High Five November Issue!

...I'm in it. Here's the layout sketch.

Illustration Friday: Grow

Never ever ever never

....EVER....grow out of your imagination.

More Dummy Pages

As I've worked through this recent dummy book, I've started to become more aware of where the horizon line is located. Even with smaller spots it can have a huge impact. For instance, I drew the left spot image several times and could not figure out why I didn't like each version. Was it the way the person was sitting? The monkey? I couldn't put my finger on it. Finally, I moved the horizon line down, redrew the bench and the way the man would be sitting at the new perspective and suddenly the entire illustration improved. It was well worth taking the time to solve this problem, instead of winging it and moving on to the next image, because I've learned something new and important that I can add to the tool box.

An artist that's very talented at applying different angles and perspective is Mark Teague. His compositions flow like silk across the page and the fact that he is self-taught is even more amazing. I first discovered his work when I saw his One Halloween Night (not a big fan of this new addition and format) book on the sale rack. I had never seen anything like it before, and was so excited I couldn't sleep that night. He really made you feel like you were in the worlds he created--what a concept!

First Back Street Boys Fan....Who's a Parrot

My blogging pal Elizabeth Dulemba had the funniest video posted on her blog. I had to pass on the laughter.

It's Time..

The auctions for Robert's Snow: For Cancer's Cure are about to begin! To spread the word, the folks at 7 Impossible Things Before Breakfast are pooling together articles and interviews of the illustrators contributing snowflakes. Paula Wiley of Your Neighborhood Librarian volunteered to write mine. Thanks Paula!

So roll up those bidding sleeves, and don't delay! Like real snowflakes, these unique treasures will be disappearing fast.

Hippos

I'm still testing different art styles for the dummy of my latest manuscript. This is my favorite so far. The illustration is actually pretty darn big. It started with a scratch piece of watercolor paper where I sketched in some hippos, and it just kept growing. I had to piece this one together via Photoshop from two scans.

Illustration Friday: Extremes

Extreme COLD!

Quick Sketches/Ideas for Book Dummy

This book dummy stuff is wonderfully exciting, frustrating and mysterious all at the same time. Anyone know if any good links to other dummies, or dummy instructions? Please list here and I'll make a separate post for it--or even put a section for it on the side-scrolls of the blog if there are enough. Here is a link I found from Dav Pilkey's site. For one of his books he includes his entire book dummy, which I find incredibly inspiring. Also, Babette Cole is selling a DVD that explains her process for book making, which I purchased. I'll give a little review once I receive it.
Dav Pilkey's Behind the Pages
Babette Cole DVD

Suddenly my imac g5 is running like it has thick honey in it. It must have something to do with all the graphics I'm using and the generous 250 MB RAM included with the package (whoopie). I guess I'll be upgrading (cry) with more memory. I'm sure it will be well worth the purchase (she told herself). I'm tired of watching that little wrist watch count down every time I do anything to a graphic. At this rate I'll be well into my 90's before I get this sent off.

Zoo Illustration - Color

More Sketches

Dummy Dummy Dummy

I've decided to dummy up my recent manuscript - a daunting task if truth be told. I have to draw tons of animals, all grouped together doing very unusual things. It's exciting though to see it come to life.

My first thought was to just make a loose dummy, but don't I want to make the best impression I can, and put that book in the best light possible? So it will be fairly tight. Here's attempt number one at pages 4-5. I will probably redo it, but am happy that the feeling I was trying to get is at least there.

Get Well Soon, Soldier

Sketch

This is for a long time friend and neighbor who had to have an operation. He's a history buff and actually owns something signed by Abraham Lincoln himself! Hope the color comes out well.

Illustration Friday : Open

It's almost Halloween! Open wide and ROAR.

Boy have I been away from the drawing table too long. Drawing is like breathing for me, when I don't draw I feel like I'm holding my breath. It was nice to finally exhale.

Illustration Friday : Wedding

Click to Enlarge!

For "W is for wedding" I knew that the usual star of a wedding is the bride, but I didn't want her to be the star of my 'story'. The little boy and the mouse were the main actors, so I placed focus on them with darker colors, while leaving the bride almost void of color and very sketchy. I had a lot of fun with this one - a welcome change from some creative struggling I've run into this week.

Mommy?

Guess what's around the corner, kids (by the way when I say 'kids' I mean us illustrators/authors out there, who really are just big kids). Halloween--one of my favorite holidays! A book you might want to pick up this year--if you missed it last year--is Mommy? by Maurice Sendak, Arthur Yorinks and Matthew Reinhart. It's a beautifully created, extremely intricate pop-up book that will leave your jaw dropping to the floor.

I found a video on youtube which talks about the book and includes an interview with Sendak. This video is the first time I've actually seen Sendak 'in person' since all of what I knew about him previously was through articles and interviews in books. He's equally as animated and expressive as his characters. Enjoy!

Staring Contest 2

I digitally added eyes to this one. I like both renditions for different reasons.

Staring Contest

Happy Belated Birthday Jen!

Cover Image For Manuscript 2