Monday, December 31, 2007

tasty tidbit

Here is a reason to jump back into my blog. While I should have been scanning my sketches I found out this whopper of an information that I did not know . Sometimes being easily distracted has it’s own rewards apparently. 

Did you know that William Shakespeare invented something like 2000 new words for the English language? That is more than anyone else– ever. 

Without him you would not be able to say that the critic accused them that the excitement in their courtship had a generous hint of jaded, majestic, obscene exposure that makes me puke .. not that you would really say that but you would be tongue tied because most of those words were invented by Bill. Here is a brief list of words that he invented:

Accused Addiction Amazement Arouse Assassinate 

Blushing Champion Circumstantial Compromise Courtship Countless Critic 

Dawn Epileptic Elbow Excitement Exposure Frugal Generous Gossip Hint 

 Invulnerable Jaded Label Lonely Luggage Majestic Negotiate Obscene Premeditated Puke  

Scuffle Torture Tranquil Varied and Worthless

I found this info here: http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-language.htm can’t say if it is true or not. Any thoughts?


Posted by AprilinParis at 18:41:48 | Permalink | Comments (3)

Friday, December 21, 2007

nothing worth noting

My head is full of a cold and if I could slip between my sheets and do nothing today I would. Meetings, drawings and pickup time make that impossible. Have not been productive since Wednesday and it is Friday! Time is melding into someplace I can’t access. 
Posted by AprilinParis at 12:35:56 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Dulwich exhibition

http://air.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/gallery.aspx?galleryID=22


Great news. What a surprise. My work is being exhibited in an online exhibition from the DULWICH picture gallery in London. 

The gallery is showing an exhibit of Beardsley and other Victorian illustrators which looks amazing- I want to go to see it in person.
There is a competition and they have requested illustrators to contribute drawings for fairy tales inspired by those great illustrators. Mine is not really a fairytale (it is about spontaneous combustion) although I am definately a fan of Beardsley so when I fell upon the competition I quickly submitted my little drawing and promptly forgot about it. Unfortunately the competition is pretty amazing so no prizes for me. Great stuff though. Hope you like it too. 

I also liked to listen to the conferences online too. 

Posted by AprilinParis at 13:18:58 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

coming along

This is the book cover that I am working on right now. I am worried that it looks too much like a book for young adults or for women. It is really a question of getting the colors right….I think.. also wondering if I should redraw book to the right or is the distortion interesting? 
it makes for a tall order. 
Posted by AprilinParis at 20:56:08 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Reve d’enfant

I am Eliza Doolitle singing ‘I could ‘ave danced all night’. Oh no that was a different show.

Today was the performance of The Nutcracker at the Paris Opera for Arop. I am amazed to say that I was invited to design the pop-up invitation and that part of the same drawing was used for decorating their Christmas tree AND also the program. 

As if that was not good enough the proceeds for this special performance went to a fund to get kids in difficult situations into the Paris Opera. Did I mention that I was paid well and that I was allowed to take my family to the performance? 

I was so pleased when I saw that the costume designer had chosen the same colored dress as my drawing and that the lead  dancer even looked like my character. Imagine being me. There she was MY own Clara in flesh and blood. I know how Doctor Frankenstein must have felt.

Now, imagine still that you are me and you leave the theatre and see your drawing littering the bars and seats and it’s being tucked into vests and purses and rolled up under arms, children are using it as a flag skipping down the sandstone staircase.It literally made my head feel a little bit faint. 

Another very happy moment also came when I saw that my son had written ‘Maman’ next to my credit in the program. I like that he personalized his copy. 

All I can say to conclude is to repeat what my lovely client said in her speech onstage and that is that with hard work and endurance dreams can come true. 
Posted by AprilinParis at 23:48:38 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

School crafts project


The children of the school will be poking little holes in a copper sheet to make a candle holder. I am looking forward to seeing the results. 

Website down. Disastersville!!!www.illustratrice.com
Posted by AprilinParis at 20:40:12 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Friday, December 14, 2007

Is that blue azure I hear? (part 2)

Posted by AprilinParis at 00:11:49 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Three great losses

His three great losses: home, father and boyhood.
Posted by AprilinParis at 23:36:24 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

ape holiday craft stencil

Posted by AprilinParis at 14:08:19 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Monday, December 10, 2007

April in Paris - Dead Ringer



Somewhere in the bowels of the 16th arrondisement
It suddenly dawned on April that she never saw a single funeral parlor in all of Paris. She considered whether it would be wise to question her new acquaintances on the subject. 

I don’t know where to begin to explain the origins of my inspiration. (Not that anyone is asking me to explain.) It bothers me that I have never seen a funeral parlor in Paris. Put it this way: I know where to have toe hair removed painlessly and permanantly but no idea what the procedures are for death. I don’t think I will ever have my toe hair removed. 

Part two of this drawing’s origins come from my own self-doubts. I am surrounded by a community of women who at times do not feel real to me. Are they just at the top of their game and they really are as magnificent as they appear or is it a mask and they feel just as insignificant as me? If so, why don’t I come off like them? Or are they simply the living dead? (in which case do they have toe hair?)
Posted by AprilinParis at 23:08:56 | Permalink | Comments (1) »