Art Walk & Lighthouse Pictures along with The Bay Gull

This past Saturday, Emerson had the opportunity to participate in an Art Walk, scheduled as an added benefit to a first anniversary celebration for an upscale apartment/condo village in Surprise. In addition to the 15 or so artists, residents and guests were treated to breakfast, children participated in carnival games along with treats like face painting, snow cones and cotton candy, a fun "treasure hunt" was available for those who toured several apartment models and overall, it was a very fun family event. We found out about the event through a friend who sent along an invitation for our family and in conversation, she mentioned that they were still looking for artists. Only a little over a week away, we decided to jump on the chance and signed up for a table on the Art Walk. Since publishing The Bay Gull last summer, Emerson has been working on his drawings, practicing with different mediums like watercolors and watercolor pencils (although he prefers colored pencils) and even completed a drawing course to learn some new techniques, particularly with charcoal.
The Art Walk posed as a great opportunity for several reasons: Emerson was able to display his book along with other art work that he has created for free, he talked with everyone about his work to get their feedback, particularly listening to areas where he could improve for public appeal, he networked with other local artists and swapped cards with them and he had a chance to create a great table display.

On display at his table we had a book of his cartoons, 10 framed lighthouse drawings that he has created and The Bay Gull. We used boxes to create height, lots of tablecoths, sheets and fabric to cover the two 8 foot tables, nautical accents including shells that our son collected from Narragansett Bay on our last trip back in March and some fabulous "fish nets" for our backdrop and more texture on the table. In addition, Emerson displayed a nautical chart plus a couple of books, one about lighthouses and the other, Narragansett Bay, by Richard Benjamin and John Torgan, which is the most beautiful photo book offering breathtaking photos from throughout the state of Rhode Island.
It was a great day for us as a family and, because the opportunity was free, we were able to fully enjoy the event without the stress of covering any costs. Our rewards for this event included the experience and knowledge that we gained from putting everything together for the tables, the additional artwork Emerson completed in time for the show as deadlines ALWAYS help to get work done, being in the presence of other talented, gifted artists, plus we won a raffle prize, beautiful custom designed coasters, from one of the other artists!

Art Walk & Lighthouse Pictures along with The Bay Gull

Emerson invited to work with 7th Annual Literacy Day in Phoenix

TINK INK Publishing

Teaching, Inspiring, Nurturing Kids ~ Illustrated Children’s Books

 

Children’s Author & Illustrator Emerson M. Colwell, Jr. Honored to Participate in Phoenix Head Start Literacy Day

Phoenix Head Start Hosts 7^th Annual Literacy Day on Tuesday, April 20

Phoenix, AZ – Children’s author/illustrator Emerson M. Colwell, Jr. will be one of 66 volunteers helping to promote literacy with three to five-year-old children. The 7^th Annual Literacy Day, hosted by the City of Phoenix, takes place on Tuesday, April 20. This year, volunteers will be reading the book Hop Jump by author/illustrator Ellen Stoll Walsh whose popular children’s books also include Mouse Paint and Mouse Count.

More than 90 Phoenix Head Start classrooms will be visited and the volunteer list includes Mayor Phil Gordon, Councilman Bill Gates and City Manager Davis Cavazos.

All the Head Start classrooms will receive a copy of the book and 3,090 children will receive their own book to take home.

Mr. Colwell will be reading at Esperanza Elementary School, 251 W. Mohawk Ln, Phoenix, AZ 85027 at 9:30 a.m. and the media is welcome to attend.

About the Author

Inspired by his love for the Ocean State and the beautiful Rhode Island coastline, Emerson M. Colwell, Jr. wrote and illustrated his newly released first children’s book The Bay Gull. His second book, The Fisher Cat, will be released later this year.

Emerson resides in Peoria, AZ with his wife and three children.

For more information, visit www.tinkinkpublishing.com.

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Emerson invited to work with 7th Annual Literacy Day in Phoenix

Children’s Author & Illustrator Emerson Colwell Jr. Returns to Home State to Teach Local Children

Renowned children’s author/illustrator and native Bristol, Rhode Islander Emerson M. Colwell, Jr. will return to the Ocean State March 12th - March 22nd to bring children on a journey down the bay.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR Log (Press Release) – Mar 07, 2010 – Providence, RI – Bristol, Rhode Island native Emerson M. Colwell, Jr. will offer public events to bring children on a journey down the beautiful RI coastline, spreading messages of sharing and teaching children about Narragansett Bay with his book The Bay Gull. In addition, the author will be previewing his newest children’s book The Fisher Cat, currently in production.

The public and media are invited to attend one of several book readings, including:
SAVE THE BAY, Saturday, March 13th at 2:00 PM, 175 Memorial Boulevard Newport, RI p: 401-324-6020
SAVE THE BAY, Wednesday, March 17th at 3:30 PM, 100 Save The Bay Dr. Providence, RI p: 401-272-3540
Rogers Free Library, Saturday, March 20th at 11:00 AM, 525 Hope Street (Rt 114) Bristol, RI 02809 p: 401-253-6948

Mr. Colwell will also visit several schools including Hampden Meadows in Barrington on March 15th, St. Philomena’s in Portsmouth on March 16th and two schools in Connecticut on March 18th and 19th.

Since the book was released last July, the author has been committed to working with independent businesses, schools and non-profit organizations, providing educational presentations and resources for children while working to protect the beauty of the Ocean State by helping raise a generation dedicated to preserving our environment. In addition to providing free presentations, TINK INK Publishing donates to  various non-profit organizations, including SAVE THE BAY.

The Bay Gull is the story of a lovable seagull who finds a bagel on Hope Street in Bristol, RI and demonstrates his ability to share his food with all the great new friends he meets on his journey south, all the way down to Block Island. Familiar Narragansett Bay landmarks such as Prudence Island, the Newport  Bridge, and the Castle Hill and Point Judith Lighthouses make this book hard to resist for a native Rhode Islander.

Children enjoy the rhymes, the geography lesson of Narragansett Bay, the funny names of places in RI like "Hog Island" and the animal characters including a dog, deer, hog, and horseshoe crab. Parents like the story for the historical locations in RI and the message of sharing.  The Bay Gull was published in July, 2009. It is currently offered at twenty  independent businesses and non-profit organizations throughout the Narragansett Bay Area in RI and through the website www.thebaygull.com where a list of the stores can be found.

About the Author: Emerson M. Colwell, Jr. has been drawing cartoons as long as he can remember.  Born and raised in Bristol, RI, most of his drawings involve fishing and sailing, two of his favorite hobbies.  His drawing days took a back seat for a while as he pursued his full time career, got married, bought a house and started a family.  One morning in August, 2008, he woke up with the idea for The Bay Gull.

Emerson currently resides in Arizona with his wife and three children.  Memories of his favorite activities back east and his love for RI have truly influenced his books.

Children’s Author & Illustrator Emerson Colwell Jr. Returns to Home State to Teach Local Children

Press Release - Success - Free-Press-Release.com

Emerson is taking off for his 2nd RI tour since publishing The Bay Gull. This trip includes 4 classroom presentations, an event at Roger's Free Library in Bristol, RI and two event with non-profit organization Save the Bay.

The Library and Save The Bay events are open to public. Please join us if you are in the area - we would love to have you there, too.

Click here for a copy of the press release and be sure to share it with your friends.

Press Release - Success - Free-Press-Release.com