from Monday July20, 2015:
Monday, July 27, 2015
Carolyn Dee Flores, Illustrator: Watercolor & Gesture Interview
from Monday July20, 2015:
Monday, April 28, 2014
Carolyn Dee Flores Singing CANTA RANA CANTA w Preschoolers
Watch what happens
when Carolyn Dee Flores reads her picture book - "Canta Rana Canta/ Sing
Froggie Sing" - to a class of 4 yr. olds from a Spanish Immersion
Preschool in Houston for El Día de Los Niños.
She sings "Dona
Nobis Pacem" (for Froggie's voice) - and out of the blue, the preschoolers
start singing back!
4 year olds, well, they're amazing!
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
An interview with author Lupe Flores by Samantha & Karease
Interview with Lupe Ruiz-Flores from the San Antonio Book Festival 2014
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
San Antonio Book Festival - FROGGIE COMES ALIVE!
SAN ANTONIO BOOK FESTIVAL 2014, April 5
What an amazing event!
Here is an interview I did with some students Saturday morning at the festival. They were so professional!
What an honor! With the First Ever Poet Laureate of San Antonio - legendary Carmen Tafolla!
Wow, a picture of me with fantastic author Angela Cervantes - Writer at the San Antonio Book Festival yesterday. She wrote the great multiple award winning book - GABY, LOST AND FOUND! Love it!
Monday, October 14, 2013
Its Official!! Book Release DAUGHTERS OF TWO NATIONS!!
Very excited to present the biography DAUGHTERS OF TWO NATIONS written by Peggy Caravantes and illustrated by me, about nine amazing Native American women from various periods in U.S. history.
Illustrated in Prismacolor colored pencil.
Book Release : October 15, 2013
Barnes and Noble
 |
| First copies of DAUGHTERS arrive! w Carolyn Dee Flores |
These nine women are important, dignified, and ground-breaking.
Many thanks to Mountain Press, Gwen McKenna (editor) and Peggy Caravantes.
Carolyn Dee Flores
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Froggie Original Artwork goes to NY - ABFFE Art Auction
 |
| Colored Pencil Artwork from SING FROGGIE/CANTA RANA by Carolyn Dee Flores |
Tonight, I am
prepping original artwork from the book "Canta, Rana, canta/Sing, Froggie
Sing" for shipping to ABFFE's art auction at BookExpo America in New York
City, May 29, 2013! It's such an honor to be asked.
ABFFE stands for
American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression. The 19th annual Children's
Book Auction at BookExpo America will be hosted by Jack Gantos and Lauren
Myracle.
 |
| Colored Pencil Spread from SING FROGGIE/CANTA RANA by Carolyn Dee Flores |
You may preview the
art here. Support Freedom of Expression!
Preview Art: http://abffesilentauction.wordpress.com/preview-art/
Auction Site: http://abffesilentauction.wordpress.com/
ABFFE: http://www.abffe.org/
Carolyn Dee Flores
www.carolynflores.com
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
"Froggie" Drawing To Be Included in Mazza Museum of Picture Book Art Permanent Collection
BIG
ANNOUNCEMENT!!The Mazza Museum for International Art From Picture Books in
Findlay, Ohio - has requested a piece of original artwork from my picture book
"Sing, Froggie, Sing/Canta, Rana, canta" published by Arte
Público/Piñata - to be added to their
permanent museum collection!!
This is an unbelievably big moment for me in
my career. The list of illustrators included in the Mazza collection is
mind-boggling! So humbled and honored. Here is a picture of the studio as I
prep artwork for shipping tomorrow!
 |
| Prepping Froggie Drawing For Trip to Mazza Museum! |
Link to the Mazza
Museum for Picture Book Art: http://www.findlay.edu/offices/academic/mazzamuseum/Pages/default.aspx
Wonderstruck and
terribly proud of this first book,
Carolyn Dee Flores
Friday, March 1, 2013
Illustrator Laura-Susan Thomas - Babybug Magazine Cover
"Babybug" Magazine (one of the Cricket magazine group) did a fantastic article on my
close friend Laura-Susan Thomas -illustrator/former Disney Imagineer/ and cover artist of this
month's "Babybug" issue. Take a look at her cool studio! AND her sketches!
Here is the article: http://babybugmag.wordpress.com/
Fun!
Carolyn Dee Flores
www.carolynflores.com
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
The Movie "Bless Me, Ultima"
I was treated to a
sneak preview of the movie "Bless Me, Ultima" this evening at the
Siverado Theaters in San Antonio, Texas. The movie is based upon the critically
acclaimed novel written 40 years ago by Rudolfo Anaya, screenplay by Carl Franklin.
"Bless Me, Ultima" is narrated
by Alfred Molina and stars Luke Ganalon
as a young boy growing up during in New Mexico during WWII, who forms a bond
with an elderly curandera or medicine
woman.
I'm sure you will
hear plenty about the beauty in this film: the story, the emotional resonance,
the wonderful acting. And it's hard not to be mesmerized by Luke Ganalon as seven year old
"Antonio."
But, what blew me
away was the cinematography! The artistic direction in this film is gorgeous!
The scene of a pueblo church bell ringing on a hill (shot from behind
shrubbery) where the sky separates into
a stormy white, gray, and blue, is done with such subtlety - that it
virtually went unnoticed. Everyone in
the theater was too engrossed in the story.
I haven't seen a
film like this in many, many years. I wanted to wake up there and smell the
dirt. A moving, passionate, authentic, gem-of-a-movie. Go see it if you can.
"Bless Me,
Ultima" opens in select theaters around the country this weekend.
Create something
great,
Carolyn Dee Flores
Monday, February 4, 2013
What I Learned about Caldecott Medalist Jerry Pinkney
I told my mother
last week, "You know, I almost stole something once - a textbook from back
in the fifth grade."
My mother gasped.
I said, "Don't
worry. I didn't do it."
But, I remember. I
was very tempted. By the illustrations!
It was KALEIDOSCOPE,
a Houghton Mifflin Reader.
Is
this not the best cover ever?!
Recently, I found a copy of KALEIDOSCOPE in a
used bookstore. I bought it, brought it home, and laid it carefully on my
drawing board.
And then ...
I began to peruse
the credits.
Imagine my surprise
when I found out that all of these groovy textbook and section illustrations
were the early work of none other than acclaimed Caldecott Medalist - Jerry
Pinkney of "The Lion & The Mouse" fame.
I was so affected by
those pictures. Some things stay with you.
Jerry Pinkney has illustrated over one hundred books, received five Caldecott
honors, the Caldecott Medal for "The Lion & The Mouse," five Coretta Scott King Awards, four Coretta
Scott King Honor Awards, and five New York Times "Best Illustrated
Books."
And, of course, now,
the fantastic "YOU WERE MY HERO IN FIFTH GRADE" AWARD from me!
 |
| Jerry Pinkney Signing My Book 2011 |
 |
| Jerry Pinkney Signs My iPad |
Illustrate away,
Carolyn Dee Flores
Saturday, February 2, 2013
"I saw the angel in the marble…" Michelangelo
Last week I was
working intensely on deadline to deliver the black and white drawings for an
upcoming picture book I am illustrating - DALE, DALE, DALE/ HIT IT, HIT IT, HIT
IT (written by Rene Saldaña Jr.) to my publisher.
As usual, I'd
prepped. I'd paced. I'd thumbnailed. I was having a blast! But, I needed a
little extra push when it came to spread #10 -
a drawing which included lots of toy marbles.
Partially exhausted,
I felt I had not fully captured the magical essence of "marbles."
I remembered the
enigma of little boys who carried around bags of marbles at recess when I was
little. I internet-hunted marbles and learned about "shooters,"
"pee-wees," "steelies," and "agates." I stared at
the small velvet pouch of vintage marbles that my mother bought me when I first
got this book contract, and then - I poured the marbles onto my desk.
They rolled …
everywhere.
I grabbed a small
empty photo frame and corralled them.
I thought to myself,
"These are beautiful. I have two more beautiful marbles in my jewelry box
I will add to this collection."
I added two more
marbles.
Hours later, I
couldn't help thinking, "I'm sure there is one more marble in this
house."
I stopped drawing
and looked around. Now where?
If I could find it, what a great sign that
would be!
I looked down at my
little marble corral and saw it.
One more marble.
Engraved around the
edges of the wooden frame were these words:
"I
saw the angel in the MARBLE and I carved until I set him free." Michelangelo
I had forgotten.
Trust that you have the skills to listen. The book will draw itself. As with
all art, a book becomes what it wants to become.
What an exciting
process!
Happy GroundHog Day!
Carolyn Dee Flores/Illustrator
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
The Cover of CANTA, RANA, CANTA / SING,FROGGIE,SING
Carolyn Dee
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Painting Banners for Studio 54 at the McNay
In 2006, The McNay
Art Museum in San Antonio asked me to make some banners for a "Studio
54" themed event. Art patrons could buy a
V.I.P. section - and each section was named after a famous celebrity.
There was an "Andy Warhol" room, a "Cher" room, a
"Jackie O." room, etc...
I wanted every painting to look great under
the DJ lights, so I made each "banner" 70" long, out of colored transparency sheets sandwiched
between two pieces of black theater skrim.
I sewed the whole thing together. Then I painted the surface with oil
paint.
Here are some of the
results:
Next day, I told the
lady that hired me at the museum, "The very first thing you should say to
yourself when you see me coming down the street is, 'Yeah, but has this REALLY
ever been done before? ' "
She smiled and said
that's what she liked about me.
Have fun taking the "road less traveled"!
Carolyn Dee Flores
www.carolynflores.com
Painting a Mural in Freezing Weather
Here I am painting a
mural in 2006. It was 15 degrees above zero - so I wore hunting gear to keep
warm. Also, I painted with oils directly onto the wall. Doctors in the
neighborhood kept coming by to check my pulse. This piece was called
"Gravitas."
Little kids would
run up to me and ask, "Are you the mural lady?"
How cool is that?
Finished product.
I love glazes. The blue paint was so deep, you could see it from the freeway.
Have fun this week,
Carolyn Dee Flores
www.carolynflores.com
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Counting Books
EDDIE AND THE FIRE
ENGINE by Carolyn Haywood.
I read this book
when I was five years old. I loved it so much,
I bought a copy of it recently off of Ebay.
Was I reading a 189 page book at age five because I
was a child prodigy?
Of course not. I started reading at age four, because when I
was growing up every one of my cousins wanted to become a teacher. And I was
their only student.
And guess what? They did become teachers. All except one. She
became an interior designer.
So, at this year's
Christmas Cookie Exchange, I sat next to one of my cousins who became a
kindergarten and special needs teacher. I mentioned to her that I was working
on a book about counting.
Now, understand, I
had some grand ideas about the illustrations for this book. (I did not write
the book. I am the illustrator.) Marbles
being flung this way and that - toys falling from the sky - jacks as
huge as baseballs.
But ... before I
could go into it all, my cousin said, "Oh, yeah, my kids love counting
books. Especially the boys - with superheroes. They love to shout one, two,
three, four, …"
Hmmm.
"One, two,
three, four, .."
I was
reminded:
Counting books are about counting.
Counting books must be
orderly - not chaotic.
Counting books are about interaction. They must have READILY
identifiable quantities of objects, at that age. It's not enough to include the
right number of objects. You have to make them easily recognizable AND countable
- FROM A DISTANCE.
A counting picture
book is still a book. It must still be high interest, with character and story. But here, the numbers
and the objects and the colors are the stars.
Lesson Learned:
Know your audience. See your book
through the eyes of the children you are illustrating for. Stick to your
purpose. And, STILL, add fun and character and story. The challenge is - make
it exciting and cohesive on all of these levels.
So …
Trust me. I will
still make all my drawings about character. I will still sketch 50 versions of
each page before I pick the one I will illustrate. However, I will also REMEMBER to give kids
plenty of things to count! That is, out loud.
One more thing.
A counting book is a group activity. That means, counting books are almost ALWAYS read
aloud. Kids count aloud - in front of a
parent, adult, or a teacher. The book itself, is just part of that experience.
So, fellow writers and illustrators, let's uphold our end of the bargain!
Have a great
Christmas!
Carolyn Dee Flores
P.S. My five
favorite counting or math books of all time!
Go, Dog. Go! By P.D. Eastman
Bears On Wheels - A Bright and Early
Counting Book By Stan and Jan Berenstein
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish By Dr. Seuss
365 Penguins By Jean-Luc
Fromental Illustrated By Joelle Jolivet
Tyrannosaurus Math By
Michelle Markel and Doug Cushman
BTW, fortunately, I
have great text by the author, a great publisher, and a great art director to
help guide me through this journey.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Monday, December 10, 2012
Judy Garland Videos - Courtesy Jo Knowles - Acclaimed YA Author
Two Judy Garland
Videos. "Somewhere over the Rainbow." Courtesy of acclaimed and
award-winning YA author (See You at Harry's) Jo Knowles. Both intense and
mesmerizing.
The thing is - I
think BOTH performances are incredible. Judy Garland may have been beaten up by
her industry - but I don't see her as beaten.She knew her own voice, and that's
an incredible gift for any artist.
Thank you, Jo Knowles for the post.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Caldecott Medalist Eric Rohmann and Candace Fleming, and Ellen Hopkins in San Antonio This Week
Announcing 2 Big Book Events in San Antonio This Week!
Caldecott Medal Winner Eric Rohmann and author Candace Fleming will be speaking at UTSA this
Wednesday, December 5 at 6:00 p.m.
Here is the link:
Ellen Hopkins, esteemed author of teen novels
in verse including Crank, will be appearing at
Barnes and Noble at La Cantera Parkway, discussing and signing her new
book "Collateral" at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday December 6.
Other News:
Guadalupe Garcia McCall's new book, Summer of the Mariposas, was just named one of
School Library Journal's Best Books of 2012.
And on a personal
note, my first picture book - Sing, Froggie, Sing / Canta, Rana, Canta is now
available for pre-order on www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, www.thereadingwarehouse.com, www.bookdepository.com, and www.allbookstores.com, among others.
The book is
illustrated by me, Carolyn Dee Flores,
and translated by Natalia Rosales-yeomans, published
by Arte Público Press.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Anne Frank
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
Have fun creating,
Carolyn
www.carolynflores.com
Monday, October 1, 2012
Super Cool List of 14 Picture Books You Should Absolutely Keep In Your Studio
LIST OF PICTURE
BOOKS USED IN THE Carolyn Dee Flores SWTX-SCBWI 2012 ILLUSTRATION WORKSHOP
For those of you who
attended my workshop at the SWTX-SCBWI
Conference 2012 on Basics of
Picture Book Illustration - several people have asked me for a list of the picture books we used in
class.
So here is the list:
Super Cool List of 14 Picture Books You Should Absolutely Keep In Your Studio
- The Lion & The Mouse … Jerry Pinkney … (The Picture Book as an Art Form)
- I, Too, Am America … Langston Hughes, Illustrated By Bryan Collier (Interpreting Text)
- Rapunzel … Paul O. Zelinsky … (Painterly-ness)
- The Little Matador … Julian Hector … (Design, Abstract Thumbnails)
- Me, Frida … Amy Novesky, Illustrated By David Diaz … (Importance of Cover, Palette)
- The Secret World of Walter Andersen …Hester Bass, Illustrated by E.B. Lewis … (Importance of Cover, Palette)
- The Day-Glo Brothers … Chris Barton, Illustrated By Tony Persiani … (Illustrator's Vision)
- Oh No! (Or How My Science Project Destroyed The World) … Mac Barnett, Dan Santat … (Illustrator's Vision)
- Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus … Mo Willems … (Pacing - Spots, Single Page Illustrations, Spreads)
- Balloons Over Broadway … Melissa Sweet … ( Style, Fun, Accessibility, Play)
- Go, Dog. Go! … P.D. Eastman … (Simplicity, Humor, Hitting It Out of the Ballpark)
- I Want My Hat Back … Jon Klassen … (Doing What Is Right For The Book, Pure Guts)
- Make Way For Ducklings … Robert McCloskey … ( Passion, Research, Tenacity)
- The Invention of Hugo Cabret … Brian Selznick … (Breaking the Rules)
Of course, there are many more incredible picture books … but these are the ones I used in the class on that day.
Carolyn Dee Flores
Stay Incredibly Inspired!
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