Friday, January 26, 2007

Illustration Friday: Red





My submission for Illustration Friday's "Red" is from my 2001 HomeMade calendar and the title is "Schoolhouse". I always wanted to go to school in a one room schoolhouse but Oak Park Elementary was a pretty large size school for the times. I loved my teachers very much. This smaller book was put together by a group of very loving and involved mothers of Topanga Elementary. They asked me to do the cover of their children's annual. Of course I said yes and after the project I received about 25 or so Thank You's from the kids that are filled with pictures and words of sweet gratitude. The cute thing about this annual is they drew their own picture and wrote a little piece about themselves. They are charming and bring a smile to your face. One of the boys is my neighbor, Kevin. Ten years later and he's all grown up! Schoolhouse was for the month of September and the quote is:
"The mother's heart is the child's schoolroom. ~Henry Ward Beecher~
please click on to the image to see what the boys wrote.

43 comments:

Anonymous said...

red has always been my favorite colour. your red schoolhouse looks happy and alive. great work.

Anonymous said...

You do such lovely and vibrant art. This school house is such a joy! I wish they were still around like that!

Teri said...

What a perfectly little happy school house. Love it.

Ces Adorio said...

Oh, now I am looking forward to Illustration Friday because I want to know what you will post. Now I joined IF several months ago but I still have to post something. Maybe one of these days I'll figure out the technical issues of posting. In the meantime, I do enjoy your Friday posts!

Cathy said...

Val - gorgeous illos, and I'm sure I'll love you even more when I hear your weird things!

Diane Duda said...

one of my best friends in jr. high lived in what was once a little red school house. i'm just realizing now that i was never inside her house! well, it was charming from the outside, as is yours.

Liz Jones said...

That's so cute! I love it-- I always wanted to go to one room schoolhouse, too.Or at least, the old fashioned brick kind with the columns and the big windows and upstairs... but I was a child of the 70's.
*sigh*

Genevieve said...

perfectly captured, valgal! i performed once in a one-room school house, and it's still the most vibrant memory of the 500+ schools I visited. well done!

ps there was a rabbit loose in the room. it was like a family house...

Anonymous said...

This is so wonderful! I just love it. . .as usual!

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for visiting my blog. You are so sweet! We'll have to compare notes on the "That's Clever" Experience. I had such a blast with the crew. What a fun bunch. I'll definitely be on the lookout in June for your segment. Take care!

pati said...

Awwww, Val, I loooove to learn in there. What a beautiful red school ;)

studio lolo said...

I love the kids letters and self portraits! I think Kevin has the same dreams I did. Hopefully he'll work hard to get there :) beautiful schoolhouse Val!

Twisselman said...

There's a little red schoolhouse not far from my house, still in use... though it's got a couple of portables alongside to take care of the overflow.
Very nice house.

steve said...

Awesome Val. Amazing how much ground you've covered! It must have made you smile seing all te letters and drawings from the kids too!

franhilz said...

wonderful scene!
the make of the roof and stones-base is excellent.
you, Val, as always, with your dreams on paper... very nice!

Doodlestreet said...

I wonder why they used to paint those little schoolhouses red back then? Same for the barns...there has to be a reason, eh? Hmmmm...maybe looked better against the blue sky...

Outstanding creation, once again DOOD!

I'm curious what it says on your business card..something like: Artist-Painter-Master home builder. :)

Anonymous said...

Really stellar, Val, I just love little red school houses!!

Anonymous said...

yes, it looks like a real countryside school...Great red, really brilliant...makes things happy!!!

Anonymous said...

Okay, that does it, I'm coming back. This time I'm going to be a human starting out as a kid just so I can go to school in a place like that. I promise not to pee on anything. Bad Dog (expecting)

Paul Tuller said...

aaaw thats so cute - kids are always fun to make art for :)

isay said...

Red is really a fantastic color for a schoolhouse!

i like the quote and the story behind your painting. Heartwarming.

Susan Mitchell said...

This is so sweet and cheery :)

Janet said...

Cute! I woulda loved to have gone to school there, too!

Michelle Lana said...

very lovely val!!! Great work - always a treat to see your work!

Ginger*:) said...

What a beautiful little school house. I am so glad you showed us this one. As a former first grade teacher I can so appreciate what you did for the little school. Those thank you's are timeless treasures.

Anonymous said...

I love how you grab perspective
by the short hairs. Very nice whimsical style - perfect
school house.

Kim de Young said...

One of my girlfriends lived in an old converted schoolhouse/church.. and it was even painted red. The house had a juvenile energy. We were quite immature there I am happy to say, lots of dancing and singing and even some lawn wrestling.

Anonymous said...

Hi Val,
My school wasn't red,but very out of yellow stones...It always exists!
It's a beautiful school, and a nice illo! Great work !
Have a nice week !

"Maggie & Kevin" said...

Hey girl, I love this red school house, so perfect for Illo Friday's challenge. I have some ideas but no time to get them finished and so glad you stopped by. I will work hard to post more often. Keep posting your beautiful works too, they're so inspiring.

kj said...

aw, val, another heartwarmer house. i am so enjoying getting to know you this way.

you rock! (like andrea...) (and ces)

:)

Unknown said...

that's what I called a good old classic home!! Beautiful! :)

Andrea said...

lookin' good Val!

Tony LaRocca said...

Ah, you've got that Little House on the Prairie touch!

trowbridge chronicles said...

I always enjoy the way that you use such bright colors, Val. Beautiful cover art.

Anonymous said...

How lovely to get the little thank you's to go with your beautiful colourful illustration!

Amy Zaleski said...

Charming as can be, Val! And a great story to go with it.

Kay Aker said...

The perfect little red schoolhouse!

Anonymous said...

of course... a red schoolhouse; you always do it perfectly

° said...

charming school house and booklet thanks for ur comment, it gve me an idea for an flash animation. if its successful i will post it here eventually at my other blog.

Anonymous said...

my wife is a teacher and she loves this! i agree with her of course, and see how inviting this is. you really captured the small schoolhouse feel. lovely piece!

HARDWAX said...

If I were a school house, this is the one I would be.
Beautiful little red school house and the history of this piece is so nice.

Anonymous said...

So cute! =)

Doodlestreet said...

...one day i will tell you the story of the little blocks of wood. :O)
i would love to also one day see your little notes of gratitude from the kiddies. xo cute!