The Roger Ebert story!

OK. Excuse me while I recover from a heart attack.

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.

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AND HERE IS WHAT HE WROTE BACK!!!

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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]

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And then he tweeted about it to his ***186,430*** followers.

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Then he emailed me personally and said this:

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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

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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!

Comments

[GinaE]

So happy for you, Kelly....so deserved!!

[Meagan]

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!!!!!!

[Tasha]

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!

[Andrea]

wow kelly, what a story! congrats! you deserve it!

[Melinda]

Kismet is my librarian.

[Andrea]

Ah... the bookshelves look like they live in a home where they are loved & used. :)

[David]

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.

[twitter.com/devans00]

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.

[Tom Dark]

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.

[aemcdraw]

I must agree! Beautiful color and light!

[Elmo]

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! ;)

[Serene @ MomFoodProject]

Aww. Isn't he such a class act?

[Anna]

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!!!

[Eileen]

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!

[achtungrowan]

That is FABULOUS! :D

[Mark D.]

Best. WWW. Story. Ever. Congrats, Kelly!

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=501009744]

That is awesome!!

I'm also a longtime fan of your U2 cartoons :). Hope Bun is doing well.

[The Beautiful Kind]

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.

[David Comay]

What an awesome story, Kelly. Congratulations and it couldn't have happened to a more deserving artist!

[Mark@Mortgage Shop]

Wow! The painting looks so real!

[Kelly]

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. ;)

[JimRhino]

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. :)

[Ann]

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 :)

[Korinthia Klein]

That is AWESOME! Lovely painting, and attention well deserved.