Bartholomew Makes a Decision - Published TODAY!!

The first story in The Book of Bartholomew, Bartholomew Makes a Decision, is now published at  bookofbartholomew.blogspot.com.  Enjoy this short story, Bartholomew Makes a Decision, which introduces Bartholomew and Gerald. 

Bartholomew sits down to eat his favorite dinner and listen to Dionne Warwick songs when he is interrupted by a phone call.  By the end of the story, Bartholomew makes a decision that will change his life forever.

The story features illustrations by artist Mark Granlund and songs by Dalia.  The story also includes animations, video, back stories, recipes, and audio clips.  

The Book of Bartholomew is an online book of short stories/tales about a group of young friends learning about life as adults.  Every two weeks another illustrated story will be published at bookofbartholomew.blogspot.com.  Each story is written by Mark Granlund and illustrated by Mr. Granlund or other Twin City artists, including: Mary Esch, Martha Iserman, Matt Wells and Tim Jennen.

ENJOY!!!  BARTHOLOMEW IS HERE!!

Bartholomew Makes a Decision - Art Work

Here are images showing the progression for creating the cover for the first story of The Book of  Bartholomew.  The first two sketches are my first ideas of what I wanted to paint: a plate of corn, green beans and kale.  The first is very rough and was only about 1.25" square.  The second image represents another plate of food with the words "KNOCK, KNOCK" on the cover.  This is because Bartholomew is interrupted during his meal by a knock at the door. All Bartholomew wants to do is find some decent food but once he sits down to eat he is interrupted by the phone and the door.

Then it was time to do some research. This meant enjoying a few meals of corn, green beans and kale.  I cooked the kale once and the other time my girlfriend cooked it.  Hers was much better.  We cooked the food and then I went to work rearranging it on the plate to somehow match what I wanted to do.  I did not find my final composition, but it was fun and informative for the final painting.  The food was good.  I wish the green beans were from my garden. But I didn't grow any this year. 

I used these images to layout the composition of the painting and made the first layer of paint on canvas. From there I built up the surfaces and colors to create a finished painting of a plate of kale, corn and green beans.  The cooked kale was the hardest to paint.  It was hard to get a focused picture of it as its edges are rather soft and difficult to pick out.  In case you were wondering, yes, those are pine nuts on the kale in the final painting.

After completing the painting, I took the image to Photoshop and added the words KNOCK KNOCK and the title. This was a fun stage - turning a painting into a book cover

The next step was to create a background for the inside text pages of the story. Continuing with a food theme, I created drawings of forks and spoons. These images line the text pages and are faded behind the text. This was a very fun story to illustrate.  I like the idea of not showing Bartholomew or Gerald, but letting the reader develop their own physical image of the characters.

As mentioned, Bartholomew Makes a Decision, the first story of The Book of Bartholomew, will be published on Friday, October 5, 2012 at bookofbartholomew.blogspot.com

Friends, Friends, Friends

This first story in The Book of Bartholomew is about Bartholomew discovering he needs friends.  Do people really need friends?  Do you need your friends?  Yes, people do become more capable as they get older and do not need as much assistance with life.  And some people are introverts and like being alone.  But everybody has and needs friends.

I am introducing a feature of The Book of Bartholomew: Bartholomew Asks...   Each week, a short video is presented with a question for that week's story.  In the video, people give short answers to the question.  This week, Bartholomew Asks: What is it you appreciate about your friends?  What do you look for in a friend?

You can write an answer here at the blog or share a text or video response at The Book of Bartholomew Facebook Page.

Bartholomew Makes a Decision - Story

"There once was a young man named Bartholomew who was far too young to be on his own, but there he was. Being a little unsure of himself, he could not always tell when people were being sincere or when people were trying to take advantage of him. But when he knew what he wanted to do, that was what he did.

One evening, while enjoying Dionne Warwick songs and his favorite evening meal of fresh hot corn on the cob, apple red onion marmalade, beans and some kale, one of his twelve telephones rang.

“Hello,” said Bartholomew.

“Hello sir, how are you this evening?” asked the voice on Bartholomew’s cellular telephone.

“I am well. Who am I talking to?” asked Bartholomew in return.

“My name is Gerald. Can I ask you how the siding is on your house?”

And with that, Bartholomew's story begins to be told. It is a simple story of a not so simple life. But isn't that the way life is? Our lives are full of complications and nuances, yet to tell it, it comes out so simple. "I was born in Minnesota, spent most of my early childhood in New Jersey, grew up outside Chicago in the Western suburbs. I went to Bethel College in Saint Paul, MN..."  The whole story is not known by anyone but me.  Sometimes, I'm not even sure I know the whole story.  The other day someone shared the story of the first time they had met me.  It was at an event I attended with two of my friends.  I do not remember the event and didn't remember one of my supposed friends (my apologies Darren).  There are few people who have a context for my life - and that is the way for most of us.

Throughout history, people have used story to give children context for the life to come, to give them a way to understand situations they might find themselves in so they can make good decisions. The Book of Bartholomew stories function in a similar fashion, they are stories about situations. Perhaps they are situations you have been, or will be, in.  There are not morals at the end, as with many children's stories.  I do not presume to know what is right for most other people, although I suggest you stop killing people if that is what you are about.  But, I have had some fun and interesting experiences (some scary) and I am sharing them here through the characters of Bartholomew's world.  And I would love to hear your experiences and situations.

I have enjoyed exploring while writing these stories. I can only hope that you will enjoy them, and in turn, think well of me and come take care of me instead of me having to do everything for myself.  Perhaps you will bring ice cream and chocolate and let me watch football until I am fat with digital overload.  Then you will draw me a bath (with a 2h pencil) and massage the digital fat out of me with your powerful soothing fingers and feed me sweet potatoes and kale.  Perhaps you will take me to France?  Perhaps that is too much to ask.

- Mark Granlund