Fri, Apr 17

Today was a productive day. It feels freeing to have all the text finalized so I can finally illustrate but at the same time terrifying because I don’t know how to draw. With children’s books the pictures are just as important, if not more than the story, and if mine are horrible then the whole thing is going to be. After looking at some different techniques I think that water colors would be best suited for this project, not only to they give older feel but they don’t take as long as say, oils. Doing this in crayons or marker wouldn’t be the most professional looking. I have a love hate (mostly hate) relationship with watercolors already. They are finicky paints, and they can make the paper warp, and the colors are usually completely different wet than when dry. Plus I’m using water color pencils for the first time though hopefully the learning curve with short and easier to work with than the traditional paint. I’ve tried to push myself while doing this project and working with a new medium is  just another way of doing that.

Story Final: 1. It was dark when she woke. The castle was vibrating with energy. Something

was wrong. The girl’s squire burst into her room.

2. “Sekai,” he said panting, “The royal family, your parents, your brother,

they’ve been kidnapped by The Evil One!”

3. Sekai rubbed the sleep from her eyes and jumped out of bed. To get to The

Evil One’s castle she’d have to cross The Lake Of Frozen Tears.

4. She grabbed a bag of supplies. As she was walking out, she noticed her dad’s

old hunting whistle hanging on a lanyard. She grabbed it and continued out

the door, swallowing the lump in her throat.

5. Walking across The Lake was dangerous but she had to save her family. Sekai

stepped out onto the ice.

6. She walked for miles.

7. Sekai looked behind her. Something had melted all the ice! There was no way

back. She turned around…

8. BAM! There the ice dragon was, giant and menacing. He gave a slow, cruel

smile; showing off his hundreds of razor sharp teeth.

9. “The Evil One chained me here 100 years ago,” he growled, “no one can pass

unless they solve my riddle.”

10. “Deal!” said Sekai

 “I am not alive, but I grow. I don’t have lungs, but I need air. I don’t have a

mouth, but water kills me. What am I?” the dragon growled.

11. Sekai thought long and hard. What could it be? Finally the answer came to

her.

“Fire!” she said.

The dragon narrowed his eyes.

“Correct,” he growled.

12. Sekai stared at the dragon. She couldn’t just leave him trapped. She pulled a

pin from her hair and dove underwater.

13. CLUNK! The dragon’s chains dropped from his legs and sank into the murky

blue depths. The dragon gasped. Sekai popped back up for air.

14. “Thank you for freeing me,” it growled, “If you ever need my help just give me

a call.”

Sekai rode on his back to the gates of The Evil One’s kingdom.

15. The tall gates slowly creaked open. There he stood. The Evil One. Fluffy

McPetalbum, the evilest hamster in all the land.

16. “I know why you’re here,” he squeaked, “but I won’t give you back your

family! I need them out of the way so I can take over your kingdom!”

17. “I won’t let you do that!” Sekai yelled.

“Oh really?” squeaked Fluffy, “Guards! Get her!”

18. Mini dinos and flying sharks swarmed Sekai. They attacked her from above

and below.

19. Again and again she was knocked down. Rescuing her family seemed

impossible. Sekai’s shoulder’s slumped; she stayed on the ground. Fluffy

smirked at her.

20. “Little girl,” he squeaked “did you really think you could defeat me?! You are

so small, so weak,so-“

21. As Fluffy talked, Sekai thought. She wasn’t weak, she was strong, she had

made it this far hadn’t she? And yes she was small, but she was also brave.

22. And she was smart, smart enough to solve the dragon’s riddle. She had an

idea.

23. Sekai stood up one last time. On shaking knees, she locked eyes with Fluffy.

 “BLURRRRRRT!” Sekai blew into her dad’s whistle.

The sound echoed across The Lake.

24. “Did you-did you just make the ice dragon call?” squeaked Fluffy.

25. SWOOM! The ice dragon swooped down and plucked Fluffy from his tiny

throne.

26. The flying sharks and mini dinos ran away. Sekai rushed to free her family.

27. “I’m so glad you guys are safe,” she said, hugging them.

28. “We are so proud of you,” her dad said, kissing her forehead.

29. “Thanks for saving me,” mumbled her brother, who squirmed out of the hug.

30. They started on the road back home.

31. Thank you/ acknowledgements