Actual date of this post on my original website was January 21, 2011
I am sitting in my studio tonight. At my computer I am just a few feet away from where Oliver Anole became a real presence in my life. There are 2 drawing tables now instead of the one I used for the “Oliver the Overachiever” illustrations. I learned so much in the 2 years I worked evenings on my paintings, that I am now doing 2 new books at the same time and spending a lot of my days on them. Each book has it’s own space.
Oliver’s story rattled around for quite a while before it began as a rhyme. At that point it rolled out in a day. I was happy to hear from a fine speech pathologist and early reading teacher, that a rhyme will attract a child’s attention as he first learns to read with his ears.
A few weeks ago my sister-in-law, Kathy told me “Karin, Oliver IS real”. My Mom said she “loves Oliver”. And this was my fondest hope, that a whimsical, insouciant* lizard could come to life for people and encourage them and make them laugh.
This first blog entry is an adventure of a different sort. But I just noticed that from his perch on my desk Oliver has gotten my attention and reminded me that it’s time to draw.
*insouciant is a word I just love which means carefree or unconcerned; lighthearted
1 Comment 
This is so lovely... makes me want to keep reading