Respite

I just completed several batches of textbook illustrations that I have been working on since the end of October. What began as 108 illustrations turned into 143. I had to let 2 picture book assignments pass through my hands during this project - one because the situation was not right, and the other because the deadline was impossible for me. But those are decisions that you have to make sometimes, you know? I hope there is a new offer right around the corner.
My second semester of teaching children's art classes at Wheaton began today. We had lots of fun. I had the younger kids stretch their creativity by blindly reaching into paper bags to choose 5 words or phrases that would complete a sentence that they then had to illustrate. For example: The blue horse juggled omelets while wearing boots on a train in a rainstorm. They loved this assignment! For my older class of kids, we created grey scale models and then I set up 3 eggs on black paper under a spotlight and we rendered studies of the eggs, taking note of shadows and values and reflective light. I was so impressed with these kids. They are only 11 and their drawings were beautiful! I also started my 3rd teaching job today, teaching art to a group of home schooled kids in my community. Next week we will be working on self-portraits in graphite.
It feels good to have completed this huge 3 1/2 month long illustration assignment, and now to invest my time into teaching budding artists! This is what makes me happy about being an artist. Every day is a gift.