Here is the flyer I’ve made for classes beginning in July at Lynn-Art studio in Greenville Rhode Island. Im so excited to meet new painters and push their creativity!
Category: artists
Latest Project…
I had an amazing time creating this piece for the Alice in Wonderland project. It is for a coffee table book that will be printed in Norway.
The project is described by the creators as this…
150Alice is a project celebrating the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. We have brought together 150 brilliant illustrators from around the world that have each created a single page for this 300-page book.
The project promotes the illustrators’ art in a unique way and gives them an opportunity to create a masterpiece together. It provides them a platform to give back to the community by expressing themselves and sharing their talent with the world.
Lewis Carroll created Wonderland, and the story surrounding it, out of his love of entertaining children. His story gained great success and 150 years later is still enjoyed by children all over the world.
We are here to drive forward Lewis Carroll’s idea of encouraging art and creativity among children. At 150Alice, all profits from this book will be donated to educating children in China and Mongolia about art and creativity. With your generous support, we can help a generation of children develop a more vivid imagination.
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I would like to thank both Sig and Thomas for letting me work on such an important project.
Please visit and support this project at http://www.150alice.com
Thanks so much!
Erin
Post Surgery
Well I went ahead and did it. I had the spine surgery I swore I never would have. I was losing the use of my right arm and hand and fast! The doctors told me I may never draw again. What is an artist to do? Soooo, I took myself to the hospital (well my Mom did) and I went into the operating room hesitant mind you. But I did go in and thats what counts. Although my back problems are not cured I did regain the use of my right arm…whew! I am hoping that with my new cadaver bone (yes you heard me correctly) in my neck will work much better now, although the Doctors make no promises. I do want to show you some finished pieces I had not put up before. These pieces are for sale and can be found at THE STORY EMPORIUM in The Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket RI on 1005 Main Street. Check them out:
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Charlie in “A Trashy Novel”
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Dripping Zippers
Scituate Arts Festival
it’s 6:45am and I wanted to drop you a note to let you know that I am heading to the Scituate Arts Festival in about an hour. This year I am selling prints of my newest artwork along with The Charlie’s Head Series picture books. “A Trashy Novel” will be out in fall 2012 but you can come see the illustrations for the novel. (I do have some prints of the artwork for “A Trashy Novel”)I also have my new art studio calendar on display so be sure to take one when you visit.
The festival runs from 9-6 and is today, Sunday, and Monday so you have plenty of time to get there. I will be the one dressed in the witch costume on the front lawn of the public library.
Thanks for reading my blog and I hope to see you there!
Erin
The Story Emporium Information
The Story Emporium is a Children’s Bookstore that is run by Children’s Authors and Illustrators! Each week you will find a new author to meet however the resident author / illustrator is Erin T Whalen.
Story Emporium Hours
Sunday — CLOSED
Monday — 9-1
Tuesday — 9-1
Wednesday — 9-9
Thursday — 9-1
Friday — 9-1
Saturday — 9-2
My art studio has been born!!!
I just started designing my new place… It’s called THE STORY EMPORIUM. Below is a description of what it is.
The Story Emporium is an art studio where children’s illustration can be purchased in the form of altered jewelry, prints, originals or books. I like to call it so much more than a children’s bookstore because not only can visitors come in and watch a children’s illustrator at work but 2 times a week we have visiting authors and illustrators who are interviewed for a local television station and a web show! Following each interview will be a book signing. Each visiting author will have their books for sale at The Story Emporium! In addition to our visiting authors we will have our resident storyteller for story times all week! Like I said…it is so much more than a children’s book store!
If you are a children’s author or illustrator and would like to be considered for an interview please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Erin
Sitting Idle and Reflecting
Sitting idle frustrates me. I have been sitting idle for two years now because of my disabling spinal condition
and now it has traveled to my RIGHT arm … my drawing arm, uggghhh. VERY tough just to complete one painting or to even type for any decent length of time. I am actually looking into a voice recognition program to help me with the writing end. My intention here is not to complain because well, that’s just unattractive.
What I want to say is that I had a great revelation today. While watching my adorable kids and their friends selling lemonade, I found i was getting extremely frustrated having to once again sit idle when I could be working on my craft. However, it being 90 degrees, I certainly wasn’t taking my laptop outside to work so I just sat on the stairs and pouted to myself. Pathetic I know…. but it gave me time to reflect on the past week and how my artistic outlook has been boosted. I reflected back to having my oil changed in my car at Valvoline where the attendants come right up to your car while you sit in it. They were awed by the artwork I had on my front seat and asked where did I buy it. Of course that is enough to make any artist proud but then they proceeded to look at my three childrens’ books that I keep in my car at al times. They told me my work was unbelievable. They lifted my spirits so high that day and that is not the only kudos I received last week. I met with RISCA (Rhode Island State Council of the Arts) and they too were amazed at the work I have accomplished. They even went as far as to say I don’t give myself enough credit. (and really what artist does?) Anyway, I got to reflect on this while sitting on the steps watching the kids at the lemonade stand. Reflection is so important and I just don’t do enough of it.
As I was pondering all of this I received a text from my x-mother in law. She had sent me a photo of my x-brother in laws newborn baby… just minutes old. It was then that I realized I have created more than books and art … but the wonderful children in front of me that were out there selling lemonade. It dawned on me that I was not through creating them. I still have a few years before It is time to send them out into the world as I do with my finished books and paintings. I couldn’t help but smile when I realized I was working on what was now a 12 year old art project that is still not done!
Of course I had to grab my sketchbook and draw them at the lemonade stand and yes, I am happy to say that not only was that beautiful baby born today but a new picture book as well. I did rough sketches of my girls enjoying their summer and a story naturally followed in my head.
I will try to remember that sitting idle is a HUGE part of the process of creation, I just need to be patient enough sometimes to remember to do it.
Erin
Completed painting
Wytch painting
Here is a painting in the works. She is one of the bad guys in my novel. I am plugging along nicely now and the book is coming together… Or should I say it’s all there, just cleaning it up.
I met with an old friend and a few others in the artist community and it made me very happy to know that I belong to such a great bunch of people.
Thanks for keeping me going with my art!
Erin
Update On Studio Space
The studio space is still in the future, just not April. Don’t worry, I will be sure to tell you when it all happens. I continue to add to my mailing list daily so if you are interested in getting a snail mail notice from me please give me an email and ask to be added to my mailing list. Be sure to include all your info so I can get the information to you as quick and easy as possible.
On another note, I have been keeping quite busy in all aspects of my life. Unfortunately I have not been creating as much as I would like to. It is quite difficult to create for long periods of time with my back the way it is and as most of you know, having pre-teens make it difficult as well. None-the-less I am working my way through it all or better yet, writing my way through it all.
Hopefully by the weekend I will have new art to post.
As usual, thanks for reading.
Erin
Erin T. Whalen 