tania howells

todays painting sketch

 

 

In the theme of blue, a nice stripey tee shirt always comes to mind first.  Feeling of dreaming of whats inside again, of things to grow in spring and of

hope. #12monthsofpaint

 

new year

 

Now that my book launch is behind me ( phewf!!) I am feeling really exited about life in general!  I was so very nervous leading up, but it went great! It is interesting to me that getting over that hurdle, one that filled me with trepidation and one I so wanted to cancel, has oddly opened up new doors.  I was contacted this week to do a two page spread illustration for one of my favorite magazines            (details to follow) and was contacted for two possible school visits with my book.  I am wanting to make THINGS, someone ordered a bird scarf off my etsy shop ( one of two orders this whole year!) and in turn I ordered this off another person's shop to continue the chain.  I can't wait to get it!  Isn't it the cutest?

I also just this second discovered this blog, August Wren and idea of doing a painting a day for the year.  I am a bit late and pretty much every January I start something like this but I loved what she talked about here.  Struggling with shyness, with self doubt and whatever else that holds us back but choosing to just power through- it's a theme I have been working with as well and so I feel inspired and less alone!  Working from home can be isolating.

So in this theme, and with this goal I will join into the #12monthsofpaint on instagram and here.  January's theme is blue!  I just happened to make this this morning and it's blue so yay.

Yay! I did it- It was a great book launch! I was so happy to see lots of friendly faces and so grateful to Another Story Bookshop for helping make it happen!

So exiting!  Here is a link to a little interview I did for our local paper.

I always wondered how artists got an article written about them, and it turns out you just have to ask!  The reporter, Hilary Caton was so nice and was happy to interview me for the week leading up to by book launch.  Thank-you!

Now I just have to spread the word in real time, meaning I have to hand out flyers to the mums at school and ask cafe owners if I can pop a poster up in a window.  That's the hardest part for a shy person!   Virtual promoting is no problem!   Then I have to have a strong coffee and be brave for the actual event on Saturday ;).

even better!

(clickity click image for bigger!)

My amazing and helpful publisher created this even better promotional flyer for me!

I am picking up a pile of paper ones tomorrow to hand out to all the mums who I don't know on facebook.

If you are nearby, please come and say hello!

 

I decided I owed it to myself to set up a book launch for my book!  After all, I have never written AND illustrated a book before,

so lets celebrate!  It did come out in September, but January can be so bleak, we all need a nice little event to attend!

Please join me on:

Saturday January 23 at 4:00pm

At Another Story Bookshop, 315 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto, ON M6R 2M6

 

There will be lovely refreshments!  I plan to read the book and do a little drawing demo with a question period. 

There will also be "Starring Shapes" activity pages for the kiddies to work on.

I would just love to see you - come and brighten up January!