[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":11},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post-valisa-higmans-studio-the-original-grumpycorn-cottage":3},{"_type":4,"body":5,"bodyHtml":6,"excerpt":5,"featuredImage":5,"publishedAt":7,"slug":8,"tags":9,"title":10},"blogPost",null,"Last month I got to visit the original Alaskan artist cottage that inspired Grumpycorn! It's the studio of Seldovia-born artist and illustrator Valisa Higman (who is very much not grumpy but possibly part magical unicorn). \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/759348_original-3802f656ef.jpg\" width=\"550\">\\r\n\\r\nIf you look at the dedication in Grumpycorn, you'll see Valisa's name: \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/763302_original-ab99f7f61c.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nHere's the cottage where Unicorn rows to work on writing the most Fabulous Story in the World. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/763778_original-3b14b841fb.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nValisa does indeed row to work, and you can follow her coastal adventures and the wildlife she encounters on \u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/valisahigman/\">her Instagram account\u003C/a> and the not very commonly used hashtag \u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/irowtowork/\">#IRowToWork\u003C/a>. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/764246_original-436abb66e4.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd here's her studio, which is every bit as magical as Unicorn's! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/762054_original-e31d348264.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nI was in Seldovia for the Seldovia Summer Solstice Music Festival, and Valisa hosted a party on her beach. I drew a picture of some of the festival artists, brothers Thano & Demitri Sahnas and Suzanne Lansford, jamming underneath her pilings. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/761590_original-223a741d78.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003C!--more Click here for lots more under the cut!-->\\r\n\u003Ciframe data-link=\"https://vc.videos.livejournal.com/index/player?player=new&record_id=1271815&ad_template_id=9268\" data-thumbnail=\"https://l-stat.livejournal.net/img/flatmedia-nocover-video.png\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"315\" src=\"https://vc.videos.livejournal.com/index/player?ad_template_id=9268&player=new&player_template_id=3869&record_id=1271815\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\">\u003C/iframe>\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/761771_original-4871cef1dd.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nNow the whole point of Unicorn's writing cottage is that it's a dream working space. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/764020_original-6e215ac302.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nBut while Unicorn procrastinates and gets absolutely nothing accomplished, Valisa has managed to build a brilliant career here creating her artwork. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/759851_original-a9615969bc.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nOo, spot the Grumpycorn book! Valisa got the first copy. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/760189_original-1c8e585071.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nI don't think Unicorn would be able to type on this very easy with his hooves. That said, I never really solve the mystery of how he holds his special fluffy writing pen, either. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/761239_original-3c6b2279e6.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nSpot the wood stove and heated rocks: \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/760511_original-925070b333.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nDo check out Valisa's work, it's lovely. I hope some day she'll come out to visit my studio in London! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/760861_original-af69ebe2e9.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nWhile you're here, let's just go up the steps by Valisa's studio. They lead to the home where she lived the first eight years of her life with her family, and where Andrew now lives and works. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/762220_original-eed5f4f19b.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nHere's Andrew's house. He doesn't have running water but he does have wifi. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/762520_original-a6dc729d4e.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nIt was great to get a tour! This is such a wonderful Alaskan aesthetic, lots of carved wood and handmade fittings. \\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/762838_original-49c9c8609b.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nAndrew showed me and Stuart his new Loo with a View - picture windows, to be precise! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/762916_original-3588e61e04.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\nFor my next blog post, I'll try to feature some of the artist from the Seldovia festival. But first I need to make a cup of my special moonberry tea... \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/759720_original-fc8526c072.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"https://jabberworks.livejournal.com/834059.html\">Click here\u003C/a> to see some of the artwork I made while I was in Seldovia. And find out about Grumpycorn and lots of \u003Ca href=\"http://www.jabberworks.co.uk/grumpycorn/\">free book-inspired activities on my website\u003C/a>!\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/764469_original-b98d3fa286.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">","2019-07-15T06:01:00.000Z","valisa-higmans-studio-the-original-grumpycorn-cottage",[],"valisa higman's studio: the original grumpycorn cottage",1776628730238]