Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Honoured to be one of the Author Guests at Biblio Bash 2025! The @torontolibrary's annual black-tie fundraiser business leaders, philanthropists, authors, and library lovers for an evening at Toronto Reference Library. Biblio Bash 2025 is Co-presented by Fitzrovia and CIBC, with donations being directed to youth programs and partnerships that support the social health and mental wellness of teens across Toronto. Since its inception, the event has raised over $5.3 million for TPL thanks to the generosity of sponsors, partners, guests and volunteers. More info: https://whygive.tplfoundation.ca/biblio-bash/ #BiblioBash2025 #BiblioBash

Great to catch up with my friend @adriennekress PLUS get her to sign some copies of TICKET TO RIDE: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY, a middle grade novel illustrated by @illodave (who kindly sent signed bookplates) & published by @andrewsmcmeelkids. Such a fun story, inspired by one of my favourite board games, created by my friend Alan R. Moon (publisher @daysofwonder). Hoping to get Alan to sign the books when I see him next month, and will use one for promotional book giveaway! More about the book: https://publishing.andrewsmcmeel.com/book/ticket-to-ride-an-unexpected-journey/ More about the board game: https://www.daysofwonder.com/game/ticket-to-ride/ #BoardGaming #TicketToRide #MiddleGrade #AdrienneKress #Trains

You never know what will come out of a broken crayon. Happy #worldfrogday!

Gradually going through old art process videos, cleaning them up, cataloging them. Here's one from when I was doing themed doodle posts, years ago. #Robots #Dogs #ArtProcessVideo

As some of you may already know, I'm having vision issues. You can read my latest update on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/debbieohi.com/post/3lk24cycg222a I was discouraged when I realized my vision issues were bad enough I couldn't read the print version of DIGGER UNEARTHED by Ursula Vernon aka T. Kingfisher. I ended up buying the ebook version, which I'm able to read via Apple Vision Pro, making both the window and the image larger when I need it. While I still prefer the tactile experience of reading print books, I also appreciate that technology exists that enable those with vision issues to still enjoy reading. AVP is too pricey for average consumer, but hopefully someday tech will become more affordable/accessible. Being able to enlarge text size in digital books (whether it's on my computer screen, tablet, or other digital reader) is also super-helpful. Before ordering print books these days, I usually check ahead of time re: print size. When someone declares that print books are the only REAL books, I don't think they realize that this is a slap in the face of those who are no longer able to easily read print books. Ditto for digital art not being REAL art (I rely mainly on digital art tools for books because of tendinitis issues). Thanks to all who have sent good wishes. To those who want to know more, pls see https://bsky.app/profile/debbieohi.com/post/3lk24cycg222a (I created it so I wouldn't keep having to answer the same Qs over & over). I have told @jpchanda @laurentlinn and @gknowlton58 - they have all been super-supportive. ❤ Final paragraph in my Bluesky thread: "Yes, I'm scared about what-ifs. But my vision issues over the years have also made me better appreciate everything that much more, including the fact that I do have services available to me if I need them. A hundred years ago, I'd be blind by now (I've already had surgeries). So mainly, I'm grateful."

This art process video is from my archives; I'm in the midst cataloging. I used a water brush filled with fountain pen ink: Iroshizuku Syo-Ro. Music: "Remove The Complexities" by Peter Sandberg, via Epidemic Sound. #fountainpenink #Iroshizuku #iroshizukusyoro

Thanks to my friend @paulozelinsky for the After Effects tips! Topic came up in NYC during a @scbwi @soi128 event after I asked him how he had animated his amazing doodles (I highly recommend checking out @paulozelinsky on IG). Also, I love the doodle he did when we chatted after our After Affects session (I made him hold it up. 😁)

Check out this cool video in which @inkygirl draws wonderful pictures while I improvise a piano piece in my messy apartment under the watchful eye of a stuffed pig. #improv #improvisation #improvisedmusic #art #drawing #drawings #livedrawing #livedraw #collaboration #piano #pianomusic

Creativeplay tonight. Experimented with SOUND-play, adding to a quirky little animation I created in Procreate a couple of years ago. #Animation #Procreate #CreepyCute

Took a short video of an interesting wall texture on Bayview Ave near the CNIB yesterday when I was out on a walk because I was fascinated by how it looked with all the snow falling in front of it. Imported into Procreate, enhanced #WhatISaw.

[UPDATE: it looks like @flashesapp should be publicly available on the App Store within 1-2 weeks.] Trying out the newest beta update of a Bluesky 3rd party app called Flashes. WOW, seriously impressed. In the latest update, you can now enable a Portfolio option and select which images you want to appear. Image library you see in the video are all the images I've posted on Bluesky. If someone clicks on that image, that post appears (similar to Instagram) along with any text description I've included, tags, etc. Developer created this as a way of viewing Bluesky posts, for those used to Instagram. Just one more way we can curate what we see (and don't see) on Bluesky. I was first inspired to try out Flashes after hearing about it from Scholastic art director, Brian LaRossa. Bluesky remains Brian's favourite way of discovering art talent. If you're on Bluesky, follow him at @ brianlarossa.com (without the space). Flashes is at @ flashes.blue. Edited: TechCrunch article link, FYI: https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/15/bluesky-is-getting-its-own-photo-sharing-app-flashes/

Some days. I know I'm not the only one.