My art for this week’s Illustration Friday theme: “Snap” is a take on legendary children’s editor, Ursula Nordstrom. In her signature manner, Ms. Nordstrom serves up her version of a key business luncheon, leaving us with a scrumptious, snappy morsel of a remark. A visionary maverick, Ms. Nordstrom was well-known for her biting honesty and for ushering in an impressive array of cutting-edge books which have become classics—Goodnight Moon, Charlotte’s Web, Where the Wild Things Are, Harold and the Purple Crayon, and The Giving Tree, to name a few.

From DEAR GENIUS, The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom compiled and edited by Leonard Marcus:

“Did I ever tell you…I was taken out to luncheon and offered, with great ceremony, the opportunity to be an editor in the adult department?…I almost pushed the luncheon table into the lap of the pompous gentleman opposite me and then explained kindly that publishing children’s books was what I did, that I couldn’t possibly be interested in books for dead dull finished adults, and thank you very much but I had to get back to my desk to publish some more good books for bad children.”

Artists are a resourceful bunch. We’ll make treasures out of trash and jewelry from junk. I enjoy unique, funky and high-end art made from recyclables and everyday materials. I especially love shouting out when an artist emerges with something that is pure genius! Take Jason Baalman a.k.a. EclecticAsylumArt for example. He makes no excuses for not painting even when there is no paintbrush nor paint available! Ever been stuck at a fast food joint without your favorite drawing or painting supplies? Well, Jason shows how to make “lemonade from lemons”–or in this case–paintings from ketchup and french fries. Watch him in action, get inspired and go play with your food!

E Komo Mai means “welcome” in Hawaiian. Come on in and check out my blog. It’s dedicated to children’s literature from various angles as a writer, illustrator, parent, and kids books-lover–I’m just an average, everyday, kid at-heart.

I shall post news and updates about my work, of course. However, I envision more for this blog. As my tagline says, this is my corner of the Great Sketch Pad–where the art of children’s literature takes place everyday…be it the drawing board, in the studio, in the car, in coffee and tea shops, in words, in images, on paper and laptop. ALL ideas sprout from somewhere. Where do you plant the seeds for your new idea? For me, it’s my sketch book–a place to hang loose, play with perfect imperfections and sketch things out for the fun of it. So… just sketch, everybody, and drop in anytime!

The image above is a painting of Pualani from my book, The Sleeping Giant: A Tale From Kaua’i.