Much of my summer has been dedicated to writing and illustrating the “Oh My, Mia Meow!” Children’s Picture Book, which I hope to finish this month. I have been spending a lot of time creating paintings that will tell the story along with the written words for the book. Each illustration is a 30″H x 40″W acrylic painting on textured wood. I thought I would share the first eight illustrations and basic story line to give a glimpse into my creative process for the book.
In the beginning of the book, Mia Meow, a small cat with big dreams, looks out a window from the inside of her home. Although she loves her home, she longs for adventure, desiring to play with the squirrels and birds that she sees from her inside perch.
Mia Meow lives in a creative place with her human companion who is an artist. Her particular art tends to be creating havoc!
In a bout of mischievous play, Mia Meow discovers a red crayon on the floor. She whacks the crayon around the floor as cats will do…
…and then she hits it so hard, it sails through the air onto the table. On the table is a collar and a piece of paper.
Being a curious cat, Mia Meow dons the collar. Cats are not naturally given to drawing, but with the collar, she feels a creative impulse that she has never experienced before. She begins to draw with the crayon. As she draws, she discovers that the collar has given her magical powers, and her drawing comes to life off the paper!
Realizing that she can bring her imagination to life, Mia Meow uses her crayon to draw the squirrel and bird that she had dreamed of earlier, watching from behind her window on the inside. Mia befriends the bird and squirrel that she has created.
Next, Mia Meow creates a farm, drawing a cow, a pig, a goat and a chicken, and she enjoys visiting her new friends.
After visiting the farm, Mia explores the forest, creating more new friends, including a bear, a raccoon, a skunk, a fox and a rabbit.
Mia has a few more adventures ahead of her, and new friends to meet. Stay tuned for more illustrations and more of the story!
The book and the illustrations should be completed within the next month. My plan is to have the book self published and ready to have preordered copies shipped before the 2016 winter holidays in time for gift giving.
You can preorder copies of the “Oh My, Mia Meow!” Children’s Picture Book here. All hardcover preorders made before 9/15/16 will include a pdf copy emailed to you for mobile device reading.
Life is an Adventure!
BZTAT
Having an art studio at Avenue Arts Theatre and Marketplace gives me access to a classroom, and I intend to put it to good use! In fact, I have already scheduled my first art classes. 
