{"id":1078,"date":"2008-01-06T00:01:36","date_gmt":"2008-01-06T06:01:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=1078"},"modified":"2008-02-01T22:11:25","modified_gmt":"2008-02-02T04:11:25","slug":"7-imps-7-kicks-44-featuring-up-and-coming-illustrator-ashley-smith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=1078","title":{"rendered":"7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #44: Featuring Up-and-Coming Illustrator, Ashley Smith"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jules<\/strong>: Welcome to our first kicks list of 2008! Our weekly 7 Kicks list is the meeting ground for listing 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. As our readers and fellow kicks-listers know, we feature a different illustrator every Sunday<\/a><\/strong> when we gather to list our kicks. But one of my New Ideas in ’08<\/font> is to feature — on the first Sunday of every month — a student illustrator or a newly-graduated illustrator wanting to break into children’s books. I am excited about this idea more than I can say, the opportunity to see tomorrow’s children’s book illustrators. Who doesn’t wanna see some new blood? Plus, maybe the next Maurice Sendak or Ruth Krauss will pass our way. I’m just sayin’. You never know. And it’s thanks to Jarrett J. Krosoczka<\/a><\/strong> and Anna Alter<\/a><\/strong> (thank you! thank you!), to whom I turned for assistance, that I already have some students (or new grads) lined up for the next couple of months. Oh, and as for this week’s featured illustrator — our first one ever in this new feature — I have Little Willow<\/a><\/strong> to thank. She pretty much just read my mind and emailed and said, “look at this new illustrator’s site I just stumbled upon?” That Little Willow is puh-sychic. <\/p>\n

So, let’s get right to it. Who has graced our post this week? Her name is Ashley Smith<\/a><\/strong>, and she just graduated in December from Brigham Young University – Idaho<\/a><\/strong> with a BFA in Illustration (“Upon writing this — 22 days, 10 hours and 37 minutes later — I am thrust into the harsh realities of post-graduation-freelance-job-search,”<\/font> she told us, “but I am certainly not complaining. A vacation from the frenetic vigors of five years of deadlines has been a welcome change; however, my creativity thrives on those deadlines, so I am looking forward to a new life defined by them”<\/font>). <\/p>\n

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Ashley gave me free reign — wahoo! — to choose my favorite images from her site (Eisha giving me her blessing to do so alone, since she’s still got a broken computer), and three that I chose, including Hansel and Gretel<\/em> above (I’m diggin’ those ominous icicles and trees and the feeling of utter doom they knock around in my chest. Brrrr. And there’s chocolate syrup on that there roof. Creepy), are part of a series of fairy tales illustrated for Ashley’s Senior Project\/Show. These three paintings were done in acrylic, painted on illustration board. Here are the other two, The Nightingale<\/a><\/strong><\/em> and The Emperor’s New Clothes<\/a><\/strong><\/em>:<\/p>\n

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I know it’s hard to see that second emperor well (but I just love that perspective and had<\/em> to pick it), but believe me when I say he’s wearing boxers with hearts on them. You can get a better view of the illustration at Ashley’s blog<\/a><\/strong>, as well as see other illustrated fairy tales from that senior show. <\/p>\n

I was also drawn to the below illustration, entitled “Looking Back” and not categorized under children’s illustration at her site. About this one, Ashley wrote:<\/p>\n

The “Looking Back” piece was done in acrylic and oil and is somewhat of a self portrait, although it ended up not resembling me much. I could expand in some ultra-artistic philosophical explanation of how it represented a turning point in my life, but, needless to say, it was a “looking forward” moment rather than a “looking back.” That painting inspired me to shift my focus in the direction of children’s illustration. Currently, I am working on expanding my portfolio and getting myself noticed. My attempts at marketing myself have been somewhat successful and will hopefully pick up in the future.<\/font><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/p>\n

Here’s what else Ashley had to say about her work:<\/p>\n

I love the children’s world of art and literature, and it is a world in which I am destined to belong. My childhood obsession sprung from the nightly ritual of curling up to dad with my favorite tome and imagining the stories and worlds that he created. Favorites were — and still are — Little Bear<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, Roald Dahl<\/a><\/strong>, Curious George<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, Madeline<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, Beatrix Potter<\/a><\/strong>, Syd Hoff<\/a><\/strong>, the Frog and Toad<\/em> Books<\/a><\/strong>, and the Francis Series. I draw artistic inspiration from Peter de S\u00e8ve<\/a><\/strong>, LeUyen Pham<\/a><\/strong>, Brett Helquist<\/a><\/strong>, Quentin Blake<\/a><\/strong>, N.C. Wyeth<\/a><\/strong>, Jessie Willcox Smith<\/a><\/strong>, Howard Pyle<\/a><\/strong>,
\nNorman Rockwell<\/a><\/strong>, Degas<\/a><\/strong>, John Singer Sargent<\/a><\/strong>, and many, many more.<\/font><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We’d really like to thank Ashley for stopping by and sharing her art work, especially for being the first new grad to be featured in this New Idea of ’08<\/font>! Next week we’ll get back to featuring our usual, more established illustrators, but look for a student or new grad the first Sunday of every month. Oh, and happy graduation to Ashley, and BEST OF LUCK to her! I would not be the slightest bit surprised to pick up a title illustrated by her one day. And maybe one day soon. Be sure to check out her current site<\/a><\/strong> (I believe she’ll have a newer, re-vamped one soon). <\/p>\n

* * * * * * * eisha’s kicks * * * * * * *<\/center><\/p>\n

Hey, all! Long time no blog! I’ve missed you all terribly. As you know, the husband and I were traveling through the south during the week surrounding Christmas, and then… we got home, and I discovered that my beloved computer has died. Or at least, she seems to be in a coma, and I’m not sure whether she’ll recover. So I’ve had to sneak cybertime on my husband’s computer here and there, when he’s not using it for work. I apologize for being so scarce around here lately, but I’ll try to figure out a way to keep up my half of the blog until I can replace my poor Roxy (what, you don’t name your computers?). Mad props to Jules, as always, for covering my butt.<\/p>\n

Anyway, I’ve got plenty of kicks to report despite my computer woes:<\/p>\n

1* Well, obviously, Christmas was awesome. I saw all my extended family, and most of the husband’s too. And Jules and her family came over for my family’s big get-together thing. It was excellent.<\/p>\n

2* My nephew is huge! He’s almost walking, and has this hysterical laugh that sounds kind of like Ernie from Sesame Street. <\/p>\n

3* Not to be shallow, but I got lots of great presents this year. My mom got me an incredibly cute little coat that I’ve already gotten complimented on by a complete stranger, Jules gave me a gorgeous scarf, and my husband got me… cowgirl boots! Yay!<\/p>\n

4* Even though, once again, we were beset by a snowstorm on the way home and had to stop at a hotel to wait it out (we should really pay more attention to weather reports…), we made it home safe and sound.<\/p>\n

5* I’ve started a new temp job and I’m loving it. I’m kind of an office grunt at Cornell, sorting through application materials and stuff. Everyone there has been very sweet to me.<\/p>\n

6* The Nonfiction Picture Books Nominating Committee<\/a><\/strong> for the Cybil Awards came up with their shortlist a full 3 days early. I’m not telling what’s on it, though – you’ll just have to check in with the Cybils blog<\/a><\/strong> on Monday to find out. It’s a great list, though, and the group did a fabulous job despite having difficulties tracking down some of the nominated titles, and oh yeah… having an organizer whose computer died the last week of deliberations.<\/p>\n

7* Being on the YA panel has been a hoot, too. I’ve read some great books and had scintillating discussions about them with some awesome fellow bloggers. I’m a little sad to see that part end. However, now I’m totally ready for my fantasy binge.<\/p>\n

* * * * * * * Jules’ kicks * * * * * * *<\/center><\/p>\n

1). Ashley’s illustrations and lining up new, young-blood illustrators for the following months!<\/p>\n

2). JON SCIESZKA GETTING KNIGHTED AMERICA’S FIRST CHILDREN’S LAUREATE<\/a><\/strong>!! This is momentous, people. Could there have been<\/em> a better choice? (Hint: That’s a rhetorical question. Just humor me. Ask it as if Chandler Muriel Bing<\/a><\/strong> would). Even better? His response: “I\u2019m honored that people would think of me, especially since I had a book with \u2018stinky\u2019 in the title.\u201d {I am using yet again this caricature of Jon<\/a><\/strong>, created by the one and only Adam Rex<\/a><\/strong>, with Adam’s permission — and, hey, speaking of Adam, did everyone see this<\/a><\/strong>? And this<\/a><\/strong>? I’m embedding a kick in a kick. So totally fair, I say} . . . <\/p>\n

3). Go here<\/a><\/strong>. It’s a .pdf file for the Spring ’08 catalog for Roaring Brook Press<\/a><\/strong>. Go to page 13. Read “Things to Do If You Are a Pencil.” It’s by Elaine Magliaro<\/strong><\/a>! Wahoo! I can’t wait to see that anthology. Congrats, Elaine! (Lots of “!!!”s here, but she’s “!”-worthy) . . . <\/p>\n

4 and 5). Reading advance copies of the new Toon Books<\/a><\/strong> from The Little Lit Library, what are essentially beginning reader books in comic book format. Yes, comics designed for children ages four<\/em> and up. The first one, Benny and Penny: Just Pretend<\/a><\/strong><\/em> by Geoffrey Hayes, will come out in April. I haven’t been able to kid-test it on a group of children, but my two children have been PLAYING Benny and Penny<\/em> ALL DAY after I read this little gem of a thing to them. Go here<\/a><\/strong> to see sample pages for Benny and Penny<\/em> (and then you can click on the others, too). I’ll review these three new Spring titles later, closer to their publication date, but I’m thinking these folks are on to something. <\/p>\n

Also: Starting Lulu Atlantis and the Quest for True Blue Love<\/strong><\/em><\/a> by Patricia Martin (Schwartz & Wade Books) this morning and, thus far anyway, falling completely in love. I hope it doesn’t go downhill; O! That’d make me so sad. So far, so good<\/del> entirely enchanting . . . Just when I think that I should perhaps focus on solely picture books, for my part, here at 7-Imp — just to give myself more focus and less work — a novel (technically, a collection of stories) like this comes along that I wanna gush about. <\/p>\n

6). Lots of Poetry Friday goodness, including this<\/a><\/strong> poem Susan Thomsen found<\/a><\/strong>; this poem<\/a><\/strong> that TadMack shared; and this<\/a><\/strong> poem that HipWriterMama shared<\/a><\/strong>. Last, but not least, THIS<\/a><\/strong> (!!) at Lookybook, which Little Willow featured on Poetry Friday this week (How to Paint the Portrait of a Bird<\/em> by Jacques Pr\u00e9vert<\/a><\/strong> and newly-illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein<\/a><\/strong>). I can’t wait to see this book (and David Elzey already reviewed it here<\/a><\/strong>). <\/p>\n

7). Anyone else remember when I went on about stumbling upon singer\/songwriter-musician Nicole Atkins<\/a><\/strong>, describing her as sort of Dusty-Springfield-meets-Morrisey-and-then-they-stumble-into-Roy-Orbison-in-a-bar-and-then-have-a-gin-and-tonic-with-Edith-Piaf? Well, that was just after seeing her stunning performance on Letterman<\/a><\/strong>. I actually got her CD, “Neptune City,”<\/a><\/strong> for Christmas. I can’t. stop. listening. to. it. Here is a new video of hers I found. I don’t really care for videos much (I don’t know how the performer can take him or herself seriously, standing there vogueing and singing all wistfully to, uh, no one), but I love this song. And the song’s totally rearranged in this video. All new. All different than how it is on the CD. Her voice slays me. <\/p>\n

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What are your kicks this week? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jules: Welcome to our first kicks list of 2008! Our weekly 7 Kicks list is the meeting ground for listing 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. As our readers and fellow kicks-listers know, we feature a different illustrator […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1078","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-seven-good-things-before-monday"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1078","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1078"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1078\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1078"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1078"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1078"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}