References

I have a confession to make. One of my least favorite things to do is look for visual references. Be it image-search engines, or taking my own photos - something about the process slows down my creativity and I just plain don't enjoy it.

They say that N.C. Wyeth had an incredible visual memory. Sure, he used plenty of his own references and props, but what made his illustrations so real and palpable were his observations of life. So what I've started doing over the last few years or so is study my surroundings no matter what I'm doing. If I'm walking in the park I'll take note of how sunlight and shadows play on the trunk of a tree, or if in a crowded store, take note of how people interact, or what body language they use if they're standing in groups (drawing group scenes has always been a challenge for me). I'm not memorizing these things - God knows I don't have the greatest memory in the world, but you will find these observations seeping into your drawings--and they will become more life-like. You can't always sketch with a pencil and paper, but you can always sketch with your eyes, right? Try it some time.

Desk Snapshot!

My desk as of 10:50pm. Sure to get messier as the night progresses....if that's possible.

Anyone else 'taste test' a little too much Halloween candy? Uggggggh!

Color Sketches Galore!

I'm finishing up the last painting for "The Little Green Pea" and will be switching gears to a pen and ink style for "Raj The Book Store Tiger".

Travel and Sing

Just LOOK at this brilliant new blog!  My heart 'travels and sings' when I visit it.

Travel and Sing

Huzzah!

I received my copies of Jack and Jill magazine this past week! In addition to getting to illustrate a story, I ended up on the same page as a feature for a book by Phyllis Harris and her hubby, Bradley Harris: "My Brother and I"! Phyllis also designed the characters of Jack and Jill who make appearances throughout the magazine. Very, very adorable kids!

In other news I was very excited to receive the "I Love Your Blog" award from Erik Brooks!
I've been a fan of Erik's work for quite some time now so this was a very nice surprise. Thank you!

Illustration Friday: Strings

Okay, so this is just one string... I drew this on a little piece of elongated scrap watercolor paper. The stuff is so expensive, might as well use every inch of it right?  Miguel Rios III (the lab mouse) escaped from a shampoo testing facility. Thankfully the only side effect he got was smelling nice!

By the by, I've added a just-for-fun poll on the right side of my blog. Feel free to vote. If it works out I might make it a regular thing around Fox and Socks.

Send Your Stuff!

This is a reminder to all you aspiring illustrators out there to send your work out. Below is what the art director sees when you don't:

So get this book and get cracking! Go go go, this should have been done yesterday! :0)

A Little Dino

I made this for my niece who has the flu.

Barnyard Airtraffic

After eating half his bucket of Halloween candy, Billy had some very strange dreams that night...

More Color Studies

When starting a new book, I like to make sure I'm a hundred percent happy with the main character and how he interacts with minor characters. They have to have chemistry together just like actors in a good movie. I've experimented with tons of different character designs for the kids--some were shorter and more cartoony, while some were larger and more realistic. I changed the kitty (star of the show) around a lot as well. I do these quick color spots with my characters until something starts to come alive. When that happens I'm ready to go to final sketches.

Sketches!

Illustration Friday: Sugary

More Studies

Story Hour

Stretch! Meow...

Illustration Friday : Packed


Not only are cats the masters of grace and beauty, comfortable in their knowledge that they are far superior to humans - but they also raise the art of napping to a whole new level. This kitty has packed about as much napping into his day as possible. Now, please excuse him while he naps a little more...

All Grown Up

She had forgotten to pack her most important thing! At least that's what her teddy bear thought...

Illustration Friday: Clique

Illustration Friday: Island

No man is an island.

Rest In Peace, Beloved Georgia

Thanks to all who sent well wishes and prayers for Georgia. She was able to spend one last day at home with family after she got out of the vet. Georgia is the dog on the left.

Near this Spot

are deposited the Remains of one

who possessed Beauty without Vanity,

Strength without Insolence,

Courage without Ferocity,

and all the virtues of Man without his Vices.

This praise, which would be unmeaning Flattery

if inscribed over human Ashes,

is but a just tribute to the Memory of

BOATSWAIN, a DOG,

who was born in Newfoundland May 1803

and died at Newstead Nov. 18, 1808.

But the poor Dog, in life the firmest friend,

The first to welcome, foremost to defend,

Whose honest heart is still his Master’s own,

Who labors, fights, lives, breathes for him alone

-Lord Byron

A Little Prayer

My sweet dog Georgia is very ill with kidney disease but maybe be able to feel healthy again for a bit longer if she pulls through her fluid therapy. Any prayers for her would be very much appreciated!

a Page From The "Raj" Sketchbook

Illustration Friday: Detach

Another Style - Pen and Ink

More Raj Character Sketches

Portrait of Raj

Portrait of Raj the Book Store Tiger


Wow, I got a lot of painting done today!

Illustration Friday: Sail

Frog and Turtle watched as the swan sailed by with her brood.

Swan Sketch for Illustration Friday

Dont You Just Hate It When...

Don't you just hate it when you feel inspired to draw and paint, but have tons of chores and (life things) to do first? I feel like I'm a kid at school all over again watching the clock inch it's way to 3 o' clock. I'm especially excited about this new creative upswing because my usual inspiration has been wavering a bit - something that never fails to worry me, although I know it shouldn't because it always comes back.

I of course couldn't be more excited about my current projects, but part of being an artist is weathering dips in crativity. It's easy to forget that part of your duty (yes duty) as an artist it to keep igniting that flame. It doesn't always happen on its own. I have my list of things I do when I don't feel excited about drawing for several days (or even weeks at times if I'm stressed or something). First I look back at artist's work that has inspired me. Then I search libraries, book stores, Lookybook.com, Amazon.com etc for new artists - and there are always new artists that I haven't discovered yet. The latter idea usually works the best. I also have this scrapbook published about William Joyce that's a sure fire choice. It has all sorts of his early sketches that quickly remind me why I began this wonderful career in the first place.

Well I'm off to do my 'have-tos' such as picking up my newly fixed, once water damaged laptop - argh. Don't ever leave any water/liquid near your laptop! It's a fast way for your 3 dollar Aqua Fina bottle to suddenly cost you 1,200 bucks.

Neat Little Myspace Slideshow

In Color - Raj Test Painting

Well I got to bed and woke up at 4:30 am with creative energies that kept me from falling back asleep. I knew it had something to do with the drawing left unpainted on my desk. Was it going to come out alright? Would I be able to get the sunlit room effect I was hoping for? At last I got up and worked from 5 am - 7 am to complete it, felt happy with the results and finally fell back into a much more restful slumber. I can post these without any copyright issues since they aren't going to end up in the book.

I've been really drawn(no pun intended) to pen/ink and watercolor illustrations lately so I'll probably test that type of style out as well.

Raj Test Sketch

Well darn, finished this at 1:30 am so won't be able to paint it until tomorrow. Current influences:

William Joyce
Edward Ardizzone

Raj

I've finished the dummy book for "The Little Green Pea" so while I wait for comments from the editor and art director I'm going to begin the dummy book for "Raj". Right now I'm doing some small spot illustrations using different styles to sort of test what would be best for the text. The art director pointed out several different styles from my portfolio that she liked so I feel I can experiment and still stay within the realm of what's expected of me. Once I find a style that fits, I'll send the color samples to the art director/editor and cross my fingers that they agree with me.

Illustration Friday : Canned

Maxwell got canned from his job as watch dog..... after paying more attention to the strawberry cupcakes than to the robbers who broke into the bakery.


Wow, I think this is probably the longest I've ever been away from my blog! I have to say I've really missed it--especially the comradery. Thanks so much for all the wonderful and kind comments on my previous post! :0)

The books are going well - right now I'm working on the dummy for The Little Green Pea. It's been quite a challenge as there aren't many books starring peas as main characters so I've really had to go with little reference save for realistic photographs of pea plants and leaves. I finally decided to base some of my characters on the classic images of moons and their faces. All you need is some green tint and you've got a pea instead of a moon! I have three spreads left to do and the cover and off it will go to the art director and editor. While they review that I'm going to start on the next book, Raj. Now, I've drawn lots of cats in my career and have owned cats most of my life so I'm looking forward to drawing Raj (the bookstore kitty who thinks he's a tiger).

Well the drawing desk is calling once again. I'll try to post more often!

Book Contracts :-)

I thought I'd finally share some of the details of my recent contracts. I started Fox in Socks on Typepad back in 2004 and wrote pretty regularly about how I dreamed of illustrating trade books. I practiced and tried my best to improve as an artist year after year, and some years I hardly got any work at all. My point here is, if I can do it anyone can. I put everything I had into this goal for a long time, and yes it's hard to keep the momentum going without seeing results for that long. I guess it helps that even if I was never paid to do this, I'd still illustrate and write because I love it so much and because it's what I'm driven to do. It's what keeps me up late at night, and makes me feel excited in the morning when a wake up. I can't imagine life without children's books and the amazing world found within them.

My very first trade book assignment came in a couple months ago from Sleeping Bear Press. The story: "The Little Green Pea". I'm pretty sure I can't share any story line details yet--just don't want to take a chance on that. Anyways, this in and of itself was enough to keep me excited for the next year - I was walking on clouds.

A month later, another book assignment comes in from Charlesbridge called Raj. Wow! I couldn't believe this - two books hooray! I was over the moon!

A week later, I get a trade book offer from Dutton to illustrate "Baby Moose Visits". By this time I was feeling slightly faint! What was going on? All this work in a matter of two months?

Three fantastic stories to illustrate, what more could an illustrator possibly ask for? My biggest dream is not only realized, but bypassed.

To add to this amazing year, a fourth possible contract is being discussed with a UK publishing company who's books I absolutely love.

Let's just say I haven't been sleeping well recently - but it's the kind of insomnia you really don't mind. I can't begin to express how appreciative I am of the generosity other artists and fans of children's literature have shown me. Thank you for all the kind comments over the years.

Present For Seymore

The little mouse was very worried about his friend. Seymore had been moping around for days since arriving at the zoo. He handed him his balloons, but Seymore just stared passed him while a tear creeped its way down his trunk.

Scrap Paper Painting

Left over scrap paper always calls for me to paint something on it - especially unusual sizes such as this vertical piece.

Tag! Typical Day

I have to keep this short because typing causes wrist pain, but my days are almost never the same. I'm helping care for my Grandmother who has alzheimers so my drawing schedule mostly revolves around that. Since things quiet down after she goes to bed, I admittedly will stay up till 5-6 am drawing. I know it's time to go to bed when I hear the paper boy flinging papers onto driveways.

Thanks for tagging me Eric!

Illustration Friday: Worry

The Worry Warthog:

Illustration Friday: Wide

"He's got the whole world in his hands
He's go the whole WIDE world, in his hands..."

I have very very good news! I've been hired to illustrate three trade books this year! Hooray!

Many thanks for the comments on my piggy propeller illustration.

p.s. sorry about the double entry on the illustration friday list - the address on the second one isn't right.

Illustration Friday: Electricity - The Great Escape

This pig secretly studied electrical engineering and mechanics via online courses on the bacon farm. He then plugged in the charger of his new invention in an outdoor outlet of the farmer's own home. The picture tells the rest of the story...

Piggy In A Puddle

More Character Sketches

Shy Sheep

Another character sketch.

Flying Cow

Since I have two assignments that star cows, I've been drawing quite a few of them the last few days.

Chickens Like Skating Too!

Illustration Friday: Seed

This sheep just got caught eating a flower that the cow had grown from a seed.

Holy Cow!

I obviously can't post actual illustrations from the early reader I'm working on, but I can post color sketches. I do this kind of thing a lot since I have several styles on my portfolio-that way I can be sure I'm doing the type of art the art director is expecting.

I do plan on narrowing down my styles to just two, or maybe one at some point. But it's hard because I get bored so quickly and change around. On the other hand, I wouldn't mind getting super good at one instead of being a jack of all trades and master of none.