Archive for category Jan Brett Posts
October 2009 Hedge a gram
Posted by Jan Brett in Jan Brett Posts on October 19, 2009
 Twyfelfontaine, Namibia, Africa |
Hi, This is Jan Brett, and this is my October hedge a gram. I like to tell about what I’m doing in my professional life as a writer and illustrator. It is not always what people expect. I love to wake up in the morning and know that I will be spending my day working on a children’s book. It’s easy to get attached to the ideas and characters. My book project is in some ways predictable and in some ways not. When my husband and I were in Namibia, Africa we visited a World Heritage site, called Tryfelfontaine where 4,000 year old African artwork can be seen carved in the rocks. The mountains are in a sparsely populated landscape that is unlike any other place I’ve seen. I didn’t know that when I came home a new story would become evident. It took a while to percolate. |
 Twyfelfontaine petroglyph in Namibia, Africa  Herero women in Namibia |
Now that I’m over half way through my book, the story is unfolding like I had envisioned. Because of the way books are published though, I am skipping ahead and illustrating later sections of the book and illustrating the jacket. It’s good to have an organized mind to do this, and that is a challenge for me. I would prefer to start on page 1 and go along page by page. One of the good things about working with a team at the publisher is that I have the input of talented and experienced people. For example, a book designer has many different type faces to choose from, including the display type which help form the character of the book, especially for the jacket. The jacket is often the reason that a person wants to look inside. It’s good if it can capture your attention and then make you curious enough to read it. Good display type helps. |
 The letter “O” from Jan Brett’s Twelve Days of Christmas |
Sometimes the designer will make up their own type face, embellish an existing alphabet or hire a calligrapher to draft the letters. I have always loved illuminated manuscripts of old, where the calligrapher decorates a letter very specifically often using a special code. Sometimes flowers, insects or animals entwined around the letters have obvious or sometimes secret meanings. One of my favorite books as a child was THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. The title was rendered as if it was of beaten gold, and the capitals were set with luminous gemstones. It’s useful to go to museums and study local crafts in order to come up with something eye catching and authentic. Juggling ideas about the display type, and how the printed word will fit into my art, is one of the things I like most about being a children’s book illustrator. Often, if I draw a portrait or a landscape I feel like I should also add a little block of type. I hope you will experiment with creating some different alphabets or the first letter of your first name. Often, one thing leads to another and you’ll be surprised to find that you’ve begun to tell a story. It’s like magic, and I think that is why so many stories start with a curious set of events, like Alice falling down a rabbit hole in ALICE IN WONDERLAND. Good luck with your creative projects. Bye for now, Your friend, Jan Brett |
October 5th Treasure Trove
Posted by Jan Brett in Jan Brett Posts on October 6, 2009
Win a free book!
Today is the start of the Win one of 1,000 Free Books for your School or Library contest.
http://www.janbrett.com/contest_2010/free_book_contest_fall_2009.htm
New this week is a video on my chicks and my artwork
http://www.janbrettvideos.com/video/video_main_page.htm
Here’s another fun video, How to Draw a Chick.
http://www.janbrettvideos.com/how_to_draw_a_chick_high_bandwidth.htm
It’s a pleasure to be in touch.
Sincerely,
Jan Brett
Download a Free Jan Brett How to Draw Video – http://janbrett.com/video/video_main_page.htm
Read all about Jan Brett’s books and get the best bookstore prices –
http://www.janbrett.com/bookstores/hedgies_lets_go_shopping.htm
This message was sent by Jan Brett, Post Office Box 366, Norwell, Ma, 02061
September 2009 Hedge a gram
Posted by Jan Brett in Jan Brett Posts on September 6, 2009
 My “before” version of the Verreau’s Eagle. I used artistic license to give him a pale coloring. He has a little incident in my story that changes his coloration!  Verraux’s Eagle as seen in Namibia Africa hunting above the cliffs of Twyfelfontain. |
Happy September! Hi, this is Jan Brett, and I’m sending you my monthly hedge a gram. This is when I stop whatever I’m doing (right now, I’m painting a Verraux’s Eagle wearing purple and black checked trousers, red spats, and matching suspenders.) I stop what I’m doing to send you a verbal postcard on how I’m doing on my current project, and other thoughts on my job as an illustrator, or “colorer” as I’m known by some children.
A Verraux’s Eagle lives in Africa in Namibia where I traveled to get ideas for THREE ROCK DASSIES. In 2007 we stayed at a camp called Doros Nawas. It was a desert-like place, with dry rivers nearby where we saw sand elephants. These are elephants that have adapted to the desert by evolving large feet and smaller bodies. Gemsbok are common in this area and they are graceful huge antelope, pearl gray and black that are often seen silhouetted against the sky on rock ridges, their huge saber shaped horns towering over their heads. |
Twyfelfontaine petroglyph in Namibia, Africa |
We decided to go for a ten mile run and mountain bike trip from Doros Nawas to Twyfelfontaine a legendary place of red rock cliffs that hold petroglyphs created by ancient Africans. Some are 20,000 years old. The reason they survive, is that as the mountain cliff crumbled and shifted and the artwork, perhaps hidden in caves, was revealed. As we climbed the World Heritage site, the petroglyphs stunned us with their beauty and grace. They were of lion, ostrich, rhino, and of humans. It was pretty hot and isolated in this place, and we sat by a fresh water spring to bird watch in between the giant boulders. The wildlife all came to this spring in between the giant boulders for water. We were also on the lookout for a leopard that had been seen the day before. Instead we saw, first an Agama lizard. He acted like he owned the place, and probably got tourist handouts like beef jerky, a lizard favorite. He had a big bulbous bright red head, and a blue body. His neck was small and his limbs were very articulated The all over effect was of a dapper young man in his prime. His eyes were heavily lidded, and he turned his head as if he were about to speak. |
 The Rock Dassie a common African animal |
In wild Africa, the shrill whistle of the eagle makes you instantly look up for a spectacular air show. The eagles and hawks are everywhere, and they never disappoint you. The Agama hugged the crevice as he eyed the sky. We both had spotted the Verraux’s Eagle hunting the cliff. The Verraux will eat lizards, but what they are known for is their appetite for the Rock Dassie, the cutest, most unusual little creature you could imagine. About the size of a Western Marmot or a Woodchuck. They are not related to either. Its closest relative is the elephant. It has three toes, a big bump of a nose like a Koala Bear, and soft fur. Wherever there’s one, there’s sure to be another which is a mama with three or four babies. They live in rock houses which always have a sunny front porch. They lie down on their sides and have a sun bath in the morning until they see the eagle’s shadow. Then they run for cover. Their houses are easy to spot because it looks like someone has spilled white paint over the cliff below. That day we were exhilarated from our long desert run, and blown away by the ancient African art. It was a red letter day for me in ways that I wouldn’t know about for many months. The images I saw of Agama Man, the adorable Dassies and the frightful Eagle all danced in my head like the sugar plums in THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. Two years later, and I’m re-creating them for my new book, THREE ROCK DASSIES. Little did I know that day, that the happenings would emerge months later and speak to me in a way that made me want to write and draw their story. Right now many of you are returning to school. The season is changing. What has happened to you in the last year that keeps replaying itself in your mind? It very well could be the beginning of a story. Sometimes characters will assemble themselves – it’s one of the mysteries of storytelling. Please honor the creativity that has been given to you and put the pieces of your own work of art together. You’ll be happy you did. Find that wonderful story in amongst those captivating memories. Bye for now, Your friend, Jan Brett |
Hedgie’s Treasure Trove for September 1st
Posted by Jan Brett in Jan Brett Posts on September 6, 2009
More good ideas for the start of school,
~ Sight Word Lists
http://janbrett.com/games/jan_brett_dolch_word_list_main.htm
~ Sight Word Flash Cards
http://janbrett.com/games/flash_card_dolch_word_list_main.htm
~ Compound Words
http://www.janbrett.com/piggybacks/compound.htm
~ Matching Number Word Game
http://janbrett.com/games/matching_words_numbers.htm
~ Bulletin Board Numbers
http://janbrett.com/numbers/main_page.htm
~ Number Book Jacket Covers
http://janbrett.com/numbers/number_book_covers_main.htm
~ Number Flash Cards
http://janbrett.com/numbers/numbers_flash_cards_main.htm
~ Number Flags
http://janbrett.com/number_flags/number_flags_main.htm
~ Number Tracers
http://www.janbrett.com/numbers/number_tracers_main_page.htm
It’s a pleasure to be in touch.
Sincerely,
Jan Brett
Hedgie’s Treasure Trove for August 16th
Posted by Jan Brett in Jan Brett Posts on September 6, 2009
Subject: Hedgie’s Treasure Trove for August 16th
Welcome back to school!
~ Hedgie’s welcome back to school coloring page
http://janbrett.com/welcome_back_to_school.htm
~ Alphabets
Alphabet Book Jacket Covers
http://janbrett.com/alphabet/alphabet_book_covers_main.htm
Alphabet Coloring Pages
http://janbrett.com/coloring_alphabet/coloring_main.htm
Alphabet Toothpick Flags
http://janbrett.com/alphabet_flags/toothpick_flags_main.htm
Alphabet Flash Cards
http://janbrett.com/alphabet/flash_card_alphabet_main_page.htm
Alphabet Hedgie’s Alphabet Game
http://www.janbrett.com/games/hedgies_alphabet_game/intro.html
Alphabet Coloring Tracers
http://janbrett.com/coloring_alphabet/alphabet_coloring_tracers_main.htm
Alphabet Manual Sign Line Bulletin Board Set
http://janbrett.com/alphabet/manual_sign_alphabet_main.htm
Alphabet Poster
http://janbrett.com/alphabet_poster/alphabet_poster_main.htm
Alphabet Tracers
http://janbrett.com/alphabet/alphabet_tracers_main.htm
It’s a pleasure to be in touch.
Sincerely,
Jan Brett
Download a Free Jan Brett How to Draw Video –
http://janbrett.com/video/video_main_page.htm
Read all about Jan Brett’s books and get the best bookstore prices –
http://www.janbrett.com/bookstores/hedgies_lets_go_shopping.htm
Hedgie’s Treasure Trove for July 27
Posted by Jan Brett in Jan Brett Posts on August 9, 2009
We’re going on the road again!
My publisher has announced all of the town and cities for my fall
book tour for the 20th anniversary of THE MITTEN and my new JAN BRETT’S
SNOWY TREASURY. I’ll be visiting cities in Vermont, New York,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama,
Georgia, Kentucky, and Indiana. I’ll be giving a book talk at each visit
and hope that you can come. I’d love to see you! You can find all of
the visits at:
http://janbrett.com/2009_fall_tour.htm
The Lunch on the Bus contest has started. Chose the city where you
and three friends would like to join Jan Brett for lunch on the 2009 Fall
tour. Then add your name and email address to be included in the drawing.
One grand prize luncheon will be awarded by a random drawing on October
16th, 2008. They’ll be 99 additional prizes.
http://www.janbrett.com/contest_2010/lunch_on_the_bus_contest.htm
There’s a new Piggyback for teachers and librarians with the ideas of
wonderful teacher Alicia Thomas.
http://janbrett.com/piggybacks.htm
It’s a pleasure to be in touch.
Sincerely,
Jan Brett
Download a Free Jan Brett How to Draw Video –
http://janbrett.com/video/video_main_page.htm
Read all about Jan Brett’s books and get the best bookstore prices – http://www.janbrett.com/bookstores/hedgies_lets_go_shopping.htm
August 2009 Hedge a gram
Posted by Jan Brett in Jan Brett Posts on August 8, 2009
The depth and intensity of the snow and ice The bright colors of Martinique houses and |
Happy August, This is Jan Brett, and this is my August Hedge a gram. Hello all the Leo the Lions out there – three of my closest friends are Leos, my husband, my daughter, and my husband’s grandson, who is a good pal of mine. I am a Sagittarius and we are supposed to get on well with Leos. I like my sign because it has a horse in it, one of the animals I am most fascinated with, which is why my very first book that I wrote was FRITZ AND THE BEAUTIFUL HORSES. It’s still in print, and you’ll see it doesn’t have borders. That’s because my editor at the time didn’t feel overly decorated books kept a child’s interest. He was afraid of the too flowery look of some greeting cards. I always like borders because I could spin off smaller stories that would add to my book’s theme. Even now, when I’m reading, I am happy to see any sort of footnote that gives the reader insider information. The second book I wrote ANNIE AND THE WILD ANIMALS, does have borders. When I presented my book idea to that same editor, I said my borders would not just be decorative, they would add to the content of my book. For me, artwork, imagery and visual flights of fancy speak in a different language. Everyone who has traveled to a foreign country is surprised to see how different colors make themselves important. The blinding sunlit white Greek buildings, the green blue of ice and snow in Arctic regions and the rich browns and golds of African wildlife were all colors that knocked me out. When I visited the island of Martinique in the Caribbean, I couldn’t wait to paint the way the multi-colored boats and houses looked against the blue sea and rich green jungle. I used those colors in my version of THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT. |
I turned Joe into a bear, but I’d never turn |
Right now, I have been adjusting the color palette in my THREE LITTLE DASSIES book, which is set in Namibia. The rocks are pink red and the sand is pale gold. The sky is a very deep blue, and you can see clearly for miles because there is very little moisture in the air. The local women wear brightly colored dresses which look very pleasing in the landscape, where trees and vegetation are often bleached by the sun. In the borders of my book, I used stripes of calico fabric that looks distinctively Namibian. When I’m not working on my book, I go to Boston Symphony concerts at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts. My husband plays the double bass in he orchestra, and I buy a seat where I have a good view of him. I wrote a book about a bear that plays the double bass, BERLIOZ THE BEAR. Often while listening to music I get ideas for my books. The ideas seem to pop in as the music transports. Joe hasn’t minded when I turn him into an animal or a bird…so far at least. |
 These troll’s clothes are patterned after some ancient Norwegian garb I saw in a painting in a folk museum in Oslo, Norway. I prefer trolls with tails, how about you? Do you prefer your trolls with tails? |
We are planning a trip to Sweden this spring to do the research for next year’s book, tentatively called HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. Although trolls have been cast in the role of the evil subhuman in Scandinavian folklore, the trolls in my book have evolved into characters that are human-like but scruffy and misguided. It will be instructive to go to Sweden and hear the folklore that surrounds the troll. I will be looking at the countryside where my troll character will have its adventures – a place where snowy owls, bear otter and reindeer roam. Many people have asked me if I’m Norwegian or Swedish perhaps because many of my books are set in the Northern latitudes and have trolls and reindeer as characters. I’m of English descent but I like to think when the Vikings raided the British Isles hundreds of years ago, that my great, great, great, great, great, great, grandfather may have come from Scandinavia. I don’t know how to explain my fascination with that part of the world. Every time I write a hedge a gram I try to think of new ways to encourage you to try writing and/or illustrating a story yourselves. Each person is a bundle of likes, dislikes, attachments, curiosities and experiences and it makes the creativity that you have such a precious and unique thing. I hope you will try illustrating a story or even a sequence of events with some drawings, or sketch out a story in words, you’ll be glad that you did. Happy reading! Bye for now, Your friend, Jan Brett |
July 2009 Hedge a gram
Posted by Jan Brett in Jan Brett Posts on July 20, 2009
 Some charming dolls handmade to sell to tourists that visit Namibia. |
This is the month that we celebrate our country’s independence. It’s a great time to have a cook out with your family and think that summer is really here. Every summer morning, I raise our U.S. flag, then our Marine Corps flag. The Marine Corps flag is in honor of my daughter and her husband who serve in the Marines and for all the Marines they have served with and work with today. I’d like to thank all the people who have a mom or dad that is far away right now. Thank you! I am very grateful to live in a free country and to be able to do the work I love. In my life as an artist I am at a very exciting point. I’ve finished the story and book dummy of my new book, THE THREE LITTLE DASSIES, an African version of THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. I finished a double page spread, and gave it to my editor Margaret and art director, Cecilia to look over. I always wait with great anticipation for their reaction. Many, many children’s books have been published with their guidance and they put their experience and talent to work helping me see my work with new eyes. Because I’m the author and illustrator, I have the last say, but it’s rare for me to disagree completely with them. The borders are a big part of my book. There’s a story that runs along as the main story unfolds. I like choosing elements that make up the borders, for example pussy willow branches in THE EASTER EGG and beads for HONEY…HONEY…LION! which is set in Africa. I chose thin strips of the printed fabric I saw on the dresses of Namibian woman for this book. I was relieved when the editors liked the choice. When I was in Namibia, I bought lots and lots of fabric that I could be inspired by when I got home. |
 Green grass house in finished artwork for THREE LITTLE DASSIES |
Most of the art direction is about making the visual story more readable. If a brownish animal is sitting on a brownish page, it’s hard to find. Because I like to put a lot of detail in my work, I have to pay attention to colors and to texture. I use the sky – which seems very large and clear in Namiba to contrast with the Rock Dassies and their houses. Cecilia came up with a good thought. I pictured the grass house with a yellow gold dried grass roof, like the ones I saw in Namibia, but the grass would have been freshly cut according to the time line of the story. That would make the grass green. I wonder if I would have figured that out on my own in time. I hope so! |
 Quiver tree – lives in Namibia. This one was outside our hotel in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. |
It’s very hard for me to pull myself away from my African mind set, but I had to spend two weeks illustrating the All About letter for my Spring 2010 book, THE EASTER EGG. It tells the different breeds of rabbits I used for my book and about the fancy chickens that pull the Easter Bunny’s wagon. It will have a team coloring page that can be used for spring decorations. I have filled in the background, but I left the rabbits white so children can color them. I admire children’s drawing very much for their individuality, but I remember being a young artist and experimenting with techniques like drawing fur, or shading. It was fun to use an existing line drawing to start with. I hope children like working on my team coloring those rabbits! Lastly, I have to make travel plans for my next book, HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, which will be for the Fall of 2011 and is about a troll. I will go to Sweden to draw the countryside. I’ve been to Norway two times and to Denmark once, so I think it’s time to go to Sweden, especially since one of my most admired illustrators, Carl Larson, lived there. His house is a museum now, which he painted and decorated in a charming way. I would also like to go to Finland to the Oulanka National park on the border of Russia, just below the Arctic Circle. I read an article about it in National Geographic. It looks like trolls could live there. I have to work on my troll story so I know what parts of Sweden I should visit. |
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What does an artist do when not working on a book? I’m making punch needle embroideries of snakes for my two grandsons, to be sewn on their jackets. One boy requested a Black Mamba, a poisonous snake from Africa, which I’ve seen in real life, and the other would like a Spitting Cobra, which I have never seen. When I sew the finished pieces on their jackets the final touch will be a few meticulously placed silver beads to represent the venom. After I finish the snakes, I will get to work on two poultry portraits for the New England Poultry Congress in January, held in Springfield, Massachusetts. The winner for 2008, a Silver Penciled Plymouth Rock bantam cockerel, and for 2009, an African Goose will be a challenge to paint, since they are so exquisite in reality. But I only work on these projects when I have accomplished a good bit on my book. |
Hedgie’s Treasure Trove for June 29, 2009
Posted by Jan Brett in Jan Brett Posts on July 2, 2009
New Video!
I’m just back from a trip across the Atlantic Ocean from
Southhampton, England to New York City on a very large ship. On the way,
I worked on a new How To video on How to Make an Awesome Viper Fish
Puppet. You can find the directions on how to create your own viper fish
puppet at:
~ Jan Brett Videos
http://www.janbrettvideos.com/video/video_main_page.htm
Other fun Vidoes from ocean creatures
~ How to draw a dolphin
High Bandwidth
http://www.janbrettvideos.com/how_to_draw_a_dolphin_high_bandwidth.htm
Low Bandwidth
http://www.janbrettvideos.com/how_to_draw_a_dolphin_low_bandwidth.htm
Fourth of July
~ Hooray for the Red, White and Blue Coloring Pages
http://janbrett.com/flag_hooray.htm
~ Pledge Allegiance to the Flag Coloring Pages
http://janbrett.com/pledge_allegiance_to_the_flag_coloring_page.htm
~ Hedgie Loves Okinawa Japan Coloring Pages
http://janbrett.com/hedgie_loves_okinawa.htm
~ Hedgie Wants to be a Blue Angel when he Grows Up Coloring Pages
http://janbrett.com/hedgie_wants_to_be_a_blue_angel1_.htm
~ Okinawa Diving Mural Coloring Pages
http://janbrett.com/okinawa_mural/okinawa_coloring_mural_main.htm
~ Together we Stand Stationery
http://janbrett.com/stationery/friendly_letter_together_we_stand.htm
It’s a pleasure to be in touch.
Sincerely,
Jan Brett
June 2009 Hedge a gram
Posted by Jan Brett in Jan Brett Posts on June 5, 2009
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Books have inspired me since I was six, bringing on a jolt of excitement of a previously unencountered world. When we want to revisit the feeling of a far away place, or just admire the nuances of the cultural mix from a favorite book, we walk from room to room in our hunting style camp in the Berkshires. Our house sits on a hillside strewn with huge tumbled rocks overlooking a moon shaped lake. It is a large scale, and the landscape tempers the divergent themes inside, as does another constant – the honey colored pine walls, floor and ceiling. Every room has Persian carpet, many from a favorite antique rug store in nearby Great Barrington and they also connect the rooms. The whimsical romance of Edward Lear’s poem THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT inspired the images and colors in the master bedroom. The poem which I illustrated in my children’s book in 1991 was set in Martinique in the West Indies. After a research trip there, I framed the historical postcards of the island and used the tradition plaid of the woman’s dress on the bedspread. In my book, I used shells to decorate the borders and I assembled a mirror using shells I collected as well as miniature sailor valentines for their color and wonderful textures. The fireplace is in use in spring and fall for breakfast and on cool nights when the antique owl andiron’s red eyes glow. |
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My husband, Joe and I have traveled to Africa seven times, with three children’s books in mind, NOAH’S ARK in 2003, HONEY, HONEY, LION! in 2005 and 3 LITTLE DASSIES slated for 2010. The master bath’s shower curtain is Mali, or mud cloth – antique ivory elephants passed down in our family for three generations and a collection of hand carved and clay guinea hens, and baskets from the Okavango Delta decorate the tiny rustic room. One of my paintings of the wildlife in Botswana, a “camp” portrait of my husband Joe and photographs of the African birds we see on safari are on the walls. After a trip to China with family member Yun Li for DAISY COMES HOME we came back with a huge vessel that inspired a needlepoint cushion for a pew handed down from my great uncle, Harold Brett, a portrait artist and illustrator who worked on Cape Cod in the 1930’s. Family lore says the pew was from one of the oldest churches on the cape, that was destroyed in a storm. The expression “toys in the attic” has always intrigued me, and the loft bunk room above the living room has become a repository of children’s toys and carved wooden animals from all over the world including some of the characters from my books, like GINGERBREAD BABY. |
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Favorites are from the island of Hokkaido, Japan where my bass player husband, who is a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra traveled on tour. Carvings and Japanese fabric are infused throughout the house from eleven BSO tours, but the Japanese temples and gardens we visited in Kyoto may be the biggest influence. The first sight to greet us in returning home is a Trompe l’Oeil island set in the circular gravel drive. Once a pancake of annuals, the garden was designed and built by Gordon Haywood. Huge lichen covered granite boulders were planted to depict a craggy mountain island, blue green sedum cascade through a rift between them and into a pool where darmera mimic water plants under a lead sculpture of a great blue hereon – the heron is a common visitor to our lakeside and is our totem animal, since my husband Joe’s last name is Hearne. |
| The house was built in 1994 by the local Carty family who have lived in the Berkshires for generations. I have acollection of antique beaver carvings that salute their craft – theyworked under the name, Beaver Builders. Our lake which is surrounded by preserved tracts is connected by a small canal to a wilder lake and the Appalachian Trail. In some years, when I kayak up the lake I pass a beaver lodge where I’ve heard the beaver kits inside mewing for their mom and dad. The small guest house is decorated with Victorian fish plates I collect, and were used to serve smoked trout when we entertained the musicians and Tanglewood fans with a quintet playing, THE TROUT, by Schubert. Two of our children had wedding festivities at the house andour guest house served for in-laws and friends, as well as for friends for Tanglewood weekend. One of my favorites pieces is a mid 1800’s painted armoire from nearby antique nirvana Cupboards and Roses. The kitchen has a trio of hen paintings from my children’s book featuring chickens – there are three, HEDGIE’S SURPRISE, DAISY COMES HOME, and GINGERBREAD FRIENDS. I didn’t have far to go for my models, I have a flock of 50 exhibition bantam chickens, Silkies and Polish. Their barn, the third building on our seventeen acre property may be the only chicken house in the neighborhood with portraits of champion poultry, painted by their owner, me. There is stunning competition in the Tyringham Valley one half mile down our dirt road where antique farms and homesteads haven’t changed much from the eighteenth century. Our house reflects themes from my books, and one character Hedgie the Hedgehog appears in all of them. One of the baths has hedgehog art – ranging from lithographs to my own artwork in Victorian rustic frames. Sometimes the tables are turned and the Berkshire hill where we live hands me a idea I can mine for my books. The beautiful birches that surround our porch gave me the idea to frame the illustrations in THE MITTEN with birch bark – which gave way to a collection of birch bark items. I’ve scrubbed cast off rolls of birch bark found in the woods to make mats for some of my paintings, wound birch bark around pillar candles and found faux bois china and pottery that looks right at home in our forest. A collection of leaf plates, some antique, and some fun pieces are playful additions to our table. When I’m asked why I illustrate children’s books, I say that children are a great audience because the line between reality and imagination is so easily crossed. When architect, Jim Kelliher, designed our hunting camp we asked that it melt into the woods with hand peeled great logs and the indigenous stone worked throughout. Like the imaginative children I write and paint for, our house skirts the border between past outside travels and memories and our working life. I paint the birches outside my window, and the birds hear my husband’s bass playing! The “hunting” part of our hunting camp refers strictly to idea hunting from troll’s caves (across our road), bears which are frequent visitors, to pond turtles – all future book material! |
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Comments, thanks from Jan Brett