7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #547: Featuring Rebecca Green
August 13th, 2017 by jules
I always enjoy sharing the work of debut artists, but I also like showcasing the work of local artists. I have one illustrator today, Rebecca Green, who is both things. She sees her debut this September in How To Make Friends with a Ghost (Tundra), and she lives here in middle Tennessee (Nashville). In fact, she’s painted a story time mural for Parnassus Books—you can see pics in this post from the bookstore—and I can’t wait to see it in person.
How To Make Friends with a Ghost is a sweet and quirky faux how-to guide on creating lasting friendships with ghosts, beginning with a girl who is “found” by a ghost (on account of being sweet, warm, and kind) and ending with the same girl as an elderly woman, still hangin’ with her spectral friend. In the end, the woman becomes a ghost herself and the two remain friends “even after the end.” In the hands of Rebecca, this is not as dark and grisly as it might sound; her gouache and colored pencil illustrations, rendered in a subdued gray and red palette, communicate tenderness. This is, more than anything else, a friendship story.
Below, Rebecca also shares some other miscellaneous pieces of art (including the one above), as well as some of her illustrations from Jacqueline K. Ogburn’s novel, The Unicorn in the Barn (Houghton Mifflin, July 2017).
I suggest making Floating Spaghetti and Mudballs together!”
Ghosts love to collect leaves, acorns and worms.”
I suggest Tales of the Living by Mort L. Bings.”
I recommend Spooky Jams by the Spiderz.”
Ghosts love to be cold.”
How to Make Friends with a Ghost
From Jacqueline K. Ogburn’s The Unicorn in the Barn
(Click each to enlarge)
All artwork used by permission of Rebecca Green.
Note for any new readers: 7-Imp’s 7 Kicks is a weekly meeting ground for taking some time to reflect on Seven(ish) Exceptionally Fabulous, Beautiful, Interesting, Hilarious, or Otherwise Positive Noteworthy Things from the past week, whether book-related or not, that happened to you. New kickers are always welcome.
Yesterday’s news out of Virginia is disgusting. I typed up these kicks earlier — before really taking in the news events of the past couple of days. I’ll just leave these here, but I’m feeling pretty anti-kicky right now.
1) David Rawlings’ new album is so good. My vinyl showed up this week.
3) This animated short.
4) These Freelance Achievement Stickers by Jeremy Nguyen hit close to home.
5) Reunion.
6) Travel plans.
7) Last but not least, my grad course on picture books is over. I’m grading this weekend, and it’s wonderful to read about all the picture books my students read this summer.
What are YOUR kicks this week?
Can we have a silent moment for peace? I am so many emotions about yesterday. This madness must stop.
I think Rebecca is off to a wonderful illustrator carreer. I love tje color pallette.
Jules, I hear you. More than ever speaking out and finding joy in the ordinary is needed.
My Kicks:
1. This community. Which I missed the past 2 weeks.
2. Time with college friends last weekend.
3. Dropping off entries to the State Fair.
4. Lunch with a friend.
5. Pompeii exhibit w/ grandgirl.
6. Walking.
7. Paint night with friends.
Good morning, Imps! I hope that you are finding strength this weekend, wherever you may roam.
Hi there, Rebecca Green. That first image is striking! (Great choice, Jules.) Very cool style throughout. Thanks for sharing.
Congratulations again on your course, teacher Jules! Three cheers for David Tennant AND for Stephen Colbert! What a glorious combination. Such a lovely interview.
Jone: Peace is a beautiful thing. Harmony. Acceptance. Community. Love, not hate.
Anyone here from Clone Club? I don’t think it’s hit me yet that Orphan Black is over…
My kicks from the past week:
1. Booking
2. Updates
3. Checking in
4. Go for it
5. Attainable
6. Remarkable
7. Believable
The ugliness of events like yesterday’s makes it really difficult to have faith in the world. But art like Rebecca’s and kicks (like the witty sarcasm from Colbert and funny Achievement Stickers) are comforting to read, so thank you for sharing them, Jules.
Jone: joy in the ordinary is great, and a community of friends is important.
1. Kids
2. Progress with projects
3. Baby bunnies in our backyard
4. Love
5. Kindness
6. Being appreciated
7. Hope
Little Willow, I didn’t see your post as I submitted mine, so an addendum: thank you for sharing your positive kick of going for it. And I’m glad when we find things attainable.
What a fun book! The illustrations have a certain intimate feeling, like they are inviting you in to this blossoming friendship.
Yesterday’s events in Virginia were horrifying, and I woke up knowing there was this one spot of light I could come visit- here at Seven Imps.
Jules – David Tennant and Colbert were just what I needed this morning, thank you. Hooray for travel plans. That short film is so wonderful.
Jone – what a lovely week you’ve had. And yes to this wonderful community here, and finding joy in the ordinary.
LW – Hooray for bookings! And kicks 5-7!
Dow – kids and baby bunnies are simply the best.And love, kindness, being appreciated, and hope.
I am sad today, but also hopeful, so on to kicks:
1) Jam-packed work-week with mini-victories.
2) A dinner with 2 friends who’d never met and they got along as well as I knew they would.
3) Difficult conversations about a very complex issue at that same dinner, and it was respectful and good.
4) Long overdue catch-up with another friend on Friday.Its always wonderful to see your friends happy and doing well.
5) Very fun Hawaiian pig roast/bbq birthday celebration for a 1 year old yesterday. Felt so lucky to be invited and share in such a love-filled family event. And the food was amazing.
6) Being called a role model by a now-adult kid who has been in my life since she was born.
7) Easy Sunday mornings, with rain for the first time in over 56 days.
7.5) Couch time with Daisy.
Hope everyone makes time for peacefulness and love this week. We all need it in the face of some of the evil in the world right now. Echoing Little Willow’s thoughts for strength as well.
Jone, we missed you too! Glad you’ve had a relaxing couple of weeks.
Little Willow, I WAS watching Orphan Black but gave up in the second season, I guess it was. It’s really over? Who knew? Not I. How was the finale? … Your kicks are (especially) inspiring this week.
Hi Dow! Have you named the bunnies?
Rachel, OF COURSE you are a role model for that woman! Not surprised at all. That HAS to feel good too! I like your second and third kicks. That’s good stuff right there. … Here’s to strength. I raise my mug of coffee to that right now.
Good Sunday evening to all of you~
Thank you for sharing Rebecca Green’s fabulous artwork and debut sneak peeks, Jules (and Rebecca). Children’s literature always shines truth and light whether we need it or not but especially when we need it the most.
I am wishing you well with your travel plans Jules and I wish I could take your children’s literature course. It would be fabulous to learn from you. And yes, I am sick at heart after this past week and the events of yesterday. I told a friend today, I have not had a good night’s sleep since November. You always go to bed anxious and wake up wondering what has happened next.
Oh, Jone…a paint night with friends sounds like my kind of night, speaking your mind and creating.
And Little Willow I hope you did or do or always go for it!
Last night Dow I watched Interstellar for the first time and the unifying thread which withstands everything is love. We have to spread it and hold on to it.
I am so glad you got rain Rachel. Lack of water contributes to so much hardship for every living thing.
My kicks:
1. My landscapers are nearly finished putting up the privacy fence in my back yard. I have wanted a place for my furry friends to run for almost 2 decades. This is a dream come true.
2. Walking in a quick downpour yesterday with Mulan
3. Cool evenings
4. Annuals and perennials are blooming at their best
5. Helping a wonderful teacher set up their classroom library
6. Reading a pile of amazing picture books
7. Walking with my wild child, Mulan.
Have a peaceful week all of you.
Dow: Hope is always a kick. Always. I hope the baby bunnies are happy and healthy!
Rachel: High-five to you for inspiring others! Enjoy the rain. Hi Daisy!
Jules: I think the first season was the strongest.
Margie: Enjoy the walks and the flowers.
The kids named the bunnies, Jules. Trilobite, Megabyte, and Gigabyte. I hope that’s good for a smile! And Little Willow, they’re maybe a little too happy and healthy back there… 🙂
Margie, oh yes! Love as a unifying thread is a good theme.
Margie, well-said. All of that. And I’m excited for your first kick!
Little Willow: Has Tatiana ever gotten an Emmy? She certainly deserves one.
Dow, those are some pretty fabulous rabbit names.
Dow: Hello the bunny bytes! Adorable, adorable names. High-five to the adorable kids who named them. 🙂
Jules: Yes, she was nominated in 2015 and 2016 – she won in 2016.
Oh. How’d I miss that?
Rebecca’s works have long been some of my favorites. I especially love some of her tiny sculptures she makes with her characters. Congrats, Rebecca!