Roald Dahl Day

I missed it - yesterday was Roald Dahl day!

Sketch of the Day

Sketch of the Day

Something I would love getting invited to

From the Holy See press office:

A press conference was held in the Holy See Press Office this morning to present Benedict XVI's forthcoming meeting with artists, which is due to take place in the Sistine Chapel on 21 November.

Among those participating in the press conference were Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture and of the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Patrimony of the Church, and Antonio Paolucci, director of the Vatican Museums.

Archbishop Ravasi explained how his dicastery is promoting and organising the meeting, which will coincide with the tenth anniversary of John Paul II's Letter to Artists of 4 April 1999, and the forty-fifth anniversary of Paul VI's meeting with artists of 7 May 1964.

"The aim of the meeting", said the archbishop, "is to renew friendship and dialogue between the Church and artists, and to encourage new opportunities for collaboration".

For his part, Antonio Paolucci explained how the artists invited, their numbers necessarily limited due to the space available in the Sistine Chapel, come from all the continents, "They are", he said, "men and women of different cultures and languages: ... painters, sculptors, architects, writers and poets, musicians and singers, directors and actors from cinema and theatre, dancers".

On the evening of 20 November, before their meeting with the Holy Father on 21 November, the artists will visit the Vatican Museums' collection of modern and contemporary art, which was created at the express wish of Paul VI.

The Sistine Chapel is quite a thing to behold, but how cool it would be to be there with the pope!

Sketch of the Day

In Defense of Comic Books

A good column In Defense of Comic Books. An exerpt:

The thing is, I’d been reading comic books since I was five years old and they had been instrumental in teaching me to read. Comic books dealt with major struggles between the forces of good and evil with the fate of the world often at stake. I was reading way above grade level, and actually dreaded class reading times, when we had to read these stories about a boy, a girl and a dog who didn’t seem to ever do much of anything. Chasing a ball around the backyard wasn’t my idea of a ripping yarn.

My big brother read comic books as a youngster, as did my husband who still reads them as an adult (he has also illustrated comic book covers). I don't follow comic books for the most part, but have read several of the big graphic novels including Maus, The Sandman, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and Watchmen. I currently enjoy following the excellent Fables series.

There's a Mystery There

This looks like a great exhibition on Maurice Sendak.

Hidden N.C. Wyeth Painting

Interesting! From Fox News: X-Rays Expose Hidden N.C. Wyeth Painting Under Another.

I'm Back

Sorry for the long absence. It's been a big summer! We spent a couple of weeks in Italy, then my twin sister and brother in law moved down to Austin this past weekend. Sad for us, but we're happy for them! Jay Long, one of our favorite artists, is based in Austin.

Color Wheel

With the good help of Mark Mitchell over at How To Be A Children's Book Illustrator, I am working on improving my color skills. Or rather on gaining some color skills. I think it has been one of my weakest points.

Here is my color wheel, which was more difficult that I thought it would be. I went a bit heavy on the warmer colors, and my yellow-green could use more yellow, but it was a great exercise. I really look forward to working through his other color sessions.