Piggy Back Ride

Here are a couple more illustrations that fit the 'soar' theme.

Illustration Friday: Soar

Sketches

A BW and color sketch from my manuscript.

Illustration Friday: Horizon

This was just plain fun to paint. I basically sat down, opened up a cold press watercolor block and drew my sketch right on the paper. I wanted something imperfect and fresh, warts and all. I consider this a color sketch of an idea. An experiment where I got to play around with the paint without worrying about the outcome. Most of this was painted with a large brush, and in a very messy fashion.

I just got back from seeing two amazing exhibits. One was of Whistler's lesser known smaller sized oil paintings. And the other of Turner's work. Very very inspiring.

Wagon

Brothers

This is from yet another personal project--one I've been working on here and there over the last couple years.

Isn't it the job of a sibling to march around and flaunt things like cookies and cereal box toys? I remember similar moments of psychological warfare with my own two older brothers growing up.

Sketches From Early Reader "Ines Y Desire" and Some Thoughts On the Process

This reader has been a good learning experience and challenge for me, mainly because there isn't much direct action in the story. No flashy perspectives or exaggerated movements to rely upon for a dynamic presentation. So instead I needed to concentrate on more subtle things like body language and expression to keep the illustrations interesting.

The bottom illustration asked for the mother to be putting the girl's drawing in an envelope. I added my own little side story by having the girl leaning on the mom's arm in a very warm and close way --she's probably on her tippy toes, but it's only suggested, and she's barely able to see over her mom's arm to see what she is doing.

I've Been Sick

Better before Christmas than during though, right? I'm back in the saddle again so stay tuned for more illustrations coming your way!

The Blog Readability Test

Woo hoo! LOL! Really, this makes me laugh. Especially since I hardly write anything in my blog--it's mostly visual. Must be a glitch.

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Illustration Friday: Little Things

There are some 'little stowaways' in the back of this cab.

This illustration is from a story that I wrote. Yes, yet another project, but I like working that way--having several projects going at once. If one starts losing steam, I switch to another. Then when I get back to the first, it seems fresh again.

Some Illustrations In Acrylics

This is the style I used when I first started illustrating. Then I found it was much too complicated to keep up with fast deadlines and get enough work done each year to make a living. Now I reserve it for personal projects. These are from a picture book story I wrote a while ago...I was thinking of digging it up and sending it off.

Hi

This drawing is from another creative break I took in between illustration assignments--done on a scrap piece of paper. I'm way behind on email again due to wrist pain, but with icing and better posture at my drawing desk I'm seeing some improvements.

Kitty Paw

Some Early Reader Sketches

Oh, there's so much I wish I could post as of late, but the usual rule is that you have to wait until the project is published before you can add it to your portfolio/publish online. I can at least show some sketches. These are for an educational reader. Very fast turn around for these.

Illustration Friday 2: Excess

Illustration Friday: Excess Of Cute

There's the power of love, the power of money, the power of fame and then...the power of cute. My dog Risky, a Jack Russell Terrier (the one pictured in my profile) knows the power of her cuteness. This is the sad little face she gives when she doesn't get her way.