Watercolor studies of Fall Flowers

Here's a photo of the colors, but the burnt reds looked redder in real life

Took it inside and added colored pencil

Trying to use a wet on wet style to give a feeling of flowers and grass

I did another study, using resist first to keep whites, reds and yellows strong.

 I love to garden, so I've been playing around with ways to paint flowers. Here are a few of my studies. This amazing October weather has been calling me, so I began by going outside and painting from my garden. Feverfew on the right, don't know the name on the left, but I couldn't manage to catch the periwinkle violet and burnt cranberry.

Went inside and added a layer of texture

More work to come! 

Another study, trying to combine what I'd learned.

Latest Work: Cover for Cobblestone Magazine, October 2013

My latest work just hit the newstands... the October cover for Cobblestone Magazine: Valley Forge, The Real Story.

Cobblestone is an American History magazine for young people.

I was pleased when the designer for Cobblestone asked me to do a cover about Valley Forge. I'd already done research about VF when I worked on "The Black Regiment of the American Revolution."

The focus for this illustration was on 17-year old Joseph Plumb Martin. He marched into Valley Forge with the Continental Army in 1777, and it is believed that he kept a journal of his experiences. At the age of 70, he wrote his memoirs, considered the best first-person account of the life of a private soldier in the Revolutionary War.

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©Cheryl Kirk Noll, "Black Regiment of the American Revolution."

Susquehanna Sojourn

For over ten years now, I've been getting together annually with three friends from my college days at Lebanon Valley in Annville, PA. This year we stayed at a cottage in an old Evangelical United Brethern summer church camp near the Susquehanna River. The EUB merged with the Methodist Church in 1968, and the camp is now privately owned. Two of our group had dads who were ministers, and they stayed there as kids.

The first leg of the trip was four hours to Lake Hopatcong, the largest lake in New Jersey, where my friend reigns as Queen of the Castle, overlooking her realm. 

Lyd on the porch

We met our friends at the cottage, where it was quiet and peaceful (except for us. I'm afraid a few of us are raucous laughers, and we were all having a good time!) 

We took a trip to an overlook to see where the East and West branches of the Susquehanna converge. You can tell the East branch by it's muddy color!

Kim, Bert and Lyd in front of the cottage.

Another adorable cottage.

Bert, Kim, Lyd and me, with the Susquehanna

You can see where the east and west branches merge by the color change.

A Visit with Mom

It's a long drive to visit my mom, but I make sure to do it at least a few times every year. It's wonderful to stay at her farm, sit on the porch swing, and just hang out!

We had an extra treat this year. A lifelong friend flew up from Florida for her 40th high school reunion and stayed with Mom, too.  My son and husband came along, and we got to see my niece perform with a cast of talented school children in Newark United Methodist's church camp "Music Factory." We also enjoyed a great chicken dinner at my brother's Meeting House.

It was a visit I'll remember fondly.

Judy Heck Lowry and my  mom

Geese

chewing alpaca

An alpaca from "Alpaca Fields." Love the way he eats!

My brother and his wife. Could these tomatoes look any fresher?

It was a treat to gather with most of my family, as well as our family friend, Judy

The coat id's this Biblical favorite.

My niece played Eve.

My mom's favorite tenant, who calls her "Early." It's a mutual love affair with these two!

Summertime Students

It's been a great summer. I taught a wonderful group of students at RISD Summer Studies. What a hard-working, talented group of young people they were! The six weeks flew by! 

RISD Summer Studies Children's Book Illustration Students, 2013

Illustrator

     I've been working as a children's book illustrator most of my life. I specialize in historic and multicultural subject matter, but recently have been expanding my portfolio towards younger children, with animals, and a more playful look.

My traditional work is watercolor.

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From "The Black Regiment of the American Revolution," by Linda Crotta Brennan, © Cheryl Kirk Noll

an illustration of "Angel Island," the west coast equivalent to Ellis Island, art © Cheryl Kirk Noll

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from "A Basket of Bangles," by Ginger Howard, ©Cheryl Kirk Noll

From "The Doll Hopital" series, by Joan Holub, art © Cheryl Kirk Noll

from "The Crane Wife," by Ena Keo, Steck-Vaughn, © Cheryl Kirk Noll

 In the last few years, I've added a textured look using colored pencil.

"Secrets in the Attic" © Cheryl Kirk Noll

"Secrets in the Attic" © Cheryl Kirk Noll

from a story about the Japanese detention camps in America during WWII, ©Cheryl Kirk Noll

Happy Holidays © Cheryl Kirk Noll