Tribute Drawings for Maurice Sendak

Maurice Sendak 1928-2012

I've just returned home to Colorado after a few weeks traveling all over Denmark. I was so busy playing tourist that I had completely turned off the world's news. I'm sadden today to learn Maurice Sendak died last week on May 8th. I will miss him. I especially enjoyed his quirky interviews with his fearless honesty. He always said it like it was. I was lucky to meet him just once at an event at Yale University, since that time, I have enjoyed following his career, and listening to his bold wisdom. I related to him immensely, and it goes without saying, I loved his art too, he will be missed.  

Maurice Sendak interview - video

(4 months before his death) 

In this video award winning American-born author of "Where the Wild Things Are" ( plus 100 other children's books), reflects on how this children's classic became the 'book of his life' and how he refused to write a sequel.

Click this to see his funniest interview, doing the Colbert Report 

Click this for meaningful video, Sendak On Death (And Life)

Listen here to a moving series of interviews with Maurice Sendak on NPR's 'Fresh Air' with Terry Gross...

Also,

If you would like me to include

your tribute drawing below

send yours to me,

studio@lauriejess.com;

Artist Pay Tribute to Maurice Sendak

from all around the world...

Deb Milbrath

Geoff McFetridge

Hanna Freiderichs

Harry Bliss

Jeff Koterba

Mark Streeter

Nate Beeler

Pat Bagley

Sarah McIntyre

Stuart Carlson

Watch Mary Engelbreit

Get insipired – watch Mary Engelbreit draw

This will also put a big happy smile on your face

♥ Double Mastectomy Tattoo

Epic Celtic chest tattoo

on breast cancer survivor

after double radical mastectomy

♥

It took one Sunday

each month & over 2 1/2 years to complete.

A wonderful inspiration

for many women in this same situation

who now can think about this alternative

beautiful solution.

Thanks Inga

 for this info

 & 

giving this wonderful story to the world;

Click for More Info Here:

Drawing A Drawing 365

Check This Out!!!

Artist Michael Shapcott Drawing A Drawing 365

Michael Shapcott inspires me!

I've posted about him on my facebook page but never here on my blog.

His portrait paintings stir emotions in me every time.

He has a unique way of capturing the human spirit. It's all in the eyes!

He also has developed his own magical techniques, little cool tricks.

Anyway, he's trying to fund a project, which I pledged an amount to help support. 

Check him out:

Watch a few videos of him painting

Surprise, a musician too!

And finally...you can learn more about Michael Shapcott and see more of his art here on his BLOG. Check it out, his work is beautiful, his blog is full of great stuff! 

Update: 2015 October;
Back in 4/2012, I sent money to Michael to help support his DVD Art Tutorial project. In return, he promised all who supported him a copy of that new DVD within a year. He failed to make good this promise, we were all left empy handed. He was paid over $75,000.
This was all part of the KICKSTART PROGRAM. To this date, now 10-19-2015_ I have emailed him many times and he always replies "its coming soon!" He has failed us all with an empty pledge, broken promise on the DVD part of the promise. I did get a printed art poster, and a tiny postcard but not the one thing I really wanted most_ the Art Tutorial DVD explaining his process. He is the only person (of the many projects I've helped) to Fail me on the Kick Start Program. 
I still believe in his talent but not his integrity :-(

Me _ Artist of the Month

I was surprised!

To learn it's all about me on Stacie's Blog

She picked me as her "Artist of the Month"

It feels like a confetti shower of praise!

Thank You Stacie !
Please leave comments over on her page! Thx!

Everything you might want to know about me & then some:

Laurie Jess - Interview

Stacie makes really beautiful Wearable Art Jewelry.

We are both currently taking a class called Life Book, 

that is how our paths crossed.

Please visit Stacie's beautiful shop at www.staciejewelry.etsy.com

China Adoption Journey

My China Adoption Photo Journey
Photo Journey;
 http://lauriejess.blogspot.com/2013/09/my-china-adoption-journey.html

This is a special story I'm posting to my Art Blog because it is my story. It is everything that influences my art, my passion & my life. This blog will always be a collective of visual experiences, points of interest, and thoughts from my noggin.

I hope this will inspire someone out there who is looking to have a child, or who might feel their time is running out. I was 49 when I adopted my first child. She has brought pure joy to our family, Maybe this will help you take that leap of faith!

I hope you will enjoy the following photo essay link; 

Click This For My China Adoption Photo Journey

1st Week Home from China Video

Click here to learn about the Adoption Agency we used & more;

Life Book Wk.12

Life Book Journal Class with Wyanne Wk. 12

Wyanne is a very creative artist & a fun teacher too! This week she had us make a "special envelope" for our journal book. This envelope will be a place to keep our special art complements.  Specifically, complements given to us from people about our art, including nice emails, note cards & such. These positive reminders are helpful when we need a boost to overcome our own inner critic.

I wasn't sure what to put in this envelope & then this happenned; http://staciejewelry.blogspot.com/2012/03/laurie-jess-artist-of-month.html

This project involved lots of fun experimentation with all kinds of new techniques & mediums.  She even introduced painting with coffee! I learned some cool techniques using coffee filters, paper towels, wax resist crayons. 
We were all reminded "no rules, go play" she said, "Experiment & have fun!"


Here is the link if you want to join our class, it is still open:
LIFE BOOK CLASS: http://willowing.ning.com/page/life-book-2012-open-for-registration
14 top teachers, currently 1125 students are enrolled & still joining.
It is a year long class, you go at your own speed, learning so many new art journaling techniques.

All levels are welcome. We get to meet people from all over this planet

& it is super fun too!

Painting on top of coffee filters & paper towels.
Let the wet watercolor painted paper filters & towels dry 
completely before lifting them off.
This makes some very cool effects. 
See that cup of coffee?
 Later, I painted my background with it!

See the cool textures you get from the paper towels?
Unfortunately, this went into the scrap pile because I hated these colors.
Time to play & experiment some more.

I experimented with dried leaves & watercolors.
I painted watercolor on top of a dried leaf
 & then pressed it down.

They were so pretty I decided to cut them out.
I added more watercolor & a white pen for details.

Ta da ... my final envelope's front view

Under the flap, finished inside view. 
I used a rubber stamp for that one upper leaf. 

I had organized my watercolor paints just before this assignment

Whoa, now I need to go clean up. 
My studio looks like a bomb went off