School Visit


School Visits are fun. The students love seeing what grown-ups do for work. Today I visited Mrs. Brayman's art class to talk to the students about how to use symbolism in their artwork. I showed them samples of my own work and how I use objects, color schemes and texture as some of the ways to convey a message or meaning in my work. In the book I am holding, Great Group Skits, I use symbolism in each of the chapter head illustrations to show what the title of that chapter is about. The students were inspired to take that knowledge and use it in their own illustrated book project. 


St. Catherine's University

Here is a peak at some of the art I produced for the recently published book, "Guide to Reflective and Intentional Giving" for St. Catherine University.

I painted in total seven landscape paintings of the St. Paul and Minneapolis campuses. The concept/texture of the art for the book was built around a famous quote:


"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop." -- Mother Theresa.

The inside spread shown here is of the Minneapolis campus and posed a unique challenge of overlaying a depiction of the campus' historic stain glass windows over the courtyard scene. The window was actually painted separately and built in multi-transparent layers in Photoshop.

Chicken Licken finds a Turkey in the Straw

I DID IT! I entered the SCBWI's Tomie dePaola Illustration Contest. The challenge was open to SCBWI members to illustrate a text taken from the story of Chicken Licken (Chicken Little).

Goosey Loosey, Ducky Daddles, Cocky Locky, Henny Penny, and Chicken Licken find Turkey Lurkey and tell him that the sky is falling and that they are going to tell the King. They convince Turkey Lurkey of the urgency of the matter and joins them on their quest.

It may be only funny to me (and maybe some bluegrass fans), but I thought - how funny it would be if they found the Turkey in the Straw? This is the title of an old fiddling tune.

There you have it, now go tell the King.

Jan Brett in Wayzata, MN

Jan Brett

 on her 2011 Bus Tour for her new book, "Home for Christmas". It is important to take breaks and get out of the studio to get inspiration. And this was well worth the effort. The folks at

The Bookcase

in Wayzata, MN did a good job organizing the event.

 I was very pleased to get my photo-opp. with Jan. She's really nice!

I am not much for heels, but I love these shoes! These eskimo high-heels  are very groovy. :-)

Sparrows

Ever since I was about knee high we have been making an annual trip to the Southwest. It has left an imprint on my psyche. There is something about the air there, the high altitude and the smell of the Sage Bush. I love the abundance of flora and fauna with the beautiful mountains as a backdrop. The Spanish Style architecture, adobe, terra-cotta, the tile work all have influenced my art. The colors of the southwest, the way the mountains change as the sun rotates around them. I can't spend enough time looking, seeing, enjoying.

This piece is about a boy who looks, sees and loves all that is there, especially the birds. He is singing to the Sparrows, Las Golondrinas in the Mission garden. I too, love to spend time in my own garden, and I really like to paint gardens as well. I find the shapes and colors that form between the plants are just as interesting as the plants themselves.

Hurray, Plymouth Banners are here!


It's that time of year again, when local artists create banners to be displayed along Plymouth Blvd. in Plymouth, MN.

This banner was my contribution in 2007, and took 2nd place in their 1st annual "Plymouth Art-Banner Contest". Every fall since, Plymouth has displayed this banner along with other new and existing banners. The January/February '09 newspaper, "Plymouth News" also featured the banner in an article pertaining to the contest.

The piece titled, the"Yellow Sapling" represents the new trees the city has planted in the last years in the area to help preserve the beauty of our town. My intent for this piece of art was to show the serenity of nature. Plymouth has a lot of beautiful parks, gardens and nature areas throughout town for the public to enjoy.

Book Award


The award-winning book, "Good Grief: Finding Peace After Pet Loss" by Sid Korpi, cover art by Alicia Schwab has recently won again. The award for "Best Book of the Year; category: Self Help" by the 2010 Premier Book Awards. Congrats to Sid Korpi!

Congrats to Sid Korpi!

I would like to congratulate Sid Korpi. Her book, Good Grief: Finding Peace After Pet Loss, has won an Independent Publishers Book Award (category: Pets)!

Earlier this year, the same title was awarded the Reader Views 2010 Reviewers Choice Award (category: inspiration & spirituality). Yippee!!

Toucan


I've always been fascinated with toucans. But more as a wild bird not as a pet. They are amazing birds and need to stay in their tropical home habitat. The native peoples regard them as a bridge between the living and spirit worlds.

I always wondered how they can fly with such an oversized beak? The beak is actually made out of a honeycomb of bone to remain light weight. They use it to peel and eat fruit but also eat insects and occasionally young birds, eggs or lizards. And because it is 7.5 inches (19 cm) long they can use the beak to reach fruit on branches that are too small to support their own weight.

January/February SCBWI Bulletin

I am happy to announce that the latest SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators) Jan/Feb Bulletin has featured three of my illustrations. (see pg. 6, 13, & 36). It was a joy to come up with submissions for the publication, and I am honored that they were able to use three of them.

I drew this little baby boy while visiting a indoor toddler-play-area at a local mall. (In Minnesota we have to put parks inside to help abate the effects of "cabin fever" from being cooped up in our homes over the long, winter months). This little boy was so intent and fixated on the little truck. Just learning to crawl, he was using all of his might to inch over to the toy that was just out of reach. Sometimes he would roll over onto his back and rest a bit, before trying again. I admired his patience and perseverance.

SCBWI member

Do you want to see more? Come see more of my illustrations at SCBWI website:
http://www.scbwi.org/Illustrators-Gallery.aspx?i=221216340615013

Where is Mrs. Merryweather's Letter?


I am currently taking a "Children's Picture Book" art class at the moment. It has been a lot of fun and hard work so far. I am learning so much about the craft of creating images for this fascinating medium that marries art and literature onto the page.

In this spread, I used an excerpt from the book, "Mrs. Merryweather's Letter, Tales from Fern Hollow" by John Patience. Mrs. Merryweather (duck) has just gotten off the train and hands her ticket to Mr. Twinkle (starfish) before leaving the station. All throughout the book her letter blows around the village, but so far the duck has not noticed. I had a good time playing with the perspective and shadows in this piece.

Good Grief

More great news! I recently did the cover-art for a this book, "Good Grief, Finding Peace After Pet Loss", by Sid Korpi, now available in stores and online.

If you have a pet, you can fully understand how these creatures can touch our lives and make our day a little brighter. The death of a beloved pet can be devastating. This books helps the reader move through their emotions and gather the courage to become a pet owner again.


New Book Release

I am happy to announce my latest book for Y/A non-fiction: Great Group Skits, 50 Character-Building Scenarios for Teens, by Lynn Grasberg and Gina Oldenburg, © 2009 Search Institute Press. The book includes 6 of my chapter-head illustrations, and is my debut into the world of Children's Book publishing. Now available online from the Search Institute Press.

GALLERY SHOW
Oct. 1st -- Nov. 21st 2009.
(Reception: Oct. 3rd 2-4pm)
The Depot Gallery (418 Levee St. RedWing, MN 55066. tel. 651-388-7569) will be showing 2 pieces from this book. Please come join us down in Red Wing and enjoy the beautiful fall colors along the Mississippi River.


"Blue-Bicycle Fantasies"

     This is my submission, titled "Blue-Bicycle Fantasies", for the 2009 Competition & Exhibition by the Minnesota Society of Children's Book and Illustrators (MNSCBWI) and the Minnesota Center for the Book Arts (MCBA), Participating artists and illustrators had five poems to choose from, these poems were the winners of a May 2008 Children's Poetry Contest.
     I chose to illustrate the poem "Two-Wheeler" by Jane Thomas Noland,  because riding my bike was one of my favorite things to do when I was little. I have the battle-scars on my knees from learning how ride my bike on our gravel driveway.
     Our quiet neighborhood provided my friends and I many happy hours of leisurely coasting through the one street and half-a-dozen cul-de-sacs. The return trip back to my house required going down a steep hill. This provided me many exhilerating opportunitues to test my abilities and skills at speed without breaking my neck in the process.
     I am honored that my entry was chosen from over 50 entries for this juried show, "Reflections". There are many excellent submissions. Show dates: Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Minneapolis, MN; March 20 - May 2, 2009. 

In the news...




     This is a banner that I created for the City of Plymouth in 2007 which was featured this month in the newspaper"Plymouth News", of January/February of 2009. This banner was the 2nd place winner in their 1st annual "Plymouth Art Banner Contest". The banners are hung each year in the fall along Plymouth Blvd. in the City Center area of town.
     The piece titled, the"Yellow Sapling" represents the new trees the city has planted in the last years in the area to help preserve the beauty of our town. My intent for this piece of art was to show the serenity of nature. Plymouth has a lot of beautiful parks, gardens and nature areas throughout town for the public to enjoy.

Alicia paints a house in sub-zero temps!



     I was commissioned to paint this house-portrait in Dec. '08, for a family moving to California. Although the original photo had no snow on the ground, I added plenty of it to give the house a cozy, "winter-in-Minnesota" feel. 
     Will the family look back upon their Minnesota-winters with a chuckle or with a sense of longing for hours of playing in snow forts and sledding down icy slopes? Winters are long in Minnesota but a long day of playing in the snow is always rewarded with a delicious cup of hot chocolate.
     If you would like to commemorate your abode, please email me at: www.alicia@aliciaschwab-online.com.