Wonder Land

© Jennifer Noel Bower 2012 - "Alice"

Life is a wonderland if we but only open our eyes to it all.

I realize the more I OPEN myself up

the more WONDERFUL

LIFE becomes.

I am blessed with wonderfully supporting Blogger friends & SCBWI friends

who just continue to help me learn and grow!

A few of us have formed a critique group & then challenged each other to submit to the SCBWI-Carolinas Region 3rd Annual Art Contest.

Our challenge was to illustrate the opening 2 paragraphs of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

(I can't show it all but here is a sneak peek)

The most valuable lesson I learned was to own my process...I HATE sketchbooks!!!!  There, I said it.  My favorite way to work is on loose leaf & tracing paper.  I find I hold my sketches as less precious which really opens me up to rip them apart until I get just the right image.

I also don't go into the painting process with super tight sketches...amazing magic happens when I allow the work to evolve even more in this stage!

Here is my sloppy copy sketch for Sunday Sketches!

A WONDERLAND of possibilities have opened up for me as a result of this project and the wonderful group of ladies that spurred me on.

Poke!

Just a quickie for Cat Bums pin board by Kirsten Hall on Pinterest!  It's quite cheeky.  Check it out!

The House That Jen Built

Farm House study © Jennifer Noel Bower 2011

I'm still here. 
Working away on a piece I need to submit by the 29th!!!  Here is a little snippet :)
Totally in love with the work of Leonard Weisgard and Ezra Jack Keats so find myself experimenting, more and more, with some of those stylistic elements.  Only used one brush but played around with it's settings:  Normal, Screen, Difference, Multiply, and I think Overlay.  EEEEK!  This just makes me smile.

Said I would share more of my inspiring aha moments:
1.  It is okay to work slowly when you don't have to answer to anyone but yourself.
2.  Don't rush work just to show it off on your blog.  Let things percolate.
3.  Draw in a way that makes YOU happy & that will reflect in your work.

I was nominated this week by Erin K from Mucha Cafe for a "Versatile Blogger Award" and many, MANY moons ago by Janet DibbyDabby.com for the "Sunshine Award"  I am so behind in paying it forward but promise to do so once I've met this deadline. Thank you very much Erin & Janet for such lovely compliments.

I also need to give a HUGE shout out to my dear Blogger friend Michaele Razi from Razi Ink.  I ordered the book she illustrated, PLAYFUL MOON and am enchanted and enthralled by her work even more so than I was before.  You can order your own copy here.  I am so happy for you Michaele!!!!

Have a great week! And, happy creating everyone.