Happy Independence Day, America!
And in that independent spirit, I free myself from the fear of blogging. I was sure I’d never do it, never post publicly as I still have nervous quirks and tics from the post-traumatic invasion disorder the time my parents broke into my diary for evidence of some kind. Call me a pack rat or just sentimental...as I’ve saved my diaries from when I was ages 12 through 16, locks scuffed and nicked from bent hairpins. I was going to transcribe some pages, but after reading and refreshing my memory a bit, I think my parents were on to something.
So put your hairpins down and in future blogs I’ll share a behind the scenes look at illustrating for children, some step-by-step progressions, and unabashedly reveal a few creative attempts that went from table to trashcan. I’ll present my favorite children’s authors and illustrators, try out new creative techniques, and share the journey to get my first trade picture book published in both words and art, a long and winding road I continue to trek.
Here are a couple of character sketches from the story I 
created that is currently making the rounds with
publishers...about ghouls and an approaching storm cloud.
It was only after I drew the entire scene that I realized
Velma the Vampire and my son have an eerily similar look
to them, captured in this photo when he was 6 pretending
to be a dinosaur hatchling. Funny what lurks and hovers in
the recesses of our minds!
“Mermaid Waves” I titled this blog after a lyric I once heard in a siren song of the sea. I like the double meaning of waves...so I absconded with the 2 words and claimed them for myself, which is perfectly acceptable according the the muse handbook....
Welcome, and I hope you visit often.
Terri Murphy
www.terrimurphyart.com
Terri, welcome to the blogosphere! I am sure you will be a total veteran before very long and I can't wait to see your posts, which I am sure will be thoughtful and full of your wit and insight!--bjn
Posted by: Barbara Johansen Newman | July 04, 2008 at 10:37 PM
Great blog, Terri. Your mermaid theme works for me---it's about 100 degrees in the forest today. Ugh! Your site looks great and I loved your first post. Congrats!
Posted by: Sandra Alonzo | July 09, 2008 at 05:19 PM
Hi Terri...I had to come home from the Illustrators meeting to check this out. Great start to your blog. In the spirit of our group's critiques...I have to let you know about the typo in the last line of your blog. Think of me as your unsolicited editor. I LOVE your art. See ya...
Posted by: Nancy Abramovitz | July 12, 2008 at 06:21 PM
Wow Nancy...I read it over about 7 times before I found it. That's what you call a blind spot. Thanks for pointing it out. I NEED an editor!! ~~Terri
Posted by: Terri | July 14, 2008 at 08:54 AM
Hey Toots!
I went to art class with you, still can't call myself an artist. However....the journey after art class gave me many titles, none of which I can mention,so thanks for that! Your work is an extension of that wonderful imagination and insane take of the world as only a few of us see it! Bravo Paluskiem,Bravo.....Alice
Posted by: Alice Holtom | June 12, 2009 at 06:39 PM