Over the River and Through the Woods ~

This little book is just six verses of Lydia Maria Child's Thanksgiving Poem famously known by its opening line: "Over the river and through the woods". Forget for a moment that this books combines a number of my favorite things: snow, horses, holidays, and a 19th century sensibility ~ it's just a gorgeous treatment of a classic favorite. From the faux endpapers and throughout its 26 pages, the woodblock art is vivid, brightly colored, and full of wonderful little details on the journey to Grandfather's house. All along the way are wonderful vignettes of ice fishing, logging, a farrier at work, ice sailing, and more. The borders are very simple, but vary every page, which keeps it from having a static boundary and the parchment-like background lends to its overall old-tyme feel.

I had seen this book at Barnes and Noble some time back and wanted it, but couldn't justify the cost. Last weekend, however, I found it at a bargain book closeout for a couple of dollars. Having it now, I know it's worth more than I paid for it, but I'm always glad for a bargain. This book is still is print and available from Amazon.


I've been reading a lot of children's books lately, dissatisfied (as always) with my own style of work. I'll be sharing a number of the ones I have enjoyed best in the last month or thereabouts, so you can expect to see more of these while I try to slog forward toward something like inspiration. Part of my problem at the moment is that I am feeling impatient. I want things to move a lot faster in my world (not time, accomplishment). And at the moment I've been drawing the same story for over a month ~ a story which is just a tiny drop in the whole bucket. That worries me. I'm not drawing fast enough, I'm starting to get meticulous and critical about the process, which is one of the symptoms of dying enthusiasm (or causes ~ it's hard to tell). Anyway, I stared at the computer screen all day yesterday (intermittently staring at my desk between feelings of hopelessness). Today I'm going to try to do better. Just don't know exactly how yet.

from LookingLand.com

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