My project for Hyperion Books has turned out to be a lot of fun and I have gained some momentum on piecing together the type of art that I really like to do. Actually, I take that back. I like just about all the art I do. I was watching The Charlie Brown Christmas special with my son last night. (We had watched “It’s the Great Pumpkin” the night before prompting me to dig the Christmas special out of my old VHS pile). The Peanuts intro music drew me in, I saw my son’s face light up and my husband wandered in with his work pile from the office. There is something about Charles Shultz timeless art, the music, the colors; the line quality takes just about everyone back to the excitement of childhood holidays. I sat there and thought; this is what I want to create, thru my art, an emotion that remains with you through out a lifetime. I think I am so drawn to art for children because even though I can’t seem to recall much of it, I must have had a very happy childhood. I remember everything that was bright and colorful and have mercifully blocked out all the bad. I was and Army Brat and spent my entire childhood being the new kid in school. But I recall every luscious fragrant flower from living in Hawaii, I remember my very first snow in Kansas and I know that there is NOTHING better and more fun than Halloween night in military base housing. All the parents and kids participated and it was always like one big street party! So what is it about Charlie Brown that brings back all those memories? As an artist the answer is, the plain black lines, the simple shapes, bold colors and beautifully complex personalities. I rarely complete a painting without using cerulean blue, (the color of the Charlie Brown sky), to me, that color is serene. Does it seem too lofty of a goal to create memories through art for a new generation? Maybe! But if you have read my blogs, lofty goals is what I am all about.