The Story of Eli One Sock

It is already September, and I realize that I have done very little art work this summer.  I had intended to set aside Fridays for art work.  Now months later, I do not have much to show for all my free time.

The one project that I did complete was a book called The Story of Eli One Sock which is a personal account of my grandson's first year. The illustrations are watercolors made largely from photos that I took but also from memory and even imagination.  The title is derived from the fact that Eli, almost from day one, enjoyed pulling off one sock.  He was rarely seen wearing two socks. 
So the story is basically true with a little embellishment (like all good stories).

At his current age of 14 months, Eli is too young to understand the story or even hold the book himself.  Of course, Eli can handle only board books at this age because after "reading" the books he then chews on them. Eventually his parents will read my book to him when he's a little older. I had the book "published" at Office Max where they simply color copied my drawings and slightly reduced them. Then the pages were spiral bound and put together with a clear plastic cover.

I had a lot of fun selecting the scenes, doing the drawings, and writing the simple words on the pages.  The book was intended as a gift for Eli's first birthday, but when that date passed, the rush to finish disappeared.  I poked along slowly--drawing and redrawing--until I realized that I would never be satisfied.  "Done is better than perfect."  This is not the greatest motto, but it worked for me!