Little by Little One Travels Far

Untitled works of Olive Huang. 2013. Crayon. 

Abstract expressionist in the making. I love it.

For as long as I could remember, I've had but three big hopes and dreams. They are, and have always been, in no particular, as follows: (1) To have a dog, (2) To have a baby, and (3) To write and illustrate a children's book. I've got one and two of my seemingly feasible list ticked off, my number three has proven more difficult than I imagined. When inspired, I go nuts scribbling and jotting down everything that comes to mind. When done with my brain dump, I feel proud and accomplished. Days later, I revisit these same notes, and more often than not, I find problems with each and every idea I'd come up with. "It's not new. It's not fresh. I don't love it. Moving on." I've got a problem. I'm SEWIOUS. (If you have a moment, watch this.) I'm suffering from a crippling creative block. I'm in dire need of inspiration. And so, I turn to Olive.

All I have to do is listen to this toddler and I'll have an unlimited supply of fodder for children's books, right? Having her is like having a factory! Um, yeah, NO. The little nut isn't speaking yet - at least not in proper English - so I'm just going to have to remain patient. Everything has its own time. But it's coming... First words will soon become first sentences. And Mama's going to make the most of it all. 

Blog post title is a quote by J. R. R. Tolkien

Bon Appetit

Casseroles tend to look like vomit. A tad unfortunate, seeing that they're often pretty damn tasty. Here. Have a peek at my Moleskin. I spent the afternoon pouring my brains into it. (I was feeling kinda hungry.) Looking like quite the casserole, eh?

Doing It

I, like most folks, have a bucket list. (List dictating all the shit I want to do before I kick the bucket.) Mine has yet to change since college, and it remains short and feasible. It reads like so: 1) Get a puppy, 2) Have a baby, and 3) Write and illustrate a children's book. Number one and two on the list have been achieved (Beans and Olive, your Ma thanks you), but number three remains to be seen. But I'm working on it. I read "Writing Children's Books for Dummies" (desperate times call for desperate measures) and have began brainstorming the plot of my very first tale in a brand-new Moleskin. (A glimpse into my mad mind above.) You excited? I am! Self-imposed deadline? December of 2012. It's happening.

Under Pressure

Most folks I know have a bucket list. You know, the list of crap you want to achieve or attain before you croak? 

Since college, my bucket list has consisted of getting a puppy, making baby, and writing and illustrating a children's book. 

With Beans and Olive in tow, I've got one and two taken care of. But the children's book? I'm working on it. The moment I turn in my thesis (gaaaaaah, it's taking forever), you can best bet that I'll be grinding out something wonderfully strange. I've been brainstorming a bunch. Let's just say it ain't easy coming up with a satisfying story that can be told within 25 pages! Lots of self-editing. NOT my forte.

On a side note, my friend, Mary Lai is currently working to fund a kick-ass comic anthology via Kickstarter. Click HERE to back the project up! The deadline for artists to submit work is tomorrow. Naturally, I started and finished my submission today. See above. You may want to click on the image to see it enlarged. That is, unless you have bionic eyeballs and can read micro-type.