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Still teaching, drawing and painting

Spring is on the calendar, but there is snow falling outside on this wintry day.

A new book Christmas book is coming out in mid-April through Tate Publishing. It's called The Mystery of the Christmas Stars, by Carolyn Snelling. She and I wrote and illustrated a Christmas story for younger readers a few years back.

This one will be available in hardcover, softcover and kindle...any of which could fit inside a stocking.


Posted on Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 11:49AM by Registered CommenterLon Eric Craven | CommentsPost a Comment

Into the woods

This is part of WendyLynn & Co.'s spring promotion, the moment where the children hear a voice from inside the house.

I'm still trying to figure out if the white bird who led Hansel and Gretel to the house was in league with the witch, or was just trying to help the hungry kids...or was just hungry for a part of the house itself. - lec

Posted on Monday, April 2, 2012 at 09:52PM by Registered CommenterLon Eric Craven | CommentsPost a Comment

Spring teaching, illustrating

Life as a teacher and an illustrator presents new challenges in both roles every day. The spring term has begun, and winter's fury seems to have held off here in the Midwest for a bit.

Posted on Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 02:09PM by Registered CommenterLon Eric Craven | CommentsPost a Comment

Continuing the work

After a very busy summer teaching and painting the illustrations for a new Christmas book, we're settling in for a new fall routine. Two new books are in progress and we're looking down the road to the next ones. My new and returning art students are curious about where to go next with what they've learned.

Now for another cup of coffee....

— lec

Posted on Sunday, August 14, 2011 at 09:27AM by Registered CommenterLon Eric Craven | CommentsPost a Comment

Still working, still learning

With the ever-unfolding chapters of teaching art to young people, my attention to this site has suffered a bit. Still, I learn through the eyes of my students now, and hear their fresh critiques and advice as I share my current work with them. (While the books are in production, I cannot share them here).

It's spring break now, and I look forward to a culmination of the art classes for the students and for myself...a second masters degree, teaching art to more than 300 middle school students, and completing four children's books. Still, I'm feeling younger and better than ever, and eager to move forward in ways that will improve the lives of my students as well as brighten the prospects in my career as an illustrator.

I'll try to take a few minutes to smell the spring air, and enjoy a few extra moments of rest before returning to the full schedule for the remainder of the school year.

Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 09:36AM by Registered CommenterLon Eric Craven | CommentsPost a Comment