What is your favorite work of art? What do you love about it?
What is my favorite work of art? That is so hard because I have a bunch. As an artist, I appreciate other people's creation. There are books that I think were brilliantly crafted, that leave me in awe. There are pieces of music that leave me breathless, that touch me so deep I have to create my own art from them. Writing Heartfall gave me a whole new appreciation and yearning to dance. Roberto Bolle was my muse for Sebastian, and he creates all kinds of art when he moves his body in ways it shouldn't. It is taking me a lot of restraint to keep myself from going to watch his art on YouTube.
Like yesterday's prompt, where I looked at it the day before so I could think about it, I did the same. I knew this was coming, and I immediately thought of the piece of art that I was going to say was my favorite. But then, I started thinking about the artist who created it. She made about twenty-two other illustrations that are also my favorite, but for different reasons.
And the more I ponder this question, I can't pick just one. There are two that are my favorite. So, I'm going to share those with you. Both are pieces by Andrea Perno.
My son, Noah, and I co-wrote a children's book together a couple of years ago called Sports Impossible. You can read more about it on his website, which can be reached by clicking the title. But when I needed an illustrator, I happened upon some art her students had made. There was something about them that touched me, and I was really hopeful she would help us with his book. She did.
Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined the beautiful creations she'd make to depict his story. Sports Impossible, while fiction, is very much Noah's story - almost to the point it could be an autobiography.
Seeing his visions come to life was one of the most special experiences we've had together. Working on this project gave him confidence, authority, and I watched him grow up a bit with it.
Narrowing it down to one picture is hard because I love them all. But I think my favorite of the ones Andrea drew for Noah is the cover.
Like yesterday's prompt, where I looked at it the day before so I could think about it, I did the same. I knew this was coming, and I immediately thought of the piece of art that I was going to say was my favorite. But then, I started thinking about the artist who created it. She made about twenty-two other illustrations that are also my favorite, but for different reasons.
And the more I ponder this question, I can't pick just one. There are two that are my favorite. So, I'm going to share those with you. Both are pieces by Andrea Perno.
My son, Noah, and I co-wrote a children's book together a couple of years ago called Sports Impossible. You can read more about it on his website, which can be reached by clicking the title. But when I needed an illustrator, I happened upon some art her students had made. There was something about them that touched me, and I was really hopeful she would help us with his book. She did.
Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined the beautiful creations she'd make to depict his story. Sports Impossible, while fiction, is very much Noah's story - almost to the point it could be an autobiography.
Seeing his visions come to life was one of the most special experiences we've had together. Working on this project gave him confidence, authority, and I watched him grow up a bit with it.
Narrowing it down to one picture is hard because I love them all. But I think my favorite of the ones Andrea drew for Noah is the cover.
I write under a different name for children's books, but I love this one because I look at that picture of Matthew, and I know it perfectly captures Noah and so many other disabled kids like him.
This story was dedicated to them because what Noah's message was, what his hope is, is that people will focus on what they can do instead of what they can't.
That's all I can say about that without giving the book away. But I love everything this cover represents.
One day, I was tagged in a picture by Sonia Midnightdraven Torres. It was of a dancer. The colors were predominantly violet, and my interpretation was that it looked like she was in the middle of a wave. This was while I was writing Heartfall.
Sonia had no idea about the plot other than the fact it was about a ballerina. I was so moved by this piece of art. I couldn't stop looking at it. You can see it on my Heartfall Pinterest board. After contacting the artist and learning it had been sold, I resigned myself to never owning artwork that personified Claire.
Not long after that, Andrea posted a picture of a ballerina. Reaching out to her again, she graciously accepted the challenge to bring my characters to life. I sent her two scenes from the book so she could get a feel for what was important between Claire and Sebastian.
Also, let me say that Andrea is super fast on her commissioned artwork. In no time it seemed, I had the early beginnings of what would become one of my most prized possessions. And then I had this picture (I've added the title and my name to it because I don't want people using the painting without my permission).
This story was dedicated to them because what Noah's message was, what his hope is, is that people will focus on what they can do instead of what they can't.
That's all I can say about that without giving the book away. But I love everything this cover represents.
One day, I was tagged in a picture by Sonia Midnightdraven Torres. It was of a dancer. The colors were predominantly violet, and my interpretation was that it looked like she was in the middle of a wave. This was while I was writing Heartfall.
Sonia had no idea about the plot other than the fact it was about a ballerina. I was so moved by this piece of art. I couldn't stop looking at it. You can see it on my Heartfall Pinterest board. After contacting the artist and learning it had been sold, I resigned myself to never owning artwork that personified Claire.
Not long after that, Andrea posted a picture of a ballerina. Reaching out to her again, she graciously accepted the challenge to bring my characters to life. I sent her two scenes from the book so she could get a feel for what was important between Claire and Sebastian.
Also, let me say that Andrea is super fast on her commissioned artwork. In no time it seemed, I had the early beginnings of what would become one of my most prized possessions. And then I had this picture (I've added the title and my name to it because I don't want people using the painting without my permission).
This isn't just a picture of a couple of dancers. It's a picture that means so much more, but you have to read Heartfall to full understand it. There is so much depth to it. It inspired me to write other scenes to tie back into this painting. Heartfall isn't just a story I wrote. It's a personal story about some of my own struggles. I didn't have a Sebastian, but in so many ways I am Claire. This painting is about beauty, trust, confidence, and pure love.
So, these are my two favorite pieces of art and the reasons I love them.
So, these are my two favorite pieces of art and the reasons I love them.