Hello, hello, from a rain-drenched hobby farm in northwestern Oregon.
Despite worst-case-scenario election results, despite fires and floods, life marches on. I am still illustrating Rumplestiltskin by Mac Barnett. I’m in the home stretch.
Trolls
This is a drawing of Rumplestiltskin, but it’s also a segue to the topic of internet trolls.
I bring them up because they’re the reason I’ve restricted commenting to paid subscribers, at least for the time being. I’m sorry, guys. They have been hard at their shitty work lately, and I don’t like to see you getting harrassed in the comments.
Home Strettttttttttttch
It generally takes me about a year to illustrate a picture book. I work slowly. A lot of illustrators make books twice as fast, or even faster. Alas, not I. I’m a slowpoke.
I’ve got a month to finish up Rumplestiltskin, so I’m busy. But I wanted to check in and say hello, hello, and that I haven’t forgotten about you guys. I am just in the weeds.
I have lots to say about this book but it’ll have to wait until I have time to do it thoughtfully. In the meantime, here are some research images.
Sometimes book research is unglamorous and amounts to idly scrolling google image search for reference photos while I hunch over my drawing table. In the case of Rumplestiltskin it was more purposeful and more fun. I read books about or set in the middle ages. (I especially loved Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman and The Time Traveler’s Guide to Medieval England by Ian Mortimer. I listened to the latter on audiobook with my family and everyone liked it.) I paged through books for visual inspiration. I compiled and continue to compile an album of imagery from every corner of the internet. Right now that ever-expanding folder has 271 images in it.
Accolades
In other news, I keep forgetting to announce that I was a finalist for a big art award! I’ve been applying for lots of things over the past couple of years and have, until now, been rejected every time.
But this year I was a finalist for the Betty Bowen Award, presented by the Seattle Art Museum. I had to go up to Seattle and present my work to a committee of judges. It was a little nerve-wracking, but ultimately great.
The Betty Bowen Award recognizes a visual artist working in the Pacific Northwest. It’s prestigious! I didn’t win it, but I was honored with a Special Commendation Award. It meant a lot to be a finalist for it, especially as I prepare to step away from illustration and devote next year to painting and other fine art pursuits. I want to spend time making work that nobody else has a say in. I’m moving steadfastly towards this goal in a fog of uncertainty. This award left me a little less uncertain, plus I got some money too. Thank you, Betty Bowen Committee. Congrats, Betty Bowen Winner Samantha Yun Wall and my fellow finalists.
Ho Bitwurm
Oh hey, there’s a new print in my shop, in time for the holidays. It’s called Bitwurm, which is how you say inchworm in the language of Du Iz Tak?
We restocked some prints that had sold out too. Everything is here. Except for that ONWARD print, which has also been restocked. That one is here, and all proceeds from it go to the ACLU.
Ta Ta, Oodas
Well, I should probably get back to work. I hope you are all hanging in there. November in America has been a doozy. When in doubt, take a walk somewhere beautiful. If you are into windswept hinterlands, I can personally recommend Oysterville, Washington.
xo
Carson
Congratulations on your special award!
I love to see your references, so inspiring!