Reconnected & Sadami Update!

Hi, Friends, finally, the telephone company successfully registered the modem!! (My friend smiled at me, "...feel a miracle?" Oh, yes! Hallelujah!) Thank you for your great patience. Update, here we go!

Trade Picture Book & Education Picture Book
An education picture book project has come to me. A time frame is very tight (*This week is a due for "black & white roughs.") A book will assess children's reading ability. Very interesting from a linguistic view. Uni professors and linguists really celebrate this achievement and encourage me so much. Already, Editor is happy with my work and wants me to illustrate another project. We'll work together onward. I'm very happy!! 

I have a dream. In education picture books, I'd advocate disadvantaged children/adults and tackle other social issues. Next year, my trade picture book will be published. My another dream is to do a book launch at uni. I'll invite you and uni lecturers who have cheered me up.

Life Drawing & New Techniques
We had a wonderful time in a class(*self-directed). The uploaded work is very the last one (A2) in 15 minutes. Each model's face expression quite interests me. 
I've explored new techniques such as putting a paint first. Very much fun(see below, A2, 5 minutes). Although I still cannot get well how to create value without drawing, I'll keep up in a next term.
A challenging spirit is essential to grow as an artist. 

Happy Easter! --- Miracle Baby 
I was thinking over life and death in front of our church after the service. A second service was going on. One lady was holding a girl baby at an entrance, which made me smile. 
"This is a miracle baby," the lady proudly said. It puzzled me. 
"Her mother has cancer. At the 5th month, doctors recommended her to give up a baby. But she never and gave a birth. She has a strong faith." Wow...the mother was just in the service!! It touched me so much (as you know, recently, I lost the friend.) 
The little girl looked so cute and often smiled back at me. I shed tears.

I feel this paradox ; always hope stays with us as long as we can trust in hope.  That story inspired me so much. Based on it, I'll make an image soon.

Special Thanks For Supporters
Now, I'm reconnected to internet or civilisation. I was out of society for these four weeks from 5th March, no joke.
The telephone company and me enjoyed a last chat. They put a credit on my account (my internet use will be free next month). Happy ending. But I hope it will never happen on me! Never, ever!

A funny bonus. An Internet cafe manager says, "Oh, I miss you!" (It seems he hardly comes across an illustrator?!) Hahaha, I'll pop up there to have a chat with him from now on! Librarians at public libraries have always cheered me up at the tough time. 
Thank you for supporters and visitors for this blog. 

These days, the projects occupy me too much. If I cannot update a post regularly, please pardon me. But certainly, I'll visit your blogs! Thank you for your wonderful friendship. Have a wonderful week!

Friends, Happy Painting!!

Reconnected & Sadami Update!

Special Thanks & C U soon!

Friends, thank you for the warm cheers. I've come back to Happy Sadami. 
Also, thank you for Jane (Minter) who passed me a great honour and blog award. 
But the new modem registration is unsuccessful. A telephone company is investigating it. A very hard to define a cause. 

Ehum! It's young Sadami. Other illustrators really love her image. Sure, she will be a picture book character in the future. The current project is going well. Publisher/Editor Helen Chamberlin is so lovely and we work together well. I'd really appreciate kindness. 

Special thanks to dear friends. Please keep patience until the technical issue will be fixed up. 

See you soon! Happy Painting!!

Special Thanks & C U soon!

Three Qs at Funeral

Hi, Friends, did you enjoy a weekend? I attended a funeral.
Have you ever thought of  "three questions"? 

What is the best time to do each thing?

Who are the most important people to work with?

What is the most important thing to do at all times?

A sudden death shocks anyone close.   
A former camera club member suddenly rang me up (*Once, me, too, a member). His wife passed away. The old couple cherished me like a daughter. The husband said he wanted to see me. 

... his call made me blue, dark blue. I began to wonder about life... thought of many things, which brought me down...

A bit strange feeling... the wife certainly remained in my heart. Indeed, she began to pull me back to the past. But was it a good thing to get stuck in a past? 

To refresh myself, I went to Narrabeen beach in the evening. Luckily, I could see a dear friend! I was thinking of flowers and etc for a funeral. The dear friend cheered me up.  "He wants to see you. That's the most important thing! You do not need to bring flowers. Church will organise them. There might be donation instead of flowers and a book you can leave comments." I see.    
We enjoyed a long chat over job, swimming, family business. We hugged each other, saying, "See ye next time!"

At the funeral, in a prayer, I promised the wife to make lots of beautiful picture books and art works! I thought of the ongoing picture book illu, not of the past. The husband, his daughter and me cried lot together. Sharing tears and hugs were lovely. It let out overwhelmed emotions and gone. The daughter said to me, "Mother was very fond of you. You came a long way. It has a meaning." Attendances had a good time over lunch that became like a camera club reunion!

On the same day, I submitted a reorganised storyboard to Editor.
Blog friends lifted me up, too.
One said, "We all can be gone tomorrow so cherish today fully (as if I need to tell you this - you are the poster child for positive thinking and seizing the day!!)" Brillinat! Yes, it's me!! Com'on Sadami!
How nice my friends are! They are more precious than gold.

Then, when I really got back to normal, cheeky Sadami, I  remembered "Three Questions" written by Leo Tolstoy. 

The answers below. Tolstoy's story shows how to live life fully. I like these answers, although, of course, different views and critical analyses are respected.

• The most important time is now. The present is the only time over which we have power.
• The most important person is whoever you are with.
• The most important thing is to do good to the person you are with.

I seemed to answer well to "my life" in a sad context with friends' help. Friends, let us live life fully! I feel every moment is like my birthday, seriously!
Happy Painting!!

Reference

Three Questions (2012) Tolstoy, L. University of Adelaide

Three Qs at Funeral

Personality & Instruments in Band

Hi, Friends, did you enjoy a weekend? I enjoyed swimming an ocean pool and saw many friends. Very good to refresh my heart and body between work. 
BTW, have you ever thought of a relation between a personality and a playing instrument? You know I often sketch music players. Once, I played a guitar and sang in a band. Well, this is my personal opinion, though, an individual's favorite instrument discloses a personality. Of course, a sample size is very small and generalisation is inappropriate from a research resultʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ. But as far as I know, any band players agree with the analyses. Let's have a big laugh! (*NOTE: I'm not familiar with a keyboard. Please pardon me.) 

First, a base player.
I've really loved a base player and admired him. He hardly gets attention on a stage. But without him, we could not go on! Hail, a base player!  He is very caring and organized. 
In a gig, I always asked audience, "Please put your hands together for a base player!" 

Second, a drum player. A bit similar to a base player, even though a drum player has a more chance to get public attention. (*it depends on music.) I knew a guitar player who did a drum, too. Clever! 

Third, a guitar player. 
A lead guitar player does "Show off." Any band player nods and chuckles with my analysis! "Yeah, "some ego"" others say. But that's what he needs! You have to lead others and demonstrate how beautifully a band makes sounds! 

Well, what if should two guitarists do show off to beat another on a stage? "That's a hell!" any guitar players whisper me. Hahahaha!

Also, guitar sounds clearly show a player's personality, I feel. A rough person makes rough noises. A sensitive man creates soft and mild melodies. If you're familiar with guitar sounds, you can easily decipher "language." 

Oh, one more, how he treats his instrument reveals who he is very well! 
Girls, if a man looks after his guitar very well, he cares you and others, too.  Go and get him! ʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ
If he scatters his guitar and never cares for it, say, "Next please." 
In addition, guitarists really love their guitars and spend both time and money in guitars. So, don't ask, "Darrrling, do you choose me or a guitar?" 

Playing an instrument enriches life and brings you friends. Let's enjoy music.
OK, have a wonderful week! 
Happy Painting, Friends!!
 








  

Personality & Instruments in Band

Learn Swimming in Australian Summer

Hi, Friends, how have you been?  I enjoyed swimming at Narrabeen in a storm! I sketched a wild sea from my car. This post is a "private swimming lesson" for you. Friends, show off your beautiful swimming to your friends and family next/this summer?! I've learned swimming all on my own. Friends, have confidence! 

 

First, be a jelly fish. Don't get panic. Lungs are natural air bags and tubes. We'll float. Tips are "keep your back straight like lying on a ground" and "relax yourself. Let hands and legs down in water." In salt water, it's much easier to float than an inside pool. Whilst floating, look up birds and clouds in a beautiful blue sky.

OK, a next step is to move hands or legs whilst floating. That's all what needed for swimming. See? You can swim! Then, choose a favorite style from below.

1) Back strokes = Sunny Side Up Free Style
Easy! After floating, move hands like a wind mill and kick water. No need to worry about breath taking.
In my understanding, "reversed back strokes = free style."

2) Dog Paddle
Stay still in water. Stand there and trust in your lungs. Slowly, float with a head up. Don't get panic. Remember, you'll never sink. In my experience, water might come up to the nose, but it never went up to the head or top. If you're not confident, look at a dog and any animal. It does swim naturally and very well. 
After floating, move hands and legs vertical! That's all! I used to do it for 50m to enhance leg muscles.

A bit like a "dog's life," as that style lacks elegance, in my opinion(excuse me, doggies. I love you all!). Well, after mastering dog paddle swimming, do you feel like challenging sophisticated skills? Try breast strokes.

3) Frog Style = Breast Strokes
"Move hands and legs horizontal" like a frog, not vertical like a dog. Closely look at frogs. They are the masters!

4) Free Style = Reversed Back Strokes
Free style took me more time to master than any other styles. Breathing is tricky. I often failed it at the beginning of learning. Then, I tried to look up or look back a blue sky and took a breath quickly. Wow, it worked! I made it! Got the feeling?
I observed each person's swimming. An individual has a different pattern to take a breath. Find a favorite side to turn up a face and make your own rhythm and tempo. "Count number" is a good idea. And repeat it.
Now, a free style is yours.

"Swim straight" was another problem of mastering a free style in an ocean pool. Many people have the same issue. Unfortunately, a rock bath does not have lines at the bottom. Swimmers tend to choose the first or the last lanes and avoid clashing in middle lanes despite a plenty of space. There isn't any traffic lights in a pool.
Tadadada~~~!! I found the solution. My solution is "check a pool side wall and remember a distance while swimming." Now, you can swim elegantly and confidently in the middle lane, a lot of space. Please show off your sophisticated free style?! For a long distance swimming,  swim gently and enjoy it! If you have any good suggestions to learn swimming, please let me know. 

Swimming is a wonderful stress buster between work. The ongoing picture book project occupies me most. It requires energy and time. Good illustrator friends and artist friends backup me well. Of course, you're one of them! Thank you for warm cheers.
Have a wonderful week and 
Happy Painting!! 

Learn Swimming in Australian Summer

Life or "Love" Passed On

Hi, Friends, how have you been?

This week, I'll chat over "life" passed on among people.
I saw a lady became a granny. The lady's joys were so beautiful. She got more excited than her daughter. The lady showed me the new born baby's photos. So sweet. The lady was an atheist, but she claimed loud over the phone, "It's a miracle, miracle!!!" that made me smile. Friends,  "life" is a miracle that makes even an atheist cry in awe and joy. 
Such a precious "life," it's hard to imagine that technology will be able to produce in a test tube at a lab.

But is that all? To some extent, I believe we pass on lives or I should say, we pass on "love" to someone ; that's a miracle.

I have met many adopted people. So, this is my etiquette not to ask "Where do  you come from?" That's too rude and lacking sensitivity. If a person feels comfortable with me, s/he tells a private story.

As far as I know, step parents are full of love. One professor gave us a lecture about adoption, showing research data and a case study was her, a childless couple. The couple overcame many obstacles and  procedures. Finally, they adopted a racially different girl. However, "so many backlashes, criticism, "hypocrisy" calls came to us," the lecture said quietly and calmly. While giving a lecture, she kept looking down at the paper, not us -- I felt her pains. How brave to talk of the experience! It touched me so much! That's love. Most students -- I regret to say --  were sleeping on seats. After the lecture, I asked other students, "Did you hear it? She's brave, talked about her adopted child." "Sadami, was it? I den kne." Ever since, I admired the lecturer more than ever. In my friends, some couples adopted children. I love to hear their happily showing off of their children. 

The other day, another lady told me, "I have two step daughters" and talked of their happy relations as a family. In response, I said, "You do not need to tell others, "step" daughters, each time. You love them all. If so, all are your daughters! Call them your "daughters.""   

Only love can make people without blood line into one family.

"Love" is the miracle and life must go with love, hand in hand.

Now, BTW, the picture book project is right on a track. I'll enjoy drawing and colour more and more! 
Friends, Happy Painting!!

Life or "Love" Passed On

Book Launch "Quotable Winston Churchill" By Running Press(US)

Hi, Friends, what sort of image do you have about Winston Churchill? I read his biography lots at high school and had interest in Winston Churchill.
Now, my international debut as an illustrator. Running Press will publish "The Quotable Winston Churchill," available worldwide on 26th March, next month.

Please see below. My caricature is used for the back cover and the title page! Yey! If you have a chance to come across bookshops, enjoy the book and my illustration.

>>>>>

Winston Churchill

by Running Press

Mar 26, 2013
Hardcover
UK £4.99
Available worldwide
ISBN: 9780762449835
ISBN-10: 0762449837
Published by Running Press

Description

The Quotable Winston Churchill has been updated and expanded to join our growing list of deluxe classic minis! Featuring a faux leather binding with embossed type and illustration to match the distinctive series look, Winston Churchill includes a new enlightening introduction and select speeches reprinted in full to complete this new deluxe edition. There are a few themes in the book such as Churchill on Life, Churchill at War, Churchill and His Contemporaries, etc.

>>>>>>>>

I admire Winston Churchill's beautiful English sentences, colourful life, unique character and brilliant humour.

"We are all worms. 

But I believe that I am a glow-worm." 

Winston Churchill

His humour is truly nice! The below is quite a famous episode included in the book. 

Lady Nancy Astor to Churchill: Winston, if you were my husband, I’d put arsenic in your morning coffee, 
Churchill:Madam, if you were my wife, I’d drink it. ʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ·.•*•♫°•♫·.•ʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ

My favorite one is serious,

I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.

His say often inspires readers, encourages the weary and lifts up us with laugh and hope.

If you want to read more, please purchase books.

The American project team is really nice and kind to backup me in Australia. I'd say special thanks for the team and involved people. Really a wonderful and precious experience.

Also, my picture book dummy goes very well and wins a unanimous support at the publisher's meeting today. Wow, I'm soooo happy! When Editor's detailed feedback gets back to me, I'll get on colour more. 

Friends, Running Press found the caricature in this blog. Then, we've worked together.  So, who knows, through blog posts, publishers will approach you and you'll make a debut as an illustrator!

Go for it and enjoy blogging!! Thank you for warm cheers.

Happy Painting!!!

 

Book Launch "Quotable Winston Churchill" By Running Press(US)