Drawn to Conclusions
- Cameron Design
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
An intro to communication in art using the elements and principles of design (no paintbrush required). – By Katharine Cameron
Drawn to Conclusions: The pigeons
There was a clear winner with the book imagery. And I get it. The idea of communication through eyes and looking is a freaky imagery.
The pigeons won across the board. Ever since I moved to my current house, I have falled in love with the doves (pigeons). They used to put their babies on my patio and leave me to protect them while the parents went out to find food.
That bond began an extra long deep dive into the lore of the pigeons. Throughout history they are just the sweetest. They are so chill. Some animals, I question, if they were meant to be pets and live among humans. Like those tiny hamsters. But pigeons are tried and true, humans friends.
Every day I would walk around the neighborhood and they would be perched up under a bush, or on a fence post. Just observing. They recognized me, and they know my dog. They are the best observers. In that way, I thought they were perfect for the cover. While we are walking by everything, busy with our lives, surrounded by art and design, but not stopping to take it all in, pigeons are. They just observe.
The Big Ask
Since the poll, I have been busy getting the back cover ready, and hiring a local editor to go over everything with me. Thank goodness. My commas are out of control. With the editing out of the way, I felt the audacity... or the confidence, to ask people if they would like to read the pre-published version and give me a quote for the back of the book. I figured I had a couple outcomes. 1) I get ignored and I am back to exactly where I already am. So that's not that bad.
2) They DO NOT like it. And they tell me why. Which is actually kind of helpful. So that's not that bad. 3) They are into it and my life explodes in hearts and rainbows and they give me a quote and I cry with admiration for a whole entire day. Guess what happened. A lot of the first option (being ignored) and one of the third option (confetti of happiness and crying). I had the audacity... that crazy gumption... that crossing my fingers and praying.... to email Keishia Gu, the Head of Education at the J. Paul Getty Museum.
And she liked it. And she gave me a quote. And I cried for a whole entire day and couldn't even thank her about it. I called my Nana about it.
She wrote a very long and amazing email about how Drawn to Conclusions caused a good interaction and conversation between her and her family member. A story she didn't have to include, but she did. I am so grateful she did.
“An educator’s dream—this generous resource opens the doors of visual literacy to everyone. Cameron translates the often unspoken language of art into something welcoming, accessible, and deeply human. The result is a powerful reminder that art isn’t reserved for a few—it’s a language and emotional experience we can all learn to see, feel, and trust.” –Keishia Gu, Head of Education at J. Paul Getty Museum
My heart and brain = explodeth.
MY VISION
This began a whole saga where people were telling me to get a publisher. I did a lot of research, and I just don't think that is where I want to go with this. Not yet. Maybe a later version. I think I want to self publish currently. It is SO. MY. VISION. It is solving an issue I have seen in the world. and it is 100% my artsy explanations and info.
I think they would strip away a lot of the unconventional artistic layouts I have, in favor for more words to describe it. But the artistic layouts are integral to my vision. I believe a lot of people know the vibe art gives them. They just don't know the words. So each page gives you the vibe AND the words.
I am a magazine layout artist. A children's book layout artist. I am all about combining imagery to support the words in funky cool ways.
A textbook made by an artist is going to look very different than a textbook changed to fit in with what a publisher thinks it should be.
Next steps! I just have to fix up the back page, and get those barcodes on there, and I am ready to order some proofs!
