http://www.craftsy.com/blog/2014/07/first-friday-illustration/

Hello, and happy Fourth of July to all of you who celebrate it here in the U.S. 🙂

Today I just wanted to share this link to the class I just started online. It is about how to write and illustrate a picture book or a story book for children. However, her ideas and just watching her do the art work could help any writer or artist in my opinion. In fact, last night I couldn’t get to sleep, because I had so many ideas running through my head!

Yesterday I went to a coffee shop that has faster internet service than we do, and I began the classes. I made it through a little over one class before my laptop died. I can’t believe I forgot to charge it the night before! So I charged it up yesterday afternoon for a few hours, and then my family and I went out to dinner to a Mongolian barbecue place. I took my laptop with me since my husband wanted to go to the grocery store. So while he shopped, the kids and I hung out at the bookstore across the street, and I finished the class I was on. I was having so much fun, though, that I started another one, but he came to get us before I was done. I had about ten minutes left, but even though the perishables were in an ice chest, I had to stop in the middle…again! Oh well, it is okay. I came away from the first two classes and the first half of the third with lots of ideas and things to work on until I can get back to it.

I caught a sale on this class online which made it really affordable for me! I love the illustrator. Her name is Shadra Strickland, and she has illustrated many children’s books. Here is a link to her website. http://shadrastrickland.com/ I love her artwork, but most of all I love watching her DO IT! She is so free-flowing and creative – I am very inspired! Can you tell?

Anyway, yesterday at the coffee shop after my laptop died, I sat and drew a bunch of sea turtles in different poses in my sketchbook in pencil. Time flew, and before I knew it, I had been there for three hours! I ate a wonderful egg and cheese croissant and had two cups of coffee. They also never had so many people there that someone who stayed to eat needed a table. In fact, 95% of the people who came in were retired and much older than me. But they were her morning regulars, because they all knew each other and were chatting away! One guy brought a bucket-full of yellow squash and zuchinni from his garden and was giving them away. So I came home with a few free yellow squashes! That was very nice of him.

So, any of you writers or illustrators, if you want some fresh inspiration, check out Shadra Strickland, and be inspired! I know I am!

Have a wonderful day, and give someone you love a big hug! 🙂