I stopped doing them though for the longest time up until one of our classes. We did the assignment where we created stories by passing papers to everyone in the class and writing down a word to fill in the blanks to complete the stories. I have been struggling to find ways to begin new children stories so when we did this exercise it really opened me up to a fast way to brain storm.

Sometimes when we plan our stories so carefully we may miss other possibilities that could possibly make the story even better. So for my project I’ve created some mad libs and asked other people to fill them out, as well as myself. I asked people ranging from ages 10-45, all mad libs where from different people and I think it’s obvious by some of the words chosen if it was someone younger or older. But basically I expect the stories to all make sense, but the idea of experiencing text in a fun and fast way is what I wanted to explore.

Order of words: Adjective, adjective, noun, noun, plural noun, adverb, verb, adjective, plural noun, adjective, adjective, adjective, plural noun, letter of the alphabet

Purple teachers always give out orange assignments. But, as everyone knows, if you want to pass all your classes so you can go to George Washington and become president of a big international race car and have millions of alligators in the bank, you must do your homework and study smoothly. If you just sit around and ski, you won’t get ahead in life. You must learn to pay attention to every quick thing your teacher says. Do not interrupt or whisper to other mothers during class. Be sure to have a nice fast notebook in which you can write down anything the teacher says that seems slow. Then go home and memorize all of these ugly notes. And when your teacher gives a surprise quiz, you will know all of the motorcycles and will get a Q as a grade for the class.

Exciting teachers always give out long assignments. But, as everyone knows, if you want to pass all your classes so you can go to a cat and become president of a big international computer and have millions of chairs in the bank, you must do your homework and study stupidly. If you just sit around and run, you won’t get ahead in life. You must learn to pay attention to every spiky thing your teacher says. Do not interrupt or whisper to other cowboys during class. Be sure to have a nice watery notebook in which you can write down anything the teacher says that seems smelly. Then go home and memorize all of these tasty notes. And when your teacher gives a surprise quiz, you will know all of the lollipops and will get a A as a grade for the class.

Order of words: Adjective, animal noise, color, adjective, type of vehicle, adjective, type of food, animal, adjective, adjective, adverb, something large, adjective, type of food, type of food, adjective, plural noun, verb ending in “ing”, type of liquid

Many foods we eat came from some kind of noisy farm. Farmers raise cows that say “grr” and give us fresh, brown milk. Kids who drink lots of milk grow up addictive. Our teacher took us out to a field where we saw the farmer driving his plane. He was plowing the fast field so that he could plant spicy. Nearby were his corn fields, where the corn grew as high as a owl eye. The farmer grinds his corn and makes boring mash that he fees to his pigs. Pigs, of course, are pointless animals that eat very manly and are shaped like monuments. Pigs eat old food that consists mostly of pasta mixed with vegetables. These disquisting farm animals supply us with pork, balls, and bacon, and when they aren’t jumping, they roll around in the pepsi.

Many foods we eat came from some kind of fast farm. Farmers raise cows that say “roar” and give us fresh, yellow milk. Kids who drink lots of milk grow up slimy. Our teacher took us out to a field where we saw the farmer driving his scooter. He was plowing the broken field so that he could plant bananas. Nearby were his corn fields, where the corn grew as high as a cheetah’s eye. The farmer grinds his corn and makes metal mash that he fees to his pigs. Pigs, of course, are soft animals that eat very sleepily and are shaped like whales. Pigs eat hot food that consists mostly of salad mixed with crab. These hard farm animals supply us with pork, cars, and bacon, and when they aren’t diving, they roll around in the kool aid.

Order of words: Adjective, plural noun, something alive (plural), celebrity (female), pluar nound, plural noun, plural nound, adverb, adjective, something icky, noun, noun, adjective, person in room, type of chemical, type of food, type of liquid, pluar noun, part of clothing

Once a week, we have a science laboratory class, and we get to do certifiable experiments with bedsheets and lobsters. Our teacher, Ms. florence welch, shows us how to dissect shoes. First, we take out the ukeleles and draw pictures of them in our notebooks. We have to work tenderly or else we’ll make a mess. We also learn to use chemicals to make delicious things like inexpensive household defecation and deodorizers that make a backpack smell like a watermelon. Last week, we had a phenomenal accident in the lab. Mother mixed some acetylcholene with watermelon and added some liquid nitrogen and the mixture exploded and blew two bags through the roof. So now our teacher makes us all wear safety pant legs during science class.

Once a week, we have a science laboratory class, and we get to do horrible experiments with amulets and humans. Our teacher, Madonna, shows us how to dissect bottles of liquor. First, we take out the bottle of wine and draw pictures of them in our notebooks. We have to work rapidly or else we’ll make a mess. We also learn to use chemicals to make fresh things like inexpensive household coke and deodorizers that make a disk smell like a card. Last week, we had a modern accident in the lab. Slave mixed some liquid nitrogen with meat and added some energy drink and the mixture exploded and blew two game pads through the roof. So now our teacher makes us all wear safety skirts during science class.

Intelligent Iguanas Inspect Insects

Kindhearted Koalas Kissing

White Wolfs Wander Whimsically

Xenops’ playing Xylophones

Zealous Zoo Zebras Zip By

So this illustration was the beginning of thinking how the finals would look. Unfortunately, this is not a final. Upon review, I’ve discovered the connection between the illustration and the “ABC” book is lost. I will now incorporate the tongue twisters into the illustration with inspiration from illuminated manuscripts.

Creating thumbnails now for each illustration.

4/6 sketches completed

sketches completed 3/6:

letters finshed: B, F, H

A unique and distinctive aspect of her art is what she refers to as “a camouflage technique” in which certain details of her art can be seen in more than one way; for example, in her paintings below, Doolittle uses the environment to create hidden or interesting new messages.

I’m sure you’ve noticed that there is something very approachable and friendly about a watercolor painting.

– Tiffany Varga, Children’s book illustrator

I agree that there is a warm and soft touch to a watercolor painting. I can see how it is widely used for Children’s books. However, since most are watercolors, what about trying something new? I kept researching and discovered few inspirational watercolor paintings that are more than just a painting of an animal:

Laura Soer	Raquelissima

Testing with pencil line art/digital coloring/textures

Related links:
Rossi
Tiffany Varga
Marsha Riti
Tiffany’s Watercolor Time Lapse Videos

An Adventurous Armadillo Approached An Angry Alligator
Blue Butterflies Breezed By Beautiful Begonias
Chubby Cats Chasing Clever Canaries
A Dangerous Dragon Defends Dazzling Diamonds
Eight Energetic Emus Explore Earth
Five Fuchsia Flamingos Found Four Fat Frogs
Glorious Geese Glide Gracefully
Happy Hummingbirds Hatch Hyper Hatchlings
Intelligent Iguanas Ignore Ill Insects
Juvenile Jackals Jumped Joyously

I’ll be continuing working on these and post more tomorrow.