this photo comes from a day in october 20011 at the LOCKWOOD PARK in rockford. the theme for this years octoberfest came from john giles childrens book titled THE FIRST FOREST. john is second from the left along with the great "tree maker" center. john and i had a booth where we signed copies of his book for those that made donations to the park. a fun and successful day for everyone.
I've had First Forest since 1989, went to a book signing at at little book store in Freeport and had a chance to met both John Gile and you. I still read the book to my neices and nephews, if one could only follow the teachings of the "tree maker". What a great lesson for all of us to learn about greed and being selfish to those around us. Your illustrations bring the book to life, the tree maker looks just as I imagine he would be. Your talent amazes me.
thanks melinda and diane. this little book has been printed in japanese and spanish and i think its in its 5th edition. was on the # 1 best seller list in chicago for quiet awhile when it first came out.
I still have my signed copy that I received Christmas of 1989 from my aunt and uncle. Timeless message. Mesmerizing illustrations.
Even having read it many times as a child, just looking at it this New Year's Eve I understand its true value more than when I received it. So glad it's still in my collection, somehow escaping the fate of other favorite books lost and destroyed over the years.
As an adult, one can truly understand the benevolent, firm hand of the Tree Maker. Only the childish think the righteous path is easy.
megan...how thoughtful of you to take the time to write such words of understanding and wisdom. i will pass them on to the author. happy new year to you and gary.....tom
I still have a signed copy of First Forest that I had you and John Giles sign at Cherryvale when the book first came out. But we go even further back. I took drawing and painting lessons from you through Rock Valley College courses way back in the early '70's! I was just learning to paint with acrylics then. You knew me as Louise Johnson. Since then I moved to Champaign, Illinois, where we have a very vibrant and active art scene. I paint with watercolors now - specializing for the moment in fish and aquatic creatures. I am getting ready to retire from my day job and devote more time to painting. I was looking at websites for artists when I found yours. Your success is still an inspiration to me as an artist.
louise....nice to hear from you after all these years and good to know that you are still pursuing your art. would like to see some of your watercolors do you have a web site?.....tom
8 Responses to first forest
via tomheflin.com
via tomheflin.com
via tomheflin.com
signing at at little book store in Freeport and
had a chance to met both John Gile and you.
I still read the book to my neices and nephews,
if one could only follow the teachings of the
"tree maker". What a great lesson for all of us to learn about greed and being selfish to those
around us.
Your illustrations bring the book to life, the
tree maker looks just as I imagine he would be.
Your talent amazes me.
via tomheflin.com
via tomheflin.com
Even having read it many times as a child, just looking at it this New Year's Eve I understand its true value more than when I received it. So glad it's still in my collection, somehow escaping the fate of other favorite books lost and destroyed over the years.
As an adult, one can truly understand the benevolent, firm hand of the Tree Maker. Only the childish think the righteous path is easy.
via tomheflin.com
via tomheflin.com
I still have a signed copy of First Forest that I had you and John Giles sign at Cherryvale when the book first came out. But we go even further back. I took drawing and painting lessons from you through Rock Valley College courses way back in the early '70's! I was just learning to paint with acrylics then. You knew me as Louise Johnson. Since then I moved to Champaign, Illinois, where we have a very vibrant and active art scene. I paint with watercolors now - specializing for the moment in fish and aquatic creatures. I am getting ready to retire from my day job and devote more time to painting. I was looking at websites for artists when I found yours. Your success is still an inspiration to me as an artist.
via tomheflin.com
do you have a web site?.....tom