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I have been painting away on the story for our contest winner.  I haven't had much time to post very much. I wanted to journal about my experience with illustrating for this contest. 

I have four of the pictures already painted.   Due to the time frame of the contest in conjunction with the Fairytale Town Children's Book Celebration,  the pictures and illustrating concepts have been drawn up rather quickly but, still look very nice and heartwarming. 

I met with the writer, Caitlin, on Thursday.  What a wonderful treat that was for my household.   My kids really enjoyed meeting her and  talking with her.  My 3rd son gave her a hug.   She is a very pleasant and caring lady. 

We went up to my office/studio to look over the story and discuss the printing options as well.  She seemed very excited and pleased to have seen the story drawn up. 

The mother character for the story has a short "bob" haircut.  So, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Caitlin had a bob haircut as well.   I re-did a couple of the pages to paint it in the coloring closer to the likeness of her and her son.   Because, after all it is her keepsake story that she is having illustrated and printed.   It is lovely.  

I have a few more pages to finish then, its off to the printers to lay out the illustrations with the text and print a copy for the writer to approve. 

I explained to her,  the time frame of the contest was to accommodate the story to being read at he Fairytale Town Celebration as the prize.  That didn't leave me very much time to work on making the final illustrations.  

I had worked out a system of  reading and outlining the entries to the contest and drawing up some initial illustrations for each one.  So, that when the time came to announce the winner...whomever that would be...I would be a little more prepared to illustrate the final pictures for printing the story. 

So, just to let the other writers know, Although I wasn't able to illustrate and ouline every story. I sitll have created outlines and sketched character ideas for some of the stories that were entered in the contest.  If you are still interested in having your story illustrated and/or published.  It would be a treat to work together with these stories.

I was so amazed at the preparation and the creativity behind these stories.  I would encourage the writers to seek an illustrator and look into self -publishing them.  I would be honored to illustrate for you. 

Meanwhile,  I have had time to take breaks and to play with the kids, have coffee in the morning and read the newspaper.  This Sunday we went to the park and had a walk about.  In which,  my youngest son, who is 3yrs. old,  was very interested in exploring an ambulance.  There was an on call ambulance sitting in the park waiting for calls.  The ambulance drivers where very nice in letting him look in the back of the truck and at the radios and computers.  Maybe someday my littlest son will be an Emergency Medical Technician.  You never really know...