Introducing Saphire the Shoulder Dragon

Ta Da! Saphire the Shoulder Dragon has joined my...what do you call a group of dragons? "Herd"? "Flock"? Is it a "Murder of Dragons", like a "murder of crows"? Can't be a "Flame of Dragons"; not all dragons flame.  Most, but not all, fly...My Chinese dragons fly even without wings. "Collection" is too tame. A "Fierceness of Dragons?"

Saphire doesn't seem particularly fierce, but don't be fooled. Oh sure, she breathes blueberry smoothie instead of fire--after all her sister dragon, River's pink shoulder dragon, breathes iced pink lemonade--but just don't get on her bad side.

Peacock Princess has arrived!

It's here, in my hot little hands, and it is BEAUTIFUL!
There are full sized coloring pages  as well as pictures to color within the text. Here is the description on the back:

The old king dreams his beloved son Arden is killed in battle, and
the wizard accuses Arden’s wife, the Princess Annalea, of using
witchcraft to cause his death. Annalea asks one last favor before
the execution.

Here are two sample pages:

Prince Arden watched the women swimming

 

The Peacock Princess, a story to color, is at the printers! I expect copies to arrive in time for strawberry festival, July 17-19. Jane Valencia and I are doing a booth together, "DragonRider Press and Forest Halls".

If you are on Vashon Island July 8-19, look for us in Booth #8, on the west side of Vashon Hiway, near the bank and next to All Things Rich.

I'm working on a backdrop for the booth, painting on silk, Something cool and inviting that represents both of us. I know what to do. I have the drawings done and all my materials together. But now the doing of it--suddenly I am paralyzed. It's work I love and do well, and suddenly I don't want to do it! 

It's that fear that hits when ever I start a new project. It's not that I fear anything in particular. If fact, mostly I don't even recognize it as fear! It disguises itself as Inertia, or Tiredness, or Procrastination, or Rebellion, or The Floor Needs Moping and the Dishes Need Doing.

Sometimes, when art isn't involved, it just means "putting on my boots and picking up a shovel", like when a major house repair job needs doing. Just making a beginning starts the process and soon the next step becomes apparent, then the next.

Art making seems to require something different. I think sometimes it's my left brain unwilling to give up control to my right brain, my art making brain. Sometimes it works to tell my left brain, "It's only for awhile. You can get back in the driver's seat after awhile," and that works. Or writing about the process in my journal.

So now I'm writing to you, hoping that will melt away the block and I can get to work on a lovely backdrop for our booth at Strawberry Festival!

Peacock Princess--new work

I'm working on a new version of Peacock Princess. It will be a small book or comic with 8 new
illustrations. I want to develop the characters and motives more deeply.  For example,  I keep wondering why the king would allow his son's beloved wife to be executed, and plan to explain that in the new version.

Also, there are luscious images I want to illustrate! Like the tropical forest pool where the prince and princess met.


I have lots of ideas, but I need some visual references. So I did some research. I looked up tropical pools and forests on the internet and sketched what I liked, what I might adapt to my story.

I wonder,  what were the Prince's society and architecture like? What kind of designs would they put on their clothing? And what about the kingdom of the sun where the Princess was from? I spent some time thinking about this too.

I think the Prince was from a more structured society, while the Princess represents freedom and spontaneity. Their dress, architecture, social structure, how they were expected to behave--every thing in the two cultures would be different. Which might explain why the wizard hated the Princess so....He is a control freak and she is very spontaneous.

I plan to have this ready to go to press by July 3rd. Yikes! I need to stay focused!

Stories on Silk is being well received!

This is so exciting! The first printing of my book, Stories on Silk; A Peek into China, has sold out! The next batch arrived just two days ago and is already in three new local markets and selling!

Here is a piece of one of the stories and an illustration from that story:

He flew around her twice, and she too became a rare exotic bird.

“Love Birds” is the story of Shi Wa and Hua Mei. It reminds
me of Steve Watkins and Xiao Ning, especially Xiao Ning, because
the lovers were not young when they married; they were
hard workers and very talented. Hu Mei embroidered beautifully
and Shi Wa sculpted in stone.


Long ago, in a village called Zhuji, in Zhejiang Province, lived a
strong young man called Shi Wa and a beautiful young girl named
Hua Mei. Shi Wa was a farmer and a stone carver with a reputation
wisdom as well as strength. Hua Mei’s skill with embroidery was
known through out the area, and her singing could make the flowers
bloom and the hills dance.
When Shi Wa had finished work in the fields for the day, he and
other young people climbed the hills and dug into the stony hillsides
to plant flowers and trees. The young men carved images of Buddha
into the stones.
Shi Wa and Hua Mei naturally fell in love, but they refused to marry
until all the stones had been carved and all the flowers embroidered.
When at last the work was done and the last flower embroidered, the
wedding day was set. It was to be at the Moon Festival, the fifteenth
day of the eighth lunar month. As a wedding gift, the villagers built
a house for them, on a hill.
That night, they strolled in the moonlight by a nearby brook. The
stars shined brightly and even the celestial fairies shared their happiness!
The villagers celebrated until nearly dawn, congratulating
them. Everyone was happy.
That is, everyone except the Thunder God. HE thought such a beautiful
woman should belong to HIM!

The story "Love Birds" is one of seven Chinese Folk Tales in Stories on Silk; A Peek into China.
Steve Watkins and Xiao Ning are also introduced in the book. The book is now available here (scroll down on the home page to find the book).

My book is out and selling! The Vashon Artists Spring Studio Tour is over. And I am exhausted!

Here is a sample page from the book.

I'm offering the book Stories on Silk; A Peek into China at an introductory price of $7 plus $3.50 shipping, through me at studioatsuzannaleighdotnet. This offer is good through midnight PDT Friday May 15th.

Or you can order it through Amazon for $11.25

Family Gathering

In February, brother Steve was home for a visit from China. We--four generations of family--gathered to celebrate his birthday! Here is the first page of a story I am working on based on fond memories of that day.