HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year!

Check out this article written by my daughter Anna in the Philadelphia Inquirer about New Year's Eve parties at our house in days gone by.  Great recipes for fun and food!
This picture appeared in the print edition but didn't make it to the on line version.

Nancy and Walter Herman

Happy Holidays

Books for the Holidays

The computer has brought about a big change in publishing.  Some say that the printed word will soon be extinct and we will do all our information gathering and pleasurable reading on line or on Kindle.  I don't think so.  In fact I think there will be more books than ever, as it is now possible to publish your own book without going through all the aggravation and disappointment of trying to find a publisher or the huge expense of vanity publishing as it was in the past.  Finding a publisher can be more difficult than writing a book.  For instance most children's book publishers don't even accept unsolicited manuscripts, so you must hire an agent to even get your book into the hands of a potential publisher.
Now, however, it is possible to write and illustrate (if necessary) your book at home on your computer and pay a minimum amount for each book as it is sold without having to invest in 500 or 1000 volumes.  This is going to allow people who previously would not be able to find a publisher to make their work available to anyone.  There will be more  books and there will be more unusual books.  The problem of course for the authors of books that are self published is distribution.  They do not have a huge marketing staff or publicity machine to get their titles to the public.  Some enterprising person with marketing skills will probably come along to solve this problem but in the mean time it is up to the authors to make their own markets.
All this is leading up to the suggestion that you give one of my books as a present to someone for the Holidays and/or send a link to a book to someone who might be interested.

My newest book is OLIVE AND STICKY BEAR.  This is a book for young children with a link to the song available at the end so the child can hear and see the book and later look at the pictures on their own while you sing to them.

JOE AND THE ADOBIANS is a book for children 5 to 9.  It is a fable for the 21st century.  It takes you into the heart of a lonely boy trapped in his fears. Through his imagination and a few tricks, he discovers a way out of his isolation. It is a book about magic, art and above all “seeing”. Richly Illustrated, it is a treat for the eye and a puzzle. How did Joe ‘find’ the Adobians?

POSTCARDS FROM MERION for a teacher, hostess, client, friend or anyone who lives in the Main Line is an inexpensive book of oil paintings and notes from my blog. 

And for a big coffee table book for anyone who loves music and color, IF C IS RED, a large format description of my method of translating music to color in 2 dimensions.  It contains lots of beautiful illustrations of music by classical composers.

The Crooked Door

Finally got back to painting after finishing Olive and Sticky Bear.  A friend sent me this dramatic photo in hopes I would paint it.  I may do that, but for some reason I was drawn to the rather dark and mysterious door found when I zoomed in.
I am beginning a new period of painting so a door seems appropriate.  Not sure where I'm going and the oddness of this door reflects my emotional state.
For some reason very dark colors seem to reflect every nuance in the surface of the paint in a way that does not appear under normal light, so the door looks even more uncomfortable in reproduction.

The Crooked Door

Nancy Herman

12" x 9"

oil on canvas board

$150.00

Olive and Sticky Bear ready

Olive and Sticky Bear (the book) is now available on Amazon.  And there is a new video to go along with it with better music.  My friend Bob Loy, who is a fine musician, played the guitar for the video and my daughter Gail Herrine sang with me this time, filling out the music.  Now it is possible for a child to see the video and then have a book to hold in their hand and look at the pictures.  Olive, the star of the video, my dear granddaughter, is already singing along, so in that respect it is a success.

Joe and the Adobians

Looking for presents for the holiday season?
Here is a trailer for a book I wrote and illustrated for children 5 to 8, "Joe and the Adobians".    It is available at Amazon -  JOE AND THE ADOBIANS

Sticky Bear Video

Sorry it has been over a month since I posted.  I have been bogged down with the song Olive and Sticky Bear.  I added a verse or two and have been working on the video to go along with the book.  I wanted to sing into my computer but could not find a way to do it until I got an iPhone.  I have now joined the 21st century and am an owner of an iphone.  Here is a version of the video.  My voice leaves something to be desired so it will not be the last.
Olive and Sticky Bear