In the Fields
 
 
Out beyond ideas of
wrongdoing and right-doing,
There is a field.
I’ll meet you there.
— Rumi

I recently created this illustration, and after that, I wrote a poem inspired by it! I do not often write poems, so I was surprised to encounter Rumi's poem by accident. It struck me how relatable it was. (True creative process magic in action there!)

Marc Chagall also inspired this illustration. While teaching a digital art class, I used Marc Chagall's work to demonstrate various drawing and composition techniques to my students. This prompted me to explore Chagall's art more deeply, and I found myself moved by his beautiful creations and remarkable life stories.

Like Chagall, my artwork often reflects themes of movement and transition to new places, language, belonging, and multiculturism. These universal, archetypal, and timeless themes reside in our subconscious as we create art. For instance, I often depict a woman floating in the sky, expressing a feeling of being caught between the heart and the earth and conveying a sense of only belonging anywhere.

This concept resonates with Rumi's idea of fields—spaces between our conventional understandings, like bustling city centres, where people can meet and converse beyond their differing views and beliefs.

I would like to know if these fields could become places where we create art and connect spiritually, spaces where we can move, dance, and share our humanity under the same sky.

Marc Chagall Painting 

My poem! 

 
Here are my three pieces of advice for your time at the Bologna Children's Book Fair:

Following my first-ever visit to the Bologna Children's Book Fair, I wanted to share some advice: BCBF is a mecca for children's book writers, illustrators and publishers. As a designer and illustrator, I was fortunate to attend this year's fair as part of the team of Green Bean Books, helping them with design and art direction for social media, and photography. While it was a last-minute decision, the experience was invaluable, and I've come away with some excellent advice for anyone looking to make the trip next year.

First, the vibe in Bologna in early April is tough to beat—sunny warmth, world-class food and wine, and a city overflowing with incredible children's book art and talent. It's truly a feast for the senses and creative soul.

However, as unique as it was, I did have some challenges that were easily avoided with proper preparation. So, for those looking to get the most out of next year's fair, here are my top tips:

Prepare Well in Advance

  • To avoid last-minute stress, have your portfolio pieces, business cards, postcards, dummy books, etc. printed and ready weeks beforehand.

  • Book your accommodation as early as possible when rates are lower and availability is better.

Travel with Friends/Colleagues

  • It's much more fun and enriching to experience the fair as part of a group

  • You'll make industry connections more easily

  • Group dinners and downtime are more enjoyable with familiar faces

Apply for Exhibitions/Portfolio Reviews

  • Many exhibitions, competitions and reviews are happening - apply early

  • Prepare something special for the Illustrators Wall to stand out

  • Research publishers attending to identify potential meetings

The energy, creativity, and connections at Bologna are unmatched. While chasing down printers for my postcards at the last minute caused some stress, just being immersed in that world of children's book art and storytelling was an incredible experience.

By planning, leveraging your network, and putting your best work forward, you'll be primed to take full advantage of everything the fair offers. The Italian setting, food and culture alone are worth the trip, but coupled with the professional opportunities, Bologna is a must-visit for anyone in this field.

I can't wait to attend again, prepared to soak it all in. Arrivederci Bologna!

I met the lovely ladies from the Good Ship Illustration, hung my artwork on the illustrator’s wall, worked with the Green Bean Books team, and had fab dinners with them!

Check out my Reels from Bologna here.

Check out the funny WES ANDERSON-inspired reel I created for Green Bean Books here.

Don’t forget to like and comment or say HI!

Happy New Year 2024!

Hello, creative friends!


Firstly, I want to wish you all a happy new year! I have been away for a while, dealing with the events of October 7th. It has been a challenging journey, but I am slowly returning to my creative space. I hope you are doing well and had a restful break filled with warmth and relaxation.

Now, for the exciting part! I invite you to a free "Here and There Creative Coffees" meeting on Zoom, which will be filled with virtual and actual fun. During our meet-up, we will focus on setting creative goals for the year, using the design process as a guide. We will start by creating mind maps and mood boards. If you are interested in joining, please reply, and I will share all the details with you.

Lastly, I have a small list of recommendations for you for 2024. It may seem a bit nerdy and productivity-focused, but that's what it's like when you run your own business :).

 

My top tips for the upcoming year:

  1. If you are addicted to audiobooks like I am, you can now listen to them on Spotify! I cancelled Audible and now get everything from Spotify: one subscription, no more separate apps.

  2. I recommend reading "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle for managing mental health in uncertain times. It emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment and has dramatically helped me in the past few months.

  3. Let's talk about tools! Procreate has been helping me overcome creative blocks and illustrate my book. Even my 9-year-old daughter has started using it while she spends time on her iPad. I highly recommend it. Stay tuned for a post on my Procreate journey and tips. If you have any questions on how to start, you can hit the reply button and ask; I will do my best to help you get started. Here is a free brush kit to get you started! 

  4. For my bilingual friends, Grammarly is a game-changer for writing. It's an AI tool that helps with editing, suggests new sentence structures, and corrects spelling mistakes. I am using it right now to write this!

  5. Calendarpedia is a good solution for all your calendar-related needs. As a business owner, I swear by planning; my diary is my constant companion. Check out the 2024 calendar edition here: I plan to design my calendars every year but often delay due to work, kids, and current events. Maybe next year?

  6. For films, I would recommend watching Jews Don't Count—especially if you live abroad and are Jewish! But also if you are not. This is an exciting perspective on how Jewish people are perceived; it is worth a watch.

  7. Last but not least, I just noticed that Amazon has now discounted my book "My Heart Is Here and There." It is an absolute bargain price, and only four copies are left. It can be a fantastic belated "Happy New Year" gift for everyone who has moved to a new place, whether children or adults.

I wish you all 2024 filled with peace, harmony, and much light to banish violence and hate. Let's make this year remarkable with our intentions and plans!

I look forward to hearing back from you here and there! 

Thank you,

Sharon Vidan-Kashti x

My Heart in Two Places Workshop @JW3 London

My Heart in Two Places Workshop @JW3 London

MAY 30, 2023

I truly enjoyed participating in the Booniks Festival with my book, "My Heart Is Here & There." it was a fantastic experience. 

Thanks you, JW3 London, for Inviting me and providing exceptional facilities for the book cover design workshop I had the privilege of hosting. The event was nothing short of a celebration of books, letters and creativity. 

Witnessing the children and their parents fully immersed in the world of imagination and craftsmanship was an absolute delight. I couldn't be more thrilled to share my passion for picture books and typography while also highlighting the power of being bilingual. It is truly remarkable how books can unlock new horizons and ignite the imaginations of young minds.

Thanks to everyone who attended and participated in the workshop. I am still excited about the stunning book covers that the children created. Each with unique voice, showcasing these young bookmakers' talent. It was truly inspiring!

I offer this kind of bookmaking and book cover design workshops for schools, community centres, libraries and museums. 

 Please contact me to learn more.

I look forward to seeing you here and there! 

Keep On Making,

Sharon x

____________________________________________________________ 

And it was SOLD OUT!

My Heart Is Here and There @Hamigalor Bookshop TL

I am happy to share that the book My Heart Is Here and There is now on display on the Hamigdalor (the Light House) bookshop's website (and in the actual shop) in TLV! 

שמחה לשתף שכעת ניתן להזמין את הספר ליבי כאן ושם מהאתר של חנות הספרים המקסימה *המגדלור* בישראל. ממליצה להגיע ולרכוש בחנות בתל אביב מאחר וזו אחת מחנויות הספרים היפות בעיר! 

And please remember to let me know and send a pic with the book! 

For those elsewhere in the world:

See you here and there! 

https://www.hamigdalor.co.il/.../%D7%9C%D7%91%D7%99-%D7.../

The Robots Are Coming!

Illustration: Sharon Vidan (c) - Photoshop work.

Do you worry about AI's speedy progress? Do you see the title AI everywhere you go on the web? If so, please keep reading my initial thoughts on this whole thing!

Most of my recent conversations with friends and colleagues over the past few weeks have been about the rise of AI; having read sci-fi most of my teenage years and also during my 20s (thanks, Moti Vidan, for letting me read your Asimov books, Roger Zelazny's, and not to mention William Gibson's) And also, because I'm a neophile I find this whole thing super intriguing. I might title this piece of writing Confessions of a Neophile.

While I also feel uncertain about the future of art and design in the face the speedy AI progress, I must admit that I already use AI tools daily:

 

  • I use dictation to write on a Word document (following Joanna Penn's podcast advice about the AI-assisted author)

  • I use Grammarly to edit what I've dictated.

  • I use Chat GPT to outline marketing post ideas and play around. 

And what about Photoshop? Procreate? Would you not consider these tools to be man/woman and machine working together? I have been using Photoshop for more than a decade now! 

Since I come from a visual arts background and am an artist/designer, the only things I have kept shy from so far are Dall-E and Midjourney, Which are the visual art AI tools. I tried using Dall-E briefly, and the results were creepy. 

Also, I love the craft and process of hand drawing and drawing from life and observation. But I will give it a go to understand better what it is about rather than use it for commercial purposes. To understand the competition! :)

AI will also give rise to people gathering in small groups to do crafty activities, cooking together, drawing, and making art. Maybe even hiding in secret groups around the deep dark web. This has already happened in Patreon, for example.

Therefore, on the optimistic side, handmade crafts, writings, and music might have more value in the future than before. If art is about connection and relationships, how can you build relationships with machines and robots, aka AI? Time will tell.

 

Should we start building our artsy caves in the mountains yet?

Sharon x