Just got back from the Redmond Chamber of Commerce Friday Coffee Clatter.  What fun!  I had 10 of my books and 2 triptychs of original illustrations from "The Golden Pathway" and "The Town of Masquerade" on display. High Desert Society of the Arts was hosting the Clatter today which allowed us to show the business community who we are and what we do.  I sold 2 books after wards and got some people very interested in Guardian Angel Publishing..  Other members brought examples of their art work and some of them  sold work too.  I think we made a good impression!

I spent my 2 minutes showing the books from the 2 kids who were the Winner and Runner Up from the 4th Grade Writing Contest.  Most of the Chamber Members knew nothing about this project.  We explained how Kai Strand helped judge the writing and I judged the illustrations this year.  This is the contest shared by HDSA and the Writer's Guild.  We generated a lot of buzz among the Members with this.

Four of us took on various brief little speeches to say how we help the community in various art-related endeavors.  It opened some eyes when they realized we are not an artists' group but an ART group.  We used this platform to ask for members willing to help us go forward with with more community involvement and the importance of all forms of art to the education of our children.  We now have a lot of interest!

Reception at the Redmond Public Library was held for the Winners and Runners Up of the Redmond Schools Children's 4th Grade Writing Contest on Saturday March 10.  Kai Strand and myself were judges;  Kai judged the written stories and I judged the illustrations.  It was very hard to choose.  We had over 200  entries that had to be paired down to 27 Finalist and the Winner and Runner Up.

The Winner was Aryana Foster from Central Christian School and her illustrated book "The Mystery of the Missing Clown."  The Runner Up was Aspen Geisen from Tom McCall Elementary and his his illustrated book "Monkey Madness."  Both got their books published, had a book signing (I have 1 of each), and now several copies are available at the Redmond Library for check out.  I have been involved in this for about 4 years when Kathy Duffy started it all.  My has it grown!  It has been quite the adventure and is now handled by Central Oregon Writer's Guild.  The contest is sponsored, in part, by Central Oregon Writers Guild, High Desert Society of the Arts, and the Rotary Club of Redmond.

From left to right, back row KC Snider and Kai Strand
Front row left to right is Aspen Geisen and Aryana Foster

                                                                 

I had a one-woman show last week at the Regional Lions Club Convention held at Eagle Crest. I was invited to show and sell my illustrated books from Guardian Angel Publishing and some of my Western fine art original paintings.  I sold a print and over $300 worth of books.  Some of the books were donated to S.M.A.R.T. (Start Making a Reader Today) to go to the Terrebonne Community School (K-8th grade).

Sharon and I had a great free dinner and got to hear the main speaker. Kim Meeder who started the Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch.  She rescues abused horses and pairs them with troubled and abused children at no cost.  She is a very inspirational speaker and there was not a dry eye in the whole convention hall.

She has a couple of books out about her experiences in starting and running this ranch.  She invited me to come out and perhaps look at doing portraits of a couple of her rescued horses.  Looking forward to that!   She has quite a Christian ministry and it is done in a very subtle and loving way.

Redmond Merchants Association is planning an art walk on February 10, 2012 from 5pm to 8pm.  HDSA artists and others will be participating.  It is called Walk the HeART Beat.  I hope to be back at Arnold's Restaurant on the corner of 6th St. and Evergreen in the old Redmond Hotel again. When I was there in December, we definitely sold books and brought a lot of new traffic into this recently opened new business...and I like their food and prices!

I currently have several presentations of illustrations from the children's books I illustrate for Guardian Angel Publishing on display at the lobby of Home Federal Bank in Redmond, OR on the corner of 6th St. and Highland..  The exhibit lasts through February 2012.

Just received this announcement this morning.  Donna McDine's children's book, "The Golden Pathway" about the Underground Railroad received the Silver award from Lrterary Classics.  Here is the Press Release (in part):

Literary Classics Announces Youth Media International Book Award Winners

Rapid City, SD, October 21, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Literary Classics announced its 2011 selection of top books for children and young adults today. Award recipients were selected from entries received throughout the world. The Literary Classics selection committee is proud to recognize the following titles in children's and young adult literature which exemplify the criteria set forth by the Literary Classics Awards committee.

A partial list of the 2011 award recipients follows:

Picture Book - Early Reader

- Silver Award Recipient
The Golden Pathway
Written by Donna M. McDine, illustrated by K.C. Snider

Literary Classics, an organization dedicated to furthering excellence in literature, takes great pride in its role to help promote classic literature which appeals to youth, while educating and encouraging positive values in the impressionable young minds of future generations. Judging is based upon the criteria set forth by Literary Classics' highly selective awards committee which honors books promoting character, vision, creativity and learning, through content which possesses key elements found in well-crafted literature.

Snowflake Boutique is coming to the Deschutes County Fairgrounds Nov. 4th from 1pm to 8pm and 5th from 9am to 4pm.  I will be the only one with books for sale.  I also will be doing illustrations LIVE!

Art of Christmas will be 2.5 weeks later opening at 12 noon to 6pm Friday Nov. 25th for 9 days until Saturday Dec. 3 from 11am to 5pm.  Days and times are posted on my web site.

"The Town of Masquerade"            by Jack Samuels
                                                                                                        with art by KC Snider


"Benjamin Jay was a Bully" by Emma Glover and art by KC Snider
                              

The Milk Horse, by Cat Luce, illustrated by KC Snider
 
                                 

A Pocketful of Manners, by Marilee Crow, illustrated by KC Snider

                       

                                               

"God Loves You Whoever You Are" by Colleen Reece & Julie Reece DeMarco illustrated by KC Snider
 
                                              
                                             

Here is the Press Release for the show I am doing during Redmond Library's Summer Reading Program....

"Redmond Public Library                         

827 NW Deschutes Ave.

Summer Reading Program

Showing June 1 through July 30 2011

Local Children’s Books Illustrators, KC Snider & Sharon Bean

Meet the Central Oregon authors and illustrators of popular illustrated children’s books. Hear their stories, get your books signed, ask questions, and enjoy the display.

Activities:              Saturday June 18^th

Book Readings:   10:30am 11:30am and 1:00pm to 4:30pm

Book Signings:     1:00pm to 4:30pm by authors and illustrators

Reception:            2:30pm to 4:30pm for the illustrators and authors

Location:              Main floor of the library.

Featuring:

“I Can’t See, But… I Can Imagine” author Patricia Wilson, illustrator Sharon Bean (self-published)

“The Weaver” author Kai Strand, illustrator (front cover) KC Snider (Guardian Angel Publishing)

Other children's books illustrated by KC Snider will also be available for sale and some of the illustrations will be part of the exhibit.

The library display will have the original art and information about illustrations for children’s books; a history of types of illustrations, an explanation of how illustrations are determined, researched, and edited; plus other interesting facts."

....I have 28 framed pieces hanging in the library.  Each one has 3 of my favorite illustrations from each book under glass and matted.   I will try to get some examples photographed to put on here soon. The only exception to the 3-per-frame style are the covers of the 'tween books which are stand-alone.  Every piece has an accompanying tag with the book title and author's name. ( I tried to hang so the books are grouped by author.)  Each tag has a different explanation about illustrating, working with various authors and my Publisher, and about the story.  Sharon Watkinds, my publicist, came up with creating the tags.  Fred printed them out, but since he is still recuperating from surgery, another friend helped cut and glue the tags to foam core.

We wanted this to be a learning experiencing that would not give the story away, but perhaps draw some more questions from the patrons.  We stepped in today and the volunteers and workers at the library are excited over the display.  They say several people have told them how great it is and how surprised they were.  We are looking forward to the Reception with book signings and readings.

 

“The Weaver”

Kai Strand, Author                      KC Snider, Illustrator

This is a ‘Tween chapter book for ages 9-12. In this case, KC illustrated the cover only.  This is a wrap-around cover that starts on the back and wraps the picture around to the front.  When only a cover is involved, it must grab a reader’s attention and give an idea of what the book is about in one single picture.  KC took pictures of many old homes and buildings around St. Louis, Missouri while there for her reception at the Children’s Illustrated Books Museum.  She also strategized with Kai about including the elf-gnome as a pivotal piece of the story.

                                                             [In this area is a stamp-sized picture of
                                                                                                                           the Guardian Angel logo.]