100 blogs later...Art or Art of Life?

This morning, as I sit to write

a blog about a little boy and a hoop,

I notice this is my 100th blog

Really? Really?

How DID that happen?

Last June, when I started this,

it was intended to be about art

and primarily to create a following

for the Wild Women picture book

I was creating and would

"someday"publish.

(hopefully, while I was still

walking the planet.)

My first entry was the "what and why"

of "Heart of a Wild Women."

A playful fable written lyrically

in a Dr. Seuss style about

a women's transitional adventure

and search for the wild heart

she once had...

and the women she meets

along the way who guide her.

Illustrated (of course) with the widely

popular stick figured

Wild Women series.

(Once just one design,

now numbering

at last count... 60!!!)

This idea came to me

about nine years ago,

but it was missing the characters,

the friends, the teaching women.

I needed real life inspiration.

Then... I became a part of a

paddling team and there they were...

Mismatched Mollie, Joyful Jill, Captain Clair

Humble Hattie and Dashing Deliah.

Colorful, wonderful women

with tons of material to work with.

(and outfits, I couldn't resist copying!)

Lucky me!

The words had to rhyme

I decided, in a whimsical

and silly language

but with hidden meaning!

A book women could give their

own wild women friends

and read a out loud

at wild women gatherings.

(Okay, I was getting carried away

but my vision was big.)

I wrote for two years,

not much of a rhymer

I had to get a rhyming dictionary.

Many chapters later

with the rhyming books'

pages tattered and taped together

from over use... I was done.

(sort of.)

Just when I thought I had finished

the story,

a few more significant women

come along

So Seamless Sue and Princess Piper

were added.

Next the illustrations,

which I labored

over and at times came very easy,

until here were 24 of them!

(Which I nearly lost in a taxi

one year, after a flight from Kona!

Thanks to Captain Clair,

who I was traveling with...

I got them back! Whew!)

Next was the question.

Would I paint them

(to have an original painting of each

to show in a special showing after the

book was published and wildly successful

...again getting carried away)

or do them on the computer?

Both tasks daunting...ugh!

The paintings required cutting the wood,

blowing up the sketches,

priming and papering the surface

gluing, sealing and painting

and painting!

Another year or so later

I had twenty five 18 x24

paintings lining my studio

(finishing the last one this month!)

Here are some pics of the technical process!

Starts with a sketch!

After I blow it up with a projector onto the wood piece,

I redraw image in marker.

The Thai banana mash paper is glued down,

over the marker drawing!

After it is sealed, the image is drawn for third time

faintly visible thru the paper.

Then painted in acrylics and sharpie outlined!

Then digital pictures taken,

imported into the computer,

cleaned up and another

couple months pass by,

pages are laid out in template form,

and more and more word editing!

Finally, it comes together,

and my heart pounds with excitement.

for the first time print run

in a loose book form!

The words and illustrations

on 48 pages together

is beyond what I thought

it would feel like!

Sadly, most of the women in the story

have all moved on and away,

for one reason or another

(reason and season stuff)

so...I show and read it first...

to my dog,

she is mildly impressed

until she sees a rabbit

run by the window!!! Geez!

Don't know what this will bring,

but it feels important,

my most significant work to date

and such a project of love.

Dedicated to Dashing Delia

who passed away before

I could show her the finished product!

Next step?

handing it over to my editor

who happens to be

Princess Piper in the story!

I am sure there will be

some debates over words and length

but I will hardly notice...so close now

I am catching my breath

at every turn!

Although my blog was supposed

to be about art

it became more about the "art of life,"

and living the adventures

of being a wild woman,

sweet, funny and trying.

In this, I have found a new voice

and a storytelling quality,

I didn't know I had.

100 blogs later

I return to the original intention

and discuss the art of the wild women or...?

About a dreams taking shape

and the energy it takes,

the work and the devotion

that often goes beyond

the measure of time

cause when its time

...its time and everything is in motion!

Can't wait to see what the ride brings!

Happy Birthday, Blog!

Pam Piper Rain

also Cosmic Cathy