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It’s the first Sunday of the month, which means it’s time to shine the spotlight on a student illustrator or recently-graduated one, and I’ve got the latter today. JooHee Yoon<\/a><\/strong> joins me today, and she’s just<\/em> finished school and is setting out to find her place in the world of illustration. Will you help me welcome her?<\/p>\n Here she is to tell us a bit about herself (and here’s<\/a><\/strong> an October interview about her printing techniques for those wanting to learn more), and I’ll follow it up with a handful of images. I thank her for visiting. <\/p>\n JooHee:<\/strong><\/font> I recently graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design<\/a><\/strong> (RISD), and I am a freelance illustrator working in mostly editorial — illustrating for magazines and newspapers, including The Globe and Mail<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/em>, The New York Times<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, and PLANSPONSOR Magazine<\/a><\/strong><\/em>. But I\u2019ve also been part of the FrogFolio Calendar project<\/a><\/strong> with Dellas Graphics<\/a><\/strong> and a book project put together by Julia Rothman<\/a><\/strong>, pairing illustrators with scientists to explain the mysteries of the universe, being published next fall by Chronicle Books. <\/p>\n I\u2019d love to branch out further, especially in publishing, as I enjoy reading almost as much as drawing. I love working with the written word and trying to figure out the best way to accompany the text, adding my voice to the story.<\/p>\n I work using various printmaking techniques including linocut, screen printing and toray photolithography (not the latter so much these days, since it requires a press, which I don\u2019t have anymore). <\/p>\n I enjoy the process of making an image, crafting something by hand.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n All images \u00a9 2011 by JooHee Yoon and reproduced here with her permission.<\/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>\n 1)<\/strong><\/font> JooHee’s art. I am taken with it. I don’t know about you, but I’d like to read a story swirling around that bummed-out invisible elephant.<\/p>\n 3)<\/strong><\/font> The New York Times’<\/em> 2011 Best Illustrated Children’s Books<\/a><\/strong>. I look forward to this every year. <\/p>\n 4)<\/strong><\/font> The book pictured below and how it showed up at my doorstep the day after reading the NYT<\/em> list. I love that, ’cause it was one of two on that list I hadn’t read yet. I think I squeaked in happiness. <\/p>\n (I have blogged this year about the first seven on the list, and I only say that, ’cause it makes me super happy to know that the art from these wonderful books was showcased in my own little nerdy cyber-corner of the world. And that’s<\/em> ’cause art makes me happy.) <\/p>\n (See how zippy-quick the publisher was in getting an award sticker put on the cover? Attagirls and boys.)<\/p>\n 5)<\/strong><\/font> “Sweet lies.” My six-year-old told me she said one to another kid in class in order to cheer him up and make him feel better after someone else had said something cruel. (You know, one of those tell-your-best-friend-her-sweater-is-beautiful-even-if-the-sweater-looks-like-something-her-cat-threw-up moments.) <\/p>\n Now, all<\/em> kids are capable of being cruel—mine included, I’m sure—but the notion of a “sweet lie” made me laugh. For the record, I believe it was: “Someone in my class made fun of so-and-so. So, I told him I liked his drawing, even though I really didn’t.” I guess this is arguably<\/em> kind, but it fell right in line with conversations we’ve had recently about kindness and courtesy and different kinds of lying, and so I was intrigued by it all. <\/p>\n 6)<\/strong><\/font> What Gregory Maguire said at this interview<\/a><\/strong>:<\/p>\n “I continually try to remember what I liked about reading when I was a kid. It was the books that made me feel smart, that used decent vocabulary, books that were not patronizing in tone and that understood that kids can have an ironic sense of humor as well. They held a wider secret in the world than most parents, teachers and librarians were willing to admit in a court of law.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n 7)<\/strong><\/font> Driving to Memphis for work today, which means an uninterrupted six-hour span of time (there and back) in the car to hear music as loudly as I want. <\/p>\n BONUS<\/strong><\/font>: I’m excited about special-guesting this event<\/a><\/strong> in March for the Highlights Foundation in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. <\/p>\n Note for Interested Writers: <\/strong><\/font>Speaking of the Highlights Foundation, they will also present the Whole Novel Workshop<\/a><\/strong> in 2012. It’s being led by the talented Helen Hemphill<\/a><\/strong> (a local-to-me author and incredibly nice person) and has an impressive lineup of writers, editors, and agents. They plan to teach aspiring writers and assist them with their manuscript revisions. The Highlights Foundation has also opened a new conference center<\/a><\/strong> on the farm in Pennsylvania where the workshops take place. The deadline to sign up for the Whole Novel Workshop is December 21.<\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2015\/05\/catjhy.jpg\")
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2)<\/strong><\/font> The Fresh Air<\/em> interview with Tom Waits<\/a><\/strong>. Also, “Face to the Highway” is, hands down, the best track on his new CD. Phenomenal song. And the whole CD is oh-so good. <\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/newyears.jpg\")
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