My thoughts and good wishes go out to all who have been negatively affected by the latest storm.
We got 8 to 10 inches here in my area of the Hudson Valley, NY- nothing major- just enough to play in.
A week ago I delivered the final art for my upcoming book, Little Miss Muffet (September 2013). I didn’t have a little girl model for this book, so my husband had taken pictures of me in various poses. In this book, Miss Muffet is scared of more than spiders. Just like me 
And here are some of the poses:
Here I am on a couple of flakes of hay- my makeshift tuffet (a footstool). I have just seen the spider.
Here I am emerging from under a makeshift daybed (it was hay season, btw)
Here I am frightened by something (I don’t want to give away any surprises
When I need a pose and my husband isn’t around, I have a full length mirror on my studio closet door and I take a picture of myself. 
Running away from something again.
Hiding from something out in the garden
In these next two pics I have “bathed and am getting ready for bed.”
And here is the painting showing the last two poses. (Keep in mind it’s not a great scan.)
And now, I get to play in the snow.
About the author
Can’t wait to read this one Iza!
Great poses
Thanks, Cathy! Oops, I was so busy skiing, snowshoeing and then writing this post today, I forgot all about your post which came into my mailbox today. I am off to read it now!
You are so talented, creative. Will be looking for the book in the fall. Thanks for putting joy in the lives of so many.
You’re a sweetheart, Joanne. Thank you so much!
What a wonderful way to get lifelike poses! You’re very expressive, in a lovely way which which lets your fun sense of humor shine through! Looking forward to reading Little Miss Muffett.
Thank you, Laura! What a nice thing to say
This is SO COOL, Iza, to see how you work. What a neat idea to take pictures of yourself. I love seeing the transition from the photos to the artwork. I can’t wait to get my copy of Little Miss Muffet… also one for my granddaughter (how fun is it that I have a granddaughter to buy books for?
)!!! When will it be released?
I am glad you and others are finding this interesting, Susanna! For me it’s par for the course. Sometimes I will draw from memory, but can’t get the poses right. A quick picture is a big help. Ideally, I would love a child model, but I don’t always have one. I will be so happy to personalize a copy for you little granddaughter! The book will come out this September.
This is such fun, Little Iza Muffet! And Hay! I love your tuffet
I am looking forward to your book!
Thanks, Penny! We do what we have to do. I, for one, don’t have Victorian style footstools in my house
Glad you liked it.
BBF, I love this! Wow. It is so wonderful to see how you work. I am learning so much from you. You know? It isn’t a bad idea for us non-illustrators to do this. It can really bring our stories alive when doing the dummy for each of them. It can also, help us see what might work and help us express certain thoughts better. Thanks for all you do.
*sad face* No snow for us.
Hugs to you, BBF.
Thanks, BBF! I do believe it is important for non-illustrators to think of the pictures as they write, and I think many of them do.I am glad this was helpful to you! Oh, too bad you had no snow. Do you like to play in it too? Xox
Hi Iza,
We received 16 inches of snow, but it’s melting fast. I love the snow.
Congratulations on finishing your book.
And I so enjoyed your poses. I hadn’t thought of doing that when I’m drawing, so thank you for a fantastic idea!
Tracy
Thanks, Tracy. Glad to be of help! 16 inches! I also love the snow but, alas, it’s melting here too….