Art of the Dog: Dawn Secord: Writer's Digest features my journey to self publishing. By Dawn Secord

Sunday, September 26, 2021

Writer's Digest features my journey to self publishing. By Dawn Secord

My friends, family and art collectors know I had a life long dream of writing and illustrating my own children's picture book. No Ghoulish Green Monsters Here is that book and the first in a new (and forth coming) series featuring my Irish Setter, Bling.

Writer's Digest has asked me to share my journey of self publishing my award winning picture book. What an incredible honor. Below is the link to my article. Thank you to Writer's Digest for the opportunity to share my story and hopefully be of assistance to other authors and illustrators on their journeys.

Direct Link:

Lessons Learned From Self-Publishing My Picture Book - Writer's Digest (writersdigest.com)

Link Address:

https://www.writersdigest.com/getting-published/lessons-learned-fro
m-self-publishing-my-picture-book

No Ghoulish Green Monsters Here - a children's picture book

Awarded "Silver Award" by Mom's Choice Awards
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) July 2021 reading list
Finalist - International Book Awards sponsored by American Book Fest

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Pastel Painting in Progress - French Bulldog

Here is a painting in progress. The pastel paintings are done very much in the same way an oil painting is done. I start with a base color. Usually I work with a precolored surface. With oil painting I would lay in a foundation color so the white canvas wouldn't show through. So this is the same basis. Since I am right handed I work from left to right unless it is a landscape or still life in which case the entire surface is worked uniformly. With pet portraits, so I don't damage an area that is completed, the surface is worked from left to right. While working an area of the subject I lay in mid tone values first - then work light to dark. With pastels an artist can "fill the tooth" of the surface so it is important not to over work any areas. Once the entire subject is painted I go back and reinforce the lightest lights and darkest darks. My greatest area of interest is the eyes. If the eyes aren't right the entire painting will look odd. If the painting is about a sleeping animal it is important to convey the comfort of the animal.

Oil Painting in Process

The following pictures show an Oil Painting in process. The first images show my beginning sketch. I use a common pencil, ruler and an eraser. Once the beginning sketch is satisfactory the sketch is secured with a layer of black oil paint. When the first layer is dried I apply a base color over the entire canvas. I love working on a burnt sienna foundation. There are paintings where I start just working directly on the white canvas and there is no base layer or foundation. It really depends on the painting. From the base foundation I start layering colors. It is a slow process due to drying time. This is where it really becomes fun. I should really make a recording of my husband saying, "You're done - stop messing with it!" Thanks for taking a peek. This painting is of a cat named Lynxy!