tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74982623739738751702024-03-13T06:21:01.663-04:00Ellie McDoodleA blog about the process of writing and illustrating the Ellie McDoodle books for kids ages 8-12.Ruth McNally Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10308176951931302853noreply@blogger.comBlogger142125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498262373973875170.post-72304683903299439672016-10-17T15:00:00.000-04:002016-10-17T15:00:13.781-04:00I love mice and rats<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yUkeWGFX5mY/V-JFYAm_VNI/AAAAAAAABRE/f0wTm-PppgsNt7NQUCQ59P3GVyo9CFcdACLcB/s1600/ratty3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yUkeWGFX5mY/V-JFYAm_VNI/AAAAAAAABRE/f0wTm-PppgsNt7NQUCQ59P3GVyo9CFcdACLcB/s320/ratty3.jpg" width="196" /></a></div>
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Another furry friend.</div>
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I had two rat pets once, Miranda and Ophelia. </div>
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Ophelia was tamer. She rode on my shoulder when we visited my daughter's kindergarten class.</div>
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The teacher, the wonderful Mrs. Chappa, was not a fan.</div>
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Later I wrote up the scene in the second Ellie McDoodle book.</div>
<br />Ruth McNally Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10308176951931302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498262373973875170.post-58758698001533824862016-10-10T11:00:00.000-04:002016-10-10T11:00:13.368-04:00Another rattieMy agent posted a photo of her at a nice restaurant near her new house and I decided to draw the scene. Well, I put a rat into the painting instead of my agent.<br />
(I know what some of you are thinking. She did *not* take offense)<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eiffTa5E-k8/V-JELunziuI/AAAAAAAABQ0/2uVtyeGJzwsezIK5p_CEjr6POw-V3oKCACLcB/s1600/agenterinmouseb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eiffTa5E-k8/V-JELunziuI/AAAAAAAABQ0/2uVtyeGJzwsezIK5p_CEjr6POw-V3oKCACLcB/s320/agenterinmouseb.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
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Bon appetit, Erin!</div>
<br />Ruth McNally Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10308176951931302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498262373973875170.post-21897287321846556262016-10-06T09:00:00.000-04:002016-10-06T09:00:30.777-04:00Not throwing away my shot!I am a very dedicated <a href="http://www.hamiltonbroadway.com/" target="_blank">Hamilton</a> fan.<br />
Very dedicated.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wzDCuGdISkg/V-JCJaClnsI/AAAAAAAABQs/DbXy6NnQzpU-jGPaAasAtwMURhsggrpIACLcB/s1600/ratty002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wzDCuGdISkg/V-JCJaClnsI/AAAAAAAABQs/DbXy6NnQzpU-jGPaAasAtwMURhsggrpIACLcB/s320/ratty002.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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Can't wait to see the PBS Hamilton special later this month!Ruth McNally Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10308176951931302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498262373973875170.post-88403205296137849472016-10-02T04:11:00.000-04:002016-10-02T04:11:06.098-04:00Travel Travails<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Three weeks ago my dear friend <a href="http://www.curiouscity.net/" target="_blank">Kirsten Cappy </a>came to Michigan to interview Badge Velasquez and a few other guys from <a href="http://www.bikers4books.com/" target="_blank">Bikers For Books</a>, a charity promoting literacy for the youth in my area.</div>
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Charlie and I saw her at the Bikers For Books Rally on Sept. 10, and then again the next day at the Kerrytown BookFest in Ann Arbor.</div>
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Thank you to <a href="http://www.bookboundbookstore.com/" target="_blank">Bookbound </a>for selling my books at the Kerrytown BookFest!</div>
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Charlie and I had dinner that second day with <a href="http://www.curiouscity.net/" target="_blank">Kirsten Cappy</a>, <a href="http://www.mattfaulkner.com/" target="_blank">Matt Faulkner</a>, <a href="http://kristenremenar.com/" target="_blank">Kris Remenar</a>, <a href="http://www.nancyshawbooks.com/" target="_blank">Nancy Shaw</a>, Pamela Patterson, <a href="http://www.denisefleming.com/" target="_blank">Denise Fleming</a> and husband David Powers and daughter Indigo Powers,</div>
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Also at the BookFest:<a href="http://www.kellydipucchio.com/" target="_blank"> Kelly DiPucchio</a>, <a href="http://www.shandatrent.com/" target="_blank">Shanda Trent</a>, <a href="http://www.heidibooks.com/" target="_blank">Heidi Woodward Sheffield</a>, <a href="http://www.twomonsterbooks.com/" target="_blank">Nick and Ashley Adkins</a>, Isabel O'Hagin, and wonderful SCBWI-Michigan webmaster and brilliant Austin-to-Ann Arbor transplant <a href="http://www.debbiegonzales.com/" target="_blank">Debbie Gonzales</a>,<br />I'm probably forgetting a few writers and illustrators. If that sounds like a lot of name-dropping, it is because they're smart creatives and I feel lucky to know them all.</div>
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At the end of the BookFest we walked Kirsten back to her car. </div>
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She was on time to get to the airport, but she reported that her photographer friend Fred had not telescoped the camera tripod for air travel before he left, and she couldn't get that last leg to fold down on her own. </div>
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She went through TSA with that very suspicious-looking tripod, but first endured extra searches and pat-downs and scrutiny. </div>
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Now late for her flight, she ran through the airport with her unfolded tripod, to the obvious shock and dismay of many of the travelers.</div>
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As she related the story to me the next day I couldn't help but laugh... and draw it up for her.</div>
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<br />Ruth McNally Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10308176951931302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498262373973875170.post-35022522465495864832016-09-28T13:00:00.000-04:002016-09-28T13:00:14.063-04:00Support your local bookstore!My favorite local bookstore* is <a href="http://www.schulerbooks.com/" target="_blank">Schuler Books & Music</a>.**<br />
It's just a 20-minute drive from my house.<br />
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My critique group (The World's Greatest Critique Group -- that's its name but it's also true) has met at Schulers for the 10 years since I joined them.<br />
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Before the Eastwood Towne Center store was built, and before the Okemos store moved into Meridian Mall, Schulers had a lovely store next to Meijer, and I visited often.<br />
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Over the years we've gotten to know the staff at the various branches.<br />
I put one staff member, book buyer Rhoda, in the art for my Leopold the Lion book.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KNHym6niYX4/V-DF_HQHYZI/AAAAAAAABPc/DTjhpVsMldIuXlK_LVyDvUjThYEWlDnbQCLcB/s1600/barshawrhoda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KNHym6niYX4/V-DF_HQHYZI/AAAAAAAABPc/DTjhpVsMldIuXlK_LVyDvUjThYEWlDnbQCLcB/s1600/barshawrhoda.jpg" /></a></div>
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If you know real-life Rhoda, you know that this doesn't quite look like her.<br />
Real Rhoda has glasses but the publisher wanted no glasses on Mom and no facial hair on Dad.<br />
Real Rhoda is blonde, and I wanted darker-skinned, darker-haired characters for this book.<br />
Otherwise that is definitely Rhoda.<br />
And it's her on the page where she's fixing a bike, too -- Real Rhoda is tough and she plays sports.<br />
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If you want to buy any of my books, Schuler Books is likely to have them in stock.<br />
They always do.<br />
Thank you, Schulers!<br />
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To buy online -- only $1 per book for shipping! -- go to<br />
<a href="http://www.schulerbooks.com/search/site/barshaw">http://www.schulerbooks.com/search/site/barshaw</a><br />
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To buy one of my books at the store, just walk in and find it on the shelf.<br />
If you want, Rhoda will probably autograph it for you.<br />
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*actually two bookstores -- one Schuler Books & Music is 20 minutes away and the other is about 25 minutes away.<br />
**I love Schuler Books. I love a lot of other fine bookstores, too. Schulers is closest.<br />
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<br />Ruth McNally Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10308176951931302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498262373973875170.post-13542983199545659312016-09-26T13:00:00.000-04:002016-09-26T13:00:18.305-04:00Hug a dumpling today<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Sketch -----------------</div>
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To Finish ---------------------------------------------------<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t8EB0Sg4m7s/V-SA0AzRvnI/AAAAAAAABRs/42YI8aGZrJYg4uFT6wtN-QKyXb0rtC82wCLcB/s1600/barshawmamababyWEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t8EB0Sg4m7s/V-SA0AzRvnI/AAAAAAAABRs/42YI8aGZrJYg4uFT6wtN-QKyXb0rtC82wCLcB/s320/barshawmamababyWEB.jpg" width="176" /></a></div>
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<br />Monday, September 26 is National Dumpling Day. Go hug your lil' dumpling. :) </div>
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Ruth McNally Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10308176951931302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498262373973875170.post-49096777626399339992016-09-22T21:26:00.002-04:002016-09-22T21:26:26.605-04:00Finders, keepers?I found this little toy fox in my studio.<br />
I don't know how it got here.<br />
It's less than an inch tall.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MS9WfZrrBTE/V-I4J_ZQpaI/AAAAAAAABP4/AIy7B6Z--a80jbkI11rXNemnkN6X8pQhQCLcB/s1600/toybadgerweb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MS9WfZrrBTE/V-I4J_ZQpaI/AAAAAAAABP4/AIy7B6Z--a80jbkI11rXNemnkN6X8pQhQCLcB/s320/toybadgerweb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
If one of the little kids who visits my studio regularly claims it on the next visit, I'll hand it over.<br />
But I hope they forget about it for a little while because I love it.Ruth McNally Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10308176951931302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498262373973875170.post-47775986932886635032016-09-21T10:00:00.000-04:002016-09-21T10:00:05.771-04:00Pensive mouse<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I was thinking about how to draw something, and then I thought I'd draw a mouse thinking about how to draw something, and then I figured out how to draw that other thing, so I stopped drawing this. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">And that's why it's unfinished. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">(I do highly recommend both thinking and also drawing.) </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">(also mice)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>Ruth McNally Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10308176951931302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498262373973875170.post-61573853745948854002016-09-19T16:29:00.000-04:002016-09-19T16:29:22.385-04:00Time to post some artI never know where to post the little art pieces I draw and paint while trying to figure out bigger paintings and stories. Usually I post them on Facebook and forget about them.<br />
But it seems to make sense to post them here.<br />
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I drew this giraffe as a sketch in my Story Ideas notebook. Then I redrew him as a black and white dry brush sketch. Then I decided to paint him and add to his story.<br />
Here he is.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FvlrU8gf0qU/V-BJhOIVy7I/AAAAAAAABOk/BLIdGpRH4IsrcqQS7b-08dSjRtA-Jf-6ACLcB/s1600/giraffewson2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FvlrU8gf0qU/V-BJhOIVy7I/AAAAAAAABOk/BLIdGpRH4IsrcqQS7b-08dSjRtA-Jf-6ACLcB/s320/giraffewson2.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>
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And this is a detail of his little baby, picking up good reading habits from Papa.</div>
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This is pen and ink and watercolor plus a smidgen of colored pencil.</div>
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I think this little guy needs a name. (Or is she a girl?)</div>
<br />Ruth McNally Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10308176951931302853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498262373973875170.post-90618321672487745202016-02-03T16:49:00.000-05:002016-02-03T16:49:26.602-05:00This weird thing about time racing past<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Chatting with a friend just now made me think: I am older than I expected to get. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">When I was a teen looking forward to the millennium change in 1999 I was disappointed that I'd be an old lady, barely able to enjoy it. The millennium change was 17 years ago. I enjoyed it JUST FINE. Ahem. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">What would my teen self think of me now? </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">She wouldn't approve of my short hair or my body, but she'd like my studio and work. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">She'd want to be friends with my kids. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">She would think today's Cha</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">rlie is a nice old guy, and the Charlie I fell in love with in 1980 was romantic. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">She'd like my dogs. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">She'd think it's weird that I eat vegetables for breakfast. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><br />She'd think it's cool but not groovy that I became friends with my siblings, </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">that I have so many good friends in my life today, </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">and that I'm this happy. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">All of this makes me plan what I'll be like in 2046. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">I'd better not disappoint me.</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><br />Have you entertained your 17 year old self lately? </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Or your 87 year old self?</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFHQ1tmkOys/VrJ1ljV0i-I/AAAAAAAABN0/-AjnJmXc9EE/s1600/scan0010earlyBurgerChef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFHQ1tmkOys/VrJ1ljV0i-I/AAAAAAAABN0/-AjnJmXc9EE/s320/scan0010earlyBurgerChef.jpg" width="202" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">This is a page from my sketch-journal when I was 17.</span></span></div>
Ruth McNally Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10308176951931302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498262373973875170.post-40167132971491446452015-08-10T01:28:00.000-04:002015-08-10T01:28:00.049-04:00Thank you, teachers and librarians!! We love you!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Thank you,</span> </div>
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teachers and librarians and others who put books in kids' hands.</div>
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We appreciate you.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vxZ5ZqAVO4g/VbB6emA-7XI/AAAAAAAABLs/kWghMXvM_cY/s1600/travisjonker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vxZ5ZqAVO4g/VbB6emA-7XI/AAAAAAAABLs/kWghMXvM_cY/s320/travisjonker.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Taken from my sketchbook, this is me greeting Travis Jonker </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">at Nerd Camp 2015. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">(He's not really that much taller than I am, I don't think...)</span></div>
Ruth McNally Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10308176951931302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498262373973875170.post-80621069479957982302015-07-29T02:04:00.000-04:002015-07-29T02:04:00.411-04:00Jean Little Library! July 16 at Matheson Memorial Library in Elkhorn, WisconsinI first became aware of Jennifer Wharton's brilliant book reviews on the <a href="http://jeanlittlelibrary.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jean Little Library blog</a> a couple years ago, when she mentioned an Ellie McDoodle book and my awesome friend, children's book author <a href="http://www.carriepearsonbooks.com/" target="_blank">Carrie Pearson</a> alerted me.<br />
It occurred to me, why not look up Jennifer's library and see if my travels would bring me near it sometime? And to my utter shock, I was indeed going to be within sketching distance in just a few months.<br />
I attended my agent's retreat in Lake Geneva, and the Jean Little Library isn't more than a pebble toss away.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LM2imL8iSPI/VbCHFWJtRfI/AAAAAAAABMc/jLDFChXexe4/s1600/jeanlittlelibrarysketchpage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LM2imL8iSPI/VbCHFWJtRfI/AAAAAAAABMc/jLDFChXexe4/s320/jeanlittlelibrarysketchpage.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
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We drew penguins, owls, Ellie McDoodle, Ben-Ben, dragons, cats, dogs, ... all sorts of stuff.<br />
Here's Ben-Ben:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Io_2neP9rog/Va2Jlcgj6FI/AAAAAAAABJE/ShKVh5vcejY/s1600/benbensomersaultFORWEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Io_2neP9rog/Va2Jlcgj6FI/AAAAAAAABJE/ShKVh5vcejY/s320/benbensomersaultFORWEB.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I like to draw on a document camera and project it onto the wall so people all over the room can join in easily. We were in a big room, and that crowd really filled it up.<br />
One girl gave me a drawing with an impressive use of spirals:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1OhdUSip22A/VbB--Rskf3I/AAAAAAAABL8/66c-pPmJM44/s1600/alainaart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1OhdUSip22A/VbB--Rskf3I/AAAAAAAABL8/66c-pPmJM44/s320/alainaart.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
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This is my favorite kind of event: connecting with enthusiastic kids. What a great author life I lead.<br />
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Thank you SO much, Jennifer and Jean Little Library!Ruth McNally Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10308176951931302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498262373973875170.post-66419418784150385642015-07-25T01:02:00.000-04:002015-07-25T01:02:00.430-04:00Nerd Camp 2015! July 6 and 7Wow, what a terrific event -- teachers and authors and kids and librarians and lots of talk about books of all kinds... and it's all FREE. Of course I carried around a sketchbook the whole time.<br />
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Here are some sketchbook pages from <a href="http://nerdcampmi.weebly.com/blog/nerd-camp-2015" target="_blank">Nerd Camp</a> 2015, our second year of participation:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ruhMQDXqN4A/VbByKAAo7uI/AAAAAAAABKg/WLXMD03mwb0/s1600/DSCF1130b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ruhMQDXqN4A/VbByKAAo7uI/AAAAAAAABKg/WLXMD03mwb0/s320/DSCF1130b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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These are the authors on our panel. Wow!! Big names!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bnXlZP018yc/VbByL1M9SQI/AAAAAAAABK8/TEqp4Q9L-9I/s1600/DSCF1134b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bnXlZP018yc/VbByL1M9SQI/AAAAAAAABK8/TEqp4Q9L-9I/s320/DSCF1134b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After talking and sharing ideas with teachers for two days, we bring in the kids. </div>
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Below, my group is drawing themselves as characters. Next they drew themselves as rabbits.</div>
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Then we started writing and drawing a story together.</div>
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In between sessions I got to hang out with fellow Bloomsbury author <a href="http://www.erinsoderberg.com/" target="_blank">Erin Soderberg</a>, creator of THE QUIRKS -- what fun she is!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6TXjobHyebg/VbBzTiqGUQI/AAAAAAAABLU/FadPhExddXw/s1600/DSCF0917b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6TXjobHyebg/VbBzTiqGUQI/AAAAAAAABLU/FadPhExddXw/s320/DSCF0917b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Thank you so much to the organizers of <a href="http://nerdcampmi.weebly.com/blog/nerd-camp-2015" target="_blank">Nerd Camp</a>, especially Colby Sharp and his family.<br />
Thank you to <a href="http://www.bookbugkalamazoo.com/" target="_blank">Bookbug</a>, Kalamazoo's terrific independent bookstore, for handling sales at Nerd Camp. How great to see the overwhelming support for your store, from the crowd.<br />
What an amazing resource this program is! I'm so happy to be part of it.<br />
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<br />Ruth McNally Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10308176951931302853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498262373973875170.post-23672986375456641742015-07-23T00:47:00.000-04:002015-07-23T00:47:19.004-04:00July 20: Potterville Benton Twp District Library!On Tuesday we visited Potterville Benton Township District Library,<br />
We brought an easel and drew bats, dogs, penguins, and my first-ever cat on a bike.<br />
Before our audience arrived I showed off the art from Leopold the Lion.<br />
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Pictures from the event:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kiL5JwHacSM/VbBvXNxPwKI/AAAAAAAABJo/1U-DkVXqXZY/s1600/DSCF1100b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kiL5JwHacSM/VbBvXNxPwKI/AAAAAAAABJo/1U-DkVXqXZY/s320/DSCF1100b.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
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We always draw Ben-Ben.<br />
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<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n_lRttgNPQg/VbBvZAfoLvI/AAAAAAAABKA/PvYt8ZAbygo/s1600/DSCF1108b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n_lRttgNPQg/VbBvZAfoLvI/AAAAAAAABKA/PvYt8ZAbygo/s320/DSCF1108b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We brainstormed characters, then started a story.</div>
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Poor Lex the dog! Cat has swiped his bones and is getting away.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BAKtt1UOR-Y/VbBvXCq-XII/AAAAAAAABJk/GeAr7t9GrIQ/s1600/DSCF1102b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BAKtt1UOR-Y/VbBvXCq-XII/AAAAAAAABJk/GeAr7t9GrIQ/s320/DSCF1102b.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
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Can Lex's best friend the squirrel help?</div>
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Cat skids into a mud puddle. Will Lex stop to help him?<br />But what about those scary bats?</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O4NwBeENrnE/VbBva7EW0NI/AAAAAAAABKQ/vM0zX4d8NEQ/s1600/DSCF1114b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O4NwBeENrnE/VbBva7EW0NI/AAAAAAAABKQ/vM0zX4d8NEQ/s320/DSCF1114b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Librarian LuAnn helps with the easel pages.</div>
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Thank you, Potterville Benton Township District Library! </div>
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That's a long name and you are long on hospitality, as always. We had a great time.</div>
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Ruth McNally Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10308176951931302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498262373973875170.post-88836839994941448142014-05-02T04:33:00.000-04:002014-05-02T04:33:31.821-04:00Drawing 100 lions (or maybe more)When I ran a little advertising/design shop on campus a few decades ago I drew up a poster that said,<br />
Before you decide on one, draw 50.<br />
Under that headline was some line art: 50 thumbnail illustrations (and they were actually decorated thumbnails). The poster was to remind me not to settle on an idea too early in the brainstorming or drawing process. My best work doesn't usually come on the third try.<br />
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I'm illustrating a book about a lion.<br />
The first task is to get to know that character inside and out: what's he like?<br />For a method actor the question would be, what's his motivation?<br />
My best way to figure it out is to draw, draw, draw.<br />
I don't just aim for 50, anymore.<br />
Usually I aim for 100.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u9dJBzQK8GU/U2NWhbINOkI/AAAAAAAAA44/yQho4qo8XWU/s1600/barshaw100lionsb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u9dJBzQK8GU/U2NWhbINOkI/AAAAAAAAA44/yQho4qo8XWU/s1600/barshaw100lionsb.jpg" height="320" width="243" /></a></div>
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Eventually I figured out the lion. (After drawing 137.)</div>
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Now, on to the rest of the characters...<br />
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(And if I need to draw dozens more lions because I ultimately don't like the one I chose -- or the art director doesn't -- I won't be surprised. Whatever it takes to get my best work.)<br />
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<br />Ruth McNally Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10308176951931302853noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498262373973875170.post-76288016217303223972014-04-30T21:55:00.001-04:002014-05-02T03:50:19.071-04:00"There's a book in this!"Today my kid invited me to tag along on her Engineering group field trip to the local landfill. I've learned never to pass up that sort of opportunity because <i>something</i> useful will come of it. I was right!<br />
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I learned:</div>
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- it's a landfill, not a dump. Landfill people dislike the D word. In my state, dumps are illegal, and they offer no protection for earth, air or water. Landfills have strict regulations, and a lot of engineering goes into meeting them.</div>
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- those plastic grocery bags are worse than I'd thought. They blow around at dumps. I already knew they're terrible for our lakes and oceans, they are unrecyclable, and they don't break down into compost like paper bags can. </div>
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- There is beauty even at the landfill -- my daughter found a tiny perfect heart rock for me.</div>
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- my work-in-progress picture book about a <i>(shhh, it's a secret!) </i>needs more work, and probably more research.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zU9ckkqgRrc/U2GmYoCXkCI/AAAAAAAAAw4/uUgh-PpLFwI/s1600/ruthbarshawgranger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zU9ckkqgRrc/U2GmYoCXkCI/AAAAAAAAAw4/uUgh-PpLFwI/s1600/ruthbarshawgranger.jpg" height="258" width="320" /></a></div>
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Of course I took along a sketchbook. </div>
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Our tour guide seemed a little nervous at one point when she noticed I was taking copious notes. I hurried to explain that I was writing a kids' book, and this was just research for it.</div>
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(The last Engineering group field trip was to a special top-secret facility where the kids had to produce picture IDs to enter and parents had to wait outside.)</div>
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She relaxed and said most people don't take notes on her tours.</div>
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If people knew what power the almighty pen wields, they might scrutinize children's book authors more.</div>
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But I am harmless, and she must think so too; she offered to send me a poster showing a detailed cross section of the landfill.</div>
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Ruth McNally Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10308176951931302853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498262373973875170.post-19186954344900831822014-04-24T05:00:00.000-04:002014-05-02T03:58:33.028-04:00The eternal question: Talent? or self-honed Skill?<i>Note: I edited this post a few days after publication. Seemed like an awful lot of text. So I added more. Ha! and I added some indents and pictures.</i><br />
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On the RhyPiBoMo blog, an interesting question came up.<br />
I am posting it with my answer, here, with a couple words and line breaks added for clarity.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UkeDNlUpI0M/U2MVfAEyB0I/AAAAAAAAA38/NEnxg2NXHOM/s1600/indexbannerelliemod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UkeDNlUpI0M/U2MVfAEyB0I/AAAAAAAAA38/NEnxg2NXHOM/s1600/indexbannerelliemod.jpg" height="243" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b> Kristi said:
</b><i><b>I have a question for today’s guest, Ruth Barshaw. Is sketching something that one is just naturally good at, or can it be learned? </b></i><br />
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<b>I answered:</b><br />
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Hi, Kristi! I’ve read varying opinions on this, and have talked to some famous illustrators about it too. Though some will argue against it, I’m not alone in my firm belief:<br />
Anyone can learn to draw well. It just takes time and lots and lots of concentrated effort.<br />
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Some people say that it also requires talent. I say no.<br />
Some people claim I started higher on the “talented” level — that people who draw well are somehow born with a special knowledge, or even just a predisposition that sets their work apart.<br />
I am not sure if that’s true or not.<br />
I’m not an expert on brain studies, but I am a researcher and have dug deep into this subject a few times.<br />
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I don’t have any of my early childhood art.<br />
I do not remember being told by anyone that I had special talent for art until I was in third grade.<br />
By then I loved to draw, maybe as much as some other kids loved to run, or loved to play baseball — things I liked, didn’t practice much, didn’t *understand* how to do better, and so wasn’t much good at — and so didn’t excel at.<br />
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Lucky for me, my art ability was recognized by a couple of teachers who asked me to draw things for their bulletin boards.<br />
I’d drawn one giant cartoon of Dennis the Menace for a group project and one of the other kids begged to take it home.<br />
Third grade is the first I can recall of anyone wanting my art.<br />
I remember working really hard in second grade to develop my art (and also to grow my hair long).<br />
The working hard on art part, I’ve done ever since. (Growing my hair long is still an issue)<br />
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I see amazing art done by very young children.<br />
Maybe they really are specially talented.<br />
Or maybe they just have smart people in their lives who value art and tell the kids why what they did is special.<br />
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I believe it’s learning WHY that makes one a better artist. And, of course, repeated concerted effort.<br />
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If you want to read more about how to become a better artist, check out Betty Edward’s Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.<br />
You’ll be astounded at her students’ growth in mere days.<br />
But it shouldn’t be surprising: They have someone telling them how to see things differently, WHY certain things work and others don’t.<br />
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You can teach yourself how to draw.<br />
You’ll learn faster with smart help.<br />
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<i><b>(That's the end of my answer on the RhyPiBoMo blog, but I'm afraid I have more to say on the subject.)</b></i><br />
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Many years ago a friend told me she had decided artists and people with special arts talent (musicians, poets, even people who deliver great lectures) have that information/talent/predisposition whispered to them by the dead masters.<br />
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<i> My kids are good at music </i><u><i>despite</i></u><i> me,</i></div>
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<i>not because of me.</i></div>
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I was a little offended: does this diminish my own hard work at developing my skill?<br />
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Does this mean the first human was untalented?<br />
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How do we explain the talented artist who doesn't use their art at all, who wastes what appears to be a gift from above? Will there be divine punishment? Or will Abraham Lincoln whisper brilliance to a number of potential thinkers, knowing some will ignore it?<br />
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What about the kid who produces amazing art at a crazy-young age? Is someone whispering to him? What's a prodigy?<br />
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Do we all have potential for percussion, but only some of us have parents who buy us drum sets when we're little, and even fewer encourage us?<br />
(We won't get into elephants and monkeys painting, and what Art is. That's for another post.)<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G9SdM4xN5Qc/U2MIiYhCIpI/AAAAAAAAA24/YHj22icjbJc/s1600/sophiescookie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G9SdM4xN5Qc/U2MIiYhCIpI/AAAAAAAAA24/YHj22icjbJc/s1600/sophiescookie.jpg" height="312" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>My 2 year old granddaughter's decorated cookie. </i></div>
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<i>Maybe she's not a prodigy. Or -- wait -- maybe she is!</i></div>
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<br />
My friend's idea has spread widely. I've heard it many places. I still don't buy it.<br />
<br />
I still don't like the suggestion that I was born with something that others weren't, that what I have developed was whispered to me, that I am lucky instead of hard working. (I realize her suggestion doesn't automatically equate to all of these; I am extrapolating. Probably proponents of the idea would say I am both lucky <i>and</i> hardworking.)<br />
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Brain science says once you think something, it's easier to think that thing later. Confidence or the lack of confidence can build from your thoughts.<br />
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This is why people (like me) post affirmations on their mirrors and computer workstations: to repeat good thoughts, so they grow.<br />
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If you are rewarded for something -- if a teacher nods in approval, says something nice, tapes your paper to the wall for others to see, shares it with the class -- you learn to repeat.<br />
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If you're rewarded for innovation, you will innovate more.<br />
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If you're rewarded for being quiet, for not coloring outside the lines, for drawing exactly the way you're told to draw, you might still grow up to be an artist but it'll take extra effort to push yourself to greatness.<br />
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If you're punished for doodling on your page margins, for designing varied but barely legible handwriting fonts on your school papers, for creatively mixing things a teacher thinks shouldn't go together, for ::sigh:: depicting things someone thinks you shouldn't (yeah, all that happened to me), it might stifle your art instinct. Or it might merely send it underground, where you work on it quietly but only share it when you think it's really ready. That's what I did.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G_2pPbkEIyw/U2MJ5d_CgjI/AAAAAAAAA3A/rATAGdiQIJU/s1600/birthdaycartoonMA30520922-0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G_2pPbkEIyw/U2MJ5d_CgjI/AAAAAAAAA3A/rATAGdiQIJU/s1600/birthdaycartoonMA30520922-0004.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>My sister and I were born one year and one day apart.</i></div>
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<i>Mom made fanciful, beautiful cakes for our birthday every year.</i></div>
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<i>Maybe my art ability *is* inherited.</i></div>
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<br />
I believe time (and science) will show that we are all born with an infinite palette of possibilities. We paint our own futures. The colors are dulled or brightened by other people's intrusive praise and criticism, but we can undo their efforts, remix and repaint.<br />
<br />
WE decide if we'll be good at sports or art or science. Or all three.<br />
<br />
Case in point: My youngest kid. She's an accomplished athlete. And a very skilled artist. She has won a scholarship for engineering, which means she's really good at math and science. (All A's)<br />
<br />
Of course she was born brilliant. But she also had people in her life who helped guide and encourage her. And she worked very hard to develop her little proclivities into admirable skills.<br />
<br />
Everyone is born brilliant. Not every person has the cadre of encouraging family and friends. We ALL encounter disappointments and red herrings and false starts and obstacles, rising tension, conflict, villains.<br />
<br />
We ALL have the ability to work hard.<br />
<br />
We are the writers of our life stories.<br />
<br />
We choose the happy ending.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>We choose whether to succeed.</b><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S-7ULj_EECM/U2MOX3z743I/AAAAAAAAA3M/CxA2MsTJr1A/s1600/003momkissingMilo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S-7ULj_EECM/U2MOX3z743I/AAAAAAAAA3M/CxA2MsTJr1A/s1600/003momkissingMilo2.jpg" height="254" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>In any case, whether we inherit our talent,</i></div>
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<i>or develop it because of good nurturing,</i></div>
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<i>or develop it in spite of our home life,</i></div>
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<i>we probably owe our parents thanks.</i></div>
Ruth McNally Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10308176951931302853noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498262373973875170.post-76307102625283689932014-04-23T14:48:00.001-04:002014-05-02T04:01:22.040-04:00It's RhyPiBoMo! Rhyming Picture Book Month -- time to rhyme!My blog post is up!<br />
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This is RhyPiBoMo -- Rhyming Picture Book Month, designated and developed by <a href="http://angiekarcher.wordpress.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank">Angie Karcher, author</a>.<br />
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It's a month of blog posts about picture book rhyme -- written by authors who excel at rhyme (and then there's me, a newbie). You'll find lots of tips, ideas, how-to's -- really great stuff taught by people who know how to do it well. It's all free, of course!<br />
So check it out!<br />
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<i><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iZLlzAI9CYA/U2NQulAv7VI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/o3JXttnIQrA/s1600/badge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iZLlzAI9CYA/U2NQulAv7VI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/o3JXttnIQrA/s1600/badge.jpg" height="245" width="320" /></a></i></div>
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Find my post here:<br />
<a href="http://angiekarcher.wordpress.com/2014/04/23/the-tap-dancing-elephant-falls-down-wednesday/">http://angiekarcher.wordpress.com/2014/04/23/the-tap-dancing-elephant-falls-down-wednesday/</a><br />
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And then go read all the other days!<br />
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I'm thrilled to be included in RhyPiBoMo. I've written lots and lots of rhyme, tried many stories in rhyme over the years, and, after all that work, I have exactly one marketable manuscript in rhyme.<br />
The story is about music.<br />
I'm not really a musician. I play harmonica pretty well, but that's about it. I remember a little from organ classes, I know how to put together and hold a clarinet and make awful sounds come out. On days when my voice isn't husky from allergies or exertion, I can sing moderately well. I can sight-read music well, though slowly. I can figure out how to play a song I heard, on harmonica, after a couple tries. I'm in a band composed of authors, and we sing and play music -- much of it original -- at agency retreats. I'm no musician, though.<br />
My husband sings beautifully.<br />
Our four kids are all musical. Two sang on stage in high school. One's a real musician, performing for pay -- he and his wife play duets together, songs they write and sing with their own instruments. It's beautiful, heartwarming, inspiring -- intimidating. Seeing how well some people play with (and work at) music makes me realize how far behind I am.<br />
<br />
When this idea for a music picture book hit me, I first wrote it down. Then I emailed my son and asked for his help writing the book (really, I wanted him to write it and me to illustrate).<br />
He said no.<br />
He said I could do the job, and he would send a few ideas. His ideas were really great, but I sure was disappointed at first. The story was too big for me to let drop or give away, so I started to tackle it. Piece by piece, stanza by stanza, line by line, word by word, image by image... The story came together. I'm very excited about its potential.<br />
I'm working on the art.<br />
<br />
<i>Figuring out one of the characters:</i><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2fx3uxpH7t0/U1gJ3nrqW0I/AAAAAAAAAwQ/dZiGdeVJveA/s1600/babysketches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2fx3uxpH7t0/U1gJ3nrqW0I/AAAAAAAAAwQ/dZiGdeVJveA/s1600/babysketches.jpg" height="248" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>These are early sketches. I have no idea how much of this will be in the final book.</i><br />
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Just like the writing, creating the art of this book scares me.<br />
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You never know what you can do until you push yourself, right?<br />
<br />
My whole life I've done things that scared me.<br />
It's always paid off.<br />
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My page on Angie Karcher's blog has my post and lots of great extras, collected and organized by Angie:<br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://angiekarcher.wordpress.com/2014/04/23/the-tap-dancing-elephant-falls-down-wednesday/">http://angiekarcher.wordpress.com/2014/04/23/the-tap-dancing-elephant-falls-down-wednesday/</a></span></span><br />
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Ruth McNally Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10308176951931302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498262373973875170.post-15028223706821786642014-04-16T04:06:00.000-04:002014-05-02T04:09:39.780-04:00New art!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
As my brother said upon seeing these, it doesn't always have to be a doll or a stuffed animal...</div>
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Ruth McNally Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10308176951931302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498262373973875170.post-84673648314944634682014-04-13T22:22:00.000-04:002014-04-30T22:27:43.656-04:00Spring Break 2014Picture this:<br />
a 15-passenger van<br />
filled with<br />
Charlie and me (the drivers),<br />
Lisa (our daughter and person in charge of the food),<br />
her four kids (ages 11, 5, 3, and 1),<br />
Emmy (our high school daughter and person in charge of the menu),<br />
and Dan (her boyfriend),<br />
on a 21+ hour road trip from Michigan to Austin, Texas.<br />
We stayed at my sister's house<br />
(some of us in tents),<br />
flew another daughter in from Seattle,<br />
traveled around Texas,<br />
kept a group journal about it all,<br />
and came back home safely,<br />
no injuries,<br />
no fighting,<br />
no regrets.<br />
In fact, we want to do it again.<br />
I'm thinking Florida (Disney!) after I sell a few books, and upper Michigan too.<br />
<br />
While in Texas Charlie and I presented writer workshops at four schools in Round Rock, and we attended the Texas Library Association conference in San Antonio where we handed out these Texas READ posters:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iX1cH98Jd_o/U2Gv06ZsN-I/AAAAAAAAAxI/WNmyftpndjc/s1600/TexasreadposterforwebBARSHA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iX1cH98Jd_o/U2Gv06ZsN-I/AAAAAAAAAxI/WNmyftpndjc/s1600/TexasreadposterforwebBARSHA.jpg" height="320" width="246" /></a></div>
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It was a great working vacation -- but also intense fun.Ruth McNally Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10308176951931302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498262373973875170.post-12879050272704089342014-03-31T23:43:00.000-04:002014-03-31T23:43:25.844-04:00Rhyming Picture Book Month starts TODAY!<a href="http://angiekarcher.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/rhyming-picture-book-month-starts-today/" target="_blank">Join Angie Karcher all through April</a> as she brings in 35 guest authors to divulge their secrets on what makes great rhyme and how to write it.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://angiekarcher.wordpress.com/rhypibomo-registration/" target="_blank">Sign up here.</a><br />
It's easy and fast.<br />
Then read Angie's blog all month.<br />
Soak in the wisdom of such rhymers as -- well, name someone in the industry.<br />
<i>They're probably on the list.</i><br />
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Read the posts, follow the lessons, comment occasionally so you are eligible for prizes, and -- did I mention this part? IT'S ALL FREE.<br />
Join us. (My day is April 23)<br />
By the end of April you'll be on your way to becoming an expert in writing rhyme for picturebooks.<br />
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<br />Ruth McNally Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10308176951931302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498262373973875170.post-24210866033287019232014-03-20T11:57:00.000-04:002014-04-30T23:51:05.702-04:00I'm part of Sketchables!I always thought blog collectives were pretty cool. I belong to a few of them and rarely take part.<br />
The incongruence of those two beliefs made me hesitate when <a href="http://thesketchables.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Sketchables</a> asked me to join their rebooted effort of blogging sketches.<br />
My worry was that I wouldn't keep up.<br />
I tend to get very busy with deadlines and school visits and new projects.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mBE1JHdyH4s/Uym9eZ6H23I/AAAAAAAAAts/AZ0PaL-C-GQ/s1600/nypl-sketchruthmbarshaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mBE1JHdyH4s/Uym9eZ6H23I/AAAAAAAAAts/AZ0PaL-C-GQ/s1600/nypl-sketchruthmbarshaw.jpg" height="254" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>This spread from my sketchbook was drawn <br />at the NY Public Library's fantastic exhibit,<br />The ABC of It: Why Children's Books Matter.</i></div>
<br />
But I knew it'd be good to get into the habit of posting my art online regularly. I have probably 500 full sketchbooks at my house. Some of that work is worth sharing.<br />
So I said yes.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://thesketchables.blogspot.com/2014/03/crafty-ellie.html" target="_blank">Here's my latest Sketchables post.</a> It shows a page of first draft art for my next Ellie McDoodle book.<br />
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Check out the Sketchables blog. See cool, fun sketches by<br />
<a href="http://burrisdraw.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Priscilla Burris</a>,<br />
<a href="http://blog.heatherpowersart.com/" target="_blank">Heather Powers</a>,<br />
<a href="http://ninacrittenden.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Nina Crittenden</a>,<br />
<a href="http://stewystuff.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Joy Steuerwald</a>,<br />
<a href="http://www.stevebjorkman.com/" target="_blank">Steve Bjorkman</a>,<br />
and me.<br />
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And, if you're inspired, get sketching!Ruth McNally Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10308176951931302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498262373973875170.post-35943120235401354902014-03-19T22:21:00.001-04:002014-03-19T22:21:48.023-04:00MRA Poster by Matt Faulkner and meMichigan Reading Association held its 2014 conference this past weekend, and I got to do some presentations at it. At the huge general session on Sunday they unveiled the poster for next year's conference and -- ta-daaa! -- I helped create it.<br />
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Fellow Michigan author-illustrator and dear friend <a href="http://www.mattfaulkner.com/" target="_blank">Matt Faulkner</a> drew the MRA lettering scene and that gorgeous, intricate calligraphy of the words Honesty, Diversity, Unity, and Equality.<br />
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I did the Michigan readers pen/watercolor art and the layout.<br />
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These posters were distributed to teachers and librarians and will hang in schools around the state.<br />
I've already seen a few in schools, actually.<br />
This is a busy season for author visits-- I'll watch for more in my travels to schools around the state.<br />
Pretty heady stuff!Ruth McNally Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10308176951931302853noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498262373973875170.post-90800652127284714072014-03-10T02:00:00.000-04:002014-05-01T02:33:16.458-04:00Take your journal everywhere!I take my sketchbook/journal everywhere with me.<br />
To school visits.<br />
To field trips.<br />
To family vacations.<br />
To any place where I think I'll have to stand in line for a while.<br />
To my kid's (and grandkids') sports events and concerts and award ceremonies.<br />
To weddings, births, funerals, parties.<br />
Even to church.<br />
I used to be squeamish about that. I'd get my priest to bless each new journal, figuring that was his tacit permission to sketch during Mass.<br />
I'm not squeamish about it anymore. One of the priests brings his journal to Mass! And the children in our church's school are encouraged to bring theirs.<br />
Often a kid in church will recognize me (from a school visit, or because I donate art to the religious education program). I try not to be conspicuous -- I don't want parents to think I'm a bad role model.<br />
Writing and drawing during Mass helps me to remember the important things (and some trivial stuff too).<br />
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<br />Ruth McNally Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10308176951931302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498262373973875170.post-84567559761998780252014-03-06T02:19:00.000-05:002014-05-01T02:24:08.983-04:00March is Reading Month -- and Author Visit MonthAside from whenever the tight book deadlines fall, March is my busy time. In Michigan, March is Reading Month.<br />
That means in March lots of schools like to bring authors in to talk with their students about writing and reading.<br />
Ohio's big month for school visits is in May, so we'll be busy then, too.<br />
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Charlie and I do a great workshop presentation.<br />
It's interactive and educational and -- <i>bonus!</i> -- kids always, always, <i>always</i> exit our sessions excited about writing. That's because we create an illustrated story right there with them, with their help.<br />
We also leave all the papers with the school so the students can revise the story or create something new, and they have all the tools and knowledge they'll need.<br />
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Last year we were at a new school pretty much every day in March (sometimes more than one school in a day).<br />
This year we encouraged teachers to schedule our visits in the other months, Sept through February and also in April and May, so we'd be less busy in March. It's rewarding to connect with kids all through the year -- I'm sure it helps me understand my kid characters better.<br />
And we love the work!<br />
Kids respond well -- we change our presentation to fit any level, age 3 up through high school, always with fabulous results. Teachers give fantastic testimonials.<br />
Charlie and I have the best job I could imagine.<br />
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Here's a sketchbook page from our visit to Frankenmuth, Michigan, at the end of February/beginning of March. Our hotel lost water and internet service for part of a day so Charlie and I bundled up and explored the town.<br />
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One completely unexpected, amazingly great thing happened in Frankenmuth Thursday night: I thought of a brilliant new picture book idea. It's one of those stories that comes complete with a title already thought up, and the characters almost fully developed. It'll take a while to be ready to share with the world, but I'm excited, and I'll always remember this book had its roots in my school visits.Ruth McNally Barshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10308176951931302853noreply@blogger.com0