artist statement...another version

So, after talking it over with people, I guess I have to admit that the ABC artist statement isn't "appropriate" or whatever for the exhibition catalog. So here's one compromise.

“Pulled along by his dog Tiny, Sam wistfully looks over his shoulder at a small group of kids along the path. The kids are laughing and talking in a language Sam doesn’t understand. He feels so alone here in this strange place, with only Tiny to keep him company. He wishes he could just go home. At least at home he could talk to kids in his own language. Here he just can’t figure out a way to make friends. He spends his days playing with Tiny, exploring the strange city, and drawing in his sketchbook. He’s getting pretty good at drawing Tiny; Tiny, with his little bright red collar and matching leash and his silly happy face. Sam is sure that without Tiny, all this would be much more unbearable. But still, it’d be nice to have a friend. He sighs as he and Tiny turn the corner, moving away from the group of kids, their laughter chasing his lonely path. It’s an odd feeling to have your words suddenly be meaningless. It made Sam a little sad to think that something that was always there for him and had served him well, now meant nothing.”

I’m Neva Austrew and I am a children’s picturebook illustrator. My work is about communicating with pictures all that is said in words.