Destination: 'Tall Tales and Huge Hearts: Raul Colon' at N.C. Museum of Art

Across the board, the images are warm and inviting, with bright faces and strong colors that dazzle the eye as you examine them. The characters have a level of humanity that you don't always see in adult art.

Colon creates that depth by starting each piece with watercolors, then using colored pencils and graphite pencils to define the characters. The last step is the use of a scratching tool to give each image more depth. Trust me, as soon as you see one of these pieces up close, you'll see exactly what I'm talking about.

You'll also see a series of illustrations from "Orson Blasts Off," the only children's book that Colon wrote as well as illustrated. The main character is a boy named Orson who loves playing with his computer and his phone and his video games, until his parents take them away. Orson learns to use his imagination, and Colon's illustrations take him to space, the polar regions, even to the sea.

"Tall Tales and Huge hearts: Raul Colon" was organized by the National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature. It's here through July 27 in the East Building. Admission is free. Group tours are available four times a day, Tuesdays through Sundays. Contact the museum to reserve a spot.

This exhibit runs concurrently with "Estampas de la raza/ Prints for the People: The Romo Collection" That exhibit consists of 61 prints by 45 artists that showcase what it means to embrace Mexican heritage in American society. All the works on display were created within the last 30 years, so their cultural references are contemporary, and recognizable. Tickets to that exhibit are $5 each. Don't forget, the museum is closed on Mondays.