My Entry into the 2014 Lilla Rogers Global Talent Search

{Entry for 2014 Global Talent Search, Digital Mixed Media}

{Portfolio Presentation of GTS Artwork, 2014, Digital Mixed Media}

I entered the Global Talent Search this year after being really excited about all the entires last year. Not to mention, my "Make Art That Sells" class had just finished (also put on by Lilla Rogers' Studio) I love Lilla's approach to making art. I entered her class with a little skepticism because I am ever the realist. Her way of approaching assignments was a game changer and really pushed me to the next level. I know that the style of work may never be the right fit for her studio, but I have really enjoyed using her prompts to push myself further and create things that are the best I can possibly make. She seems to be a genuinely positive person with a lot of great tips and ideas about trends. I'm not a trend chaser, but I think you need to have some awareness about what is selling at the moment. It's also been nice to feel a little validation about some of the trends and color stories I had noticed on my own. I like to think I "get out there" enough to see what is "in" for the moment. Anyways, the assignment was to make a piece of wall art with the theme of tiny terrariums. We were supposed to include at least one word. I didn't make the top 50 from round one, but there were 999 entries and the gallery is full of absolutely beautiful, inspired art. I made a piece that I feel is 100% me, and I put everything I had into it. For my portfolio, I plan to take the hand lettering out and just show the artwork, since I feel it has a very narrative quality. Here's to making the kind of art that makes you happy! 

Tomie dePaola Illustration Contest

{Graphite Drawing with Digital Mixed Media, 2014}

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I was really excited that the Tomie dePaola competition was a little more complex this year. We were supposed to illustrate a wordless spread with 4-6 panels that told a story. I spent quite a bit of time working out my story panels and was pretty pleased with the way my entry turned out. I'm happy to have this as an addition to my portfolio! Thanks for the prompt SCBWI and Tomie! I can't wait to see which 10 finalists Tomie chooses!

Bootcamp Project for May: Editorial Illustration

{Graphite Drawing with Digital Collage, 2014}

After having April off from "Make Art That Sells" (an e-course from Lilla Rogers' Studio) the class was back in full force with a project for editorial illustration. We were asked to create a piece of art in response to an article about meditation. The article was about the benefits of meditation but also about how the author found a lot of convincing excuses not to do it. (things like being busy, a wandering mind, etc.) I chose to focus on the inability to concentrate because I struggle with that also! Above is the finished piece. I used a lot of scanned textures and some ink drawings that are left over from previous projects. 

{Graphite Drawing, 2014}

This is the drawing I started with by scanning it into Photoshop and painting it. The thing I love most about the Lilla Rogers' class is that it makes you think about how you create your art in a different light. It also makes you fall back in love with the process which helps create a more successful end product. There are also tons of hints about marketability! 

Bootcamp Project for March: Fabric Design

 {Digital, 2014}

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Our second project for Lilla Rogers' Make Art That Sells Bootcamp was a fabric pattern incorporating jelly molds. At first I wasn't sure what to do with such a strange concept, but as I worked in my sketchbook I came up with the idea of some woodland animals having an aspic and gelatin party. This is my final project submission for the class gallery.

Make Art That Sells E-course

{Project 1, Cell Phone Case, Digital, 2014}

Prints, Phone Cases and Skins Available for sale HERE

I recently signed up for a 6 month long e-course with agent Lilla Rogers. It's called "Make Art That Sells". This past weekend I finished my first project for the course and had a pretty good time doing it! I have to say, the cost of the class seems like a bargain as it has really lit a fire inside me to really create the kind of art I am inspired by. You know the art school speaker adage, "Do the kind of work you want to do"? It's true! Except, when I was in art school I didn't really know what kind of work I wanted to do. My style will probably always be a little all over the place, but it helps get a variety of jobs and it keeps like interesting. However, this class is helping me hone some of the skills that have sat dormant for months (maybe even *gulp* years). I'm feeling really hungry for some good, strong work that I'm really excited about. This class, so far, is doing exactly that.

Dreaming of Spring!

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Watercolor/Digital, 2014

I do enjoy aspects of every season but I am already looking forward to planting my 2014 garden this spring! With the short winter days, and long nights I guess that leaves me time to sketch variations on what I will plant and where. 

Tomie de Paola 2013 Illustrator's Contest

 {Acrylic and Digital, 2013}

This is my entry for the 2013 Tomie de Paola illustration contest. The prompt this year was a simple poem that was fairly difficult to illustrate. The text is from a poetry book that was written by Lin Oliver and illustrated by Tomie de Paola. It read, "A sneeze is a breeze in your nose." The target age is for babies age 2 and under. I wanted to create something that was dreamy and imaginative but also clearly illustrate a sneeze and a breeze. You can read the whole prompt HERE. The prize is a trip to the winter SCBWI conference in New York City and a special lunch with Tomie de Paola himself!

Cookies Between Friends

{Digital Mixed Media, 2013}

It has been awhile since I last posted! It isn't because I haven't been working on anything. In fact, it's very much the opposite. I've been pretty swamped with work and I have several things I'd like to share on my blog. I thought I would start with this little personal illustration I created during some down time a few months back. I liked the way it turned out and I have some other little mice I would like to finish once I have some free time. I'm currently working on my 4th picture book, which I am very excited about! Juggling motherhood, an illustration career and general life stuff (and summer is always extra busy too!) has proven to be difficult but rewarding. I really enjoy blogging too, so I hope to try and fit a bit more in. 

Windsor Heights 4th of July Poster

{Drawing and Digital, 2013}

**Click Image to View Larger**

Today is Flag Day and I thought it would be a perfect day to share this poster that was created for the Windsor Heights 4th of July celebration. If you live in central Iowa, I highly recommend Windsor Heights' Independence Day festivities. Their parade is wonderful, they have activities for kids, music, food and fireworks! Their even doing a bike decorating contest for kids this year. How cool is that? I created this by scanning in a drawing and painting it in Photoshop. 

Introducing Henry Robert Camling

{Henry, 2012}

{Pen and Ink with Digital Color, 2012}

On December 6th, at 10:21pm my husband and I welcomed our son, Henry Robert into the world. He weighed in at 7 lbs., 4 oz., measuring 21.5"long. Right now, we're doing our best to learn about caring for an infant, and the most important thing right now is helping him to thrive! He's absolutely beautiful and we both love him in a way we never thought possible. I also included an illustration I made for the thank you cards I wrote to friends and family that provided us with baby shower gifts. Since Henry's birth, I feel like we need to write some more for all the people who have brought us meals and made sure that we are doing alright. My parents will be visiting for Christmas, and we are really looking forward to that too.

Illustration Friday - Bounce

{Sketch with Digital Color, 2012}

Its been a long time since I participated in an Illustration Friday challenge. Last week I finished my first round of sketches for my next children's book, and while I am waiting to hear back about revisions, I thought I would have fun sketching something bouncy. I know we are nowhere near Easter, but I still love a fuzzy bunny year-round! Hopefully he's bouncing over soft grass and not hard surfaces, because eggs usually don't bounce!

Illustration Friday - Grounded

{Graphite with Digital Color, 2012}

{Graphite in Sketchbook, 2012}

It seems a little morbid, but a grave seemed like the most extreme example of being grounded. I did a graphite drawing in my sketchbook and scanned it into Photoshop to color it digitally.

Illustration Friday - Round

{Prisma Pencil with Digital Color, 2011}

Every morning when I walk to the gym I notice the squirrels are getting rounder and rounder as they prepare for winter! Of course, the squirrels around here don't wear cute little coordinating winter outfits. This little guy is getting ready to store his last nut because he is caught in the year's first snow!

Happy Halloween!

{Sketchbook with Digital Color, 2011}

Wishing you all a very Happy Halloween full of yummy candy, fun costumes and pretty pumpkins!

Illustration Friday - Hibernate

{Ink in Sketchbook with Digital Color, 2011}

When I think of this week's Illustration Friday prompt, I think of bears huddling in a den or a cave. During winter, I often feel this way too! Its nice to keep cozy inside when the snow is flying. I drew this in in my sketchbook with an ink pen and then scanned it and painted under the drawing in Photoshop.

Illustration Friday - Mysterious

{Sketch with Digital Color, 2011}

{Sketchbook, 2011}

If a child shows you a picture they have drawn, don't ask, "What is it?" Instead, ask them to tell you about it. This piece of advice has come in handy as a kids art teacher. Especially when presented with the most mysterious of drawings! I drew this in my sketchbook and then colored it in Photoshop.

Perennial Garden

{Digital, 2011}

{Digital with Labels, 2011}

This is the color version of my last post. Our internet has been down at our house for several days so I haven't been able to put it on this blog. (I'm borrowing my neighbor's connection for a few minutes!) The second image has little letters by each plant and the corresponding plant names are listed in order below:

A. Purple Coneflower

B. Daisy

C. Black Eyed Susan

D. Hosta

E. Pasqueflower

F. Forget-me-nots

Illustration Friday - Chicken

{Sketchbook with Digital Color, 2011}

Portrait of Mrs. Chicken. I drew her in my sketchbook and then colored her in Photoshop. I've always wanted to own chickens so I can just have them roaming around in my yard. I guess the fresh eggs would be pretty nice too!

2011: The Year of the Rabbit

{Sketchbook with Digital Color, 2010}

Happy New Year from me to you! I hope 2011 is everything you could ever wish for and more. I am excited that this is the year of the rabbit in the Chinese Zodiac because I always find myself being attracted to rabbits as a major motif for decorating my home. I also draw a lot of them, and started to draw this New Year's rabbit before I even knew it was the animal of the year! Anyways, its also time to get in gear and try to keep all those resolutions that were easy to make, but will be much harder to keep! I have several resolutions floating in my head; both personal and professional and I am going to try my hardest to be a good girl!

Illustration Friday - Winter

{Digital, 2010}

{Printed Cards, 2010}

{Back of Cards, 2010}

Wishing everyone a magical and Merry Christmas! I love being able to share my artwork with the world through this blog and I appreciate every single person who comes here to take a look. A few posts back I shared the top illustration, which was done as the main image for my family (ie. my husband and our menagerie of pets) Christmas card. I said I would share the final printed version, which I got from Overnight Prints. They turned out very nice with wonderful colors and great quality.