This morning I was cleaning the toilet. Ok, it’s what I was thinking when I was cleaning the toilet that prompted this post. I had just shown my husband my first illustration for my rocker friend, VK Lynne (meet her here and maybe kick in five bucks to help fund her upcoming tour) and I began thinking about this whole illustrating thing. It’s not “from” me. I didn’t set out to do this. I feel “taken” – “compelled to try.”
I made a real effort to go back to my own writing. Honest I did. But what happened? More people approached me to do work for them – and the thing is – I WANTED to. Now my whole next artistic year is planned. I have a new picture book, Alistar & Octavia by Sally Suehler, coming out in March of 2015 and I’m beginning work on VK’s children’s book of poetry now, too. (Oh the first poem I did is sooo cute – I can’t wait until this one is out to share with you!)
Without me even having a hand in it, Under The Clouds Press (see right) is taking on a life of its own. I feel like a bystander watching its progress. Under The Clouds Press was born quite by accident when I was illustrating and publishing Ralph (see left). When you e-publish with Amazon they make you make up a name to publish under. At the time my garage was a workshop for children’s writing workshops and the ceiling is painted blue with clouds. I thought of my young authors creating in there one summer and – boom – Under The Clouds Press was born and slapped on the publication of Ralph!
I’m thankful the projects are coming in at a rate that I can handle them…but while cleaning the toilet I began to think about the issue of charging for my work. There are prices on the website, but they don’t apply to my friends. My friends are all willing to pay – but I’m not ready yet to accept payment. My payment is just in the fact that they liked my work enough to trust me with their babies.
When say I’m not good enough, I don’t speak of my work. Clearly it’s good enough or people wouldn’t keep asking me to do it. I’m talking about my level of education. Each project presents its own challenge. There are problems to be solved along the way to production, and I learn tons by solving problems. I actually enjoy it. So when I say “I’m not good enough yet” it means I still have a lot to learn and I’m just thankful my friends are giving me a chance to use their precious projects to further educate myself.
I’ll know when to charge. Until that day comes, money for my work is the furthest thing from my mind. I gain so much by just getting the opportunity to do it, that I’m happy right where I am.
And so, as another day goes by, I feel God’s hand guiding my path, I’m not going to mess with that, and…I have written.
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