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I’ve been totally swamped, but it is<\/em> the first Sunday of the month, right? If I’m wrong and you’re giggling, please humor me and do so behind my back. Come on. A good friend would, right? <\/p>\n On first Sundays, I like to shine the spotlight here at 7-Imp on student or brand-new illustrators in the field. Today, I’ve got Bethanie Murguia<\/a><\/strong>, whose debut picture book was released in May by Tricycle Press. <\/p>\n Buglette, the Messy Sleeper<\/a><\/strong><\/em> is the story of a tidy bug by day but messy sleeper by night. Messy, as in her dreams literally take her places: She is up and about, all triggered by her dreams, and it’s problematic in many ways for her family. Eventually, Buglette saves the day, but I won’t give away spoilers here.<\/p>\n Bethanie’s here today to share some of her watercolor spreads and a couple of sketches\/thumbnails. At her site<\/a><\/strong>, she writes the following about her choice to use watercolors:<\/p>\n My curiosity with the watercolor medium began during my undergraduate days, many of which were spent diluting acrylic paint so it didn’t look so heavy to me. It was the transparency that drew me to watercolor. As time goes on, it is the opposing forces that keep me intrigued — light versus shadow and spontaneity versus control. The interplay and resolution of these conflicts engage me every time I paint.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Let’s take a look then at those watercolors and early sketches (you can click each image to enlarge it and see in more detail), and I thank Bethanie for stopping by …<\/p>\n Let’s close with Bethanie’s happy face and a fun self-portrait, shall we? <\/p>\n For those who’d like to follow Bethanie’s art and books more closely, her blog is here<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n BUGLETTE, THE MESSY SLEEPER. Copyright \u00a9 2011 by Bethanie Murguia. Published by Tricycle Press, New York. Images reproduced by permission of Ms. Murguia.<\/em><\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\nBethanie earned an MFA in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts<\/a><\/strong> in New York City. While in New York, she worked as an art director for Hearst Magazines. Currently living in California with her family, this is, as mentioned, her first picture book title. In 2012 and 2013, she’ll be releasing titles from Arthur A. Levine Books\/Scholastic (Zoe Gets Ready<\/em>) and Knopf\/Random House Children\u2019s Books (Snippet, the Early Riser<\/em>).<\/p>\n<\/a>
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