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April Showers Bring Unfinished Tales
The above is an unfinished illustration that I was working on a while back for my story serial Once Upon a Spinning-Wheel (under the putative title of Said a Whiting to a Snail – well, we’re already safely Through the Looking Glass, so what’s to lose?). The operative word here being ‘unfinished’.
Earlier this morning, it snowed properly for a good hour or so (April brings showers of snow – see, you knew I’d bring it back to the monthly theme), which in my corner of the world is a bit unusual these days, sadly – and it got me to thinking about unfinished projects, things I’d like to do, and things of that kind.
And thus I turned back to this one in my sketchbook (edited here to make it a little clearer) and thought, Hmm (or words to that effect), it really is time I got on with this …
Some things may need to be kept under lock and key till they’re ready – but sometimes, if you don’t share something in some form, it just sort of quietly ends up going nowhere. So, on that principle, I decided to share with you my little secret illustration – but don’t tell anybody, all right? It’s just between you, me, and the World Wide Web.
But what about you, though, kind reader? What unfinished tales or projects might you be harbouring?
Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me – these other fellers I’m not so sure about, but— I jest, I jest!
Well, slightly.
But, as the Whiting said to the Snail, ‘Will you, won’t you, won’t you join the dance?’
Published in Group Writing
How much time have you got? 🙄
Well, I’m just about to make another cup of tea, so that long at least. Sit ye down, Master Arahant, and yarn a spell should ye so wish. I’ll boil the kettle.
I have to do the same. Back in a jiffy.
Well okay then; I’m just preheating my oven for a frozen lasagna.
Pull up a chair, kind sir! They’re nice and comfy, and we’ll throw another log on the fire.
Now, let’s see, what projects do I have outstanding?
That ought to be a good start.
You fiend! You’ll never get away with this! (Sorry, it’s almost obligatory.)
This sounds interesting indeed (as do the others, but that one stands out to me).
What a kind a uncle.
It ought indeed.
Speaking of poetry, poetic series, and children’s books, Mr. Andrew Miller, I could really use an illustrator.
https://ricochet.com/676274/archives/autumn-colors-15-sep-on-the-tragic-fall-of-maurice-the-yellow/
https://ricochet.com/676431/archives/autumn-colors-16-sep-the-life-and-times-of-leif-the-red/
https://ricochet.com/678195/archives/autumn-colors-21-sep-the-utter-confusion-of-agnes-the-orange/
https://ricochet.com/678438/archives/autumn-colors-22-sep-the-despair-of-bathilda-the-brown/
https://ricochet.com/680378/archives/autumn-colors-the-jollity-of-gregor-greenleaf/
Ah, fallen into the pit which I have digged! I couldn’t leaf well enough alone … In all seriousness, though, if you think I could be of help, I’d be happy to explore it a bit.
I have been looking for an illustrator for that series for years (Decades?). My first attempt was with an artist who apparently had no idea there was a difference between deciduous and evergreen trees. That did not go well. If you’re up to it, there’s obviously no firm deadline. Let’s talk more.
Indeed, indeed! I shall have to do my research, no doubt. But sketching is fun in any case, and it’s a good excuse to mess around with pencils and paint a bit more. Who knows, this could be the beginning of a beautiful collaboration …
Alright, but don’t call me Shirley. Or Louis.
Right you are, Sir ’Hant!
Oh, fir cryin’ out loud…
I’m sure I can spruce things up a bit …
Indeed. Nothing like a big red leaf at the top of an obvious conifer. And nothing like a bad pun to start the day off on the left foot.
I pine for a punless thread.
I struggle to cedar difference.
Are you sure you want to put your name to such a thing? Might be safer to keep it euonymous.
Sorry. I’ll stop now. Don’t want to derail such a poplar thread any more than I already have.
Derail? Perish the thought! It’s good to branch out.
That’s it, unfollowing you reprobates.
You can’t leaf us now!
Prove it you pitch bewitched punster.
That would be holly unjustified, surely?
You didn’t really leave, did you?
I’ve been known to make poor life choices.
There’s no harm in em-bark-ing on a career of punnery!
Even though you know you’ll get needled about them.
Wait a minute, pitch, pine — congratulate me, gentlemen (and ladies, o’ course), I’ve found a volunteer! :)
I’m working on a bicycle video where I’m trying to figure out if the difference between an oak-sugar maple forest is different enough from a generic mixed mesophytic forest to make the distinction on my maps. (Well, I’ve already decided it isn’t important for this one, but I’m wondering if it might be important for any of the others.) And that’s just a distinction that the Ohio people make. In Michigan I’m just using the catch-all category “central hardwoods.” But should that be distinguished from the Ohio categories? For now, no, but I shouldn’t lose the distinctions in case I need them sometime.
Way back, maybe 35-45 years ago, people at my workplace would call on a local illustrator to make these kinds of distinctions for scientific publications. She was pretty good at it; I wonder what she is doing nowadays. She was probably around my age, give or take.