Meet Heidi’s artist! Priscilla Burris S&S video

try this video and learn about Heidi Hecklebeck and Priscilla Burris, her artist!  such such fun…. http://www.simonandschuster.net/multimedia?video=1431755875001

“Life is like riding a bike…….

….in order to keep your balance you must keep moving.”  Albert Einstein

My husband and I have riden bikes for fun for years, but over a year ago we started getting a bit more serious about it. To be in better general shape (at our ages!) we even started doing Spin Classes at our gym a couple of evenings a week, along with Yoga and some weights on different days. And, being in southern VA, we can often ride outside as well. My husband has really taken the challenge on and will try his first 150 mile MS ride this spring….from Richmond to Williamsburg and back to Richmond in two days.  I’ll cheer him on!  

I share all this because I often THINK when riding…. and I see connections to life in general, and our industry and creativity in particular.  There are certain things one has to have, and be, to keep your balance and ride at all.  For either long or shorter mileage!  I find one needs some of these same strengths to be in and succeed in this industry. (any industry?)

ONE:  You must have confidence.  If you worry about falling off the bike…you’d never get on it! (Lance may have said that….)      If you worry about ‘will they like me’ you won’t be able to draw or paint or write a word.  Just DO it.  (did Nike say that?)

TWO: Know your own core strength.  Test and build yourself, but know your weaknesses as well as what you do well.  Keep your sights realistic.  It is about the RIDE, like it is about THE STORY.  Don’t get distracted with non essentials.

THREE:  It may be not just WHAT you are doing but WHY.   Is what you are doing a perfect compliment of all going into this project? Is there the proper emotional resonance for you? Are you enhancing your project and your life doing what you are doing?  We find there is often a special ‘turning in’ while riding. You become newly aware of yourself; how you feel; what you are capable of. (or not capable of! and that’s ok too…back to knowing your strengths!) ‘Turning in’ to your story will bring so much more out of it!

FOUR:  it takes a Village!  Essentially, we ride alone, even if we go together or with friends or a riding group as some do. We live our life alone. We create alone. But keep in mind there are so many outside supports and necessary variables to how well ’the ride’ goes.  The bike trails if they are there and maintained for safety and ease.  Support groups can only help you if you use them. Agents can only get you assignments if you produce.  Others who share the road can make or ’break’ you (ouch!).   You have to be aware of  the competition and the direction the road is taking you.  If you deviate it’s great, but look and listen first!  And for a big event it takes lots of players (agents, editors, AD’s, sales and marketing, distributers, bookstores, buying public) …all have a part to play to get you to the end of the race with a smile on your face!  Watch YOUR balance and enjoy the ride!

from Karen Stormer Brooks….

FEELING THE LOVE……

this says it all…… everyday is a day to appreciate and share the love……

DID he or DIDN’T he? ….

…in either case, it’s time to get cozy and ready.  AND enjoy these fun visuals!

from first Cheryl Kirk Noll….  and our ground hog from Nancy Hayashi……

 

 

 

Holiday revisited….

OH DEAR… I had never gotten our snowy holiday ‘blast page’ designed by Stacey Schuett up on a blog!  we’ll it’s a bit late, but wonderful anyway… wanted you all to see and enjoy the images from several of the CAT artists that clients DID see:  Tugeau, Iwai, Garrity-Riley, Ochoa, Friar and Schuett.  Lovely and funny and worth looking at closely.  A Valentine’s one will be posted before long designed by artist Mindy Pierce! Watch lovingly for it!

WELCOME NEW “CAT” ARTISTS…

I’m most proud to welcome two new artists to our agency this week!  Cathy Gendron comes to us with years of illustration experience in the adult editorial industry, but the love of children’s stories has captured her!  Her work is edgy and richly rendered, and her characters are very much her own!  Roger Motzkus is a beautifully and highly realistic styled painter with years of experience in the more commercial markets, but likewise he’s been bitten by the youth publishing industry.  His sense of humor shines through…a welcome thing these days!  please enjoy their samples here and at www.catugeau.com

a classroom from Roger Motzkus first….   and then a salon day from Cathy Gendron

a Social Studies Honor!

the Peachtree book illustrated by our own STACEY SCHUETT, Marching With Aunt Susan,  has been choosen as a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People 2012 by the CBC and the NCSS!  quite the honor! 

AND we just learned that this book has ALSO won  the AMELIA BLOOMER PROJECT list as one of the BEST FEMINIST books of the year!