(Inside A Black Apple)

Voted Least Likely to Love Working Out

I've been thinking about this post for a while, and after lots of percolation, I find myself in the year 2012 writing about an extremely unlikely topic: Exercise.

*Note this is not an accurate depiction of Miette as my personal trainer - anyone who knows my cat knows he would be driving a fully automated child-sized car. He would never be caught expending so much effort on riding a bike.

Like lots of pale bookish types, I always thought I just wasn't cut out to be An Exerciser. It's not so much a lack of motivation to jump around and sweat and then fall down, out of breath (although that's part of it). For me, it was always:

1.) The trappings of exercise: the gym, the clothes, the equipment, the shoes.

I'm not sociable enough to go to a gym, and I don't want a ton of equipment and accoutrement filling up my house.

Keep reading after the jump!

Wolf Hearted & Rabbit Hearted Originals

The original paintings were just listed for sale in my shop!

As much as I love them apart, when I see them together like this, I really love them fiercely.

Visit the shop!

Wolf Hearted

Here is the companion piece for Rabbit Hearted - a foe? A friend?

Wolf Hearted     11"x14"x2"    Acrylic on wood

A few of you mentioned the differences in these paintings from what you might expect. I think what you're sensing, the secret explanation, is that about six months ago, I started making some new work privately that is even more unlike what one might expect from me (fitting, because I created them using a pseudonym.) I'm still not sure if or when I'll share those - if I do, it'll probably be in a new, separate place. Whatever I do, I've sworn myself an oath that I'm not going to fret about the work that I make.

I don't personally think, on the surface, that these are a huge departure from my usual. But I do think these new paintings come from many things mingling together: that secret work, my desire to always move forward, the growing spectrum of things I'd like to say. I have a whole post in mind about what the process of making things is like for me. I'm not sure it's universal, but I do think I'd like to talk about it a bit. It would be a nice conversation to have.
Maybe soon?

In the meantime, happy weekend to you!

Rabbit Hearted

A new painting -
She also has a companion piece that I'll be sharing later this week.

Rabbit Hearted    11"x14"x2    Acrylic on wood

These paintings will be available for sale soon, I'll post when they're properly photographed, etc!

I've got so many projects in various stages, and in between everything else, it's nice to be making stand-alone or few-of-a-kind paintings.

I hope the Spring (or Fall, for those in other hemispheres) is treating you well, wherever you may be. Here in Portland, we stole Spring for a few sunny, lovely days, and then it was promptly snatched back from us. So I'm back in my natural habitat...writing, painting, and planning with a grey wool sky outside and the patter of rain sounding.

The Country Bunny

Yesterday, before my Powell's storytime, I was chatting with two (lovely) children's book room ladies about gathering a few picture books in case the littles wanted more stories after my Oddfellow's reading. "Maybe something Spring-y? Something Easter-y?" they suggested. "Or just a book you really love..."

And immediately, The Country Bunny came to mind, because it's all of those things.

I first happened on this book at Books of Wonder a handful of years ago, and lured by the candy-colored cover, I snapped it off the shelf. A few days later, I found myself at the end of a New York visit, sitting at the gate of Newark airport, reading it near-breathlessly. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful, aglow in Easter egg colors grounded by inky blues and blacks. And the story, about a brave bunny who is both an extremely good mother and has her own dreams and ambitions, is enchanting and emboldening.

As I wound through the pages (it's quite wordy by today's picture book standards) I found myself, cross-legged on the airport carpet, with tears slipping down my face. This book, about something as whimsical as the plight of a would-be lady Easter bunny, reminds me of everything good and real and true. Of the different kinds of hopes we carry around, and how those hopes don't need to cancel each other out. Of how many things a book can be, and a person can be. It reminds me of my own mama.

This interesting little New Yorker piece gives a brief history, if you're interested.

And I didn't end up reading it at Powell's yesterday, simply because of the length. But today's the perfect day to read it, anyway (preferably with a side of Cadbury eggs.)

Powell's Storytime Saturday April 7

FRED STEIN  Children Reading Newspaper, Paris 1936

I am reading from Oddfellow's at Powell's Burnside on Saturday at 11 o'clock a.m. for their children's storytime, and I would very much like to see you there. I will have the official signing stamp in tow, and free nick-nacks as well.

I cannot promise I will as engrossing as the Parisian newspaper above, but I'll give it my best shot!

Virginia Wolf

I originally thought I'd post about this book in a round-up with other picture books, but Virginia Wolf, by author Kyo Maclear and illustrator Isabelle Arsenault really deserves its own post.

Loosely based on the relationship between the sisters who grew up to be painter Vanessa Bell & writer Virginia Woolf, this unusual (and unusually lovely) picture book imagines a day in which Virginia "wakes up feeling wolfish", and Vanessa tries with all her might to surround her sister with beauty.

Virginia Wolf, copyright 2012 Kyo Maclear / illustrations copyright 2012 Isabelle Arsenault 
Published by Kids Can Press

Vanessa makes her a garden, full of real and imagined flowers, pink-eyed rabbits, and good things to eat.

This book went straight to my heart for a few reasons: I went through the throes of a serious Virginia Woolf phase in college and I have been prone to pretty profound bouts of the blues at times. How could I imagine the likelihood of a picture book book about either, let alone both? And stitched above the rather serious underpinnings of the story, there is a lively, adorable little book : "The Wolfish" Virginia is perfect, with her little snoot and ears, and the fresh, bright colors mingle with sooty black lines and crisp white so nicely.

For further reading, this interview with Kyo Maclear talks about the beginnings of the book (I love hearing about book beginnings!)

There is also this extremely endearing book trailer, if you'd like a little sound & movement with your preview of Virginia & Vanessa's tale:

Just perfect.
One of those things that makes a person hopeful - about the continued delight and ingenuity of illustrated books, but in the bigger, larger sense, too.