Blue Jay Manor June 16, 2009

A few paintings in the 'for sale' area of the artwork section, have sold, but there are a few that are still available, like this one!

We have a family of Blue Jays in the backyard, and Gabe and I have been keeping a close watch on them. It really has been a riveting reality show, Birds Gone Wild! Ha-ha.

We've seen the Blue Jay parents bringing food to their hidden nest in the blackberry bush for months now.

Screech screech screech from the babies, all day long, and the hardworking mama would fly all around to find bits for them to eat. And what I assume to be the dad, would bring some food bits sometimes, too. Or the dad could be a friendly aunt. I have no idea how to tell a Blue Jay lady from a Blue Jay man. Anyone?

But just a few days ago, the squeaking (errr..screeching) babies flew from their nest, and started to learn how to forge for food on their own.

In just a matter of days, they've gone from scrawny fluffy babies, to awkward Blue Jay teenagers. They are rebellious and careless and a bit dumb, but all together extremely entertaining.

On the days I work from home, I usually write and work at the kitchen table where I have a really good view. Oh those birds! I send Gabe frequent bird updates. Including ones that involve the evil crow bully that comes into the yard to frighten the Blue Jay teens, for no apparent reason.

It really is fascinating. Or am I just turning into a boring old lady bird watcher? Hard to say...

oh my June 09, 2009

Oh my! It has been ages! What a negligent blogger I've been. There are so many computer-ish things that need to be updated these days, I guess I'm having trouble keeping up with them all..(said in my old lady voice...)

If any of you are on Facebook and feel like looking me up on there, I would love to be your computer friend. I tend to update my Facebook stuff pretty frequently these days. My little brother even started an artwork fan club for my art and stuff on Facebook, which is a little embarrassing, but handy for art and book updates.

Also, I added a new FOR SALE section on the artwork page for some bigger art. A couple of those pieces just sold and haven't been marked yet, but the rest are available. Feel free to email me about them if you're interested and I can give you more information.

Have a great Tuesday! (Today is my 33rd birthday..whooo-hooo!)

new art is up! May 22, 2009

I have some new art up at the Oscar Albert Wine Bar in Portland. The show runs through June 17th. Stop by if you get a chance! You can read more about it right here.

st johns bookstore, saturday~ May 22, 2009

Hello friends,

I just wanted to let you all know that I'm going to be doing a little reading of The Secret Circus on Saturday, at 11:00 am at the St. Johns Bookstore.

The rumors are true. I will be bringing a little mouse puppet. And I will be letting him do all of the talking. And yes, yes he does have an amazingly accurate, French accent.

Please come if you can, or bully someone you know into going. No, no...don't bully them! Urge them. Urge them with a pointy stick.

Bridget Zinn May 19, 2009

I first met Bridget last fall, and was instantly struck by her enthusiasm, sincerity and kindness. She is a vegetarian, non-smoking, sunscreen wearing individual, who was shockingly diagnosed with stage four colon cancer a few months ago.

Bridget is also a very talented YA writer, blogger and librarian. The kid's book community is really pulling together for Bridget, and I hope you can join in as well. You can, it's easy!

Please, please come to this event! Tell your friends! There is going to be a lot of cool stuff, and all of the money will go to help pay for Bridget's growing medical costs. I'm going to have some signed books and original artwork up for bidding!

If you aren't in the Portland area, there is still time to bid on some amazing things in the online auction that has been set up for Bridget.

Check out just a few of the cool things that you can bid on!

Original artwork by the amazing Carolyn Digby Conahan (what? Yes! Seriously!)

Get a character named after you in the new Babymouse book. (omg!)

A manuscript critique by Nancy Mercado (my editor from the new Clover Twig book! She's amazing!)

Go! Bid! Do eeet now!!

The Ocean Floor May 19, 2009

Some art I did for the amazing new record by The Ocean Floor!

Oh what a neglectful blogger I've been! It's definitely not from lack of stuff to say, no siree. There has been a lot happening in my little planet these last few weeks. So much stuff actually, that I've felt really overwhelmed trying to post about it.

But, ok.. I'm done with that. I'm just going to spew out random posts of things to come, and things that have past over the next few days. Post after post. Can you deal with it? I think you can. And I think I can.

I think I can, I think I can!

catching up.. May 07, 2009

Here are a few pictures taken by the lovely and super talented, Jaime Temairik, at the Inside Story event in Seattle.

(I was lucky enough to see Jaime's super cool house on this visit, and share a not-so-secret make-out moment with her dog, Logan.)

As you can see from these handy photos, I'm giving a little speech at Island Books (gulp!) and signing some books as well.

I don't think there is an industry out there with kinder, funnier folks than children's book people. They really are a special tribe, and I feel really lucky to have been a part of this great evening.

In my little world, the last two weeks have been packed to the brim with events and traveling and fun things. I took the day off on Monday and spent the whole day in my pajamas, watched some bad tv and carried around an enormous mug of tea. It was a much needed respite after a lot of putting myself out there, (workshops, events, speeches...oh my!)

Now I'm back in the swing of things..more or less caught up on emails and stuff, and hoping to get into the studio today to do some actual painting and writing and sketching,

I've been hoping to start sketching out a story about a snake that I've had slithering around in my brain for quite some time. Hmmm...we'll see if today is the day....yessss, yesssss..(said in a snake lisp) I think it might be!

Rieke art fair May 03, 2009

I'll be here, today from 10-4. I'll have prints, mini-paintings, paintings, and books for sale. Come on by to support this great school, and buy some art!

the inside story! April 27, 2009

Thanks so much to everyone for fantastic response to my intern search! I'm still looking for more help, so feel free to drop me a line if you're interested, or you know someone who might be.

This week is full of lots of travel, and event type stuff. I am just about to hop on a train to Seattle for the Inside Story event that's happening this evening! I'm really looking forward to being a part of it. It's a super cool opportunity to give the inside scoop on The Secret Circus..some fun stuff about how it was made and what inspired it.

Getting ready for the Inside Story is helping me to organize my thoughts and about how The Secret Circus actually DID come to be. It's giving me the kick in the pants that I need to go from, 'Er...I don't know. It just happened, I painted a lot and then...er. There it was, a book!" To something a big more coherent. (Only slightly, but still....)

I'll post lots of pictures and the inside scoop when I get back!

looking for an intern... April 21, 2009

Hello friends,

My niece (above) is a very skilled little helper around my studio. She is most definitely the inspiration behind my new quest to find an intern to help me with my little arty business.

More and more I'm happily devoting my time to the upcoming children's books that I'm illustrating, and could use a helping hand with a few administrative and arty production things.

I'm looking for a wonderful dream intern that would ideally like to spend around 6+ hours a week helping me around the studio. My schedule is very flexible, so I would be happy to work with you to find what kind of routine would be best.

My studio is located in the Ford Building on the corner of SE 11th and Division in Portland, Oregon. This is a really cool building with lots of other artists and the Gallery Homeland on the first floor.

My studio is rather small, but I do have it all to myself. You would have your own workspace for administrative stuff, and there is plenty of room to spread out and get messy with paints. The Ford Building is near lots of good coffee shops, yummy food places, and is an all around fun place to hang out and make stuff!

Duties for wonderful dream intern:

SHIPPING: Packing and shipping etsy orders, twice a week. Packing and shipping art for shows, once a month.

IMAGES: Uploading images to etsy and my website. Scanning images for the books, organizing new prints and putting them in plastic sleeves.

ORDERING: Tracking print supply and ordering prints, ordering shipping supplies, ordering books, tracking and ordering art supplies as needed.

EVENTS: Responding to emails for requests to attend art fairs or book events, applying for events that need applications. Organization, prep, packing assistance for events. Possible paid travel opportunities to help with art events, book events, conferences, workshops, classes, and art shows.

PAINTING: Measuring and prepping canvases for book layout, painting mini painting backgrounds, painting mini painting edges, transferring images onto canvas.

PROMOTION: Putting together press pack, compiling list of press contacts, follow-up, updating mailing list.

Sadly, this won't be a paid internship, aside from the occasional event travel. I would love to feed you lunch, help you to get school credit, and teach you all that I can (and that you would care to know) about the children's book industry, illustration, my painting process, and how to run a very small arty business.

If this sort of thing might interest you, please drop me a line at.... MAIL at JOHANNAWRIGHT.COM, or you can go to the contact page on this site and fill out a contact form.

Please feel free to pass this along to anyone in the Portland area that you think might be interested.

Thank you so much, I look forward to hearing from you. Yes, you!