I’m obsessed with learning to illustrate lately, and I’ve been selling my “cuddle cards” for the past year or so at Stirling’s, a local farm market. I used a quote by Mark Twain for my most recent illustration, above:
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you DID NOT DO,
than by the ones you DID DO. Explore, Dream, Discover!
Matching words and images is so much fun! I was that kid who gave up on art in about grade four when I realized lots of other kids were better “drawers” than I was. I’m so happy I decided to heed Mark Twain’s advice, take the plunge, and pick it up again (about 50 years later). This summer, I published my first book that has my name on the cover as both author and illustrator, KARISSA & FELIX. The quality of this JPEG isn’t very good, I fear… But I’m pretty proud of the book, and I hope it will help some kids find hope after a great loss. I do still have a lot to learn about illustrating, but I’m enjoying the process. If you’d like to buy a copy (or 10), I have several boxes in my writing room…
Jan L. Coates - "What if...?" 
One of my favourite quotes! Have fun with your illustrating.
I love this^. Go girl!
When writing picture book texts, the illustrations are in my mind. I envy those who can put them on the page. Way back when I started, I also illustrated my stories. But I soon realized I could bring my writing up to a professional level if I worked hard, but not my art.
Thanks, Mirka – since I have dozens of unpublished picture book manuscripts on hand, I have lots of illustrating fun ahead of me – during school visits, kids are more impressed with my “art” than my books, I find.
Oh Jan! How wonderful!!! Congratulations!!! It looks adorable and you’re quite good. Isn’t it funny how we clip our own wings because we see someone else’s work? I went to my first illustrator intensive at the Carolinas SCBWI this fall and it was sooooo instructive! Being a late bloomer at all sorts of things, I never feel it’s too late to learn something new. I hope you will write and illustrate more picture books.
Thanks so much Vijaya. I’ve been looking around for an illustration workshop, but no luck so far. Meanwhile, so many illustrators share their process on YouTube, which is great! Yup, late bloomer is a good thing to be!
Jan,
Congratulations on your new book!! I agree with Vijaya, we are never too old to learn something new. As a matter of fact, I think it helps to keep joy in life.
Indeed. Springing out of bed in the morning with dozens of things on my to-do list is a very good thing! When does your piece appear in the NS literary journal (forget the name)?