"I loved standing under the towers--choose any one, depending on the time of day--looking up and farther up, until the back of my head rested on my shoulders."

The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place by E.L. Konigsburg

[Portraits of People Who Aren't Real, the much belated #4]

Illustration Friday: Protest

Several years ago, I started a little personal project I called "Portraits of People Who Aren't Real," a series of posed-portrait-style pastel renderings of my favorite children's book characters.  Click on the tag below to see the rest, including Fern from Charlotte's Web, Ethan from Summerland, and Sal from Walk Two Moons.  I drew a fourth sketch to complete the set, of Margaret Rose from E.L. Konigsburg's The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place, but never did it up in pastels.

Today, just a few months after Konigsburg (maybe my favorite middle grade author of all time) passed away, the topic at Illustration Friday is "protest."  This novel is all about a girl's protest for art, history, self-expression, and individuality over The Man that was the bland and self-righteous local homeowners' association.  If I weren't out of town and away from my pastels, I'd do this last portrait lickety split, because all signs point to I should.  Since I can't do that, I'm re-sharing Margaret Rose's sketch as a reminder to myself to finish this one properly someday soon.  Her story deserves revisiting.

"My middle name, Tree, comes from your basic tree, a thing of such beauty to my mother that she made it part of my name."

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

[Portraits of People Who Aren't Real #3] 

p.s. This week's illustration Friday topic is "imperfect."  I'd feel comfortable linking pretty much any illustration for that topic, as perfection is pretty much impossible to achieve--particularly when the illustrator is as rusty and off her game as I am!

"Ethan Feld was the least gifted ballplayer that Clam Island had ever seen."

Summerland by Michael Chabon

[Portraits of People Who Aren't Real #2]

"Fern loved Wilbur more than anything."

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

[Portraits of People Who Aren't Real #1]

Portraits of People Who Aren't Real

Yesterday, I headed down to the National Gallery of Art, mostly to see the current exhibit on Paul Gauguin (who I've decided was a bit of an illustrator, actually!)  But on the way, I stepped into the Chester Dale Collection exhibit, and I couldn't stop looking at this painting by Picasso.  I loved how stark and simple it was while still being exquisitely executed.  I needed something to kick my artist butt back into gear, and I think this did it.  With this great painting as inspiration, I've decided to do a few simple portraits of (what else?) some  of my favorite children's book characters.  Sketches today, pastels... next! 

Ethan from Summerland

Fern from Charlotte's Web

Margaret Rose from The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place

Sal from Walk Two Moons