Lost (Color)

Lost

Fountain Party!!!

Another Bunny Suit Sketch

Fireflies Again

Just doing some experimenting lately with different styles and approaches.  They don't all work out of course, but it's fun changing things up.  I find I get bored if I keep doing the same style all the time.

Chasing Dreams

The reason I've titled this post "Chasing Dreams" instead of "Chasing Fireflies" is because the act of chasing both is so similar.  Like chasing a dream, you start off in the pitch dark feeling a little lost and unsure of a direction.  Then all of a sudden, you see a small light in the distance.  Whether it be an idea or a whim of inspiration, you tear into the night running that direction....but when you get there it's gone.  Maybe the idea you had works, but not quite. Then you see another tiny light in a different direction and you run with all your might to catch it.  You swing your hand, and you almost have the little bug in your palm, and you feel its wings flutter against your index finger before again disappearing.  At this point you sit down in the grass and wonder if you will EVER catch that firefly.  And just when you're about to give up, because the bugs have trickled into nothingness and it's growing late and pass your bedtime, an extra bright light sours through the night sky.  It's at perfect eye level, and it's traveling a little slower than the others.  You feel deep inside yourself that this is it, that it's the right light to chase.  And then....you catch it.  Before you let it go to chase another.

Illustration Friday: Paisley II

Illustration Friday: Paisley

Character Sketches

Happy Father's Day Dad!

I drew this illustration for my Dad--I was very much a tomboy when I was young, and that's my chidhood dog, Captain Jack (a Jack Russell terrier).

Beach Day

Illustration Friday: Slither II

Illustration Friday: Slither

Time to take the snail for a walk.

A Nice Surprise

I got a little package today from Ideals Publications - it was their Fall catalog.  And guess what was on the cover--an image from my recently illustrated book, "How Much Does God Love You," written by Michelle Medlock Adams, neato!!  The book is due out this September.

Illustration Friday: Early

Stretch.....yawn....

 

Color Sketches from "Baby Moose Visits"

Here are a couple different versions of baby moose.  I'll probably go for the more characterized version on top since he'll be doing some goofy things like jumping on the bed and making mischief.  I didn't think a realistic drawing like the one below would fit as well with the humorous subject matter.  I also wanted slightly disproportionate legs - extra long and clumsy (the art director suggested this too).

Baby Moose Visits Sketches

Hi everyone, I'm sorry I've been away from the ol' blog for so long.  Sometimes things get hectic and--you know how that is.  Anyways, my current book is the adorable "Baby Moose Visits" written by Linda Glaser.  I've thumb-nailed (made tiny sketches of all the spreads) the book and am now working on character sketches:

Irritated Earthworm

Mole's habit of building home extensions at two in the morning did not make him very popular with his neighbors.

Transferring Sketches With A Printer

*Edit: I corrected the title spelling, that's what I get for posting late at night lol

I have always used a light table to transfer my sketches to watercolor paper. A VERY time consuming process that almost doubled the amount of time it took me to complete books.  I'd watch a movie or listen to music while I mind-numbingly traced over my lines with a pencil.   Not to mention the times I've messed up on a painting and had to transfer for a second and some cases a third time.  So, what if I could cut that process out completely? If I did, I could possible fit in one, maybe two more projects per year and therefor have an easier time making a living as an illustrator.  I could meet deadlines much quicker as well.  Well there IS a way, but it will take an initial, fairly large investment to do it. I'm talking about large-format printers (to fit those larger double page picture books spreads). What I'd do is scan a clean sketch, lighten the lines until they're barely visible with Photoshop and print it directly on my watercolor paper. And if I mess up? No problem! I'll just print another copy. I know some illustrators have been doing this for years, but I guess I waited for the prices on these printers to drop more. I remember back when I checked on them they were averaging around 5k a piece (?) Ugh! Now they're definitely more affordable although still enough to make me hold my breath. 

Since I'm only on the sketching phase of my current book, I'll probably wait until the final art is under-way to get one. But when I do, I'll post my experiences with the new printer.

Also, please post a comment if you yourself have transferred sketches this way. Thanks!

A Daily Dose of Inspiration

An illustration from start to finish by P.J. Lynch