Farmers Market, Chores, and Balloons.

It's another rainy Wednesday here in Ann Arbor. It's been a cool, dry summer except when I write these posts. Rain or shine, Wednesdays are nice. I go to my favorite neighborhood in town, pick up my farm share from the market, and sometimes splurge on a bagel with fresh goat cream cheese and a tomato. Who loves Ann Arbor? I love Ann Arbor. Who still misses New York City? I still miss New York City. New York can feel like a chronic illness by choice. It's so wonderful but can be so bad for you.

This week I'm still doing nothing but sketching. I've posted before explaining how I can act when I'm in the beginning stage of a project. I am a desk avoider. But I like to live with a story so I can knock it around in my brain for a while. I repeat the story over and over again. That's how I find (well, what seems to me anyway) the natural rhythm and pagination for the book. If I've just gotten my little paws on a piece of writing, I immediately put it on my wall in my studio (or the window).

If I haven't quite memorized the story and I'm really being an introverted artist that week, the text travels with me. Below is how Erin Stead, Illustrator, does the dishes.

And so, the sketches continue.


And continue.

As usual, click on the images for a better view.
'Til next week!

I was distracted by Macchu Pichu.

Okay, it's been a while. I'm sorry.

About a week ago, instead of being in Ann Arbor, I was in Peru attending a wedding/family reunion. It was a wonderful but very tiring trip. And before I left I was desperately trying to get a bunch of work done. I neglected you. I apologize.

It is an excellent but very quiet time to live in Ann Arbor. There is a lull between the townie activities when the students are gone for the summer and the students' triumphant return. That lull is called August. It's a little hotter and it smells of cut grass. The sunflowers come out (the one to your left if 2 feel taller that I am) and the farmers market starts to get pretty exciting. I love winter. But this summer has been no slouch.

And so, I'm feeling pretty good. I am in the beginnings of a couple different projects. Most of the time I find those beginnings a little to ugly to share, but here goes.


The sketch below is posting blue again. Not sure why.

Last one.

With all of this sketching and laying out new ideas, I'm getting pretty anxious to make a picture all the way to the finish. Pretty soon, though.

We'll talk more next week.

(Machu Picchu)