Old times!

When June posted her 20 yr. old art not long ago, it made me think of my old pieces.

Then yesterday, Liz emailed me to tell me about a book festival in Rhode Island, and one of the authors is Andrew Clements.

Well, it turns out that he wrote the very first book I illustrated. And, you know what? This cover is still one of my favorites.

On my own blog, Cats and Jammers Studio, I've been talking a lot about Ugly Betty--the new TV show on ABC that has more than a small Fellini air about it. I love that show. And that is because of the attention to detail.

Thinking about detail inspired me to pull out this old cover, which was fun to do simply because of the "stuff."

It also makes me want to work in this medium again: watercolor and pencil and pastels. For a change anyway.
Ah, we are so fickle, aren't we?

Comments

[Liz]

That's so funny, Barb- when you told me this, I found my copy of "Milo", and it has been sitting here next to me in the studio. I can't stop looking at all the "STUFF" in the pictures! I am also surprised at just how different the style is- or should I say, the technique. I didn't realize you'd morphed your technique so much in a relatively short time. They are both great, 100% Barbish styles, though- I say, if the watercolors, pastels and colored pencils are calling you, listen!

[john nez]

Fickle... I'd guess that's part of the job description, since fickle is sort of just a term of being 'selective'. And if we artists weren't selective in what we paint, how we paint, on which kind of paper and with which mediums... I suppose we might lack our own idiosyncratic styles.

So I'd say fickle is a good thing.

[June :¬)]

This piece still shouts out your style and sense of fun. It would sit happily next to a newer book of yours Barb.
Thanks for sharing an older piece of work too. It is amazing to see how we change, yet stay the same!

June

[sharon lane holm]

nice art!- and ohhhhh I just LOVE stuff! The name of my friends and mine 1st craft show ventures was Kim and Sharon's Stuff..

[chris tripp]

Barb, love it and that dog..... you should of been the illustrator for "Walter"!!!!
All the bits and pieces "stuff" all over the table, that's the sort of detail I, and I think kids, adore!
I still see YOU in this older example, I could pick it out anywhere.
Did you save any art from your childhood? I find it facinating that even as a little kid, our style to be exists even in tiny measure in our childlike art.
Chris