Happy Halloween! DRAWlloween is one of many art prompts during October. Day 31” “Trick-or-treat”!!!
#Cozytober 2021: Hot Drinks
This image is from my picture book, TAKÓŽA: WALKS WITH THE BLUE MOON GIRL, written by Tara Perron. TAKÓŽA (grandchild) drinks cedar tea with her Kúŋši (grandmother). This endearing, lyrical picture book is as cozy as snuggling under a star quilt on a chilly day. #Cozytober is a month-long art prompt during October.
“Then, together they fill the kettle with cedar tea and feast on bread with maple syrup.” —Tara Perron, TAKOZA: WALKS WITH THE BLUE MOON GIRL
INKtober 2021: Connect
The prompt of #Inktober Day 26 is “Connect”. This image is from my picture book, TAKÓŽA: WALKS WITH THE BLUE MOON GIRL, written by Tara Perron. I illustrated the book with dotted lines to symbolize the threads that Kúŋši (grandmother) sews into the quilts. She uses her quilts (throughout the book) to tell stories to her Takóža (granddaughter).
“All summer the village waits patiently to watch you grow. We all have our part.” —Tara Perron, TAKOZA: WALKS WITH THE BLUE MOON GIRL
#Cozytober 2021: Leaf Pile
From the picture book, THE MUKLUK BALL, written by Katharine Johnson and illustrated by me!. “All autumn Karhu swayed, glided and whirled with his new friends.” —Katharine Johnson, Minnesota Historical Society Press. #Cozytober #Drawlloween2021 #drawlloween #witch #ChildrensBooks #scbwiARTober #kidlitart #artistsoninstagram #amillustrating #portfolio #work #multimedia #artistontwitter #Cozytober is a month-long art prompt during October.
#Cozytober 2021: Baking
Anyone who has visited the North Shore of Minnesota (north of Duluth, MN on Lake Superior) knows you must stop at Betty’s Pies. This image is from my picture book, THE MUKLUK BALL, written by Katharine Johnson for the Minnesota Historical Society Press. #cozytober 2021 #baking #Cozytober is a month-long art prompt during October.
“Youngsters led him (Karhu) in the bunny hop.” —Katharine Johnson, The Mukluk Ball
#Cozytober 2021: Farmer's Market
#Cozytober is a month-long art prompt during October. What could be more cozy than a bear hug? This image is from my picture book, THE MUKLUK BALL, written by Katharine Johnson. Karhu, the bear is selling hugs and blueberries to earn money for a pair of boots (Mukluks) to wear to the Mukluk Ball. #drawlloween #Drawlloween2021 #drawtober #drawtober2021 #cozytoberfest #cozytober #oc_tober2021 #OC_tober #peachtober21 #tradtober
FAN MAIL!
Who doesn’t like getting fan mail?! Recently, Rep. Deb Haaland became the Secretary of the Interior in the Biden Administration. She will be the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary in a presidential administration. I was so excited for her, that I sent her a signed copy of my picture book, TAKÓŽA: WALKS WITH THE BLUE MOON GIRL, written by Tara Perron. And today, Rep. Haaland sent me a thank you note!
Takóža (granddaughter) is an endearing, lyrical, illustrated children’s story about a young Dakota girl, Walks With the Blue Moon Girl, and her Kúŋši (grandmother). The grandmother teaches her Takóža through story while making star quilts, and planting seeds and caring for a garden.
“A Laguna Pueblo member, Haaland, 60, said she had learned about her culture from her grandmother’s cooking and participating in traditional ceremonies, and had learned about the importance of protecting the environment from her grandfather.” (Source: The Guardian)
“Our way of life, our survival is interconnected to the land, water and animals. Today we honor the woman set to be the first Native American in history to fill a presidential cabinet position, and look forward to working with her to ensure that indigenous voices are heard and our human rights respected.”
—Bernadette Demientieff, executive director of the steering committee for the Gwich’in people in Alaska.
Great Book Review: TAKOZA
I am grateful that the non-profit organization The Circle: Native American News and Arts gave my book TAKOZA: WALKS WITH THE BLUE MOON GIRL, a great review. “Takoza: Walks with the Blue Moon Girl” is the most literary of the three books. Written by Tara Perron (Dakota/Ojibwe), it’s the story of a little Dakota girl who loves her grandmother’s bedtime stories. Grandmother (Kunsi) makes sense of the world, explaining that children are like sacred seeds in a family garden.
“You were born into the world from the drum of your mother’s heartbeat,” Kunsi said softly.
“Made up of all the love and strength of the ancestors before you, like all young seeds you are carried by many hearts and drums.”
A glossary at the end translates the 12 Dakota words used in the story, from Takoza (grandchild) to Tate (wind.) This is a very sweet story of generational ties and love.
The illustrations by Alicia Schwab will hold a child’s interest as Takoza learns the importance of seeds, gifts from the Creator, and nurturing.
Final post for this image. I removed the chair and added lighting, shadow and a hotter fire. Who’s that visitor? Stay tuned.
Cinderella Final Art-Three
I switched out the fireplace and wall behind Cinderella. I painted a quick chair. But I don’t like the chair.
Cinderella Final Art-Two
Top: I made a quick scan to see how the line art is overlaying the acrylic paint. I’m doing the line art as a separate (editable) layer so I can change stuff, as needed. This is the “ugly step-sister” phase. Literally.
Bottom: I tried out a chair. And I’m also second guessing my choice in fireplaces. What is the status of this family? Do they live in a one room cottage with that kind of wallpaper and curtains? I should make the fireplace look more like a parlor. Cinderella can cook in the kitchen, another time.
Cinderella Final Art-One
Meanwhile, I get the line art finalized and start on final color.
Cinderella Sketch-Five
Now I’ve moved my sketch into Photoshop to work on the perspective. Since Cinderella is on the floor it is important to get the vanishing points at the right angle and worm-eye-view. I drew in the ceiling (which will be cropped) to help me see if my lines are working.
Cinderella Sketch-Four
While I’m working on the first image, I’ve started thinking about creating the next scene in the story.
Cinderella 2nd Sketch
A view of the discussion on how to make my figure drawing into a scene. Cinderella tries on the shoe while guards hold back the onlookers (jealous stepsisters and step-mother).
I got a very helpful critique to pull the figures apart and put them in a room to build drama and create more narrative. The rectangle behind Cinderella will be a portrait of Cinderella’s father who is out-of-town. Apparently, people scrubbed floors with straw. I’m not sure if I will use that? But I’m thinking about all the elements in the room. The bucket is made of wood, just like the floor.
Cinderella sketch-Three
But wait a minute… there should be two ugly step-sisters and one mean step mother.
Cinderella sketch-Two
It all started with an idea about Cinderella…
Cinderella sketch-One
Book Birthday!
I’m excited to announce the release of my newest book, TAKÓžA: WALKS WITH THE BLUE MOON GIRL, by Tara Perron, illustrated/designed by Alicia Schwab. From: Black Bears and Blueberries Publishing ISBN: 978-1-7327706-3-8, release date: May 2020. Order a copy today!
Tara Perron, a Dakota/Ojibwe author, has written an endearing, lyrical children's story about a young Dakota girl (Walks With the Blue Moon Girl) and her Kunsi (grandmother). The grandmother teacher her Takoza (granddaughter) through story while making star quilts and planting and caring for a garden.
Dakota Star Quilt
by Gwen Westerman
South Dakota
Dignity of Earth & Sky statue in Chamberlain, South Dakota; (photo: wikipedia)
“Black Bears and Blueberries Publishing is a Native owned non-profit company that publishes children’s fiction and non-fiction paperback books and ebooks, reading levels K-6, on Native topics serving a regional audience, including the Dakotas, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.”
I was hired to tell the story about a loving family through art, working with the publisher and members of the Native American community to ensure my art represents the characters in the best, truest and most meaningful way. I was initially drawn into this beautiful story because of the similarities to my own childhood. I helped my mom and grandmom pick raspberries from the patch, and we grew our own vegetables. My mom canned, froze and preserved food for us to eat all year, and she taught me how to cook. As she made us clothes to wear and quilts for our beds, I also learned to sew. We often had cut fabric pieces around the dining room table, just like in this story.
From the book, TAKÓžA: WALKS WITH THE BLUE MOON GIRL by Tara Perron illustrated by Alicia Schwab. “Then, together they fill the kettle with water and make cedar tea and feast on bread with maple syrup.”
Baby Quilt
By Sue Broenkow (my aunt)
California
I have never made a quilt, but I admire those who do. Recently, I’ve sewn 100s of cloth face masks to donate to hospitals to supplement their PPE supplies during the Covid19 pandemic.
I hope you enjoy this book TAKÓžA: WALKS WITH THE BLUE MOON GIRL as much as I do. Please be kind and do good work.
Art process
I’ve been playing and tweaking my process. I still love to paint acrylic on w/c paper but I’m now assembling all my images digitally in Photoshop. It’s a combo of traditional and digital mediums which has been so fun!