Who wants to win a book???

Let's try something!  Together!

This being the first year of publication for The Woodcutter and The Most Beautiful Tree, it's important for me to do as much as possible to market it as much as possible to get into the hands of as many people  as possible.  Next year she's gonna be old news, and I'll be trying to put more of my focus into other book ideas I've got kicking around.

So!  Here's where you can have a chance to get a copy of the book for free!!  Actually, howzzabout 3 of you wonderful people get a free book each??

The Skinny:

Everyone who writes and posts Amazon.com review for the The Woodcutter and The Most Beautiful Tree before midnight, September 25th will be entered into a drawing to win one of three signed, personalized copies of the book. 

I'll contact you 3 lucky ducks shortly after the deadline to discuss particulars (book signage, shipping address, etc.).  But just in case, be sure to check back here in the days following the deadline for updates and announcements.  For the winners, it could make a versatile Christmas gift (bath mat, cheese board, dietary supplement in the lean winter months [you would have to eat 30 bowls of Total to get the fiber found in just the first 3 pages of this book]).  But if you'd rather share it with some young ones in your life, I'd recommend this book for all children up until...4th grade or so.

Anyway, here's a link to the Amazon page for the book if you're interested.  Good luck!  And Thanks :-D

-Robb

Jamboree 2011

The inestimable Christina Mezuk and I reunited for another installment of collaborative art at this year's Michigan Roots Jamboree.  For those who are unfamiliar, the Jamboree is a two-day music festival in Riverside Park in downtown Ypsi.  Artists paint on a small stage while the bands perform, then the finished works are entered into  silent auction.  Artists get 80% of the sale price (so Cristina and I get 80% to share).

We met once during the week leading-up to the festival and hashed-out a game plan.  We met at Aut Bar (a fantastic bar/restaurant in Ann Arbor's Kerrytown district) and, over the course of some cocktails and a plate of Super Nachos, pretty much decided on exactly what we ended-up doing at the Jamboree.  Last year, we had made plans, but ended-up scrapping them at the last possible second and going in a completely different direction.

We used acrylics on an off-white gesso'd board, 4' x 4'.  About half way through our time, it started to RAIN.  After a few moments of initial panic, we realized that we were getting some really cool effects as some of the colors started to run and mix in rather serendipitous ways.  So we adapted our game plan and ended-up creating a piece that I think we were both fairly pleased with.  It ended-up selling for over double the value of last year's piece.  And after we finished painting, we got to see Frontier Ruckus play!  ACES.

Big thanks to Kayj and Community Rebirth for another opportunity to participate in our sweet art scene here in YpsiArbor.

KIRKUS REVIEW.

Several weeks ago, I submitted my book to Kirkus Indie (the method by which a self-published work can be reviewed by Kirkus).  Well, Yesterday I got the review in my inbox and, after avoiding looking at it for an entire afternoon, I finally worked-up the guts to see what they made of my book.

THE WOODCUTTER AND THE MOST BEAUTIFUL TREE

As the seasons pass, a wise and beautiful tree must persuade a jolly woodcutter not to chop her down.

“Thwickety-THWACK! Thwickety-THWACK!” sings the woodcutter as he tromps through the forest, swinging his trusty axe and looking for a suitable tree to chop. When he comes upon a beautiful tree, he is at first delighted—until the tree asks him what he intends to do. The startled woodcutter declares that he will “CHOP-CHOP-CHOP” her “DOWN-DOWN-DOWN!” and the clever tree offers him her flowers instead. He agrees to take these home to his wife in lieu of cutting the tree down. Again and again, the woodcutter encounters the tree, and each time she offers him a gift to dissuade him from chopping her down. Come winter, however, the tree is despondent—her branches are bare and she no longer has anything to offer. To her surprise, the friendly woodcutter offers her a gift. The illustrations by debut author Johnston suit the titular characters well—the loud-mouthed woodcutter’s words burst onto the page alongside his gorgeous and whimsical surroundings. The author’s depiction of the tree is enchanting, with leaves and flowers blossoming onto the page in a colorful display that will captivate the eyes and minds of young readers. Johnston’s illustrations are so beautiful and intricate that they nearly overwhelm the narrative. Still, young readers and listeners are sure to enjoy the repetitive lyrics of the woodcutter’s song. Parents, librarians and schoolteachers may also enjoy belting out the woodcutter’s amusing dialogue. In the end, readers learn a touching lesson of friendship and giving as its own reward.

Gorgeous illustrations, humorous dialogue and a moving narrative make this a stunning debut.

Needless to say, I'm pretty happy.  AND!  They gave me a star :-D  Here's a link to the REVIEW.  

Believe in yourself, believe in your craft, believe in your works.  Others will follow.

The Kirkus Star: "Awarded to books of remarkable merit."  

Locusts and Honey

The Gospel of St. Matthew Ch. 3:1-4

In Those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.  For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.  And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

This is the most recent I've done in a sort of religious, icon-esque style.  Religion and mythology in and of themselves are such rich sources from which to draw inspiration, add to that the countless interpretations and styles developed by artists over the centuries...and I find I am helpless to avoid trying my own hand.  My style is still somewhat cartoon-y and lacks the bold character of so many works by others (maybe watercolor is not ideal?  Perhaps I need to refine my watercolor techniques?).  Still, I think I have some basic elements that are unique to my vision, and I am excited to continue growing within this genre.  

This particular piece was framed at Nelson Amos Studio in Ypsilanti, MI (They absolutely CRUSHED it...the matting and framing [not pictured] look gorgeous) and was a house-warming gift for my sister and her husband, married this past weekend.  Congratulations again, to Cam and Selina Breiden.

Leaving the cradle...

Today will be my first book event outside of my comfortable little bubble of West Michigan.  I'll be doing a reading/book signing at Tree Town Toys here in Ann Arbor at 11am (https://treetowntoys.com/).

I'm still having a blast with promoting and selling the book, but the fact that it consumes so much time that could otherwise be spent working on new creative pursuits is truly frustrating.  I'd say that has been the biggest pitfall to self-publishing: lack of time to do new stuff.  Aside from working on new book ideas, I'm also doing a large watercolor painting as a wedding gift for my sister and her soon-to-be husband.  I REEEEEALLY need to finish it this week so I can get it scanned and framed in time for the July 16th wedding.  I'm a counselor at a church camp all next week, so that puts an even bigger crunch on the whole project.

Oh well!  Time to get serious, I guess.  I'll paint for an hour before I have to start prepping for my event.  Here we go...  

You can buy the book on Amazon now!

I recently joined Amazon Advantage, a system offered to independent publishers who would like to see their work sold on  Amazon.  Here's a link to The Woodcutter and The Most Beautiful Tree!

Advantage is a relatively easy system to sign-up for and use:

1.) Make an account
2.) Add an item (media)
3.) Amazon places orders
4.) Print shipping label
5.) Send to Amazon

Amazon will then either send you a check or deposit funds directly into your account each month as your items sell.  As an independently published author/illustrator, it's really nice to have access to a market as big as Amazon.  I've mostly stayed away from trying to get my book into the large chain stores (B&N, Borders) for a few reasons (poor sales outlook, books getting leafed-through and damaged), so it's so nice to have online distribution aside from my charming, but super-tiny, website.

So please, check it out on Amazon.  And if you're feeling super-generous and would like to write yourself into my heart forever and ever, please feel free to write a review (good, bad, or ugly...just let 'em know what you think :-)).

2 months since last update. I am sweeeeet!

Here is a piece I did for a friend.  She was involved in this year's West Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church, and asked if I'd help out with some of the stage design.  She was on a committee and they were interested in having me incorporate my illuminated circles into the theme for the conference: "Take My Hand."  The vision was to have my design (on 16"x 20" watercolor paper) scanned and printed on four 4' x 20' banners featuring this image:

 So, I started with the background...

Added the hands and pen work...and finished!

Yay!