Ten years ago I saw
my first fairy houses. Families had built them in the woods on a small
island off the coast of Maine. I was captivated by partnering with nature
to create these unpretentious habitats. It was the combination of ingredients
an artist finds irresistible - creativity, nature ... and a pinch of fairy
magic!
While building my
own fairy house I became a child again, completely enchanted. Did a fairy
whisper something in my ear or was it the breeze that planted the idea
in my mind? I carefully nurtured these thoughts, encouraging them to grow
until one day they blossomed into the story FAIRY
HOUSES.
In collaboration
with Great White Dog Picture Company we produced the multi award-winning
video, KRISTEN'S FAIRY HOUSE. Due to tight budgeting,
I was asked to play myself in the video as Kristen's aunt, who is writing
and illustrating a children's book about Fairy Houses. |
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To my surprise
I enjoyed it immensly! (Luckily I had few speaking parts!) My favorite
scene is when Kristen and I dance together celebrating the spirit of fairies.
Due to the success of Kristen's Fairy House, we continued to publish "The
Fairy Houses Series."
As we continue the
Series, I find myself reminiscing my own childhood and a special place
I called Fairyland, where I often went exploring. If I had known about
fairy houses then, I would have built a village of them! With the success
of the Fairy Houses Series, we are seeing fairy houses popping up everywhere!
Tracy Kane majored
in illustration at Philadelphia College of Art. She also studied in London,
England where she met her husband. After working as a commercial artist
for Public Television, she now spends her time giving illustration and
"fairy houses" workshops, book signings and events, working
on new book concepts, and of course, illustrating and painting. She and
her husband live in New Hampshire with their Maine Coon cat. |
