I have been working on this clown cluster for about 3 days and only that long because painting is going slow. Sometimes it does that. I finally got into it by the time I made it over to the purple clown. Each one still has lots of detail work to be done but I wanted to show you the progress so far. This one measures 20 inches x 24 inches!!! Enjoy!
Erin T Whalen
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”
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
Here is my current paint concoction (or however you spell that) being worked on at the new art studio. I haven’t been there much because of getting the kids ready to go back to school and all but I am inching along. Unfortunately, I have been told that I will be needing surgery ASAP for the numbness in my right arm. Yes, irony strikes once again…I am fortunate enough to have this wonderful art studio to work in and my drawing arm goes numb. Unbelievable huh? I can only draw and paint in tiny spurts right now because of the numbness and pain and the doctor says the nerve damage will be irreversible if I don’t get the surgery quickly. So alas, I must go under the knife if I am to continue drawing and painting. I have also been told that it is not 100% that the surgery will fix me so please cross your fingers, pray, or dance naked under the full moon for me…whatever it is you do to bring about results. I really need all the help I can get on this one. I will keep you in the loop on when the surgery is to happen and will soon put up my ‘studio hours’ so that you can come visit me and my characters in the works.
Until next time….night!
Erin
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 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
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
With all this writing I’ve been doing my Charlie’s Head website has fallen behind. It’s tough to be an author and illustrator these days because not only do you have to create work and publish it but then you have to keep up with the blogs, websites, and all the social media! It’s confusing is what it is. All of my twitter accounts are active and you can feel free to follow me on any of those. All of my websites have the link to follow and are listed below.
erintwhalen.com — Erin is the tweeter and tweets about all of her writing and illustrating adventures as well as ups and downs.
charlieshead.com — Charlie is the tweeter and he tweets on everything he is experiencing and seeing in the new novel “Charlie in Underland”
lilycopublishing.com — Lily is the tweeter and tweets on publishing trends, books, marketing, and all Charlie’s Head books!
I have just updated Charlie’s Blog or should I say Charlie did (tee hee). I still need to put links to buy the picture books, add some sketches from my novel and some excerpts, then get the Clubhouse going as well as teacher plans and kids activities. So much to do and only two hands to do it with. Any advice on how I can streamline my work would be much appreciated. Also… if you know of any interns interested in helping out a Children’s Author & Illustrator PLEASE send them my way.
As far as the art studio goes it seems we are having a new studio space carved out for us because the old one we had our heart set on is still occupied. I will post more news on that as I hear it myself.
The novel is soooo close to finished I can feel it. I am so excited!
PLEASE let me know if you would like to be on my physical mailing list. I will be sending out postcards when the new novel is ready! Also, I will be mailing out events etc. that I will be doing relating to all my art and writing. Just email me at erinesquedesign@mac.com
Once again, thanks for following, reading, and enjoying the artwork and books I LOVE creating for you.
Erin
I am happy to report to my readers that I was successful in my quest over school vacation to write the entire time! I locked my door and taped a sign to it… FINISHING NOVEL Do not knock…I will not answer and you know what? It worked!
I was able to get 20,000 words written and learned so much about my story. So much happened during the week. The first 2 days were light and fluffy stuff. Fun scenes with the kids in the novel interacting, and by the 3rd day, I was seeing sides of my characters that I had never met before. I even met a new character! That’s right, one was lurking in the shadows of the underground just waiting for me to see him. Now I am going to admit to something I thought I already knew. I remember hearing of writers talking about having their characters speak to them but I thought that was only a fancy way of saying they were using their imaginations. It turns out they meant it literally! I could actually hear (in my mind of course) the different characters interacting with each other.
I have always heard of writers going away to a cabin in the woods to finish a novel and now I know why. The uninterrupted writing is amazing because after writing if you feel like taking a nap you can, then get back up whenever you want even if its at 3am and start writing some more. Also, because you have no interruptions, the flow is NEVER stopping. Constantly with your characters and no one else. The story begins writing itself! I am going to take writing breaks more often.
If you never have and you are a writer you owe it to yourself to take a writing marathon or a break from real people and spend committed time to your story people.
Erin T. Whalen 