Contest Winner – SCBWI Illustration

Here is the final Illustration. Thanks so much to the Rocky Mountain Chapter of SCBWI for choosing my Illustration to represent this falls conference in Denver. I am so proud to represent such an amazing organization. Thanks to my “little man” model. No Teddy Bears were harmed in the making of this painting. Thanks to Jordan and Hunter for allowing me to use your teddy bears for models. I will have to
get that model release form signed by you both.

Imagine Hope

Imagine Hope  is a concept that is close to my heart.   Several years ago, my husband Gary and I went to Haiti.  The trips were life-changing for me.  After the devastating earthquake in 2010, I was personally moved to tell an awareness-raising story using references from previous trips.

Here is the concept summary of my Earthquake story:

Imagine Haiti before the earthquake. A young Haitian girl reeives a rag doll form her mother.  She embraces the new treasure and ties one of her own ribbons in the doll’s hair, while her brother plays nearby with his toy car.  And then, the earth moves.  The little girl’s world is turned upside down.

Imagine Haiti after the earthquake.  The little girl is in an orphanage.  She withdraws and clutches the remaining connections to her missing family.

Imagine Haiti having hope. In a series of twists, the girl in the story is re-united with her brother.  In reality, the model I used, was adopted into a family after the earthquake — a perfect image of hope for a nation rebuilding.  And hopefully, a story that will impact many lives.