Sunday, July 31, 2011

Friday, July 29, 2011

Curious Weiner Dog

Sorry for the repeat in subjects.  These red blanket illustrations are from another book dummy I'm working on.  I always try lots of styles to see what fits best.  This is my favorite so far.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

First Page of my Sketchbook

I got one of those nice black hardcover sketchbooks which I love and adore ("I'll hug it, and I'll squeeze it, and I'll call it George")....Looney Tunes reference there.

This says it all... :)

Pig and Mouse in the City

This kind of grew out of my extreme boredom with drawing dots for eyes all the time.  I've actually been trying all sorts of new things lately.  Anyways, this started as just a mouse sketch in the corner of some used watercolor paper.  Then, suddenly...a pig grew out of him!  Well he needed to stand on something!  Then, out of nowhere, buildings appeared.  What a strange trip it's been.

Monday, July 25, 2011

On My Desk

And the paint's still wet!  This is a color image from another book dummy I'm putting together.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Zebra's Boo-Boo Color

Zebras Get Boo-Boos Too

After a long creative dry spell, it's nice to get some ideas flowing again.  I honestly thought I was done for!

Illustration Friday: Perennial


Every year I try for this same subject - someone (or some animal) lying in a field of flowers.  And guess what: I'm never happy with the outcome.  It never matches the image I had in my head..until now.  Finally something came together and worked!  For me, when I look at it, I can hear all the insects buzzing and feel a lazy summer breeze drifting across the flowers.  This is a personal triumph for me. :)



Saturday, July 23, 2011

Friday, July 22, 2011

Ballerina Pigs are Everywhere

Brave Parker

Because pirates aren't afraid of dark rooms!

Pirates!

These pirate are not to be taken lightly.  They're very dangerous.  Especially the long one!
Well bad news about my new paints.  They bother my wrist.  Watercolors flow easily across the page so I don't have to do as many strokes with the brush.  Opaque paints on the other hand... ah well.  I can still use them as accents on top of my watercolors, so it's not a complete waste.  Very disappointed though.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Different Face

LOVE Photoshop for testing out different things... going to go with the more classic dots for eyes look.


Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Playing with Fonts

This is a second design for the cover.  Definitely like the colors and text placement much better!

I'm in Love

...with these paints (see post below, "Still Searching")!  They are so smooth, and bright, unlike the gummy consistency of acrylics.  If they continue to amuse me I'll probably keep practicing with them over the summer.  This is my new picture book I'm going to dummy up.  A test cover for now.  I'll probably try out other ideas.

For my Mom

Crafted this jewelry set for my Mom's birthday.  :)  My first time with 'beading'.  I have to say, it killed my eye balls setting the clasps and crimps on either end.  They're so tiny!

Also...MY GOUACHE PAINTS ARE BEING DELIVERED TODAY!  I'm a little excited about it... :)



Monday, July 18, 2011

Still Searching

Going to try some Acryla Gouache paints - ordered a few basic colors.  Wish they'd hurry up and get here!! :0)

Lonely

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Illustration Friday: Gesture

"You don't look royal enough," said the rabbit.  "Try again."  He gestured for Henry to move forward.

Sketches

Monday, July 11, 2011

Emma & Kate

This is an illustration in the making of my two nieces.  They're staying with me while the family waits to move into their rented house.  In the back is their pup Hanna who whines and frets until the girls get home from school.  Hoping for this to be my illustration Friday entry.  As in..."Hanna, STAY" (something they always tell her).

I'm trying to get better at drawing interiors and exteriors of buildings/houses.  This was a really fun perspective, and very challenging!  Sometimes I think to myself, I don't like drawing such-and-such.  But the fact often is, I have a hard time drawing certain subjects.  And maybe I'd actually enjoy it if I practiced and got better at it?  Or maybe I think I CAN'T drawing those subjects and avoid them?  So, recently I'm trying to challenge that belief system.  Of course I can draw anything I set my mind to right?  That's what practicing is for.  I'm done limiting myself that way.  Time for another growth spurt!  It's what keeps things fresh and interesting.

Before I paint this, I'm going to go over all the lines with a ruler to give the building a better look of solidarity.  For right now they're very loosely drawn just to get the idea down. 

Saturday, July 09, 2011

Team Mason Anderson

Hi fellow book junkies, I was wondering if you could lend me a quick hand.  A friend of mine's little boy has Asperger's Syndrome.  He takes Karate lessons at a dojo that has been very helpful to him and he's in a contest to get the most "likes" on the dojo's Facebook page.  If you have a second, please visit it , "like" it, then type "Team Mason Anderson" on the wall.



Thanks!! :)