This week’s guest: Caroline Benforado, illustrator and storyteller
Website: Caroline’s Crayons
From Caroline…
I grew up in a rather bohemian household in the 1960s. Both parents were atheists, believing that “man is the measure of all things.” So they were both incredibly creative. My dad drew and painted and dabbled. He loved expressive art. My mom sketched also, then she did really serious photography. At the end of her life she wrote and published short stories. Creativity become part of me around the age of 14. I apprenticed with a pastry chef where we played with form and color. That artistry pulled itself into letters, dinners, cards, term papers, birthday wrappings, and more. I started to blog in 2004. Immediately my creativity rushed into the arms of Melba and the many bloggers I met through her. My graduate work in literature definitely plays out in my narratives. I studied late Medieval narratives which are very concise. Since then I have made great strides in my illustration. My real reason for blogging my stories is to make myself happy. But I wouldn’t mind being published, so I’m in the process of contacting agents now. Mostly, I hope to learn more and more about illustrating in the coming year.
Show Notes…
- In the intro, I mentioned The Bigger Game.
- I mentioned I’m learning to crochet.
- Caroline refers to Maya Angelou, the poet.
If you liked this, you’ll probably like…
- Caroline shared her fabulous illustrated story The Orange that Saved the Day as a guest post here.
- Caroline says that if she was an artist, she would be http://kalman.blogs.nytimes.com/(but of course, we’re all thinking it, she is an artist!)
- Your Creative Spark, inspiring interviews with 12 Highly Creative Bloggers, including Melba, who Caroline mentioned in her bio.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I told you, she is wonderful! So creative!
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Boy do I feel the love! And how could you now? I adore Caroline too, she is a creative Goddess in all ways, I have been a big fan for a long time too, of her work and of her as a human being. She could never disappoint us and I am so glad she is reaching out to agents. She is a genius and her work should be honoured and shared.
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She has really inspired me. I LOVE her work and would definitely buy a book if she publishes one! Besides the fact that her drawings are so enjoyable I also really enjoy the deeper meaningful stories that go along with the images. This has inspired me to try my hand at what I call for me…doodle journaling where I too draw out images to go along with things I did for the day. My hope is to take this further and not just do it for a regular day of events…but learn how to come up with my own artwork to go along with my poetry or deep thoughts. THAT is what I am drawn to, but never went for because I did not think I could do it. Last week after checking this fabulous lady’s site out I challenged myself to sit down for 1 hour and doodle out my day with images and text on 4 x 6 index cards. I was quite pleased with my first results actually and this proved to me I CAN DO IT. I just have to sit down and try. It took me 90 minutes in all….but I am now doing my second day…and have a special day where I went to a cemetery to find a friend’s grave in my mind to do next.
SO THANK YOU for such incredible images and stories and inspiration!
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