Friday, January 7, 2011

2010 Wrap-Up

2010 went by way too fast and my List of Links really grew.

In 2010 MERMAIDS ON PARADE was officially on the map, A Literary Map of Brooklyn.


In 2010 I submitted picture book proposals,

and wrote articles,
Talking Story Blog
Hunger Mt. VCFA Journal of the Arts
HMHnyc
My Word Playground
Momasphere
SCBWI NY Metro "Say YES with Dan Yaccarino"

and presented Children's Lit programs.

Photo from the NYCDOE School Library Conference

In 2010 I was interviewed by The Got Story Countdown.


Some people even wrote about me here and there.

In 2010 I became a curator and organized the Women's History Month Celebration,


and signed books under the Manhattan Bridge at the Dumbo Parents Organization Stoop Sale.


In 2010 more neighborhood stores sold my books.

In 2010 I took part in Kelly Light's Ripple Auction, Dan Santat's 826LA Auction,

and the Dumbo Arts Festival representing Superfine. I also read and signed books at the annual Atlantic Antic representing the store Gumbo.


In 2010 the Drawn In Brooklyn Exhibition began. I signed books for the Brooklyn Public Library at the Brooklyn Book Festival,


presented a mermaid tail making crafts program,


was in a video (see it here),


signed my books for the Drawn In Brooklyn Family Day,


and was completely thrilled when the Time Out Kids NY editor said my name on TV during the CBS Morning News. She also said that MERMAIDS ON PARADE was her "favorite" book!


Our exhibition art was in the New York Daily News and the New York Times,


and there were even exhibition posters down in the subway ;)


In 2010 I also took part in the Public Library's 24 Hour Read-In,


the Halloween Librarian Zombie march across the Brooklyn Bridge,


and The Brooklyn Museum Children's Book Fair.


In 2010 I was a celebrity judge.


To wrap up 2010 I signed books at the Brooklyn Friends Winter Festival.



I am extremely grateful for 2010. To start 2011 off right I rested!

Here's a FREE Coloring Page to download that displays refreshed energy! Click to enlarge, print and color!
Happy New Year Everyone! May All Your Dreams Come True!

All photos: Copyright Melanie Hope Greenberg
Celebrity judges photo credit: David Winter
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Monday, November 29, 2010

How I Create an Illustration

Every year since 1998 I've been asked to illustrate articles in a teacher magazine from NAEYC (National Association of Educators for Young Children). Here's how I created an illustration for their December/January 2011 issue.

First, I read the magazine articles I am going to illustrate to understand the theme and get ideas. Then I sketch some doodles.

I drew the children in a circle for the reason that the articles discussed inclusion in the classroom. Circles have no beginnings or ends, simply a visual way to relay that everyone belongs.

Before I paint, I refine the sketches and an art director must approve of them. I might also have to go back and re-do or tweak my sketches.

When my sketches are approved I create color samples where I can experiment.


Experiments over! Now on to finished art.

Illustration printed in magazine!


Extra Bonus! A Free Coloring page! Click to enlarge, then download to enjoy in your homes or classrooms!


All Illustrations copyright 2011 Melanie Hope Greenberg
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Monday, October 18, 2010

"Drawn In Brooklyn" Curator Interview- John Bemelmans Marciano 


I met John Bemelmans Marciano last year. We were introduced by Barbara Wing who had been my curator for a solo picture book illustration exhibition at Brooklyn Central Library in Spring 2009. Working with Barbara Wing was a fantastic experience. I knew an exhibition she and John were cooking up called, "Drawn In Brooklyn", featuring many Brooklyn picture book illustrators, was going to be exciting fun.

John's grandfather was Ludwig Bemelmans of Madeline fame.
John now writes and paints Madeline in the 21 Century. Marciano said it took a long time to capture his grandfather's art style. His latest Madeline book is called "Madeline at the White House". Besides Madeline, Marciano also writes and illustrates picture books such as "Harold's Tail", "Delilah", and "There's a Dolphin in the Grand Canal!". John is very excited about his newest books for Bloomsbury USA. They are called "Anonyponymous" and "Toponynity".

Marciano lives in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn with his wife Andromache, daughter Galatea, and cats Maud and Liddy. 


I am so thrilled that John Bemelmans Marciano and his co-curators Barbara Wing and Paquita Campoverde of Brooklyn Central Library have agreed to provide a history of what goes on in front of and behind the scenes of their wonderful exhibition, "Drawn In Brooklyn".
In Part 1, we talk with John.

Q: How did you get the idea for curating this show?

JBM: My desire to do a show that celebrated the illustrator comes from my experience going around the country to schools and bookstores and constantly being surprised at how people are fascinated by my having written books but generally not caring that I did the pictures too.  I think because most books are about text and only text, people are conditioned to think about authors, whereas in picture books it is the illustrator telling the story just as much as the writer. 

Q: What did you discover about the Brooklyn picture book arts community while curating this show?

JBM: That it is even more vast than I realized!  Also, that it contains some of the nicest and most talented people I have ever met, and that many of them--like me--have been craving a community.  Most of us work alone in our studios spread out all over the borough, and the opportunity for us to share our work with each other was for many the most exciting thing about the show, and I believe that desire is apparent in the exhibition.  Not just in the care each artist took in deciding which of their work they wanted to present, but in the Youth Wing portion of the show, where illustrators opened up their sketchbooks and put their process on display.

Q: How did the multi-media aspect the exhibition arise? (There's a film, a festival, live presentations and workshops, illustrator's process besides the original picture book illustrations).

JBM: Largely from Barbara and Paquita, and the amazing people they work with at the library.  As an illustrator myself, I felt the need to protect my fellows from being asked to do too much, but as it turned out everyone was thrilled at what they were being asked to do!  What I especially learned from this experience is the importance of large public institutions, and the idea that people want to be involved in something larger than themselves.  In the do-it-yourself, privatize everything age, when real spaces are being replaced by websites, I think it's vital to rally around organizations like the Brooklyn Public Library.

Q: What are you currently working on? 

JMB: I am currently working on a chapter book about the richest, worst little boy in the world.

Q: If you had a Mermaid name what would it be?

JMB: Lorenzo!  Or Adolphus.

Thanks, John!

Art: Copyright John Marciano
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Thursday, September 23, 2010

"Drawn In Brooklyn" Exhibition


"Drawn In Brooklyn" in Time Out Kids and in Captial New York

I'm in a brand new exhibition at Brooklyn Central Library. It's called "Drawn in Brooklyn". In October, I'll be giving FREE programs at the Central Library
10 Grand Army Plaza 718-230-2100
Show Schedule: Sun 1-5pm; M-Th 9-9 F & Sat 10 - 6

A festival and exhibition of children's book art curated by John Bemelmans Marciano ("Madeline"). The exhibition features 34 illustrators who live and work in Brooklyn, from the most exciting newcomers in publishing to the legends of the business. The exhibition showcases over a hundred pieces of art.

Original illustrations from my books MERMAIDS ON PARADE, A CITY IS, and DOWN IN THE SUBWAY.

I'll be visiting the Ryder Branch Library on October 20, 2010. And an author visit with a visual power point program in the Dweck Auditorium on October 28, 2010.


At the opening reception there was a beautiful welcoming table with exhibition programs, bookmarks and information.


Co-curators John Marciano and Barbara Wing gave speeches.


The illustrators from "Drawn In Brooklyn"


Susan Straub from the Read to Me Program celebrated picture book art with my hero, Diane Dillon, illustrator of so many award winning books.


I'm with David Mowery, Division Manager of the Brooklyn Central Youth Wing and my art patron :)


Michelle Lynch, my intern from Pratt, a senior majoring in picture book illustration is with Andrea Vaughn, Brooklyn Central librarian fantastique!



Blog Diary from my solo exhibition at Brooklyn Central Library in Spring 2009. Here is a Facebook photo album from "Ordinary Into Extraordinary".

Photos copyright Melanie Hope Greenberg 2010
Group Photo: Al Pereira 2010
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Saturday, August 21, 2010

Melanie's List of Links


I've done all the work...so you don't have to.
Here they are! Weblinks to learn about my books, art, career, and events. All in one place! And this list will always grow. My heartfelt thanks to everyone for supporting my books and my art!

MY AUTHOR VISITS
Elementary Schools


PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT / UNIVERSITY
CONFERENCES / LITERACY & EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS

AUTHOR VISITS Young Students - No Links

Brooklyn Children’s Museum                                  

Children’s Museum of Manhattan                

Discovery Center, Binghampton NY                  

Heckscher Museum                                                 

Learning Leaders

Long Island Children’s Museum

New York Transit Museum

New York Public Library             

Perrot Memorial Library, CT       

Queens Public Library

South Street Seaport Museum

Staten Island Children’s Museum  

University of Montevallo,  AL 


AUTHOR PRESENTATIONS Adult - No Links

Author’s Guild                                                         

Brooklyn Book Festival

Brooklyn Historical Society                          

Children’s Book Illustrators Group       

Festival of Books, CT                                      

Mazza Museum of Picturebook Art      

Midland Writer’s Conference, MI

NAEYC National Conference 

New York is Book Country

NYSLA Conference

Perspectives in Literature, MA 

Parsons School of Design

Pratt Institute 

Reach Out & Read of Greater NYC

Sam Houston State University, TX 

SCBWI  Regional Chapters :  AL, AR, AZ, CA, Los Angeles, 

MD, MI, MN, NE, New England, NY Metro, PA

School of Visual Arts

UNICEF Speakers Bureau      

Westchester Writer’s Union, NY



MERMAIDS ON PARADE
Mermaids on Parade - Reviews & Listings
Amazon Reviews

Mermaids On Parade - Interviews

Mermaids On Parade - Behind The Scenes


Down In The Subway
Book Nut
Picture Book Junkies

ARTICLES I'VE WRITTEN
Talking Story Blog - Craft Prompt
Hunger Mt / VCFA "Diversity In Picture Books"
My Word Playground "Writing Sea-crets"

MY ART, WRITING, BLOG, AWARDS, HONORS
Got Story Countdown - Interview Questions 1-10
Got Story Countdown - Full interview
Wordswimmer - Interview
Five on Friday - Interview
Park Slope Patch - Article
Self Absorbed Boomer - Article
Brooklyn Heights Blog 10 Award
Cybils Awards 2010 Picture Book Fiction Judge
Literary Family - Mermaids On Parade blog

MY EXHIBITIONS
Brooklyn Central Library
“Ordinary into Extraordinary” 
Melanie's Blog Diary

Brooklyn Central Library
"Drawn In Brooklyn" 
New York Times
Time Out New York Kids
A Child Grows In Brooklyn
Melanie's BPL Video

RIPPLE Auction 
Whale

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Monday, July 12, 2010

Librarians, Bookstores and FREE Coloring Page


I went to Washington DC to attend the ALA or the American Library Association's annual conference. I stayed at my friend Virpi's apartment and passed the White House a few times.

I attended some parties, walked the exhibit floor and met many of my colleagues. I Love Librarians!

I also love bookstores! On July 10 I read and signed books at a Beach Party for the brand new independent bookstore called Boulevard Books and Cafe in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn.


I felt warmly welcomed by the neighborhood community.


And signed almost all the books the store had in stock. Thanks!


Books and art make us aware of the world we live in. Please keep nature's world alive. Color the beautiful ocean and all her creatures for FREE. Click on the image to enlarge and download. Have fun!



Photo Credits: Copyright Melanie Hope Greenberg,Jeanette Larson and Tatiana Nicoli
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