I’m a Luddite. Well, maybe not in the true sense of the word. Compared to many of the younger illustrators
and writers, I don’t rush to use the “best “new social media. In fact, I was probably one of the last to
create a website. I’m always apologizing
for responding late to e-mails and if you are waiting for me to post something
on Facebook, well, you should buy that lottery ticket because it is your lucky
day. With all that being said I’m now blogging
, now that everyone else is instagramming and tweeting.
Don’t worry my dear art loving friends, I’m not considering blogging
daily. There are just too many projects
looming in the studio. In this world of instant and quick communication, I’m taking
the horse and buggy approach and will only post four to six blogs per year. My goal is to share the most important events
that are happening in the studio, like the release of a new book.
And I just happen to have a new book entitled Light in the Darkness
written by my wife Lesa Cline Ransome and published by Disney’s Jump At The Sun
Books. The idea for this book came while Lesa was working on our last book Words Set me Free, the
story of young Frederick Douglass and how he learned to read. While doing
research for Frederick, Lesa came across information about slaves sneaking out
in the middle of the night to learn how to read and write in holes dug in the
ground called pit schools. The discovery of the levels and risk people would take
to learn for what we often take for granted is amazing and often beyond
understanding. It’s a real testimony to mankind’s eagerness to obtain knowledge. Unfortunately, many of our children today
don’t have this same thirst for learning and find pleasure in playing videos
games and watching television. But this book isn’t only for reluctant learners.
It’s also a book for young people who work hard for their education and enjoy
reading stories of others who also saw the value of education. 
For those of you who would like to look over my shoulder and
watch me paint, you can view my Youtube video, James
Ransome working in watercolor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMEVxjt_uCo
You’ll see me painting the cover of Light
in the Darkness. It took
place over a three day work period. I didn’t realize I should have changed my shirt until the third day of
filming. I did all the filming by placing a camera on a tripod. My wonderful
daughter who is studying filmmaking edited video after a few months of begging.
Also on Youtube
you can watch a visit with Caldecott award winner
Chris Raschka. I
took my class to visit him in his studio in New York City. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Qvct5O7WCs
After you have watched my Youtube video a couple of hundred
times, you may want to read a review of Light In The Darkness.
Just last week The New York Times listed
it as one of the three most impressive picture books released for Black history
month. The link is below
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/06/books/nelson-mandela-by-kadir-nelson-and-more.html?_r=0http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/06/books/nelson-mandela-by-kadir-nelson-and-more.html?_r=0
Light In the Darkness
is my Superbowl. And just like football season, my first post is done and it is
now time to prepare for the next book
and posting . There will be a draft in the spring and I hope you will be
awaiting my next post pick that I’ll be sharing.
Till next season,
James Ransome
