Man Up and Press On

Rodney Pinkney would let absolutely nothing get in his way of asking Miss Tasha Jenkins

to the school dance. Not even the huge volcano of a pimple sitting right by his nose!

Moral of the story. In 2010 let absolutely nothing and nobody keep you from doing

what is in your heart to do. Man up and go for it!!!!! I'm cheering you on he he he he!!

Happy New Year To All

Happy New Year Everyone! Be safe and have good one!

A Nice Christmas Present (Corel Draw 11)

Hello Folks,

My beautiful, kind husband Ray is always wanting to by me something that I really don't want

for Christmas. Yeah I said ! What??

While I appreciate the very kind very kind jester, it can be rather frustrating to me.

Each year I try to help the brother out by telling him,

" Just get me a gift certificate and call it a day!" He sometimes, as Bug Bunny would say, " He just don't git it!" This year I'm gonna have to ambush the brother and do my own shopping. You know people, kinda direct him where he should go. So this is for all you wonderful people who have artist in your life and don't have a clue as to what to give 'em!!

1. Give them a gift certificate to their favorite art store. Like PearlPaint, or Jerry's Artist Supply, or Dick Blick! Yeah that's the ticket!!!

2. Corel as wonderful software for the artist in your life. I actually did this picture with Corel

Painter 11! And no, I ain't bein' paid by the company for this! If it's someone who is into animation purchase this wonderful animation software from Fablevisionlearning.com by artist

Peter H Reynolds. Very inexpensive and Fun! Great for the young artist.

3. Give them as a blank artist journal with some colorful pens. They will love you for it

I promise! So Ra.... I mean people save yourself the headache and try some of these things out

he he he!!

Happy Holidays

My Christmas Wish ( Hatch)

Wishing with all my heart, might and soul that you and yours will have the most blessed and happiest Holiday. And may good things be hatched in the New Year!!!

Here are some of my Holiday wishes for you.

1. That you will grow where you are planted. ( If you don't like where you are stop complaining about it and do something about it!) Stop giving all your power and authority to people who don't care about you. You care about you!!! You are valuable and precious. A promise!!!

2. That you will dream bigger than yourself! ( You can't share your dreams with everybody.

Sometimes you are already battling your own self doubt why bring someone else's negativity into the mix. Remember, you can't put a 18x24 vision in a 3x5 card mind! Get somewhere quite and dream as big as you want. Write it down or draw it out. If you don't have a vision for it you won't know how to handle it when it comes. Feel the joy of it. Feel the

moment and watch what happens! Dreams really do come true he he he!!

3. That you will have all the encouragement and support you need when you need it most. ( Who have you encouraged in the last 30 days? Heck, when was the last time you encouraged You he he he??? When we give even the smallest bit of encouragement to someone we get a bigger return. You get to make someone feel so special and this creates more good energy! Some of you will never ever know how much you have encouraged and supported me. I could just cry thinking about it. Your words have been like medicine to me. Giving me much laughter, healing and comfort. I wish you all the same. Hugs a plenty!

Happy Holidays

Peace

Crunchy

I love the crunchy sound snow makes under foot!

Happy Monday

Music

This is an illustrations from my new book, "Let Freedom Sing."

Music is a very large part of my life. I am both a singer and musician.

Music is such a powerful tool for artist. It can move you in so many

ways. It can create a mood for a story or illustration. Yes, music even

has charms to soothe the savage beast of illustration and inspirational

blockages! So the very next time you feel artistic constipation with inspirational

irregularity, take two music laxatives and call me in the morning.

Tootles! he he he!

Have a good one People!

Happy Tuesday!!

I came out to play with yall today for just one second cause I got a pile of work just waiting for me and honestly I'm happy for it! While I was taking a little break I did this little ditty!

Just playing around with some filters and different brushes. Okay that's enough! Got to run!

Have wonderful week everyone!!!! he he he!

Blur

Sinbad used Sasha as his secret weapon of choice. When the Sasha danced everything

became a total blur he he he he!!!

Where the Sweet Things Are

This weeks prompt for WAWE was ," Create a Wild Things scene or characters"

I love this book, but the movie left me feeling very sad. I prefer the book!

Have a sweet week everyone!

Work for National Geographic

Hello All,

I just wanted to share a little bit about what I've been working on and what's on my desk.

I have been doing work for National Geographic under Hamilton-Brown Publishing. It's been

pretty busy around here too and I'm happy for that!!! This is a piece I did for a children's

Phonic's book. There are a few pieces that I have done that I hope to share later on.

I so enjoy doing work like this. Sometimes it's a crazy deadline in front of me,

but I do love what I get to do every single day and that is create! It's joy! How many people

can say that they get to do what they love and get paid for it too??? GOD IS GOOD! he he he!!

Well it's time to go back to work. So I will be checking in on Yall a little later during the week.

Keep your heads up!

Have a sweet one Yall!

My Brother Pal Peter Bresse is having a wonderful show in Dallas, Texas at

the 4th Wall Gallery on November 7th. I will not be able to be there, but I would

really love to share in the evening with him. Peter is an awesome illustrator! I love

his retro style fashion illustrations. The delicious black line and spots of color. From

robots to fabulously painted Mod models Peter brings it in his own style.

I have been following Peter's blog for a long time. You should really see his old stuff.

Wonderful robots that I have always adored! Peter I wish you all the very best

and lots of fun and SALES! We are all so very proud of you! YOU ROCK DUDE!!!!

"Hey Mom, I want to be a Show Girl!"

Oh Yeah, I know it's a bit shameful, but yes, yours truly has always, always had a thing for

the cute little blinged out costumes, feathers, and makeup. I wanted to be a Show Girl!!!

I can only imagine what I put my poor parents through using their good sheets and

wax flowers trying to pull it off he he he! Here's wishing you a very happy and safe Halloweeny!

FAST

Is it me or is Halloweeny coming up really fast this year???

Have a safe one!!!

Not Making the Cut

Well Friends, it is said," In each ones life some rain must fall." I ended up with hurricane with

this little project. My wonderful Agent and friend

Lori Norwicki of Painted-Words.com was working on getting me this possible job with a well know book publisher, which shall remain nameless.

I really wanted this job very badly. Well, while the editors loved the

artwork, the art director didn't! He or she felt is was to commercial. It took me a couple of days to pull it together. A few pep talks from my brother Eric and sister Bella and I let it go.

I remember when disappointing situation like this would have devastated me and left me

feeling like such a failure. The fact is sometime we just don't make the cut and it not because we are not talented or capable. It just didn't work for them. Why am I sharing this information?? Just being real, we live in a real world with real people. In this business of

children's book illustration, fashion, editoral, crafting or the like, someone is going to have

an opinion about our work. Some will like it and some will not and just because they don't

doesn't make you any less talented or gifted. If I only told you about the good things and how

I got this or that job I would not be who I am. The Vanessa Brantley-Newton

who blogs here is the same Vaness Brantley-Newton who speaks to many of you on the

phone, via email, and facebook and through comments on your blogs. I share the good, the bad, and the ugly with yall he he he! Hey, as my very geechee Mama would say, " Chil' what don't kill ya sure will fatten you and when life gives you lemons, dam it, make lemonade!" I thought I would share the illustrations with you as well. Other project have come and will come and I am so very grateful for them. I hope that this will encourage those of you who feel like you've failed or didn't make the cut in some way. I would say to you, keep doing your best work. Enjoy the process of creation, laugh at yourself, pick yourself up and dust yourself off and try again.

Breakthrough is just around the corner.

Peace

Frozen

Eric knew something was up when he and his family came home to find

their freezer in the middle of the kitchen floor. Yup, the "Frozen", veggies

decided to put on a show. With all the falling down, they had managed to move

the freezer away from the wall. That lazy lima bean and his french string bean

partner were rehearsing their frozen follies right there in the freezer.

Moral of the story, there is none. he he he he!!!

Okay, back to my rock. Have a wonderful week everyone.

Gotta Get Gone Again!!!

Hey Everyone, I've got to get gone for a minute, but I'll be right back to hangout

and play. I have to do some work! Now behave yourselves till I get back now

you hear??? he he he! Have a wonderfully creative week Yall!!

Flying

Camille and Brown got away just in time. She hadn't done her homework

or chores. She placed the balloon up to her mother's bedroom window and

got all the hot air she and Brown needed to take a balloon ride for the day.

he he he!

It's Friendship, Friendship!

This is a prompt from WW "Younger Frankenstein".

Frankie and Mo would remain best friends throughout their lifetime. And even though

they didn't fit in with everyone else they love each others and they

loved themselves! I love you just the way you are my friends!

Remember Lucy and Ethel singing the,"Friendship" song???

Okay to the tune of that he he he! Here we go!!!

If you're ever need a brain call my name,

If you're ever chased by a crowd scream real loud

If they ever run you down and tell us to leave this town

(Well still have)

FRIENDSHIP, FRIENDSHIP!!!!

That's the prefect planship!

When the village idiots are after you.

I'll still be true blue!

alotta lotta lotta boo boo boo!

he he he!

Thanks Everyone for making my 46th birthday such a treat!

he he he!

A Happy Germy Birthday to Me!!!!

If you know who this green woman is, then you and I are children of the 60's!

I wanted this green, shiny, beautiful, glowing, alien goddess, from the "Lost in Space"

series to be my friend and live with me forever. Athena was her name! She was

the most beautiful green girl I had ever seen and she might have even had a few

alien germs, but I liked her just the same. So since it's my 46th birthday

I took some need time and recreated her for If's Germs. Thanks to all my family,

blog Peeps and friends who have wished me a Happy Birthday! I love yall so much!!!!

Now make sure you wash your hands after reading this post he he he!