And so our holiday ends and the New Year is here and moving quickly… I had a nice week of family and presents and fun. Josh and I rarely take that much time off and it was actually kind of hard not to think about work. I received many awesome presents (including some books like It’s a Small World – illustrated by Chou and the Annotated Anne of Green Gables) and was able to see nephews and nieces. Of course, now it’s all over and I must return to work and being work-oriented! It’s only been two days and I am still a bit out of sorts.
I am posting here some sketches that I did a before the holiday and some during… One of my friends does freelance for Holiday figurines and I was reminded of this when Christmas came around. I thought I would try sketching some ideas… maybe venture into this field? Still not totally sure… and probably should ask for his advice. ;)
I am also anxious to send out some postcards and promo pieces soon… I am really hoping that work might come in this month soon or at least by February. The sketches below are actually more for a painting I might use… it’s that poem about Winkin’, Blinkin’, and Nod… and maybe at first the Neverending Story…;)
On a more personal note, I’ve been reading Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller… it’s a great read. Very funny. Messy and yet, honest and straight-forward. It isn’t PC and edited or tame… and not preachy at all. I read eight chapters all last night and had to force myself to put it down. I’m hoping to read more soon. Wish I could read more books in general.
Josh and I watched Shall We Dance with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers tonight (Josh is sick with a sinus infection and miserable so he’s taking the night off). I bought this for him as a stocking stuffer… we both adore these movies as well as the dancing. I was always a big Gene Kelly fan as well. It reminded me of how much I love dancing and how much I used to watch the Turner Classic movies on television. I think that it’s funny Josh and I were both so in love with these movies when we were kids. In fact, Josh loves these movies so much when he was a little boy, he wanted to be just like Fred Astaire and wear the fancy top hats and suits. So this holiday season he was able to get a couple three-piece suits as presents, too. He needs them for work anyway, but I think its cool… :) Old-timey cartoonist style is his ideal I’m sure (like Frank King!). Wouldn’t mind some of Ginger Roger’s dresses myself. ;)
So anyway, I hope you are all good and happy and healthy. Cheers to the New Year! And let’s all get working!
Mai S. Kemble Illustrations 