Tuesday, November 30, 2010

My New Studio Companion, Alfredo


Introducing Alfredo the studio mouse.  He was supposed to be a "feeder mouse" at Petco where people basically buy them for their snakes/lizards to be eaten alive. :-(  But now he's going to have a long (well, mice only live 1.5-2 years) happy life. (Video is available in HD - just adjust the settings on the bottom right).



Thursday, November 25, 2010

What is Alligator In Search Of?

It's a secret!

Thanks so much for the feedback from my last post, it was VERY helpful!  XXOO :-)) I still haven't made a solid decision yet, but it will probably reveal itself the more color experiments I try.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Argh!

I'm going through my usual process of driving myself insane trying to choose a style for my manuscript.  Friends and family are no help either because everyone likes something different.  As for me, I'm leaning towards the pen and ink mostly because the story is VERY goofy and silly, and has lots of scenes that will require dramatic crying and whining (in a humorous way).  A there's nothing like the magic of a dip pen to cook up emotion with the flick of the wrist (after drawing something a 100 times first of course until it's right).

But then again, I'll probably wake up at 4am and change my mind.  It's times like these that I really wish I had one style that I knew and loved and could call my own.  Maybe one day...

Monday, November 22, 2010

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Illustration Friday: Sneaky

Baby bear snuck into his big brother's room, and played with his sibling's prized, red Matchbox car.   He was careful not to get applesauce on it this time. 

High Five Cover!

This is the September 2010 issue :)

Going to the Gift Shop

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Illustration Friday: Sneaky

Well I truly enjoyed drawing this one, but unfortunately the crosshatching/shading with a pen was hurting my wrist (I've had tendonitis for years).  I was thinking though, maybe I could crosshatch bits at a time, and rest and stretch my wrist every few minutes.  Anyone have any experience with this sort of thing?

*EDIT*  Just added another version done with charcoal, colored pencil and watercolors.

Monday, November 15, 2010

More Alligator Drawings


More minor changes to Alligator's character design.  Dots for eyes, more color and texture on his skin, looser line, and no bottom jaw (to make him look even sillier).  

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Alligator Sketches Ahead!



Illustration Friday: Burning

Little Red Bird was riding the gator's tail at a burning speed, until the gator stopped.
"Giddyup!" said Red Bird.

"At a burning speed"--hmmmm, I think I just made up that phrase, I can't find it on google lol.  Oh well it's staying. 

(Sorry about the triple post on Illustration Friday, I couldn't get my link to work)

Sketchy Sketch

Thursday, November 11, 2010

My Birthday Present!

Well, it's not my birthday until the 13th, but lookee what I'm getting from my parents, oh boy oh boy!!  An original watercolor painting by my absolute favorite illustrator, David McPhail.