Flash! Crash! + The Smell of the Library

5 things from the studio this week

I had a busy yet productive week in the studio. I have been chasing a book idea for so long I’ve begun to call it my “white whale.” I had several a-ha’s and oh’s along the route to writing the first draft this week. It’s no small thing when you’ve tried 8-10 times over 2 years. The idea was sticky enough that I didn’t give up. Feels right. Still needs some major edits. But progress!

Here’s 5 things from the week that was:

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1. SOME ART MAKING

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I was commissioned by my step-cousin to make some art work inspired by Bon Iver’s latest double album. It was a similar to illustrating a manuscript, yet more abstract and free. This is just a snippet as I have a long way to go! I’ll share more once they are done.

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2. WORK WISDOM

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Creative output is a slog that is often slower and more grueling than we would like and at times can feel discouraging. The best artists, of the smart ones at least, tend to involve other people "because," as Diana Glyer told me, "the life of an artist, any kind of creator, is fraught with discouragement. You need people to correct your path."

— Jeff Goins, Real Artists Don’t Starve

One of the things that’s changed for me over the last 4 or 5 years is my willingness to involve more people at various stages of my creative processes. You, as a subscriber, reader and commenter of Drawing a Blank, are one of those creative tributaries.

Another is the connections built between friends and family and actively asking them to be involved. I’ve sent my manuscripts to my cousin (as a high school ELA teacher) and invited her to let me know what she thinks. I’ve spent time with a friend at the lake who is a speech pathologist and bent her ear on language and book ideas. I’ve met with local illustrators and authors to officially critique and gather feedback. My wife and friends have all heard my ideas grow up to be book manuscripts or even full-fledged books.

I shied away from this for many years and here’s a quick and embarrassing list of why:

1. I wasn’t confident in myself creatively and couldn’t take input from others as beneficial.

2. I didn’t know how to deftly manage the influx of ideas I didn’t like and thought it would damage the existing relationship.

3. I bought the solitary genius view of the world. Which is closely aligned with “talent is everything” and “you either have it or you don’t.” That stuff held me back. (Replaced it with “I’m getting better at this and everything can help me along.” Gold.)

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3. THING I LOVED

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I occasionally pull a book off of my growing kidlit bookshelf to oogle and learn from. There is nothing like holding a finished book that does the thing and does it well. I adore Ed Emberely for a thousand reasons¹ and every once in a while I track down one of his out of print non-drawing books just to see a fuller range of his illustration work.

Flash, Crash, Rumble, and Roll by Franlyn M. Branley is one of such finds and the illustration work by Emberely is gorgeous. His use of line in combination with energetic textural elements is really beautiful.

Alternating between black and white and pages with limited color overlays is stunningly simple and effective.

You know exactly how this feels.

An illustration of the author and the illustrator from the About page. Ed’s description makes use of the word experiments as a hobby outside of his writing and illustrating. And I’m like “Dude def sees it all as one job.”

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4. A BOOK TO READ

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I’ve been waiting to get my hands on this book since it came out so forgive my tardiness in singing its praise.

If you’re familiar with Gauld’s comic work, he’s hopelessly witty and smart. His style is simple yet detailed and perfectly suited to the humor. The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess is all of that, but a tale aimed at younger readers. I want more new fairytales! Give me quirky and weird. I want it all. From the Kirkus starred review:

“There once lived,” the tale begins, and it ends quite satisfactorily with “happily ever after.” In between, two heroic adventures are linked together, each complete with difficulties, brave rescues, kindnesses, and magical coincidences.

The art and illustration work gets this nod:

Gauld’s crisp, clear art, with captivating small details in backgrounds and endpapers, adds richness to the narrative. The amiable faces of each of his human and humanoid characters, along with those of birds, bugs, and forest creatures, give a feel of intimacy and familiarity.

The review goes on to call it a story that seems familiar yet fresh. I concur.

It’s awesome.

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5. EPHEMERA, ETC.

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I had two events at the local library this week. It’s a lovely place that smells exactly like the libraries I spent time as a kid. Must be the smell of wisdom and joy? Old paper and laughter?

The first was a solo deal and in our little town, with youth soccer happening, and a myriad other summer activities — was sparsely attended. An old friend from 15 years ago brought her daughter who I’d never met (she’s 7) and made me so grateful for the work I now do.

The second was a local author night and was a celebration of books and making in the ways that are subtle and deep. It can be easy to believe small towns with little libraries don’t have the same energy, the same verve as other locations. And it is different. But it’s there. If you know, you know.

See you next week!

Best,
Jacob

1. I wrote about his influence here:

Make a World