Lilly the Kid's School for Bandits (working title)

So last February I went to the Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators conference in New York City. Made the journey all by myself, leaving my toddler 871 miles away with daddy in Atlanta. The first night there I got food poisoning, forcing me to miss the entire morning session on Friday. Oh, did I mention I was 2 months pregnant as well? It was an experience for sure.

But none of that really matters. What matters is what I learned from the convention and what came out of it. I've wanted to attend for years and was not disappointed. Learned a lot, including how to approach my portfolio and branding for the next time I attend.

What's especially wonderful is how many art directors/editors are right at your fingertips. The conference allows for a lot of self promotion. During the open portfolio showcase, where you get to display your portfolio as well as leave out business cards and postcards, I had an editor ask me about one.

He especially liked the little girl and wanted to know if there was a story to go with her and if I would send it to him.

"Yup!" I replied. I did have a story, just didn't know what it was yet.

So after the excitement, nervousness, panic, and anxiety went away, I asked a few experienced illustrators and writers at the conference what I needed to do exactly. Elizabeth O Dulemba gave me some great advice. If an editor or art director asks you if you have a story, always say you have a story (check). Then take a couple months and write it. Editors expect it to take some time, and 2-3 months is not out of line. But make sure it is perfect! Illustrations to accompany are a bonus, but not necessary. He already liked my illustration style, he just wanted to know what it was all about.

So I followed their advice, kind of. Being pregnant and moving just a few months after the conference set me back a bit. Then a severe case of writers block set me back even more.

"You need to work on that story," my husband would often say.

"I know," was my only reply.

I have a lot of picture book ideas. I'm not saying every one is gold, but they are an idea, a place to start. But having an illustration and being told "come up with a story for this" put my mind in a fog I could not overcome. So I did the only thing I could do, took my time. Did research, had some creative procrastination and worked on the story little by little.

Till voila, I had an idea. Which developed into a story. Which has since become a world with characters and setting and concept. Here is a little peak.

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Once the storyboard is finalized I will send it off to the publisher! Only 6 months late.

Cats

Mew.

Carl Did Not Belong

See if you can guess which one Carl is.

And a detail.

The Dark

I've recently fallen in love with Jon Klassen. Although he is unaware of my feelings, he hasn't stopped encouraging them. His most recent illustrated book is "The Dark" written by Lemony Snicket (also brilliant). The humor and just plain good design he brings is inspiring. I also think it's interesting he illustrated a different book about a girl who knits...

If nothing else, next time you are in a bookstore, go to the picture book section and read "I Want My Hat Back." You will chuckle, I promise.

Annabell and Clover

"Annabell is a creative introvert who rescues an abandoned baby raccoon. The two are inseparable until Annabell realizes clover feels left out not being with his own kind. Can Annabell let go of the only friend she's ever had? Will the other raccoons accept Clover?"

I changed "Huckleberry" to "Clover". Huckleberry Fin is a bit to famous to share the name. Here is the process on a possible illustration direction.

The sketch has already been posted (see below). Here is the line drawing.

I scanned in the line drawing and painted digitally. Starting by blocking in the general colors. I knew I wanted it to be bright and fun. I kept thinking "Pinterest" colors.

After many many layers, I made the whole image grayscale to make sure my values were ok. The background could be a tad lighter.

And the final image.

Take care!

The Yearling Colored

Ink, gouache, and digital. I tried to follow the value study as closely as possible.

The Yearling

"Almost every day he took his gun and shot-bag 
and went into the woods with Flag."

In college we were taught the importance of value studies before starting an illustration. It only took me four and a half years to fully appreciate what our teachers were trying to hammer into us.

This is based off an excerpt from "The Yearling." So excited to paint this now!

Every Now and Then

I just finished what turned into a pretty big project.  I was commissioned to illustrate a children's book that is soon to be self published.  It was originally going to be 9 full color illustrations, but she added in 9 more ink drawings and one more full color.  The story is about a girl who goes to the NY public library and finds an old atlas.  She discovers, with the help of a bookworm, that every map she turns to in the book she is instantly taken to that place in the world.  It was a really fun story to illustrate since it took place all over the globe.  Consistency was the main issue I had to deal with.  I'll get a link to blurb soon so if you want you can order a copy.

These were inked and painted with watercolor; and then I photoshopped the maps in.  The maps are from an old atlas that was bought on ebay.  I just scanned in the corresponding country to the illustration.  In most of the full colored ones you can see the name of the country, or city, hidden somewhere in the illustration.

In completely unrelated news I have a new puppy!  Her name is London, and is the sweetest, most playful dog ever.  I'll do a sketch and upload it instead of a picture, since this is an art blog after all.

Pictures YAY

Even though my teacher says it's not technically a thesis I'm still calling it that. Here is another preview. This one got into the Best of Ringling show so I was pretty excited. The Illustration show is this Friday night and I am scrambling to get my book done in time. I'll post the whole thing on here after. Well, my favorites at least.