Coming Soon! (I mean…as soon as possible!!)
The Seven Flights of Spiro the Sparrow
Spiro the Sparrow is the story of one of God’s little birds that soar the skies and hop in the fields of creation, taking note of humans.
Each day Spiro begins his day singing along with all the other birds in preparation for his first flight after the dawn.
On his flight each day he notices three things– a child feeling happiness, God’s works, and a child feeling distress. In this particular story, distresses seemingly arise from a child experiencing large numbers that produce fear and sadness in the adults in the child’s little world.
Each child then asks, “Why did God make numbers?”
Fly along with Spiro the Sparrow from Monday through Sunday–when the answer to why God originally created numbers presents itself!
God not only made numbers for musical counting, and but also for many other things that are good, right and holy in the world. And these are the things that count the most!
Spiro–whose name means “basket used to carry seeds”–is a sign of God’s care and presence. All the children that he has each day in his seven flights that week are gathered together on the seventh day.
The last scene brings an interesting, happenstance encounter between the little bird and the little children!
So, you may ask: How did this story come about in my mind? and How did Spiro get his name?
The genesis of this idea evolved pretty quickly within a conversation around New Year’s Day that involved a number of elements including the idea that numbers can seem to be hard, cold and terrible things. I had the image and amusing idea flash into my mind of a child pondering, “Why did God have to make NUMBERS!”
Ideas in my mind can be a dime-a-dozen. While it seemed like it could have been a good concept for some type of creative writing or work, I was surprised to find that within the week I had formed the basic story in several hours one afternoon.
In between other things, I was thinking what if…what if I could make this idea into my next children’s book? I really want to write and illustrate children’s books with positive messaging. Who would be the main character, I asked myself.
Would it be the same little Teddy Bear in The Amazing Magical Musical Tree, along with his brother, Pteradactyl?
I thought about worries and cares and and numbers, and other ideas. And then it came to me…the main character should be a little bird.
A sparrow. Yes, a sparrow.
And, if a sparrow, what would I name him?
In a moment, the name Spiro popped into my mind! It think it was the alliteration. I’ve not known anyone named Spiro–but of course, from US History there is Spiro Agnew.
It sounded good, and I tried to think of other boy names for the little sparrow that might begin with “Sp” and could not. Then, I looked up the meaning of the name Spiro!
A basket…or…a basket used to carry seeds!
That has so much potential, I thought to myself! Birds do carry and spread seeds…and seeds of positive messages would be a good idea.
So, in this way, Spiro the Sparrow got his little name.
Over the following week I shared the story text with a handful of friends who gave me various feedback. I still need to work through some editing of the text but did manage to illustrate the first scene and tackle the first spread’s text.
I decided I wanted the illustrations to involve whimsical and somewhat quick canvas painting with collage elements. I have created the first of seven poses of Spiro in flight and have scanned elements separate so that I can manipulate in Photoshop as the book evolves and also have some repetitive visual elements.
So far, it’s fun, and I also have ideas of what to do with the glued-painted-collaged Spiro bird, as well as the rest. Artistically, I’m all about derivative works. In my mind, many projects feel like a good game of checkers!
I don’t just jump and take one piece, but I pre-think how I might take several pieces in just one move!
I hope that metaphor/analogy was articulated right, as it applies to this project. Basically I can use some of the images created for the book in a various of other ways, perhaps even creating backgrounds with birds for quotations on Etsy-related cards and prints…who knows!
I sometimes pick up used canvases at Thrift Stores that are cheap for some someday project. I have one large canvas painted with abstract brown and burnt sienna hanging around my studio that I could envision adding blues/clouds here and there but integrating with the abstract elements and then collaging (I use glue/water decoupage technique) all seven Spiro the Sparrows in flight.
It might make for a beautiful, attractive whimsical work of art…maybe even some other nature elements involved. And then, I could also create prints and cards.
Ahhh…but selling these. Yes…um…there’s always THAT!
Which leads me to my next point. I imagine I have friends/family/clients that share in my interest to see children’s books with positive messages created. I hear of other storylines reflecting current destructive social contagions targeting very young children and I am saddened and, quite honestly, angered.
Protecting and promotional the family, faith, creativity, imagination and other good values is of utmost importance to combat what seems to be the systematic and systemic destruction of the family and promotion of other dark agendas.
If you share in my goals and wish to help fund/support my ongoing creation of these types of children’s books, I invite you to consider making a monthly pledge in one of my Patreon categories involving the patronage of my children’s book illustration endeavors. Depending on your monthly pledge, you will in exchange receive perks including a free copy of the future book.
But, for those with interest, most importantly as the work progresses I will share on Patreon. Only those helping fund the project have access to this non-public content. And, I will be looking for participatory input from those who can help proofread and give feedback/ideas on text editing. Also, I will look for participatory feedback/input on the illustrations as well.
Many of my social media friends seem to take interest in visual works-in-progress and this is a way for as little as $10 per month to gain access to private, behind-the-scenes content. While I will likely give glimpses of the work on social media, the Patreon platform will hopefully be a deeper look at my creative process and especially a good connection for clients who are not part of my social media connections.
Thanks for reading and for your interest in this project and my ongoing artistic work.
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