post on Twitter! I appreciate you!
You’re welcome, Sue!! I’m glad there is Twitter so that I can share books (and poems!) I’m excited about.
Me too!! And I’m honored to have my work included in the list of books and poems you’re excited about!! Thank you!!
You’re welcome!!
Love the rabbit listening to the record player, with its BIG ears catching every sound:)
Lol!!! I’m delighted that you caught that visual joke!!! Thank you so much for telling me!!!
I find the rabbits to be especially appealing for some reason:)
I am so glad to hear that you like them!!! ❤🐇
Congrats on the new book! So exciting, and it’s the first one where I’ve followed your creative journey.
I also like your point about considering your feelings but remembering that overruling them at times is important and actually makes you feel better in the long run. It’s getting that balance correct that plagues most of us, I’d wager. Always so many things and people to consider. Kindness to myself and others is a good litmus test for choices, I find. Thanks for another encouraging post!
Thank you so much!!! I appreciate your comment and am so glad to get to share my creative journey with you! That’s special!
And I completely agree with you: getting the balance correct is challenging – and whether something is/isn’t kind is definitely a good measurement scale to use! Thank you again!
I bought a copy of your softcover book. I think it will be a stay at Grammy’s house book that I will read to her instead of giving it to my granddaughter. But if she ends up loving it, I might give it to her someday. Looking forward to receiving it!
Thank you so much!!! Grammy’s house is such a good place for keeping the extra special things to share with grandkids! I am honored to be a small part of your special fun times together!! ❤ Here’s hoping she loves it…🤞