Maybe it was the summer after 8th grade... I found myself blinded by the reflection of the South Bay sun. Ten in the morning, head filled with potential, armed with a skateboard. My Walkman was duct taped together and one of the headphones had lost its foam and kept slipping from the sweat of the seven miles I passed on my way to the beach. I smelled the warm, wet, salt breeze that always hinted that summer's cooking oil was working its magic on lovely skin. I smelled that and some sweet, white flowers.

Sand added a silty undertone to the audio track of the soft wheels on the sidewalk. It also locked up my board sometimes and then suddenly I could do nothing but watch myself launched forward into whatever fate had chosen for me that day. Once it was into the arms of a cute girl I was definitely  about two years away from being able to even talk to, and the other was under a diesel truck. The first ended with me, red faced and stumbling backward, too shy to even apologize, and the other ended with a glitch in the matrix.

I hit the patch of sand and was jolted off my board, off the sidewalk, and into oncoming traffic. I had a clear view of the axle of the truck approaching. And then, instantly, I was back on the sidewalk.

I was headed for a trucky doom and somehow, without any way of explaining it, I was back in one piece, on the sidewalk.

Has my memory been spooled back, clipped, and then reconnected with scotch tape like my old Thompson Twins cassettes? Did this even happen? I gotta stick with yes. Yes it did.


Then again...


What if I died back then? What if every moment after that has been just the lucid dream of a 13 year old's purgatorial mind? Lost? Jacob's Ladder? Been done, eh? Oh well. Worth a shot.


Anyway, never mind the distraction. Here is what I was listening to when I fell into my glitch. A long story just to say that this song is pretty rad. 


Peace

Dear Mr. Watson,

My favorite byproduct of work I do. By a long shot! These kids at Pioneer Valley Elementary were such awesome hosts for my day of author visits. I had a wonderful time hanging out with them and when I get the pics from the teachers I will post them. These two letters from second graders were my top picks, though they were all wonderful and brimming with nice vibes I am so LUCKY to absorb.

The top letter has this child's versions of my book covers, Hope for Haiti, and I and I. I think it is rad that they edited the title to one that worked for them. And the art is mighty fine, as well.

One love, kiddos. One love.

new work

New Work

Ink and Acrylic on Baltic Birch

 ~3.5'x6'

This commission/trade was a piece I worked on for just about nine months. 

I am working on a picture book with Putnam that promises to be a really exciting change for me. The author has a great story that seems tailored for my art style. I will post info when I am able. 

I am also working on jacket art for an upcoming novel. 

My stories, in their various states of evolution, are brewing right along. Never know when one of those might be ripe for picking but I will be ready. 

Now, about summer...

Boots on, woken soldiers. The enemy is at hand.

Play

I get to play music tomorrow night with Simon Lynge and Greg V. Undertown in PT, 8pm. Come join us and check out my show on the walls around the place. I must recommend the coffee infused PT stout they serve.

Peace

Been a long time, been a long time, been a long, lonely, lonely, lonely...

What can I say?

My last blog post was sometime during the Spanish American War. My bad.

I've been busy.

Here is our one month old boy and his fam.

photo by Starre Smith

 More soon?

Hope so.
Peace,
Jesse

Ghetto Cowboy and the real revolution!

Ghetto Cowboy is riding free. Candlewick's release of Greg Neri's novel this fall could not be timed more perfectly. When I was working on the illustrations, all I could think of was how much I wished something like the uprising in the book, would happen in my country. And it has. And it is.


To hear so many shouting out a phrase that I have said many times in my life feels great.  It feels like perhaps this will not be a passing phase but a real momentum that good, every day people can get behind. I stand with the 99%!

I STAND WITH THE 99%!

This is not new. This is as old as it gets.

If we look to many so called religious conservatives, we inexplicably see them defending the oppressors and the evildoers, rather than demanding justice for the downtrodden. Their pitifully thin veil has begun to unravel to the point that there is no hiding the truth any longer.

This is the best of the ol timey religion. Helping your neighbor. Turning the other cheek instead of calling for vengeance. DEFENDING THE WIDOW AND THE FATHERLESS instead of crushing them down with your calloused heel.

This is a movement of people standing up for their lifestyle, their values, their morals, their convictions. If ever there were a time to stand up against the antichrist, this is it.

 This is simple.

This is love in action.

Summa

Hanging with my good friend, Brian and his little man.

Above: Birthday Parties by Faith. A true genius when it comes to parties. Here the kids are making their own mini frosted donuts. Cheerios with whipped cream and sprinkles. The cutest little things ever.

Speaking of cutest little things ever.

Gnome Style

Boys' Day!

 

When will I get to do swim lessons like my sisters and my cousins??

 

 

Ninja Style

Uptown Street Fair

Little Wing. Big Book.

Hey. What's the word? Jimi.

I can't believe I am so late in doing this. I wanted to write up a sweet review of the amazing Jimi: Sounds Like A Rainbow, by Gary Golio and Javaka Steptoe. Well, I missed the train and a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, NY Times Bestseller list, Kirkus Best Children's Books of the Year, etc, etc, etc, ... anyway, you get the picture. This book is on FIRE>>>>>>

Go check out Gary's site: http://www.garygolio.com


He has got a new book out about Bob Dylan now,

...plus an upcoming 2012 book about one of my all time favorite human beings ever to feel the breath of God, John Coltrane! A kid's picture book on JC. Life just got a little better!

Anyway, I am really digging his work and I think you should, too.

Lemme leave you with a little taste of something special, alright?

Peace.

Jesse