Today I’m interviewing last year’s Best Artistic Content winner, Breezy Tulip @ A Bowl Of Moss & Pebbles. Since the awards, I’ve personally had the pleasure of meeting Miss Breezy and getting to know what a sweet, kind, artistic young lady she is! I hope you will stay awhile to get to know her and then check out her fabulous blog!

Tell us a little bit about your family. Share a photo of your family.

We started homeschooling eleven years ago, after my mom and dad pulled me out of the first grade. Neither of my parents were raised in Christian families, but when God saved both of them there were some big changes in their lives, including being called to homeschool Emily (my younger sister) and I. My Dad is a carpenter and my Mom is a passionate homemaker. We attend a small family-integrated Reformed Baptist church and like to have large cookouts in our back yard.

You have only one sister… tell us about your relationship with her.

Emily and I are best friends. Since we are only 22 mo apart, much of our school subjects are done together. We enjoy hand sewing, decoupaging, embroidery, and many other things. She’s also a great graphic designer, knows all about the computer and html, etc. And I’m into art, drawing, and painting, so there’s a lot we can collaborate on together outside of “school.”

Tell us about your homestead. Where is your favourite place to relax?

We own five acres of land, right outside the city limits. We have the convenience of being close to everything, but also have the country feeling, being surrounded by fields and fields of corn and soybeans. In our back yard there’s an enormous pin oak that we all like to sit under. Sitting on the swings under the oak while facing the vast fields with the wind on my face is the most delightfully relaxing place on our homestead.

You won Best Artistic Content Blog for your artistic drawing skills. How long have you been drawing? Were you always good at it? Did you ever take art lessons?

I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t drawing. For a while (when I was about 7 to 10 years old) I was sure I was going to be a cartoonist. I lacked many skills, and when I decided on illustrating books, I realized how miserably I fell short.

I have taken some drawing lessons and watercolor lessons. The librarians at our local library know me as the girl who is always checking out art books.

Can you share your favourite drawing?

I don’t know if I have one! Well, there was one I drew last winter while I was trying to come up with a story about a little boy who goes on an adventure. He meets a creature, an old forest-dweller named Grunimy Sneed. I ended up liking the picture more than the story.

Has being homeschooled allowed you to spend more time drawing?

When I was in the first grade (in public school) my teacher was concerned about the fact that I was constantly doodling. Now I can doodle all the time - while Mom is reading out loud, if I want to embellish History notes, etc. It also comes in handy when I can’t figure out or memorize a concept in science. I’ll draw it out over and over until I get it. And no one looks at me weird! My teacher sees it as very healthy.

What do you want to do with your talents and do you feel God is leading you in any certain directions with them?

I strongly feel God calling me to illustrate children’s books. It’s been a passion of mine for quite some time, and He’s been opening doors for me. It’s a job most people do from home, so I would be able to be a homemaker and illustrator.

What does a typical day look like in your home? Is there a routine you follow daily?

Emily and I get up before Dad leaves for work so he can pray with us at the beginning of our day. Showers, quiet time and breakfast follow, and when we’re “in school,” various subjects fall before lunch and after lunch, including History, geometry, science, and English. And Art. Plenty of time for that. And then blogging. Then in the evenings after dinner we have family worship.

Do you have a separate room where you draw or where you keep your supplies? Care to share a photo?
Most of my drawing supplies are in the dining room, along with two computers, two china cabinets, lots of book cases, and a huge table. My drawing table faces the east window where I can get lots of natural light.

How long have you been blogging?

It’s been a year and a half now. The first six months Emily and I shared a Blogspot blog. Last July Mom and Dad let us get our own HSB accounts.

What are your favourite topics to blog about?

I enjoy blogging about what I’ve learned lately. I don’t do that often enough, but it’s easiest to squeeze my humor into it. And then if I’ve drawn something nice, I like to share it.

How much time would you guess you spend on blogging during a typical week?

That varies. In a typical week, perhaps 2-5 hours.

What are some good things that blogging has brought into your life?

I have met many like-minded people that I wasn’t sure were out there. I’ve been able to record some of the going-ons in my life, as well as display some of my work. Actually, that’s how I “met” Mrs. Novak. When she saw some of my work she asked me to do a two-page for her magazine. Those are only a few of the blessings that I’ve discovered.

Have there been pitfalls?

Oh, yes! Too many times I’ll find myself reading blogs and blog-hopping for hours on end, wasting time that I was supposed to spend on studying. And I’m very bad at returning comments. But it’s been an overall good experience.

Do you have a place on the web where people can find your drawings or learn how to draw themselves?

I recently started a blog called “The Drawing Blog.” Just about every weekend I post a drawing lesson. I also post my drawings on both “A Bowl of Moss and Pebbles” and “The Drawing Blog.” You can find “The Drawing Blog” here: http://homeschoolblogger.com/thedrawingblog

Thank you Miss Breezy for sharing a little about yourself! I know I enjoyed it and I hope others did too! May God bless you as you follow his leading. I’m sure we’ll be seeing children’s books by Miss BreezyTulips in bookstores soon! You have a wonderful talent!