children’s books

nine cool things on a tuesday

~ jama ~ 8 Comments

“Fear not November’s challenge bold. We’ve books and friends, and hearths that never can grow cold. These make amends.” — Alexander L. Fraser 

1. Hello, November! We need a nice big bowl of homemade soup to warm us up. Do you think our badger friend will share some of his? I definitely think so. 🙂

When all feels chaotic and unsettling, escape to the English countryside with Emily Duffin’s charming watercolors. Based in Northamptonshire, England, Emily enjoys depicting the everyday lives of animals. Since she grew up on a small farm and currently lives in a village that has Shetland ponies (and a donkey!), it’s no surprise she’s endlessly inspired by the wildlife in her area.

After graduating with a Fine Arts degree from Northampton University, Emily worked as an estate agent for about a decade. She then met her husband who encouraged her to start drawing again. They moved into a beautiful old cottage with apple trees in the garden and a family of bunnies under the hedge — quite an idyllic setting for creative work.

They had a daughter, Molly, commissions were starting to come in, and she even received an invitation to illustrate a book. But after tragedy struck with the death of her partner, Emily’s life was upended for about a year.

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nine cool things on a tuesday

~ jama ~ 24 Comments

“October is the treasure of the year,/And all the months pay bounty to her store . . . ” ~ Paul Laurence Dunbar

1. Happy October!! Surely the prettiest fall month. Poland-based artist Asia Spettel’s cozy “cottagecore” paintings are the perfect way to celebrate the season.

I couldn’t find any information online about her other than she works mainly in acrylics and enjoys imagining herself in the scenes she paints.

Personally, I wouldn’t mind sitting on that porch sipping tea and nibbling on cake, or hanging out in this lakeside kitchen with soup bubbling on the stove, a plate of cinnamon rolls and a copy of Wuthering Heights on the table. My kind of place! It’s so much fun studying all the details.

Don’t you love the beautiful rustic colors and the animals that wander through her pictures (fox is my favorite)? Of course her table settings, filled with fruit and baked treats, are what caught my eye in the first place. 🙂 In these crazy times, Asia’s work provides much needed comfort and solace.

You can purchase originals, prints, and postcards featuring Asia’s work at her Etsy Shop. Other places to enjoy her online: FB Page and Instagram.

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nine cool things on a tuesday

~ jama ~ 10 Comments

1. Happy June! Care to rest in the shade of a friendly tree? We can watch this loving mother, baby, and happy ducks while being soothed by the gentle trickle of the stream.

This relaxing scene was created by Maryland artist-illustrator Elisabeth (“Lis”) Dorrian — a nice way to anticipate the coming of summer, with its slow, drowsy days conducive to daydreaming and enjoying the outdoors. Lis is self taught, has been drawing since childhood, and works in gouache, acrylics, and digitally for her folk art style pieces.

Becoming a mother inspired me to revisit my passion for drawing after 14 years in the Coast Guard. Watching a child grow makes you realize how quickly time passes. Today, my illustrations are largely inspired by simple living, the changing seasons, motherhood…. I hope my illustrations inspire viewers to slow down and take notice of the ‘little daily miracles,’ as Virginia Woolf calls them, like lighting a candle for dinner or feeling the weight of a sleeping child on your chest.

Love her use of soft colors and the feeling of nostalgia. Since she’s moved around a lot with the Coast Guard and has had to adjust to many new places, perhaps she’s been instinctively creating a sense of home in her pictures — a place of calm, comfort and safety.

Learn more about Lis’s work at her Official Website, Instagram and Etsy Shop, where you can purchase signed and dated archival prints in various sizes.

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nine cool things on a tuesday

~ jama ~ 6 Comments

1. It’s May . . . and everything’s abloom! Take a seat and relax in Olivia Gibbs’s back garden. Help yourself to tea and treats; listen to birdsong and your cat’s purr. So cozy and peaceful.

We featured some of Olivia’s work a couple of years back, and thought it was time to share more. After all, we need as much joy and color in our lives as possible, right?

Born and raised in Spain, Olivia is self taught and currently resides in Augusta, Georgia. She’s been smitten with drawing since childhood, when she’d spend hours creating stories in her sketchbook.

Since art didn’t seem like a viable career option, she studied Business Administration in college and then worked in banking for many years. But when her second daughter was born, she was able to stay at home and renew her interest in art, her true passion.

In addition to drawing and painting, Olivia loves traveling and exploring new places and cultures. She’s also keen on hiking, baking, dancing, finding the beauty in everyday life, and spending time with loved ones. 

Her client list includes American Greetings, Galison/Mudpuppy, Oopsy Daisy, Hallmark, Hobby Lobby, and Jo-Ann Fabric. 

For more, visit Olivia’s Official Website, Instagram, FB Page and Etsy Shop, where you can purchase prints.

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nine cool things on a tuesday

~ jama ~ 9 Comments

1. Happy February! What sweet treat do you fancy today? It may be cold and wintry outside, but Stella Park’s adorable animal pictures will warm you right up. 🙂

Based in Seoul, South Korea, Stella studied media design at Dongduk Women’s University, and then worked as a children’s art teacher before becoming a full-time freelance illustrator.

Her medium of choice is colored pencils. The slower pace of hand rather than digital drawing allows her more time to reflect and enjoy the process. She’s confident in her ability to draw subjects close to her heart and finds much fulfillment doing so. She loves sharing happiness and positivity through her art via soft fuzzy textures and heartwarming details.

Earlier in her freelance career she was mainly inspired by daily life and memorable scenes from her travels. Recently, however, she’s been depicting animal characters in cozy domestic scenes — mainly dogs and cats baking, shopping, sharing meals and playing together. She’s already published a couple of books in Korea, and I hope her work finds its way into the U.S. children’s picture book market sometime soon. Isn’t her artistic sensibility perfect for it? 🙂

For lots more, visit Stella’s Website and Instagram.

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