Snow Days

By now you have surely seen plenty of pictures from snow days in the south. My New England soul was delighted when the fluffy flakes started to accumulate here in Wilmington. Snow Day #1 was all about sledding on boogie boards and backyard snowball fights, Day #2 was a fun but fatiguing copycat, and Day #3 was reminiscent of pandemic times days as I tried to get work done while forcing my 5th grader to write more than 5 sentences for his "free-write" assignment. Now, as I draft this email, most of the ice is off the roads, and much to the disappointment of my kiddos, we will soon return to reality. Luckily, I have my art to let me travel beyond the wall or indulge in a winter’s eve in the Scottish highlands whenever I like!

Jane Austen's Big Year

In retrospect, a forced stop in productivity may have been just what I needed to rekindle my creative thoughts. After a busy December, January always comes with a natural slowing in sales and a couple weeks of wondering how to reset and bring new ideas to the page. Over the past few days I decided I just needed to START...anything! Below are the little paintings I created this week. I do feel lucky that this year marks the 250th birth date of Jane Austen, a sure source of inspiration for my already Austenite vibe. Last year my big project was a Tudor poker card deck and so this year will be all about Jane. I have a few product ideas that involve both real and fictional locations. More on that soon!

Watercolor Practice

Something else that has helped reset my creativity is the practice of painting small objects for 10 minutes a day. These objects are based on reference photos or real items so I can focus on what my eye truly sees in the colors and light. Tiny drawings help me feel like I have accomplished something, even if it's not "perfect." These blueberries made me really happy. As a thank you for reading my ramblings, I have added the scan of them to my free downloads folder.

What I’m Reading

The Scoundrel's Son by Frederic Fahey

My new friend, Frederic Fahey, recently gifted a copy of his debut historical fiction novel to me. Fred is a fellow Tudor aficionado and local Wilmington author. His book, The Scoundrel’s Son, is a continuation of Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper that takes place in the early 1550’s London during the critical years following the death of Henry VIII and the short reign of Edward VI. King Edward; his best friend, Tom Canty; and Lady Jane Grey are the central characters.

As someone who has always been curious to learn more about Lady Jane Grey, I found her portrayal in this novel particularly compelling. While most facts about her elude us in reality, Fred has filled the void through Tom's perspective, with well researched and highly readable prose. The story grows in anticipation as the timeline moves beyond Edward's death and closer to Lady Jane’s tragic fate. I recommend this coming of age tale to everyone who enjoys historical novels based in 16th century England. It’s an enjoyable book for readers of many ages to dip their toes into the Tudor court. More info and where to buy: https://www.fredericfahey.com/