Friday, December 14, 2012

2013 Tomie dePaola Award Entry - Tom Sawyer


Trust me!  It was just like birth'n a baby.
Wish I had the energy to say more about it other than "IT's HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
I have to admit I am beaming like a proud mama.  Just a bit.

I knew I couldn't fail myself again by not rising up to this year's challenge.  I've watched from the sidelines for the last two.  And, boy, did Tomie dePaola ever throw me for a loop.  We had three titles to choose from:  "The Yearling," "Little Women," and "Tom Sawyer."  AND it had to be completed in black & white.  (Have I told you that I stink at working with values?)

I picked the title I felt worked best with my personality and style - and wouldn't make me sob like a blubbering idiot when it came to selecting my passage.  So - TOM SAWYER it was.

I had my thirteen year old dog-ear passages she thought met my next set of criteria: movement & humor.

As is my way I THOUGHT about composition a lot once the passage was selected.  As I thought I worked on PiBoIdMo ideas during November, I had a crisis of style that month too. I wrote a mission statement and adamantly researched vintage/retro children's books to remind myself of what I loved most about illustrated picture books.  I started do draw without references other than my own mind's eye...and I stopped apologizing about how I drew or wondering 'is this right?'

I honed my paint palette to vintage Sears paint colors, I winnowed my Photoshop brushes to only the few I used constantly, I OWNED my angled shapes, I started to doubt myself less, I started to HAVE FUN!!!!!  I knew instantly when the composition didn't click and I began to make intuitive changes.  I also allowed imperfect bobbles slide...

I may not win, but feel like I've already WON the biggest award of all...breaking through what has been holding me back - myself.

There are lots fantastic entries this year.  Check them out at the Unofficial Gallery of the Tomie dePaola Award 2013

16 comments:

  1. You nailed it! Great composition. I love the scene you chose and the characterizations. Nicely done! Celebrate.

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    1. Thanks, Joanne. It has been fun sharing the process with you. YOUR comments keep me going.

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  2. So fantastic! I've loved the progress reports on this one and the final is great.

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    1. Thank you so much. I have enjoyed the zany that goes on in my brain.

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    2. ...and the zany in your brain has shot me in the arm not to miss this competition next year....I've watched from the sidelines for the last 3 years....So thank you!

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    3. You go, girl. Do it. You will be so glad you did.

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  3. Awesome, amazing job, Jenn! I love it. Love every bit of it. Congratulations on a job well done! :)

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    1. Thank you so much, Jennifer. Amazing what happens when you put faith to work. :)

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  4. Two words, Jenn: LOVE IT!!!!!
    Great characters, great composition, great story telling!!!
    You nailed it!

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    1. Thanks so much, Mit! Season's Greeting to you and yours.

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  5. And what an awesome beautiful baby it is ;-)

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    1. Thank you. It has been a long, jaw gnashing year, but well worth the effort to find my style.

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  6. This is AWESOME! You have a terrific style. (and thanks for the re-tweet.)

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    1. Wow! I am so flattered. Thank you, and, you are most welcome.

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  7. Jenn, you did a fantastic job with this! I love all the action and calamity! We can totally tell that you had fun with this, and that is the most important thing of all. Well done! Good Luck!!! :)

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    1. Thank you, Nina. And to you as well. I really appreciate you lovely comment. I did have a ton of fun and hope I can keep that feeling in all my work. Happy New Year.

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Thanks for the comments! Good feedback is always appreciated, but please keep it polite and classy.