Picturing the Future

Thanks to all who attended the program on nature and picture books this past weekend.  It was the perfect setting to talk about things that I love: nature, picture books and art. Living in Iowa for 20 years, I’ve used the regional natural world around me as my prime creative inspiration. To me, art is an opportunity to bring the outdoors in with us. A singing cardinal bird, a calling cicada, rustling prairie grasses, even a stealth deer can all be part of our every day worlds here in Iowa. I’ve enjoyed connecting my art with kids in many different ways, most importantly through picture books, and I'm know others feel this is an important bridge to make, too.

One topic that came up during discussion after the program was how children's literature is handling the crisis of climate change. What role do picture books play in educating our young readers about the enviromental tipping point the world faces right now? I admited to not knowing the current picture book titles on the topic. But I should. It will be some important on-going research for me.

I share the majority view who agree that climate change is occuring and that people are contributing to it. I don't want to be gloom and doom over the statistics, but for all sorts of reasons, critical habitats are being lost for so many animal species.  The great loss, and potential disaster, for humanity in only a few decades time can no longer just be imagined but scientfically calculated. It IS our duty to get more people, most importantly youngsters, to care for our planet. One way is to create and tell stories that celebrate our love for the natural world in positive, hopeful stories that motivate learning and caring more about our wild places. I'm one of the author/illustrators that try and do this the best I can. As the saying goes, "You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar".

But the talk last week made me re-think on the critical urgency of our situation.  Maybe I've been too PollyAnna about this. Perhaps sharing with our children that it's time for all-hands-on-deck is necessary right now. The capabilities of our childen's understanding can never be underestimated. Ideas and creative problem solving starts young- there could be a 7-year-old with a seed of a solution just waiting to be motivated.  I'm not talking a dystopian picture book- young readers will have enough of that flavor to read in the current YA trends. But what if the birds can't find a place to nest? What if the sea becomes too warm for fish? What if we cannot learn how to share the earth with others?  Every field should take some responsbility for the situation. Children's literature can surely shoulder some grunt work. And I'm looking foward to helping.

Studio Glow

This morning, the studio was bathed in a pale orange light, bouncing off the turning maple tree outside. It was fleeting and fragile, this not so typical orange. The kind of color that fills you with nostalgia. Fall is here.

Nature Bound

I've talked before about my love of nature and of picture books and of the two working together to enhance each other. It's a beloved topic for me. And if you are in the area next weekend, I'll be sharing a program on this subject as part of the Iowa City Book Fest. Here's the particulars.  What are your favorite nature connected picture books?

Iowa City Book Festival Program- 

“From Page to Pathway: Connecting to our natural world through picture books” with author/illustrator Claudia McGehee

Sunday, October 5 at 2:30 p.m.

Biosphere Discovery Hub

Iowa’s simple, elegant natural beauty has brought inspiration to writers and visual artists for generations. Many of the works that make Iowa City a City of Literature celebrate our surrounding landscape. The bonds between art, literature and nature are expressed in children’s picture books as well and can be an invaluable tool in introducing children to nature. Iowa City based author/illustrator Claudia McGehee shares her experiences illustrating and writing nature focused picture books, and the inspirations behind her work. McGehee’s award-winning titles A Tallgrass Prairie Alphabet, A Woodlands Counting Book and Where Do Birds Live explore and celebrate eco-systems found regionally and coast-to-coast. Her presentation will include ideas on how to use picture books to expand the outdoors for young readers, a survey of some favorite nature connected picture books, and a peek into her latest book projects echoing this same theme.

Brief, a small leaf as motif

September

Oh favored month, but so fleeting!

Working on a calendar this year for the Eastside Artist show. It's a compact size one could display almost anywhere for that oldy-worldy nod to day-keeping. Perhaps it will slow time down on my board if I linger a little on each month...

Red-winged blackbirds, lilies and end of summer

Here's a piece I've been wanting to do for awhile. It's time to begin saying farewell to summer and these two symbolize the season for me. 

Also, my studio, with freshly cleaned surface, with coneflowers beyond the window.

Nesting

Found a hummingbird nest that have blown out of a tree on my walk this morning. 

Such magnificent tiny architecture. So strong yet so comfortable for those 

thimble-sized fledglings. I'm glad I didn't have to construct a house with my mouth for our baby!