My Tomie Entry SCBWI contest

[Charlie Eve Ryan]

I mailed this out on Thursday for the SCBWI Tomie Contest this year.

Also my 8 year old, Avery, wanted to join in so I mailed in her childhood memory piece to Tomie too. Here it is...I'm so proud of her horse drawing skills!

Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays!

[mattramsey]

So the childhood memory is a kid playing with the alcoholic father's beer cans? Funny/dark.

[Charlie Eve Ryan]

Thanks. Yes and I didn't want to actually write beer on the can, but I think it comes through without being overly dramatic and dark.

Unfortunately, most people's childhoods aren't all rainbows and butterflies. He was a complicated man and more times then not a mean drunk and selfish, but when sober he was wonderfully funny and charming. Us kids could get him laughing to the point of tears by ganging up on him and tickling him. So there is light mixed in with the dark.

He passed away from cancer when I was in High School, so he has been gone a long time and I still miss him. He was sober for the last five years of his life.

I try to pass on to my daughter and son more of the rainbows and butterflies type childhood, but it did force me to live in my head and my imagination. It inspired a lot of bad poetry and journal entries as a kid and shaped me as a person, writer and artist.

[QuietYell]

@Charlie-Eve-Ryan Thank you for your openness in sharing what I have to assume was a difficult past, and so sorry to hear of the loss of your father at such an early age.

There is authenticity of life in your image, and I think that you have captured the “light mixed in with the dark” as you expressed of your childhood. In fact, more than just light mixed in with dark, I see a peek at hope of a better tomorrow.

I’m glad not only to have had you share this image with us but that your children will perhaps get to know you a little more and grow from such through what you have & will create.

Best of luck on winning the contest!

Oh, and Avery’s horse is awesome!

[mattramsey]

@Charlie-Eve-Ryan I actually didn't realize that the prompt was about YOUR specific childhood. I hope I wasn't too insensitive.

It's a very interesting and well done piece.

[Charlie Eve Ryan]

@mattramsey No worries, not insensitive at all and thank you!

[Charlie Eve Ryan]

@QuietYell Thank you for the very kind words. Much appreciated!! Avery thanks you too.

[anthemsweet]

Bittersweet, complicated, tender picture.

[Charlie Eve Ryan]

@anthemsweet Thanks so much

[Kevin Longueil]

@Charlie-Eve-Ryan This is beautiful and very sad - been looking at it for about 20 minutes - there is nothing to let us off the hook... no secret sign tucked away somewhere to find and let us know everything will be alright - i can smell the cigarette smoke - i think mostly this make me feel fearful for the child and makes me hope that her smile is that of an indomitable spirit. Great job - very serious piece done in your beautiful style.

@Avery-Ryan Well done Avery! Your horse and buggy are excellent - impressed with the proportions and leg placement of your horse - really looks like he is moving - the texture of the road is very believable too - great work!

[Charlie Eve Ryan]

@Kevin-Longueil Thank you for such a heartfelt response, so kind.

[Charlie Eve Ryan]

Avery thanks everyone, too!

[lmrush]

Thank you so much for sharing your personal story. And your daughters sweet art.

[Charlie Eve Ryan]

@lmrush Thank you!

[alexonlyknows]

I love how the light is cast on the two emphasis points! And how I can follow it straight to a beer can. Powerful design.

[Charlie Eve Ryan]

@orokotanman wow, thank you so much. It was definitely a tricky piece to handle and I always find things I would tinker with after hitting send..but it was probably my most personal piece to date.

Thanks everyone, your kind words are much appreciated!