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. 

Bathe with an Octopus?

{Watercolor and Gouache, 2013}

In my previous post I mentioned that I would share the illustration that I created for the Iowa SCBWI spring conference illustrator's intensive. We were given a manuscript for a children's book and we asked to choose a scene to illustrate. I chose the octopus scene. We each sent sketches to Senior Art Director at Little Brown and Co.,  Patti Ann Harris, and she responded with comments for each illustrator's piece. This is my original sketch:

{Sketch, 2013}

Patti Ann didn't have a ton of things to change, but there were a few tweaks. Can you see a few differences? At the end of the intensive, we were shown what the actual book looked like. Here is the cover for the book illustrated by Marc Brown of "Arthur" fame.

You can preview the book on Amazon. Its really adorable and fun! The book was done in a cut paper collage technique that is beyond gorgeous! If you ever get a chance to meet Patti Ann Brown, do it! She was so encouraging and more importantly, very intelligent about the industry. Her eye for composition, technique and book flow is impeccable! 

Illustration Friday - Wheel

*Click image to view larger*

{Graphite in Sketchbook, 2013}

I thought of a wagon for this week's prompt over at Illustration Friday. I thought tiny wheels would be funny juxtaposed with big fluffy kitties. I was going to leave it at just that and then I decided I wanted to know who was pulling the wagon. It kind of looks like this little girl has all she can handle! Free kitten anyone?

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.

Preview "Santa's Secret Story"

{Screenshot of Preview, 2011}

Click to view larger.

My second children's book is available for preview here on Issue.com. The release date is September 1st and it will be available from Amazon and Pauline Books and Media.

Canoe Explorers

{Graphite on Paper, 2011}

I'm planning on using oils to complete this illustration. It will be used for my portfolio. This piece was inspired by some of the hiking I did with my husband during the summer.

SCBWI Wisconsin Illustrator's Intensive

{Oil on Board, 2011}

This past weekend I headed up to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for an illustrator's intensive with Simon & Schuster art director Laurent Linn. When I signed up for the program, it came with an assignment. Participants were given two stories to choose from and each person had to choose a scene to illustrate. We sent sketches to Laurent a few months prior to the event and he responded with comments to make it better. This is the sketch I initially sent to him:{Sketch on Cardstock, 2011}

Some of his comments for improvement were that that characters were too crowded and that the point of view seemed too high. This is how I fixed that:

{Sketch on Paper, 2011}

Laurent didn't get to see our revised sketches but he was pleasantly surprised to see the final had changed so much. (it's often hard to break away for your initial vision and I think it can be hard to admit that something isn't working and that you need to rethink a composition.) Overall, it was very affirming to hear that Laurent liked the solution I had arrived at. He also liked the period details and color choices I had made (yay!). Overall, the intensive was really interesting. We got to see how different each artist's style was and their interpretations of different scenes. I took a lot of notes as Laurent critiqued each piece. He has so many nuggets of wisdom and was so nice! He has a really genuine respect and passion for the art of children's books and I think everyone in attendance got something out of his visit.

Sketch for Illustrator Intensive Event

{Pencil Sketch, 2011}

This is part of a larger pencil sketch for an SCBWI illustrator's intensive that I am planning to attend in June. I will post the final piece and explain more about the event after I have experienced it. I'm looking forward to the event and seeing what other illustrators have come up with!

Recent Happenings

{DaVinci Exhibit, Science Center of Iowa, 2011}

I don't have any artwork to share in this post, even though my studio is full of new art right now. I look forward to being able to show a few pieces later, but for now I offer a photo of me as the Mona Lisa!

Here is what is going on in my art life right now:

1. I finished my 9th illustration for the book I am working on. That puts me at the halfway point! 9 more to go and then I can ship them off to the publisher!

2. I just signed up to attend the 2011 Iowa SCBWI conference. I am looking forward to seeing friends made at previous conferences and making new friends! Also, excited about a portfolio review and great information.

3. I just sent sketches to my other publisher for my second children's book and should get edits back sometime this week.

I'm busy as busy can be, but enjoying the process and seeing a lot of improvement in my illustration and book spread composition skills.

Small Moleskine Watercolor

{Watercolor in Moleskine, 2011}

When I was visiting England last spring, I purchased a very small Moleskine watercolor journal. Its only about 3"x5" and its a very pleasing size to carry along in a purse or even a pocket. This is just a quick watercolor sketch. I was trying to convey how exciting getting some nice mail can be.

Pretty Little Victorian Girls

{Sketch, 2010}

{Sketch, 2010}

While looking at some children's book illustrations from the Victorian era, I was inspired to draw some pretty little girls. The outfits for children from that time period are so elaborate and lovely. When I was a little girl I used to wish that I was living during the Victorian times, but now that I am older, I also appreciate some of the modern conveniences! (like advances in medicine, air conditioning... Snickers bars!)

Illustration Friday - Immovable

{Sketchbook with Digital Color, 2010}

My parents have an old oak tree in their yard that reaches way up to the sky. It is one of the biggest trees I have ever seen and it almost seems like some sort of immovable character in my childhood. Some of my fondest memories are of my early school days when I would get off the bus and my mom would be raking up the leaves from under that oak. The tree still inspires complete awe in me because I know it saw days from long long ago and my hope is that it has many more years in its future.

SCBWI Bulletin

{Watercolor, 2010}

{Watercolor, 2010}

I am officially back from my trip to England and Ireland. I will be sharing some experiences in later posts! Until then, I am pleased and excited to share that I had seven illustrations included in the May/June issue of the SCBWI Bulletin. The above images are a few of the illustrations chosen to appear.

Illustration Friday - Rescue

{Watercolor, 2010}

This girl is about to rescue her little brother from the sharp knife he is trying to grab off the table. This illustration is the finished version of the previous post. I tried doing them digitally first, but decided a softer look, so I ended up completing them with watercolor. The illustration below is the accompanying piece.

{Watercolor, 2010}

I had to do a little research on modern nun dress. One of the things I love about being an illustrator is researching and learning about things. I'll be spending the rest of the week working on some toy designs, a portfolio piece and dabbling in other creative endeavors!

Sketches for April "My Light Magazine"

{Sketch, 2010}

{Sketch, 2010}

These are a few finalized sketches that I completed tonight. The finished illustrations will be digital and I am considering experimenting with a different technique. These will be for the April issue of "My Light" Magazine and I will post the completed illustrations when I get them done.

Cheerleaders

{Watercolor, 2010}

This is another piece for my black and white portfolio. I did some cheerleading very briefly in high school. My personality just didn't match up well with the sport. I am definitely a "behind-the-scenes" type of person. I would much rather watch than be watched!

Illustration Friday - Focused

{Oil on Board, 2010}

You gotta be pretty focused to wrangle a wild horse! I finally finished this illustration. I did most of the finishing work yesterday and the day before. I never love things when I first finish them, but now that its done, I'm sure it will start to grow on me.

A Background for the Rockin' Kid

{Sketch on Tracing Paper, 2010}

I spent most of today's studio time working on a background for this illustration. Tomorrow I will get it transferred onto some illustration board and start painting it. I'm still trying to figure out what type of colors to use on a few parts, but at least with oil, if I don't like something I can just cover it up with another color! On a completely different note, it is SO weird to be writing 2010 on checks, illustrations and other paperwork! Two numbers changed in the year instead of the usual one number change. It is much harder to fudge 2009 into 2010 in handwriting than it was when I was adjusting to 2009 from 2008! Oh well, life moves much faster than I can ever get used to... so I just move at my own pace anyways!

Rockin' Cowkid

{Pencil Sketch, 2010}

This is the sketch for a piece I need to get done relatively quickly. I have a few other oil paintings in progress that I have been steadily working on too... but will have to wait, yet again. I want to do a nice background for this piece tomorrow and work out any kinks in the drawing so I can start painting it!

Giant Stacks of Pancakes!

{Watercolor, 2009}

I just finished this illustration for the December issue of "My Light" Magazine. The December issue should be available by mid month. (right around the corner!) I know this is a pretty strange mixture of images... so if you are curious about it, you'll have to go over to "My Light" and read the story when it has been published. I promise, it is a very sweet story! After working on this all afternoon, I suddenly crave some flapjacks!