Hi all. Fun fact: three times a year the teams who work on OWL, chickaDEE, and Chirp all leave the office and converge on one person’s house for an all-day “pre-planning” meeting. Tomorrow is one of those times, and we will be looking ahead to the September, October, and November issues. Pretty far in advance, huh?
Anyway, that all goes to say I won’t be in the office tomorrow to write a blog post, but I didn’t want to leave for the week without getting you some Reader Art of the Week to chew on.
This week’s art comes to us from OWL reader Katherine. Check it out:
Cool, huh? My favourite things about this painting are the bold colour and the technique Katherine used around the flower. That area almost seems to have a life of its own now when it could have just been left blank. I like it.
Many thanks to Katherine for sending in her art. I can’t wait to see what I’ve got to post next week!
Hello all. On page 36 of the January/February issue of OWL (on newsstands now!), we invited readers to send in some art for our Reader Art of the Week feature on the blog. I have just one thing to say about that: it WORKED! I’ve been getting tons of stuff from readers, and I can’t wait to start sharing it with you all.
This week’s art comes to us courtesy of OWL reader Lindsey. Check it out:
Cool, huh? I like the sketch (Lindsey informs the model for the drawing is her pet bird, Casper) and the presentation, too. I’m not sure if Lindsey intended it, but the blue lines on the paper almost feel like the bars of Casper’s cage, don’t they? That’s a very good example of how an artist’s choice of tools can affect the overall image. Neat!
Many thanks to Lindsey for sending in her art. Let me know what you think in the comments below and tune in again next week for some more awesome art!
Hello all, and welcome to a new edition of Reader Art of the Week. This week’s art comes to us from blog reader Anna (me!!!!). Check out her short fiction story below:
Why: A Short Story on Wonder
I was walking back home. Well, skipping, actually (I had gotten full marks on a test), when out of the blue, literally, a small, dark shape came careening down from the sky, breaking up my everyday routine, though I did not know it, forever. As it fell, I thought. I was in an enclosed bubble. Time stood still. And slowly, slowly, I came to a conclusion. I would save that falling object. And it was small. It would not crush me, or pin me beneath its pitiful body. I would save it. As I lay, trying to get to sleep that night, I wondered why. I had not known that I would soon hold a living, breathing creature, or that the same creature would be curled up in my arms later that evening; large, fleshy fingers against small, delicate wings. All that I had known was that I could not let that small object lie broken on the ground, heart as faint as a butterfly’s wings, doomed to be no longer part of the world, when I could have been there, cradling a small baby bird in my arms.
Neat, huh? I like how Anna keeps the suspense up and keeps us guessing at what the object in the sky is until the very end of the last line. I also like the message it sends about how small, brave actions can change us and others around us forever. Very cool.
Many thanks to Anna for sending in her story. ’Til next time…!
Editor’s note: we interrupt our regularly scheduled programming for a word from OWL assistant editor, Kendra Brown. (Craig will be back next week.) Enjoy!
Have you ever dreamed of being a rock star? Me, too! And so have Reese, Geneva, Liam, and Mikey — characters in TELETOON’s brand new show, Mudpit, which premieres tonight at 7:30 pm. I caught a sneak peek of the first episode earlier this week, and I’m here to tell you a bit about it.
This cool new show, which is a combination of live-action and animation, is about four teens — Reese, Geneva, Liam, and Mikey — who form a virtual rock band called Mudpit in hopes of achieving real rock stardom. But how? By competing in the virtual reality game, Muzika.
If Reese, Geneva, Liam, and Mikey can make it through the virtual auditions in front of an online crowd of millions, then Mudpit will be entered into the game for a chance to win a real record deal. Do they have what it takes? You’ll have to tune in to find out!
My main observation about the show is:
1) It rocks. And what I mean by that is, it’s a show about rocking out. Whether the characters are practising at the Game and Grub café or performing on stage in the virtual world of Muzika, Reese, Geneva, Liam, and Mikey are all about rocking out. To be sure, there’s more to the show than just musical performances, but it’s a major part of what makes Mudpit so much fun.
2) It’s funny. In between all the rocking out — and even during it — there are lots of jokes and funny scenes. For example, a phone call from Liam’s mom while Mudpit are performing on stage makes for one hilarious moment.
3) It’s got action. From shooting freeze rays out of a guitar to dodging zombie agents, there is no shortage of action inside the virtual world of Muzika. This part of the show will definitely appeal to all the gamers out there.
Mudpit is sure to be a hit with music fans, but fans of shows such as iCarly and Wizards of Waverly Place may also want to check it out. Fun fact: Daniel Magder (who plays Mikey, Mudpit’s bass guitarist) is most well-known for his role as Derek’s younger brother, Edwin, on Life with Derek. You may recognize other Mudpit cast members since many of them have also appeared in other shows and movies.
If you tune into Mudpit’s premiere tonight on TELETOON, come back and tell us what you think!
Hello all… and happy new year! Like a lot of you, I’m looking forward to the first Reader Art of the Week post of 2012, but I thought we’d kick the year off with a first for the blog: art from OWL’s designer, Caroline! Considering she’s the one who coordinates the art for each issue of OWL, she is ideally suited for this, don’t you think? In fact, I can’t believe I hadn’t thought of this already!
But, anyway, on with the art! Caroline has submitted a photo for our enjoyment. Check it out:
Neat, huh? Caroline took this shot in La Boca — a neighbourhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina — on vacation just last month. I didn’t know a lot about La Boca or it’s crazily painted buildings, but luckily Caroline filled me in:
There is a harbour nearby. The residents who didn’t have a lot of money would go over to the ships and ask for their leftover paint. That’s why it became so multi-coloured!
Awesome! I love how the random colours work together so perfectly. And the background info makes it even more amazing.
Many thanks to Caroline for letting me publish her photo. If YOU would like to see YOUR art posted up on the blog, send it to me at owlblog@owlkids.com.
Happy 2012, everyone!
Craig, owlblog@owlkids.com
P.S. Check back tomorrow for the new schedule for the OWL Blog Book Club. I’ve chosen the next three books we’re all going to read, and I think you’re going to like them!
