Cats and Jammers Studio

Taking risks, trying new materials, reinvention. It's what artists need to do.

Recently I had the pleasure, albeit a somewhat nervous pleasure, of being interviewed by my good friend Monica Lee of Smart Creative Women via Skype (nothing makes you more aware of age and weight than knowing you will be on camera). That interview will go live very soon, but I thought I would share some thoughts that Monica and I never really got to cover fully during the time we spoke, because time did, as time does in real life, fly by. I have also posted a companion post in my other blog, Design Rocket.

I have had the good fortune of being able to spend nearly one hundred percent of my time these last forty years, making art in one form or another. I did take a few years off when my two oldest sons were little, but when I think back on that time, I was always dong something creative (and most of it was donated for fundraising events of one kind or another), just not all of it professionally. Aside from that short break, it has pretty much been non-stop all the time.

But, nonstop at what?  Well, nonstop at art. Art in many forms and in many materials for many venues. In short: I've been a painter, puppeteer, doll maker, soft sculpture artist/craftsperson, editorial illustrator, children's book author and illustrator, fabric designer, licensed artist, and now I am also painting again. I’ve also spent a lot of time decorating houses, but, to be very honest, that makes me zero money. It only costs me money. But that's OK. It satisfies my soul. It's a medium I have to work in almost as much as my paints. “House--just another art material and artistic discipline."

But back to business. If I look back over all my years as an artist, I see one thing: my aesthetic sensibility has not changed much in forty years. I am still drawn to the same things I was drawn to in college--characters, details, expressive gestures, and emotions. I love color and texture and patterns. I especially like narratives. Everything I do tends to tell a story, and the story is in the details, textures and characters.

I have written about this before and in much more detail. You can read the first accout I wrote years ago for my very first web site. It really rambles and tells the story of the earliest years. Here is the place to read that. I created an abbreviated version for my current web site. You can ready that one here. 

I’m sharing some recent art here at Cats and Jammers Studio to coordinate with the interview. I am also sharing some of the house and other new art on my other blog, Design Rocket.

What message would I love to give other artists? This: don’t be afraid to re-invent yourself and try new things. Life as an artist is a wild journey on a winding road. A few years back, I posted a long post about moving in random directions in life, seemingly as if by pure serendipity. Well, life is that but it is also by luck and pluck, and maybe much less by design than we think. Please read that post, Serendipity + Pluck = Life.

Much of the art here is from my 2011 Sketchbook Project, “Coffee and Cigarettes.” I loved doing that book. I have done two others since. You can see the digital scans of my book here. And you can see the show opening containg paintngs based on the book here.

Participating in the Sketchbook Projects for the Art House Coop really feeds my artistic soul. My most recent book was titled “Strangers.” In doing that book I dedicated it to my painting and drawing professor of my sophomore year of college, John Patrick Murphy II. John was the head of the art department at Rockland Community College for more than 30 years. On the very first day I met him, I shared some paintings and he gave me advice that has stayed with me all these years: “Barbara, draw out of your head.” Meaning, draw from the well within you that has your memories and your impressions. And that is the way I have worked ever since.

John very recently passed away. This post is dedicated to him, because, really, meeting him and getting to know him was pure serendipity and it pointed me along the way on my own artistic journey.

 

 

Yeah, I know Valentine's Day is over, but ....

This is so in tune with my pulp fiction covers and Fancy Nancy YA book jacket, that I HAVE to share a  link sent to me by my friend Liz for "Vinatge Valentines WTF." And if you these are strange, wait until you see the rest of the fantastic collection.

The series conclusion: Fancy Nancy YA Book cover.

Just could not resist this. Guess there is nothing new under the sun, especially nick names.

Or as Fancy Nancy might say, "This is a super, wondrous, sensual example of of how I am gonna look after some enhancement surgery to make my body "Fancy."

A little tribute to Simms Tabak

Simms Tabak was one of very favorite illustrators, if not THE favorite. He very recently passed away and since I find that this blog seems more and more to be about losing artists who have touched me, it would be terribly remiss to not talk about Simms.

Although I got to know his books through reading them to my youngest son, Ben, I actually got to know his art when I first used one of his designs to wallpaper the room of my middle son, Mike. That was more than 22 years ago. Sadly, I cannot find a single image to post to show that lovely wallpaper. And it has been long papered over. It do remember that it was leaping kids, a boy and a girl, doing jumping jacks or something to that effect. If anyone has any left or knows where I can get some, PLEASE contact me!

I just discovered a wonderful video created based on his Old Lady WHo Swallowed a Fly book. It is narrated and the music sung by Cindy Lauper. I think this may be the best video adaptation of a kids' book I have ever seen. It seems that I cannot embed it. But go to Youtube and watch. It is totally worth the time.

I think my very favrotie book was the Caldecott wining, Joseph Had a Little Overcoat.

I think that this book is everything one can want in a children's book. It is has a page turning quality, with a lovely repetitive rhythm. It is fun. It is also beautifully illustrated, without being tight and self important and self congratulatory, not to mention pretentious, which is what so many kids' book art is. Not this book. The art has a wonderful mock-primitive feel that is actually extremely sophisticated and extraordinarily satisfying, from an artist's point of view. Any artist, even in the absence of liking kids' books, would love and appreciate this artwork. The art stands completely on its own. To be honest, a lot of art for kids' books may hold up in the children's book market, but would fall flat as art for art's sake. Tabak's art soars way above that crowd.

By the way. if you go to his web site, you can buy a signed poster. The proceeds are going to a college fund for his grandchildren. Satisfy your need to have his wonderful art, and also help out. I bought a few, this wonderful fish poster among them.

 

 

Now I know what my problem is!

My ethnic heritage is half Norwegian/Swedish and half Italian. The way I figure it, that is my the source of my weight problem, because when it comes to food, my appetite is the offspring of a marriage between a conquering Viking who invented the Smorgasbord and a loving Mama Mia, chanting, "Mangia, Mangia!" In other words, I love good food and drink and enjoy a great meal with close friends, or even friends not that close for that matter, as much as anything in the world. And that love is simply deadly for the waistline.

After reading Jeff Gordinier's delightful interview in today's New York Times with Simon Doonan, discussing Donnan's new book, Gay Men Don't Get Fat, I think I might develop another theory: I eat like a straight, macho guy, or, at best, a healthy Lesbian who likes to climb mountains and hunt. The solution is pretty straightforward, if not "straight": I need to eat like a Gay Guy: sushi, salad, berries, light, light, light.

Don't get me wrong. I love all that stuff, like whole grains, salads, and fish filets and legumes. The problem is that I love them to excess, like  hungry Nordic lord or a zoftig  Italian Grandma. I also love Meat. Almost any meat. Burn the hair off and serve it up. Not good, even in small amounts.

I have to say that I found the interview totally entertaining and that Simon Doonan came across as a person I would love to get to know better--probably over a hearty meal with lots of red wine, instead of a light lunch. The dry humor and quick wittedness apparent in the article have only whet my appetite for more, so I think I will have to read some of his other books,  like Wacky Chicks and Eccentric Glamour, to consume some more of his entertaining repartee.

Meals. Appetite. Consume. Sigh. It's all about food in the end, isn't it? Oh, well. Pass the champagne. I'll toast to that.

Now off to get the books. Check back for a review at some point.

Daily Dose of Humor, Part II: CAKE WRECKS-Sweet!

 All photos courtesy of Cakewrecks

Here is the problem when you like to blog and when you also like to read the blogs of others: it all takes time, and on any given day, I seem to have less and less of it. Truth be known, when it comes to choosing between entertaining myself reading what other people have written or attempting to wax poetic myself and share my thoughts with readers, I choose--you guessed it--entertaining myself! Surprise, surprise!

In the blog post before this one, I wrote about getting in my daily dose of pick-me-up at Awkward Family Photos. Love the site. Can't stay away. Can't stop laughing. 

But my other, equally enjoyable place to visit and find a smile on my face and maybe even tears of laughter in my eyes is CAKE WRECKS. Cake Wrecks is exactly that--a blog devoted to the so-called professionally done cakes one can buy in a bakery, supermarket, or wherever, that are, in a word, wrecks. As defined by Jen Yates, the genius behind the site and the book that came out of the site:

 WHAT IS A WRECK?

"A Cake Wreck is any cake that is unintentionally sad, silly, creepy, inappropriate - you name it. A Wreck is not necessarily a poorly-made cake; it's simply one I find funny, for any of a number of reasons. Anyone who has ever smeared frosting on a baked good has made a Wreck at one time or another, so I'm not here to vilify decorators: Cake Wrecks is just about finding the funny in unexpected, sugar-filled places."

 Cakewrecks Caption: "Poo-Dolph, the Bulldozed Slain Deer"

I am not overstating  how very clever Jen Yates is. While the shots of pathetic looking cakes are silly, it is Yates' writing that  makes the site such a treat. Her text, combined with some of the most ridiculous looking baked goods known to man, has perfect comic pitch and timing--if you can have good timing on a blog. I usually find myself laughing out loud in the same way I do at Awkward Family Photos.

As though being incredibly funny wasn't more than enough, right now Cake Wrecks is making money for charities. Here is info about the Cake Wreck Charity Challenge:

"Instead of buying gifts or trees or decorations this year, John and I are going to donate a minimum of $200 to a different charity or worthy cause, every day, for the next two weeks.

Are you up for my dollar-a-day challenge? Then give one dollar each day to each charity. That's it! Together, we can use the power of Wreckage for good, and make a difference for those in need."

Head over to the site and partake of the sweets and go back and check out some older wreckerators, too. Then be generous and check out the various charities and give a buck. Believe me, the kind of smiles that the site will give you are worth so much more.

Er....fair disclosure. If you do not have an appreciation for good old fashioned bathroom humor, the "flavor" of the site may be lost on you. Also, sometimes the subtle humor of the site is best appreciated by we (ahem) sophisticated adults. 

 
 

Smile! Say cheesy!

 

All photos courtesy Awkward Family Photos

Addicted. Totally. And without remorse of any kind. It's my computer and I. It's not just that I love using it as a tool to create art. It's the web. The Internet is my worst vice and my greatest enjoyment. I am always on it. My husband has even said that someday he expects to come home find me stuck INSIDE the monitor, like some sort of Twilight Zone episode.

 
I can justify it to some extent, because I am not a TV watcher of any significance. I'd rather be on line, checking out everything from eBay to newspapers to blogs by other artists and writers then sitting in front of some mindless sitcom or self important drama. I've even discovered a whole cache of blogs that write about vintage stuff and collecting, which is what this very blog started out as about 5 years ago. There is no end to the kind of information I suddenly find myself interested in. Hey--wanna  know more about scroll saws? Ask me!

Lately, however, my addiction to the net has to do with something more essential: getting my daily dose of humor. And my top choice of enjoyment?  AWKWARD FAMILY PHOTOS.

  
The magic of photography is the capture of the small moment. The unseen record keeper getting the great shot in the split second. Naturally, we think of the epitome of this genre, Henri Cartier-Bresson: 

"The simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event as well as the precise organization of forms which gives that event its proper expression... . In photography, the smallest thing can be a great subject. The little human detail can become a leitmotif." 

And then, sometime the success and attraction of photography comes in the form of the posed picture or the planned portrait. I could go on and on about that kind of photo shoot with regard to the genuine artists I love who perfected that genre, like Diane Arbus, but since I am talking about my daily laugh-out-loud moment, let me get back to Awkward Family Photos, a site dedicated to just that: awkward family photos--the kinds of pictures we shoot or are taken of us that are generally purposeful or meant to be taken seriously, but end up anything but. The sort of picture that tells us much more than the picture's subjects may have intended.

 
No matter what my mood is, once I head over to this web site, I am laughing. Literally. Sometimes to the point of tears. And, I even look at the older entries, and laugh again. And again. Of course, I must give credit to the site's creators, because often it is their captions for the photos that make for the funniest part of my visit. The caption for the picture below is: You can always spot the father who someday, will have trouble letting go.

 
If pictures alone are not enough for you, there are also great stories shared by family members. Like this hysterical letter regarding what kind of responsibility guests need to take on to insure a successful Thanksgiving. Ahem! Read it now, you lazy schnorers, you!

I have to admit I had the hardest time choosing pictures to put in this post. And, once I started looking at the site again, I couldn't stop. That's a problem, because things that need to get done are not getting done. I'm having too much fun hanging out at AFP. My best advice is to tell you that you need to really take your time and check out the site for yourself. Make sure to pour over every page. CAUTION: DO NOT SIT AT YOUR COMPUTER WITH ANY SORT OF BEVERAGE, UNLESS YOU DON'T CARE IF YOU SPRAY YOUR DRINK THROUGH YOUR NOSE ONTO YOUR KEYBOARD.

 
Once you've had a chance to get your own belly laughs, head over to this site and vote for AFP. They deserve to win!

Finally, let me share my favorite picture from AFP. Look closely. Look VERY closely.  BTW, has anyone seen Aunt Telcia?

 
 

I loved Soupy. Even before I knew what edgy was, I loved it.

Yesterday the news hit that Soupy Sales passed away. He was 83. In my mind, it will always be 1964, or 1959, depending on which Soupy TV show I happen to be remembering.

Soupy first premiered on NY television in 1959. He came on at 12 noon on Saturdays on channel 7-ABC.  I loved him immediately when he did his initial "First one here gets a box of Jello" bit, followed by old film footage with a cast of thousands of people, or even an elephant stampede, all racing to get the Jello. Something abhout him just cried out, "SMART ALEC"--but in the nicest way. The bit above is most likely from the show that was on channel 5 in NY, WNEW, which debuted in 1964. Watching it I realized that Soupy was even edgier than I realized.

Here is a link to a great blog post by Dan Brockway, which excellent shots of the show actually in production. The fact that the show was shot and that Soupy was always relating to the crew, is what made the show as much fun as it was. Soupy was making himself and his crew laugh more than anyone, and we all got to be in on the joke. My favorite skits always had WHITE FANG or BLACK TOOTH. Here is a great one with White Fang.

Found this wonderful stand-up bit by Soupy as he tells the story of the famous "Green pieces of paper" scandal, in which he asked kids to raid their mothers' and father wallets and send him money. And, yes, he really did do that:

When I was watching the movie, The Conspiracy Theory, with Mel Gibson, some years back, I kept having this sense of recognition. Mel reminded me of someone during the entire film, and I had this sense of watching someone else. It took me a spell before I finally identified who the familiar face was: Soupy Sales! I'll post some pictures and you tell me  there is no resemblance!

 

Honestly, I really like Soupy More.

Do yourself a favor and go on Youtube and watch several clips. Then you'll be in on the joke, too.

RIP, Soupy. Seems like just yesterday I was laughing on weekday evenings in 7th grade....

Elizabeth O. Dulemba on tour!

It has been my pleasure to get to know writer and illustrator Elizabeth O. Dulemba, or "e" as she is known to many of us on several listservs and chat boards where we all obsess about children's books. Her web site and her blog are chock full of information, book talk, news, activities, coloring pages, and any given number of other useful items. Please make sure to check them out.

Elizabeth has a new book out and I was thrilled to have her visit my blog so I could get answers to a few questions that I had, not the least of which is where she gets all of her enormous energy. Her latest project is called “Paco and the Giant Chile Plant” written by Keith Polette. This is a retelling and humorous variation on the traditional Jack and the Beanstalk tale, only this one is set in the Southwest. It is told mostly in English with a sprinkling of Spanish, but will be out in Spanish only and English only versions come the fall.

The art looks spectacular and is created using very evocative images of the desert and wonderful southwestern hues.

SO, enough of me. On to Elizabeth!

1) I am fascinated by your connection to storytelling in Tennessee. How did you come to be involved, and does it make you want to do some story telling of your own? Writing more? In the vernacular of the country story tellers? I love the storytelling tradition.

It's an odd story (and a bit of a winding one - sorry), but it will make you believe in fate.

Even though I grew up in the Atlanta suburbs, I've always been fascinated by all things Appalachian. I went to summer camp on Lookout Mountain (Mentone, Alabama) and tried to get to the mountains every chance I could after that. (I took up rock-climbing and hang-gliding and later moved to Chattanooga.)

Somewhere in there I learned about the National Association of Storytelling and their annual Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee ( http://www.storytellingcenter.com/festival/festival.htm ). For my Graphic Design exit show in college, I did a line of posters for the event. And here's where it gets really weird - during my research, I found a book in my own collection dedicated to me by my Grandparents in 1973 - "The Jack Tales" gathered by story-catcher, Richard Chase.

It was at the festival that I first saw Ray Hicks tell the Jack Tales. I used to putter up to Tennessee in my '78 Land Cruiser, pay $6 to camp behind a B&B (and use their shower), and spend the weekend listening to
stories. I fell in love with stories and storytelling, but for some reason, Jack Tales especially seemed to seek me out.

What makes Jack Tales so extraordinary is their evolution. Long ago, Scottish, Irish, and English (Cornwall especially) immigrants moved to the Appalachian mountains, many to continue the mining they did in their home countries. But the region was so remote, a culture continued and developed almost entirely independent from outside influences. (Ray Hicks still spoke in an Elizabethan dialect that was so thick it was
difficult to understand.) Survival was off the land, music from the heart, and stories were adapted from the English "Jack" (of "Jack and the Beanstalk" fame) but became their own unique creations in the Appalachian mountains.

I've dabbled with oral storytelling since then (fully acknowledging that I am nowhere near as talented as some), but really found my storytelling voice through writing. Even my novels (one with my agent, one still in progress) take place in the southern Appalachians. It seems to be ingrained in me and I have no idea why.

2) I would love to her more about creating the art and design for advertising, but I also was to hear about the epiphany regarding the move to focus on children's books.

There was never an epiphany - I've wanted to create picture books as long as I can remember. No lie. I used to devour "The Golden Book of Elves and Fairies" illustrated by Garth Williams. His ability to transport me with his art enchanted me and I wanted to be able to do the same thing with my own art. I've always had a vivid imagination, and stories seeped out of me from a very early age, first through drawings and then through words.

However, I was a young, single girl and needed to keep a roof over my head. Graphic Design provided steady income. (I also had some growing up to do.) And while those skills help with my marketing efforts now (and I'm very glad I have them), I was always awaiting the opportunity to dedicate my time to picture books. When I married, my wonderful husband understood my dream and allowed me the opportunity to chase it.

3) Tell us about how you work. Mostly digital or mostly conventional, or both? I find it hard not to go back and "adjust" real paintings, myself, so now I also work that way.

I still sketch by hand, can't seem to get away from that. But all my coloring and rendering is done digitally. It took years of experimenting to figure out my medium - little did I know I had to wait for it to be invented! But it was like breathing for the first time when I discovered how I like to work best.

4) You seem to loaded with energy!! Where does it come from? And so me a favor: paint the picture of your average, busy day, so I can imagine you in action!

I call this a manic-depressive business because it is filled with such unbelievable highs and devastating lows. The lows keep me up at night, but the highs make me jump out of bed each morning anxious to get going. I have so many ideas I want to get out of me and a measly 24 hours just isn't enough to do it all. I'd resent sleep except I get so many ideas from my dreams. I definitely resent having to shower and get dressed every day - how redundant and what a waste of time!!

I'm not sure it's energy so much as obsession. But I'm usually in front of my computer by 7:30 and I work until something makes me stop. (Dogs need food, if I don't exercise I'll melt, dinner with hubbie, grocery store, Spanish lessons, etc.) I stay unbelievably busy. It's a bit nuts, I admit it.

5) This is my favorite question to answer, and it is also my favorite question to ask: describe your dream project to me--one that you would like to write and/or illustrate.

Oh wow, that's tough. It floats in my head like a mist without sharp, defining edges although I think pieces of it come out in all my work. The idea of transporting the viewer/reader is very important to me. I love creating images of imagination, creatures or scenes that don't have to follow the laws of physics. (It's one reason I love creating friendly monsters - they have no rules.) It's part of why I enjoyed illustrating Paco so much. But ironically, the more I write, the more I see words achieving what I want as well. I think it would be a story in which an inferior-feeling protagonist becomes transported and changed through imagination or outside events - a situation where they become better and stronger, and so does the reader. How's that for vague?

6) SO--what's on the horizon for such a busy gal?

Lots of new projects and I wish I had time for more. First, I'm celebrating the release of Paco! (I'm really proud of this book.) I've been taking Spanish lessons for over a year now in anticipation of sharing it with English and Spanish speaking children. I've also illustrated a picture book for a NY Times Bestselling novelist and will be sending out final art soon. I've just signed on to illustrate the next two books in a parental aid picture book series (the first two come out this June). I'm finishing up some coloring book covers and I'm
busy writing my second novel (and waiting to hear news on the first). I'm also waiting to hear on two picture book dummies I have out (one is the winner of three honorable mentions!) and have written two more
picture book stories which I'm currently tweaking (one is bilingual and one is an adaptation of a Jack Tale). So, while this isn't the busiest I've been, it's certainly busy enough!

Wow, these were fun and intense questions! Thanks for letting me share!
:)
e

Thanks, e, for taking the time to give such thoughtful answers!

Interview: Karen Lee

One of the nicest things about the world of listservs and blogs is this wonderful community that I feel that I am a part of: the world of kids' book lovers, writers and illustrators. Of course, even better than having the feeling of being part of that group in love the same wonderful and crazy stuff, is getting to know them better as individuals, one by one. Because of the web, I have had the lovely pleasure of getting to know author and illustrator Karen Lee.

I got to ask Karen a few questions, and, being the nosy person I am, I asked questions to answers that I wanted! Like this "married to another artist" thing. Sometimes I like that idea, and sometimes I think my husband and I would live in different continents if it were so. I have friends who are also in that "2 artist" situation. It amazes me. So I am as curious as can be to hear about it, and to see how they all manage to make it work.

One thing I realized from this interview: Karen has a great sense of humor and an appreciation for silliness. So maybe that's it. After all, it's not your average person-on-the-street who leaves directional indicators for litter box lovers....

But that is enough from me. Let Karen speak for herself.

Q: My first question is about this 2 artist family thing. Like, whoa! I've been married for 34 years but I don't think my husband and I would have survived us both working in the same field. I want to hear all about this arrangement: ups, downs, and in-betweens. Feel free to let the kids chime in, too!
 
I met Tim in our junior year of college 25 years ago! That is amazing to me. Illustration is such a huge part of who I am I can’t imagine not being able to share that with someone. But we have also had some professional separation. He is an editorial illustrator, is all digital, immensely versatile, and does work for grown-ups (for now, I have a fiendish plan for him). His brother is an artist too, we keep in close contact with many of our old college friends and illustrators that have come and gone from our immediate lives. I can’t imagine not being surrounded by people that I can share such an important part of my life with.
 
There really haven’t been any downs. And the ups are getting better as we get older and are a bit more confident and mature. But we each keep something separate that is just for us: for me it is writing, for him it is playing mandolin in a Bluegrass band.
 
As far as the kids go, our daughter who is ten has quite a talent for writing and is a good artist too, but she’s more devoted to her play time than her inner time. Our eleven year old son is as rebellious as I was. In his case, he is rebelling by wanting to grow up to be an engineer. I love that! I couldn’t have planned it better.

Q: For years I did editorial art, but left it behind for book work. Do you still like doing it? If so, tell me what you find satisfying about magazine/newspaper work as opposed to book work.
 
I still cherish the work I get in the editorial market. I think it keeps me fresh and gives me a chance to expand stylistically a little more than I typically do in the children’s market. It is work that I can do without any of the insecurity I feel sometimes with children’s work. And sometimes it is a huge relief to have a small project that comes in, goes out, gets printed, I get paid, and I’m done!

Q: Now that you are an author and illustrator with ABC Safari, how do you see yourself dividing your time down the road? More writing? At a scheduled time? And if you could create your fantasy book, incorporating things you love to draw, what would it be?

 I would love to do more writing! It has been wonderfully energizing for me to have a new challenge. It is so different from art, and for me there seems to be a real barrier between those two sides of my brain.

I am not in the same place when I write as when I do art. I can slip into the art brain easily, at any time, but for writing I have to pull a switch hard to get that side turned on. And once I do it is difficult to turn it off. I try to allow for larger chunks of time when I am writing because I am so preoccupied and I am afraid I will lose the thread if I abandon it before I’ve come to the end. I find that I have more available brain space for writing when I am simply painting on a project and can turn the art brain on autopilot. Also, what’s been curious for me is that I completely focus on writing the best possible story while writing. Only when it is done and polished do I begin to think about how I want to approach the art , then a whole new level of excitement begins! I think this helps also to move the art forward to best reflect the story rather than conforming the story to the kind of art I do.
 
What do I love to draw? Oh my, the possibilities are endless! But it wouldn’t be too sweet or cute. I am trying to coax into the open the part of me that responds to other’s works whether it is writing, art, music, or movies. I think if I can better define what resonates within myself I can incorporate that into my own work better and create something that is more unique, more personal and more satisfying not only for me but for my reader/viewer. And what I respond to is a little creepy, a tiny bit morbid, is multi-layered, ironic, funny, and authentic. If  Im really shooting for the moon, my viewer will be able to discover a truth in it about themselves and the world around them.

Q: I am always finding myself bored with the medium I work in, and longing for a change on my next book. And then I go back again. You work in watercolor. Has that always been your medium of choice? Do you flirt with other materials at all?
 
I want to cheat on watercolor. I want to have a mad, torrid affair with oil. I want a superficial, tawdry relationship with acrylic. I want some lurid digital action! I am thinking about filing divorce papers on watercolor, but I keep coming back. I have had the blessing of being pretty booked up for the past few years. The downside is that it gives me very little time to play around with different materials and techniques. But things will slow down and then I’ll have the free time to experiment and the joy of fretting over when the next project will come in.

Q: I read that ABC Safari was inspired by seeing the manatees. Any other real life inspirations coming up?
Other books soon to be released?
 
I am always inspired by real life! I don’t know where it will go, but I am currently working on the dummy for a rhyming story that was inspired by the discovery of a small family cemetery right smack in the middle of our suburban neighborhood. It’s all fenced in and overgrown and I didn’t notice it until I was walking the dog past there last winter when the trees were bare. I took the kids in there and they were fascinated by who these people were to each other and how old they were when they died. When you stumble onto idea starters like that it is best to just thank whatever powers you believe in that you found it and do something about it, even if it is ten years later.
 
I am also working on the final art for the next book in the math series I am doing with Sylvan Dell, My Half Day by Doris Fisher and Dani Sneed.. This one is about fractions and it is the craziest one yet. Fun to paint, fun to read. It will be out spring 2008.
 

Q: On your recent "8 things" meme, I loved number 8:

" Some people think I am funny, but nobody thinks I am as funny as I do. I crack myself up all the time."

This made me laugh!

So tell me what makes you laugh in general and tell me what you do to keep yourself giggling. I'd love to
laugh again!
 
I am queen of punny, corny jokes, bad singing, awkward dances, and overdone drama. I like to see my kids squirm with embarrassment. I like dumb, overdone gags. If I am slicing some cheddar and the kids ask me for some I will invariably say “oh, would you like me to cut the cheese for you? I’d love to cut the cheese!” It is so not funny but I laugh and laugh. Just dumb silly stuff.  Shortly after we got our cat I put magnet letters on the dryer right next to the litter box  saying “cat poo? “. Like the cat can read! Like we don't all already know where it is! Like we need to be reminded constantly! It still makes me laugh, just the ridiculousness of it.
 
Thanks for this wonderful opportunity to get to know myself better. Putting things into words makes them more concrete! Karen

MAKE A NOTE: Karen is on tour this week! Please read her other interviews at the blogs of these fine people (as they go live, I'll update the link):

Elizabeth Dulemba
Kim Norman
Ruth McNally Barshaw
Dotti Enderle
Kerry Madden