The Peculiar Zebra

I've been making some headway on some sample art for a manuscript I wrote a few years ago. "The Peculiar Zebra" is kind of a labor of love. It's message is about self acceptance even when you feel like you don't quite fit in. I showed my dummy and sample spreads to my rep and she had some really good feedback in general. She felt the story needed more work before she could show it to publishers. So I put it on the side for now. I still love this story and hope to one day revisit it. The feedback form friends (and my teacher Rudy G.) has really made me feel like I should continue with it. It's been very important for me to explore writing and illustrating stories that resonate deeply to me. Writing is a lot like drawing, you have to grab it when it presents it's self. Sometimes an idea can sit with me for a while but eventually, if it's really strong, it will get written. Sometimes I write a story and it's simple and fun, other times it's more poetic and spiritually driven. The Peculiar Zebra started out poetic but somehow feels like a bit of both now. Here's the samples I have so far...who knows what's next.

Sue Monk Kidd

Another incredibly inspiring discussion on SS. "What we give our attention to becomes our God". Sue Monk Kidd discusses the how giving our full attention to something (like nature) is a form of meditation. She talks about the importance of the choices we make for these present moments, what we let into our worlds, what we surround ourselves with. "We become what we pay attention to". Some how this take a complex idea and boils it down to such a simply stated belief.
http://www.oprah.com/own-super-soul-sunday/First-Look-Oprah-and-Oprah-Book-Club-Author-Sue-Monk-Kidd-Video

Louis Schwarzman's amazing work

This interview was so inspiring too...I've been thinking about it for days...trying to take all of it in...I think it will come out in some way...art...poem maybe ...who knows...

http://www.oprah.com/own-super-soul-sunday/Louie-Schwartzberg-Discusses-Gratitude-and-Nature-Video

"Nobody ever sees me"...Amanda Palmer sees you.

I heard this on a podcast while driving...it was so profound. I loved it so much that I had to watch it today. Please, if you wonder why your making your art...please watch this. Making art is about connecting to others really...that's the long and short of it. Everything is about feeling deep, real connections.
https://www.ted.com/talks/amanda_palmer_the_art_of_asking

MOCAA show

Here's a little promotion for the MOCCA show this weekend! It's at the 69th regiment Armory in NYC. I'll be there from 11-12 Sat and 3-5 on Sunday. The FIT Table #F32.
http://www.societyillustrators.org/Mocca_Event.aspx?id=10561

My Manifesto

Uppercase had a call for entries on the theme of "Manifesto". I thought I'd give it a try. I tried to pull together some of my favorite, most inspiring thoughts...crammed them into a watercolor pattern and here's what I came up with. I put it up in my Society 6 shop too, incase anyone wants to purchase a print. http://society6.com/mariacarluccio/marias-manifesto_Print#1=45

Oil painting

Here's a painting done for Martin Whitfooth's class. He's an awesome teacher...loved working with him, what a treat. I thought I'd show the process of the painting. From sketches to finish.
I have been fascinated with the idea of books as living things. Ideas seems to feed other ideas and words connect to other words. I'm going to try and do a poster with this at some point. My love of books seems to overflow into so many things these days.