I’m Leah from just outside if Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. I’ve being doing a few SVS courses since last October and check out the forum from time to time, but I’ve been a bit shy to comment or post anything. I’ve always wanted to make a children’s book. I took a writing course a number of years ago and read a few books on illustrating but did not get any further. Then I stumbled on the three SVS amigos and thought, “these guys are stellar with their art AND teaching. Plus listening to their podcasts is like hanging out with friends and doing some good yakking.” So I took the plunge and signed up. Better late than never! I am retiring in 4 weeks from an accounting clerk job for a municipality. Though I’m told I will be busier retired than working full time, I hope to accomplish this dream. The dream is small - make a book locally. I’m not after a big career. I’m working traditionally with the bit of technique I’ve picked up over the last few years. I love art supplies and plan to have lots of fun. Here’s a great big hello to you all in this very welcoming community.

@Dima-Eichhorn I am so enjoying your comic. It brings back memories of my backyard. I love that Lucy is having a grand adventure.

@Heather-Boyd Hi fellow Canadian! Yup, I am definitely small town, surrounded by river and bush. Lots of history which is the direction I hope to head towards. What a great forum this is! Loads of encouragement and support.

@johnchoi Thanks John. Only two weeks to go!

Super exciting project. Very inspiring!

This was a great podcast. Lots of good ideas to chew on. I'm doing Inktober for the first time. I am wondering, for those of you who are experimenting with ink and getting used to the tools, are you using one type of drawing tool on one paper for 30 days or playing around with different pens, inks, etc and different papers? I'm not sure which approach to use. I have different pens, brush pens and dip pens. I'd like to get good at all of them and see which I really gravitate to, but I'm thinking if I switch up too much, I won't get the benefit of improving my skill with one of them over time. Any thoughts?

@Kaela-McCoy Hi! I have had that same problem all my life, trying to squish all these awesome creative pursuits in amongst working, raising a family, parent care, etc. I have recently retired and I thought I would be full steam ahead on children’s illustration. Instead I’ve put that on hold to try a couple of other things. sigh. But this time I went in with intentions beyond just trying something new. I did a short stop motion animation course with the idea of working on storytelling. It gave me confidence as I was able to build a little story with just a shape and an action verb. I also adored using that medium. Because I love nature and want to work that into my art somehow, I took another short course on making natural inks plus portraiture. I was curious if I could pull this into a direction with children. I thought I would love both but I don’t. I like them and I am intrigued by the idea of them, but they don’t grab me the same way I get hooked when pictures and storytelling are involved. But I am focusing on what I am learning by making reflection notes after every lesson, writing down what I learned, what I liked, what I didn’t like, how it made me feel. I have only done this for these two courses and already I feel I have gained more than if I did the courses for fun and just to see if I liked the medium, and moved on to the next thing.

What I have learned from listening to 3 Point Perspective podcasts, is to spend time thinking about what you are doing, what you want to do, where you want to go - do you exploring with intention and attention. Then beside having the fun of trying something new, you can use it as another stepping stone to achieve your goals and passions, whether it is something you use, or helps your know what you don’t like.

Another thing I do is always finish. I try not to turn the page without completing it. I may not like it during the process, but often it turns out not bad or at least I have learned something. I have to admit though, that since I retired, I have gone back and finished several projects that I had started years ago. It feels good and I wished I had pushed myself more to finish, although sometimes life gets in the way and that is not possible. And certain projects no longer hold the appeal they once had so I have let them go.

I guess all this rambling on is a long-winded way of saying the same thing as @NessIllustration - try lots of things and explore but maybe by doing it with intention and reflection, it will help to get you to where you want to go.

Hi! I’m new at all this so not much use in the critique department. I really like you idea. The caterpillar is so cute sitting in his chair reading. Can’t wait to see it done up in color!

Hi Martinez! Welcome! I’m a newbie too.

Congratulations! It sounds like a super experience for you!

@Heather-Boyd Hi fellow Canadian! Yup, I am definitely small town, surrounded by river and bush. Lots of history which is the direction I hope to head towards. What a great forum this is! Loads of encouragement and support.

@fullerj Hi fullerj! Thanks ! I am looking forward to retirement - 2 weeks to go! I will give my best shot to making a book, though I made wade into the shallow end before jump off the diving board in too the deep end.

@johnchoi Thanks John. Only two weeks to go!

@Chip-Valecek Thanks Chip! Once I’m retired I hope to be on here more often.