Art Things

It’s crept up to 104° outside and I spent my first working day in my new studio, despite the heat (and no central AC there).This is just a brief post to update on my artist life over the last month, though a lot has happened in this time and in some ways these 28 days have indeed felt like an eternity. Anyway, I always feel like I'm hurrying up and not getting much done as an artist, because I keep working towards the very elusive (to me) goal of... getting my work "out there". So just one month of doing things that support my intentions, and then at the end of the month I'm like— wait, what actual art have I made in these 28 days?! Where's the new finished piece(s)!?! But I can't do everything at the same time. So I remember what I have done rather than just what I haven't, and I move on.Art things:

• Joining SCBWI, the Society of Children’s Book Writer and Illustrators

• Working on an illustration portfolio

• Meeting with a fellow author/illustrator

• Researching picture books and novelty books

• Keeping track of all my book ideas while...

• Writing/drawing out a couple of those ideas

• Meeting with my artist crit group for the first time: I love their work and their commitment to their practice (painters, sculptors, mixed-media people… great exhibition histories and plans… )

Next post, I’ll hash out some of the concepts I’m working with. When it comes to books, which do I focus on? Who (age, etc) is my audience exactly?And, speaking of SpongeBob:Here’s a link to an old article about him. I remember reading this when it came out 10 years ago. Which means SpongeBob is 20 years old! I remember babysitting my friend’s boy in 2002 when he wasn’t even in kindergarten yet, and SpongeBob (new to me at that point) was his favorite show. He’s now a senior in college. Time can pass so fast and still feel like it's been an eternity.

If you have kids of a certain age, you know the sound of the voice that signals the passing of time in SpongeBob Squarepants' world...

   ~ Maritza Ruiz-Kim