A Story in Paint: Pale Peony Blossom

"Pale Peony Blossom," Strathmore watercolor paper (cold pressed)

Since the pre-Christmas book launch craziness at Fabled Garden Press (The Cupcake Tree and B is for Bigfoot) things have been quietly progressing behind the scenes. I've been crossing the valley on Saturday mornings to take a watercolor course from Elisha Finlayson at the community college nursing campus. One morning a student was dying to know what I was doing there with my big canvas portfolio, palette, et al, I was so obviously on the wrong campus. The school carved out a room for us where we put tarps out on the tables, to protect them from the water and paint, and learn how to paint with watercolor.

A couple of weeks ago a guest lecturer, Tom Howard, came to demo edges and teach the class. He taught me a very simple lesson that was a game changer in a very short conversation.

• Slow down, it doesn't matter how long it takes to finish a painting
• Use less paint and let the white of the paper show through

I had already painted the peony above once (looks nothing like this, I had overworked it). I decided a do-over was in order. I spent the rest of the class sketching the blossom again then attempted to put the lesson into practice. The resulting painting is above.

I'm grateful he came to lecture, because that little bit of advice made a really big difference in the story I was able to share using paint. (The story behind the picture is more of a memory; this flower was part of a fluffy bouquet of peonies that I splurged on while exploring the downtown farmers market with my sister. I took a picture because it was so striking and I knew it's bloom was fleeting.)

“I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers.” - Claude Monet

I can see why.

Suzanne

Last Minute Stocking Stuffer Ideas

Are you running out of time? Did you miss someone on your Christmas list? Do you need a little something that will make your kid's stocking sparkle? Don't worry we have some great suggestions for the readers in your lives.

First I will show you how super easy it is to send an e-book to the one you love in three easy steps.

Step 1 - Find that book your loved one will love!
If you haven't found that book we have some great suggestions later on in the post. Once you find that book on Amazon or the Barnes and Nobles website there should be a link next to where you can purchase the item that allows you to send that ebook as a gift.

Step 2 - Fill in some basic information.

All you have to do is simply fill in the recipients' e-mail, your name and theirs, and write a personal holiday message.

 

The nice option that Amazon offers is that you can actually print the instructions yourself in place of sending it through an e-mail. This allows you to print the voucher, place it in a Christmas card, or perhaps give it as a white elephant gift.

Step 3 - Place the order.

Press the place your order or submit button and all is done!   

Now for those suggestions I've been hinting at! 

Children's Books

If you have some little ones that you need to shop for here are a couple of suggestions we think they will love!

Our first two are the creations of Fabled Garden Press' own Suzanne Nikolaisen. Beautifully illustrated fun and silly poems to make a kid in your life smile. 

-The Cupcake Tree by Suzanne Nikolaisen 

The sweet and magical cupcake tree, branches loaded with ripe cupcakes, is one of the silly poems in this delightful collection to read with your children. Colorful illustrations of lollipop flowers, cuddly bears, a snowman in the sun, and more highlight the collection. Some poems are pure silliness while others like The Cupcake Tree are simply sweeter. Join the tickety-tockiting clock, razzleberries, the singing roosters, and crickets cricking softly in a book of poems perfect to read at bedtime or on the go. 
You can find it here for Amazon Kindle.

-B is for Bigfoot: An ABC Book of Wonderful Creatures by Suzanne Nikolaisen
This illustrated alphabet of wonderful creatures includes an imaginative crew of memorable fantasy creatures with a dragon, werewolf, robot, mermaid, the kraken, Bigfoot and more. Each cheery illustration shares a colorful letter and visual clues about the creatures and is accompanied by a lighthearted poem with fun rhythm. Explore the ABC’s with these legendary creatures.
You can find it here for Amazon Kindle.

Teen Books

We are working on some teen fiction here at Fabled Garden Press that will hopefully come out in the upcoming year. Until then here is a book that we think you will love from one of our dear friends, M.L.Smith.

-Chrysalis by M.L.Smith 
Alexa Morgan is like most teenage girls. She only gets to use her cell phone for emergencies, she has trouble getting her homework done and she's crushing on the school's bad boy. But Alexa really isn't like any of her high school peers. When she turns eighteen, she will be the most powerful mage in the world. Until then, she has other mages, vampires, werewolves and fairies hunting her. Some of them want to kill her, others want to turn her into a monster. She's in the middle of a war and the winner gets to claim her life.
You can find it here for Amazon Kindle.

Paranormal Fun
Paranormal and fantasy are at the heart of Fabled Garden Press and we think that these selections will have your loved one's spine tingle or let them escape to a fantastical world. Maybe even a bot of both.

-SandShadow by Suzanne Nikolaisen
Michael lives alone in a crowded city where he is haunted by an extraordinary nightmare. He’s made some bad decisions and the woman he loves is halfway across the world. Time is running out to find what’s behind the paralyzing dreams and the presence that comes with them. 

Drawn into an ancient society of watchers who say they know what’s hunting him, he begins to wonder if zombies are real. The answer is coming for him from the desert sands where it has never rested in peace.
You can find it here for Amazon Kindle and here for the Nook. 

-Cora Frost by Matthew Leland Smith
“Come now my pet it's time we get started.”

Cora Frost, the proprietor of a small shop called Eerie East End's, is caught in the middle of a dangerous paranormal game. The year is 1886 and a young girl comes to the oddball shop seeking answers to a recent attack. Nichole Kelly's world has been turned upside down when she's attacked by creature that some have dubbed Spring-Heeled Jack. With her own supernatural gifts, Cora's investigation leads her down a road that includes exorcism, venturing into the memories of a man and being enthralled in a game of wits against a psychic.
You can find it here for Amazon Kindle and here for the Nook.

-Cora Frost: the Gift by Matthew Leland Smith
Some social engagements are simply to die for. 

Moira Dent, a young beautiful heiress, has only one thing that groups her with the lower class; one day she will die. To her luck, a passer-by offers her a gift. With a simple ritual she will be able to raise another as a vampire. Through this pact, she will be able to join the risen vampire in immortality. Moira only needs her closest friends to join her deadly pact, and perhaps a few to be a little midnight snack. 
Under the guise of a dinner party, Moira invites her cousin, Webster Pruitt, to take place in this hideous act. Luckily, Webster has a guardian in the form of his new friend, Cora Frost. Using the magical abilities and expertise she will have to face the horrors Moira Dent has unleashed on her dinner guests. 
Cora must make strange alliances with the deviant vampiric Veronica Bowman, the beautiful and airy actress Irene Adler, and the mysterious kingly Siegfried Richter. Cora and her allies must survive until the morning and the mysterious forces Moira has summoned will be put to an end. Though some things are easier said, than done. 
You can find it here for Amazon Kindle and here for the Nook.

We hope that this gives all of you little elves a couple of ideas, and we thank you in advance for considering making us a part of your holiday this year. From all of us here at Fabled Garden Press we hope you have a merry Christmas and a happy holiday.

B is for Bigfoot - Just in Time for St. Nick!

Before St. Nicholas Arrived
Twas the night before publishing our magical ABC book.

We’d gathered the creatures, we thought we were off the hook.

A crash and a splash, then all was a-clatter.

I sprang from my computer to see what was the matter.

Bigfoot had stepped on the vampire's toe,

who changed to a bat causing a big row. 

The lamp tipped over in a flash when the thunderbird landed.

The sea monster filled up the tub single handed.

I looked at my friend Matt & he shrugged despondently saying,

“Suz, it was a good idea, but look at this mess from their playing!"

“It’ll be okay,” I responded tossing him some sugarplums sweet

and we rounded up creatures, “Wait 'til the kids they get to meet!"

The pages from the friendly book started to glow.

The jinn gave a nod, and the phoenix flew low.

The werewolf jumped in with a side glance and wink,

The kraken made a splash right there in the ink.

One after another they snuggled into their pages,

these wonderful creatures from out of the ages.

Beeps from the robot, a dragony hiss.

This was certainly an ABC book not to miss!

As we prepared to share the book links with you.

We think when you read it you’ll be glad you took kung foo!

Suddenly a cold chill came as the yuki-onna breezed in

and together at last all the creatures settled in.

Creatures with feathers, fur, and fins came quite quick

The howling and hooting—calming down just in time for St. Nick.

Cover for "B is for Bigfoot" by Suzanne Nikolaisen and Matthew Smith, Kindle version.

We're so grateful for the early feedback that kids are already having fun with the book, and are picking out their favorite creatures! We hope the kids in your life enjoy B is for Bigfoot an ABC Book of Wonderful Creatures too! A special thanks to all of you for sharing the book with your kids, family and friends! 

It's been really great to hear the feedback that the kids are enjoying the book!

Suzanne and Matt

*Update: Be sure to sync your Kindle for version 1b a minor edit needed to be made. We're preparing versions for the Nook and iBooks and will release links when these versions are available.

Available on the Kindle at: http://amzn.to/1vLL0ls

Look for news and updates about B is for Bigfoot at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabledgardenpress

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BisforBigfoot

Twitter: https://twitter.com/suzchirp

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Twinfrodo

B is for Bigfoot - Countdown

Suz at the Mac laying out the book.

Last winter my foundation drawing teacher in college suggested I do something with my art, like a children's book. I think this drawing of the Princess and the Pea is what may be why she brought it up. Whatever the case, I took her advice and started working on drawings for an alphabet book. 

Pencil drawings for "B is for Bigfoot." See the letter B.

My process started with pencil drawings, traced in ink on a light table. Then I applied color and shading with colored pencils. Once scanned I did a little digital touching up here and there.

We used Prismacolor colored pencils to add color to the ink drawings.

During the summer Matt and I decided to collaborate on our writing and this fall we really started to pour-on-the-coal with "B is for Bigfoot" for release in December. I've spent many lunch breaks at Barbacoa with my sketchbook creating the letters, sharing the table with a bowl of chicken soup and corn chips.

I re-drew my giant robot drawing to include in the book.

Read "B is for Banana Bread (and Bigfoot)" a snapshot from October when I was working on
the cover drawing. I posted some pics along with my favorite banana bread recipe.

Applying colored pencil to the ink cover drawing of the sunflower that frames the ABC's.

It was nice to have Matt help me with the poems with his cracker-jack writing skills! (if you haven't read his Cora Frost novellas, I hope you'll look them up! They're spine-tingling, spooky, and an interesting spin on the late 1800s and spiritualism. Read more about the series. You can read Cora Frost: The Fasting Spider for free on the Kindle and Nook.) Matt's also been helping as colorist on some of the illustrations. (Check out what he did with "W is for Werewolf" for example, it turned out really cute!)

The cover work in progress.

The last letters have been scanned and the book is in it's final edit. The eBook will be published to Kindle and Nook later this week. Fabled Garden Press is a small digital press that's very grass roots. We hope you'll share B is for Bigfoot with your friends and help us get the word out!

Most of all we hope that this book will help share worldwide myths and legends with children at an early age and open a conversation about the creatures, the cultures they come from in a fun and colorful way!

B is for Bigfoot will make a great eGift that you can always have with you on your mobile phone or mobile device. Read it at bedtime, on-the-go, even when you're out camping next summer!

Take care, Suz

New Release: The Cupcake Tree

Click to Zoom. Released to Kindle on November 10th, 2014.

A Note About the Book (Available on Kindle)

Before I share the book description for The Cupcake Tree, I wanted to share a personal note about this collection. I wrote this book for my daughter when she was young. You'll see her pop up in the book in illustrations like in the dandelion crowns poem. This book was pure silliness and sentimental rhyme that helped me capture a little bit of the fun and joy. I hope that the poems are universal to your family too! We used to love to read together and were especially fond of books of silly poems which inspired me to create this collection.

The Cupcake Tree & Other Silly Poems for Silly You

Written and Illustrated by Suzanne Nikolaisen

The sweet and magical cupcake tree, with branches loaded with ripe cupcakes, is one of the silly poems in this delightful collection to read with your children. Colorful illustrations of lollipop flowers, cuddly bears, a snowman in the sun, and more highlight the poems.

Join the tickety-tockiting clock, razzleberries, the singing roosters, and crickets cricking softly with this book of poems perfect to read at bedtime or on the go.

Get a copy of The Cupcake Tree to enjoy today!

B is for Bigfoot: Behind the Scenes

"B" is for Bigfoot, An ABC Book of Wonderful Creatures
by Suzanne Nikolaisen and Matthew Smith

Behind the Scenes...
When I started on the cover art for "B" is for Bigfoot I was trying to be logical about it. "It's a cover. Reach for InDesign." But then as I was struggling to make it what I really wanted, I realized ... "I really should be hand drawing this." So I pulled out my drawing paper and drawing board, sharpened up my #2 pencil and went to work. The initial drawing was in 2B pencil, then black ink, and last of all I applied color and shading with Prismacolor colored pencils.

This fall has been a blur of "plein-air" (outdoor) painting, color theory and other classes as we continue on our way through our college art courses. Matt's rolling up his sleeves to help me finish color application then we'll be moving the book through the final stages of editing. We can't wait to share "B" is for Bigfoot with other fantasy and cryptozoology fans and their kids! There were no books like this when my daughter was little and now that fans of cryptozoology, fantasy, creatures, and the supernatural are coming "out of the forest" so to speak we think it's the perfect time to share our book about these wonderful creatures for the littl-er fans.

"A" is for Abominable Snowman, "B" is for Bigfoot & "C" is for Centaur...
"B" is for Bigfoot is more than another ABC book as the subject matter by default makes it a great story-telling companion and conversation starter whether at bedtime or on-the-go. Perfect to have on your iPad or mobile device for a bedtime read or when you're camping for fun storytelling. For example "B" is for Bigfoot depicts the redwood forest. With each letter of the alphabet you can delve into what the picture has to do with the mythos of the creature. For Bigfoot you can talk about the huge trees (show them the Nat Geo Redwood Portrait that features climbers in the trees), about the "Patterson-Gilmin" film taken at Bluff Creek in California, native American myths, Jane Goodall's study of primates and if you watch any of the Bigfoot reality shows--? "B" is for Bigfoot, the creature they're looking for.

"B" is for Bigfoot, 2 is on the publication schedule, but we haven't released a publication date yet. It will include more illustrations about the creatures and myths, legends and research about each creature. This book will be for older kids and adults.

Now that the physical cover art has been completed we'll be taking it digital for final processing, as we're preparing to release the book for preorders on the Kindle and Nook. Watch for links coming soon!

Watch for Updates on the Blog, Twitter, Facebook & Pinterest

You can follow SuzChirp on Twitter if you want realtime updates (like the link to the blog post "B" is for Banana Bread (and Bigfoot) and the pic of the cover nearly completed). We also have a Fabled Garden Press Facebook page and are on Pinterest too. For super easy updates, sign up to be automatically emailed each time we post to the blog (look for the form field on the right side of the blog to sign up and be sure to click to verify your subscription when you get the verification email).

Watch the video about Fabled Garden Press.

We're looking forward to sharing "B is for Bigfoot!" It's been so much fun to work on!

Suzanne

Copyright 2014, Fabled Garden Press (A digital press by Suzanne Nikolaisen and Matthew Smith)

Parallel Lives Art Project: Vampire Pt 1 Rough Draft

I am a big fan of Magic the Gathering and it stemmed my love of art. I am currently taking art classes in college and I thought it would be awesome to start a project. Over the weekend I began a project that has been going through my head for a while. In Magic there is a very popular block called Innistrad. It is full of classic horror troupes such as vampires, werewolves, and zombies. In such a place as Innistrad one human could possibly end up as any one of these monsters, or just a meal for them. It could also survive and remain a human, or could ascend an join the angels. So my goal is to paint the same man as a vampire, a werewolf, a zombie, a human, and an angel (maybe a demon too.) These paintings are mostly for my own benefit to practice and gain experience. The first painting in this series is the man as a vampire. I am starting each one as a rough pencil sketch on canvas, and then will paint them in acrylics. Maybe towards the end I will try using oils, but that all depends on how I feel the series is going.

So here is the rough sketch. One comment already is to make the eyebrows more dramatic. Please share if you have any comments (including constructive criticism) or ideas please comment. A cool artist who did a lot of vampire art for Innistrad is Cynthia Sheppard. Please visit her blog for amazing art here.