A few days ago Roger Ebert, whom I follow on Twitter and whose reviews I have enjoyed for decades, said that when he watches movies and they show books on shelves in the background, the shelves never contain any kind of film criticism. This immediately brought my Mabel painting to mind because an Ebert film guide is prominently displayed on one of the shelves. I belong to his online club, so I made the following comment to his latest newsletter:
Roger, in one of your tweets from the past day or two you mentioned that you never see film criticism books on the shelves in movie backgrounds. A few weeks ago I painted a watercolor of a little girl with excellent taste in books:
Your 1998 Video Companion makes a small but important cameo. :)
I love your newsletters. Long time lurker, first time commenter from St. Joseph, IL.
-----
AND HERE IS WHAT HE WROTE BACK!!!
-----
Dear Kelly: I visited your blog (linked by your name) and was entranced. I have a particular love of watercolors, especially by Edward Lear. I know a fair amount about the British watercolorists of the 19th century, and I must say I have never seen watercolors with the technical mastery you command. There is also so much heart, and such an embrace of color.
A London art dealer once advised me to try painting a few watercolors just to discover how hard it was, so much more difficult to control and correct than oil. I did. That deepens my respect for you.
I know exactly where "St. Joe" is, and have been there to visit friends. In my News-Gazette days I often wrote about Unity High School. I envy your students, and am cheering for your year of professional leave.
Club members, don't miss: [link]
-----
And then he tweeted about it to his ***186,430*** followers.
-----
Then he emailed me personally and said this:
-----
Dear Kelly,
I responded with much gratitude on the blog, and then tweeted your wonderful painting:
Thank you!
I have only 140 characters per tweet, room for "technical mastery" but not for "warmth and love" :(
Cheers,
R
------
My website is exploding now and I am bounding around the house. I was going to make some brownies this afternoon, but now I don't know if this will be possible. Thank you Melinda and Kate for buying that 1998 Video Guide. Thank you Ashley for taking that spectacular photo of Miss Mabel. Thank you, lil Mabel, for being my muse.
AND THANK YOU ROGER EBERT!
Thumbs up!
So happy for you, Kelly....so deserved!!
Posted by: GinaE | July 18, 2010 at 02:12 PM
I am so stinking happy for you!!!!! I just shared this story with some friends and started crying out of pure joy for you!!!!! :) I'm so proud to have been one of your students!!!!!!
Posted by: Meagan | July 18, 2010 at 02:28 PM
You deserve this and so much more. You are beyond talented and funny to boot... a wonderful and rare combination!
Congratulations!!
P.S. I found your blog from watching Emily on YouTube and have not been able to stop religiously checking your blog. I don't know which one of you is the most the adorable and genuine!
Posted by: Tasha | July 18, 2010 at 03:42 PM
wow kelly, what a story! congrats! you deserve it!
Posted by: Andrea | July 18, 2010 at 04:49 PM
Kismet is my librarian.
Posted by: Melinda | July 18, 2010 at 07:05 PM
Ah... the bookshelves look like they live in a home where they are loved & used. :)
Posted by: Andrea | July 18, 2010 at 07:40 PM
Hey. I just found your blog from Roger Ebert's twitter, and I wanted to say that I had no idea watercolors could look like this. You're an amazing artist.
Posted by: David | July 18, 2010 at 07:41 PM
How cool, seeing the story from beginning to end.
Hi Mabel, I love how you love books.
Took me a while to find Ebert's book near her bent right knee, next to red book.
Posted by: twitter.com/devans00 | July 18, 2010 at 07:46 PM
Roger knows an artist when he sees one and capturing the little reader's intent expression is superb artistry. So is her artistry making a smile for the camera! Precious.
Posted by: Tom Dark | July 18, 2010 at 08:03 PM
I must agree! Beautiful color and light!
Posted by: aemcdraw | July 18, 2010 at 08:03 PM
Rogert Ebert AND Spy - Mabel could not have any better taste in reading. :)
What an awesome story! Not to mention that Roger Ebert SHOWS, scientifically,
that emoticons in emails are A-OK.
Good luck on the year off, K! I think now is the time for a prominently positioned
new painting of Bono! ;)
Posted by: Elmo | July 18, 2010 at 08:48 PM
Aww. Isn't he such a class act?
Posted by: Serene @ MomFoodProject | July 18, 2010 at 08:58 PM
I'm very happy for you and it was well deserved. I too stumbled upon your blog watching and being an advid follower of Emily's Beauty Broadcast and her YouTube channel. :) I've been a follower of your writing and paintings ever since! Brava!!!
Posted by: Anna | July 18, 2010 at 09:28 PM
I’m a long-time fan of your U2 cartoons and of your blog (but this is my first time commenting). How exciting to see the kudo’s and attention coming your way - so well-deserved! Beautiful paintings, wonderful recipes and blog - thanks for sharing everything with us. And belated congrats on your year off to paint!
Posted by: Eileen | July 19, 2010 at 04:20 AM
That is FABULOUS! :D
Posted by: achtungrowan | July 19, 2010 at 07:27 AM
Best. WWW. Story. Ever. Congrats, Kelly!
Posted by: Mark D. | July 19, 2010 at 07:50 AM
That is awesome!!
I'm also a longtime fan of your U2 cartoons :). Hope Bun is doing well.
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=501009744 | July 19, 2010 at 04:53 PM
Sweet serendipity! In your next masterpiece you need to paint in an Oprah mag...
By the way, what are your fav movies? I like American Beauty.
Posted by: The Beautiful Kind | July 19, 2010 at 07:12 PM
What an awesome story, Kelly. Congratulations and it couldn't have happened to a more deserving artist!
Posted by: David Comay | July 20, 2010 at 12:06 AM
Wow! The painting looks so real!
Posted by: Mark@Mortgage Shop | July 20, 2010 at 02:18 AM
Thanks very much to all of you for your comments! It's been an incredible 48 hours, I tell you. Traffic on my blog skyrocketed from the usual 250 hits to an unprecedented 3,000 in one day.
...And now to slip back into total obscurity/anonymity. ;)
Posted by: Kelly | July 20, 2010 at 06:21 AM
Kelly, ditto.
Tasha...I have had the pleasure of meeting both of them, and can personally attest that they are both completely adorable and genuine. Excellent upbringing if you ask me. :)
Posted by: JimRhino | July 21, 2010 at 08:37 PM
Hi, I am another 'lurker' of your blog for quite some time. I have tried many of your suggested recipes (which are always brilliant and enjoyed by the fam)- the nuddie balls were a hit with the boys... and always look forward to seeing your lovely paintings. I find it difficult to believe that you will ever 'slip into obscurity'. You are far too talented :)
Posted by: Ann | July 22, 2010 at 06:35 AM
That is AWESOME! Lovely painting, and attention well deserved.
Posted by: Korinthia Klein | April 06, 2013 at 02:27 PM