summer stuffs

Hi Ladies!

I just posted this exact post on my blog, but I thought it sums up nicely what I've been up to. Hope you're all having a lovely summer. I look forward to getting back into the soup groove with you all.....

The summer is flying by. I know, maybe it always seems that way..but this year, I really feel it. Bike rides, beach visits, camping...we seem to be squeezing it all into these last few weekends. Soon, blackberries will be overtaking our land here, and this year, for reals, I'm going to learn how to make jam!

In arty news, I'm starting to gear up for Renegade Chicago next month. I've been painting, ordering supplies and prints, organizing, emailing, and all of the tidbits that go into flying halfway across the country to a major event like this. I was there two years ago, and it was amazing. An absolute blur of a beautiful, serendipitous weekend. Even the fantastic thunderstorm on the last day was incredibly memorable. I remember trying to break down my canopy, drenched to the bone, mud and water flying in every direction, laughing hysterically..or maniacally. You know those times when life seems to click into place, and you run into long lost friends and everything seems to have a purpose? Ah yes, those rare times are amazing, and they always seem to happen for me at Renegade. So I'm excited to be going again, to say the least.

In book news, I am starting in on Bandits, a story about some pesky raccoons. There have been plenty of raccoon sightings in these parts in recent weeks, so I've been getting some real life reference for the sketches. I think this must be the time of year that the little raccoon babies are on the move, because I've seen several families crawling over fences, and meandering down darkened streets.

Also, I'm drawing witches and cottages and things for a young adult novel, that's due out next spring. The sketches were due a few weeks back, and now the final art deadline is creeping up. I'll post some pictures one day soon...