Illustration Friday: Excess

This is a sketch from my picture book dummy "Lula's Brew."

     The Aunties dished up Lula’s brew
     as people slurped like hogs.
     “Ymmm,” they oohed and “Mmmm,” they cooed
     and grinned like happy frogs.

I have to say, it's getting tough to come up with new art for IF. I'm illustrating like crazy, but it's all under contract and I'm not permitted to share just yet. (I know, nice problem to have, eh?) I'll keep contributing as long as I can.

Illustration Friday: Superstition

This is from my book, Glitter Girl and the Crazy Cheese.

Illustration Friday: Scale

Another from Paco and the Giant Chile Plant. Here, the giant's tears make him shrink in scale until he is el gigante terrible no more.
(Click the image to see it larger.)

Illustration Friday: Hats

     I don't think I've ever shared this before, and I'm still in Halloween mode. This is the cover art from my picture book dummy, "Lula's Brew." Another illustration from this story made me the 2007 Smartwriters.com Grand Prize W.I.N.NER!
     Lula, say "hello" to everybody. (Doesn't she have the grandest hat?)

Illustration Friday: Trick or Treat

Treat please!! I did this a while back (before my digital days). The boy is all wrong, but I love the pumpkins in it. Very Halloweeny!

Illustration Friday: Extremes

Again from Paco and the Giant Chile Plant. Paco's father must go to extremes to keep anybody from climbing the giant chile plant again! (click the image to see it larger)

Illustration Friday: Open

This is from Paco and the Giant Chile Plant, Raven Tree Press 2008. I can't wait for the release of this book!

Illustration Friday: The Blues (and figuring out color)

     This is old. I'll say that straight out. But it's got a story.
     I've told y'all that I was a corporate in-house illustrator for many years before I moved into children's books. Well, I drew this for a box of bird-seed for a gardening company a long time ago.
     I drew it. I didn't color or render it. It was sent out to a freelance illustrator to paint the final.
     What!?
     Yup. At one of the companies I worked for, it happened a lot actually, and let me tell you, it gave me the serious blues.
     But back then, while I could draw my little tootsie off, I couldn't color very well. I could do flat color, cartoony stuff with my eyes closed. But the fine-art look, highly painterly styles, that wasn't me.
     "But aren't drawing and painting the same thing," you ask?
     Not at all.
     Knowing how to draw with black and white (pencil, pen and ink, etc.) is completely different from learning how to apply color well in any particular medium. Color is a finicky thing. Applying atmoshpere and light with color is a completely independent skill. You can't just make a color darker to throw it into shadow. Colors change, they grow cool and hot, they oppose each other. Color can cause objects to jump forward or hide in the back. Using color incorrectly can make a piece feel flat, or it can push things forward and back that shouldn't be, making the perspective feel wonky.
     Think about it. Have you ever seen artists who could draw like crazy with graphite, but the second they rendered their art with color, it went south like a duck in winter?
     When I first dove into freelancing with my own art, I had to figure out what my medium was, and then I had to become proficient with that medium to apply color effectively. It took several years and a lot of work. I feel like I'm only now reaching my stride. Nowadays, the puzzle I enjoy most in my art is tweaking color and light, making them really work.
     So now, I can finally work with color. I can pull off those painterly looks I always admired, but I always regreted that I hadn't rendered some of my earlier drawings and sometimes go back to them to see how much I've improved.
     I revisited this particular piece several times over the years in several different mediums (this one is colored pencil), and while I still don't think it's a success color-wise, I did reach a level where I thought, "It's okay." Of course, if I did it again today it would be completely different.
     Learning how to paint and render my own drawings has been an interesting journey for me though. I hope it's interesting to budding artists as well.

Illustration Friday: Juggle

This is a little guy I cropped from a larger piece of art (which you've probably seen around on my website). I can't believe I had an actual juggler in my archives!

illustration Friday: Momentum

     This is an illustration for an upcoming educational picture book for Harcourt School - POP GOT A HIT.

illustration Friday: Visitors

The giraffe has had a visitor . . .
I did this a while back, but I still really like it. It's achieving a lot of what I try to accomplish in my current work, especially color-wise. (Click the image to see a larger version.)

Illustration Friday: Emergency

     I shared this with you under the "Capture" theme when it was still just a pencil sketch. Fully rendered, it becomes a true emergency!
     Again, this is for Paco and the Giant Chile Plant (Raven Tree Press) which will be released next June.

Illustration Friday: Moon

Illustration Friday: Poem, An Ode to Harry

An Ode to Harry
by Elizabeth O. Dulemba

‘Twas release night of Harry
and all through the town
not a reader could sleep
or put the book down.

We went to the party
and claimed our great tome.
We mingled with muggles
then took our book home.

We argued and fought
o’er who would read first,
and find out who died
as the other one cursed,

“Don’t tell me! Don’t tell me!
And hide the reviews.
I’ll read for myself
the terrible news

Of who doesn’t leave
the Hallows alive.
I can’t wait to know
who doesn’t survive.”

But once I’ve found out
the journey will end.
I’ll miss my dear Harry.
He’s been a good friend.

Since Sorcerer’s Stone,
I’ve found the books groovy.
There’s no more to wait for,
except for . . . the movie!

(Feel free to share, but please include credit.)

illustration Friday: Discovery & Postcard Demo

Little Yella riding hood went to visit her Grandma (with a bag full of bagels from Zabar's and a Starbucks Chai Latte) only to discover . . .

     A while back, somebody asked if I would talk about my process with promotional postcard mailings. Since I'm using my latest postcard art for IF this week, I thought it would be a perfect time.
     I like to use Premium Postcard for my printing. They have no minimum print requirements which means I can send out a very targeted mailing list for less money. They are also run through the US Postal Service, so postage is included in their prices, and I can do everything online, including build my mailing list.
     When I'm ready to send my postcards, I just upload my art, click the names I want to mail to, and voila! I do, however, mail myself a proof postcard first. PP uses a coated glossy stock which holds up great in the mail and looks very professional, however, it tends to blow out the saturation of my art. So I usually send a very dummed down version of my art colorwise to get a good result.
     I build my postcards in Photoshop and save them as .jpgs to upload.
     Here's the front of my latest:

     Notice I have my name and contact information on the front. Art Directors will often pin postcards they like to a bulletin board. You never know what could sway an Art Director to hire you over somebody else, so make things easy for them. Include your contact information on the front so they don't have to fumble with your postcard to get in touch with you.
     Here's the back of my postcard:

     On the back I include my name, relevant title (children's book illustrator), a list of books I've illustrated with the publisher's name and any accolades they've received. I have my website address so they can see more of my art at my online portfolio (this is important and what makes the postcard/website advertsing technique so effective.) I include contact information for me and my agent. The art for this particular postcard is also published in this year's Picture-Book annual, so I included the page number. PP also has room for a small vignette of art - I included the "snout cream" from the bedside table. (This is an actual mailed postcard, so you can see the USPS logo and mailing strip.)
     I mail different art out three to four times a year to a mailing list I've pulled together by studying trade magazines and researching online. It's down to a select group of Art Directors and Editors with whom I'd especially like to work.
     And that's it! Hope you find this helpful.

Illustration Friday: Geeky

I created this for the River Eves Kick-off to Summer Reading party and it was published in the latest SCBWI Bulletin, so you might have seen it before, but it fits the bill, eh? This was me - was it you? Well, except for the glasses. Of course, now I wear glasses, but not back then. Still have my nose buried in a book most of the time though.

Illustration Friday: Twist

     I know I've told you about this before, but I just dummied it up for the first time last week. It needs tweaking, but I have to say I am so pleased with the way this book is coming together.
     What book?
     Why, "Paco and the Giant Chile Plant ~ Paco y la planta de chile gigante," of course!
     It's a Latino TWIST on "Jack and the Beanstalk" and the main reason I've been taking Spanish lessons (okay, that and turning 40). I want to be able to speak to my entire audience when Raven Tree Press releases it next June. It seems like a long way off, but holding the dummy in my hands is getting me so excited!!
     Click the image to see it larger

Illustration Friday: Camouflage

I created this a few years ago for my dummy, "Hyena Jo." (Click the image to see it larger.)
And by the way, the stripes really do work. I learned this during our honeymoon in Kenya. You can see pictures here (it's an old site so please forgive the clunkiness).

Illustration Friday: Rejection

I haven't posted anything from Glitter Girl and the Crazy Cheese in a while. This is the closing illustration. You know you've got it bad when you're cat won't even stick around for you.

Illustration Friday: Suit

     I created this for a publisher of chapter books. I ended up illustrating "Haley and the Big Blast" rather than this story, so this illustration never made it to the public.

     On another note, thanks for all the birthday wishes everybody! Y'all go color a cake!

Illustration Friday: My Paradise

     I get to post what is currently my favorite piece of art for this week's theme.
     This is what Paco finds at the top of the giant chile plant in "Paco and the Giant Chile Plant ~ Paco y la planta de chile gigante."
     It's my paradise to be able to create it for him. (Click the image to see it larger.)

Illustration Friday: Sign

     I've posted this on my blog before, but not for Illustration Friday. This was an illustration for my dummy, "Hyena Jo."
     He wanted to be a graffitti artist, but lived on a vast African plain with no walls on which to paint. So he "signed" (tagged) the animals instead, especially the big ones with their big wide sides so similar to subway cars.

Illustration Friday: Citrus - 100th IF Post!

     Wow! Today I celebrate my 100th post on Illustration Friday! Don't believe me? Check out the IF Gallery I've put together.
     Ironically, with today's subject, I'm posting what I consider to be one of my first truly successful illustrations. I did this . . . about nine years ago, and it was probably the first piece I ever did that made me think, "hm, I might be able to play with the big dogs!" It was quite an accomplishment for me.
     Help me celebrate my 100th IF post! Download and color my birthday bear:

Thanks for all the great comments y'all! If you color 'em - I'll post 'em! This one is by "kinT."
You guys are so awesome. This second birthday bear is colored by "Cat."
The bears keep coming! This one is by Mark Korbieh - a friend from Spanish class!

And another bear! This one colored by Scott Cuzzo. :)

Illustration Friday: Neighbor

     This is a spread from Glitter Girl and the Crazy Cheese as the cheese dances back to the neighborhood - see it back there doing a jig?
     Oh, and the dog? That's Bernie, my dog, yup. He's in all my books. I have the kids wave and say, "Hi, Bernie!"
     So . . . go ahead. Say it . . . "Hi, Bernie!"

Illustration Friday: Remember

     Remember when books were magic? How they could carry you to new and fantastic worlds? They still can, they're just waiting for you!
     I created this a few years back. It was one of the first pieces I did where I felt I was finally getting a handle on working digitally. I originally intended to send this out as a promotional postcard, but the size was all wrong, and I quickly moved past it. Still, there are some things I really like about it. Click the image to see it larger.

Illustration Friday: Polar

     I started drawing this about two years ago when the whole Narnia craze returned. This was the Snow Queen in her polar environment, right when she hears a noise . . .
     I started rendering it this weekend, and it still has a long way to go, but I honestly don't think I'll have time to finish it this week - I've got too many deadlines.
     What I really want to announce though, is that I've created a gallery of all my IF submissions. I've been participating for a long time now, and it took quite a while to pull this together. If you'd like to check it out, hit the link under the IF logo to the right or Click Here.
     I'm also adding a coloring page for you this week. Just click the penguin to download the .jpg. Enjoy!

Illustration Friday: Green

     Well, there's the color "green" and then there's the definition of "green" as in newbie.
     Here is Lula, from my dummy, "Lula's Brew." She didn't like to fly on a broom . . .

     Lula wanted to be the chef
     of the neighborhood's favorite haunt.
     She wanted a four star bistro,
     her very own restaurant.

     But when your Aunties are witches,
     the wickedest in the land,
     you have to learn how to fly a broom
     and cast spells with a wave of your hand . . .

Click the image to see it larger. :)

Illustration Friday: I Spy...

"I spy . . . pepper juice in your eye!"
¡Aye caramba!

Oh, what a day! I have the windows open, the fan on, and a warm breeze is wafting in. Oh, and it's FRIDAY! Could things get any better? Oh yeah, hubbie's on his way home and we're going for Mexican food on a patio somewhere. I'm in heaven. :)

Hey guys, a lot of you leave me questions, but then use the "anonymous" or the "noreply-comment" setting. I can't talk to you when you do that! hint, hint.

Illustration Friday: Total

     Odd topic this week. It will be interesting to see how everybody translates it's meaning. For me, it immediately turns into "totally" as in "like totally" (said with a Valley Girl accent).
     With that in mind, this is a spot illustration from my first illustrated picture book, THE PRINCE'S DIARY (named No.1 2006 Valentine's Day Pick by Book Sense). This is when Lady Jane Prescott discovers she is like totally allergic to blackberry scones!

Illustration Friday: Wired

     I actually have a funny story behind this week's theme. In high school I went on one of those "see all of Europe in two weeks" tours.
     We had a great time, but I remember as we stood under the Eiffel Tower (and me a complete francophile - wow), a girl named Amy sat there plugged into her music with her eyes closed. I wanted to shake her and say, "Look up will ya?"
     So as I was sketching something for this week's theme, of course Amy came to mind. But instead of the Eiffel Tower I wondered, what if whatever was above her was something even more amazing? Something like a big pink dragon?
     This is a serious quickie - just a few hours.

Illustration Friday: Hide

Perfect! I just finished the next illustration for "Paco and the Giant Chile Plant" and it's a perfect fit for this week's IF theme! (Click the image to get a better look.)

Illustration Friday: Communication

I did this illustration a few years ago for a magazine called "Signews." It accompanied a short story by Penny Warner for the hearing impaired community. She wrote several short stories involving these characters. Here, they receive phones to text message each other. If you look closely, you can see a hearing aid in the girl's ear too. It's definitely all about "communication!"

Illustration Friday: Crash

     I'm pulling an image from my first picture book, "The Prince's Diary" (Shen's Books 2005). It was named No.1 2006 Valentine's Day Pick by Book Sense!
     Here, a carriage crashes into the hole the Prince dug in the driveway. His blind date, The Lady Prescott, is horrified and flips her mushroom casserole into the air.
     See my dog? He's called "Rover" in the book, but that's "Bernie" in real life! (He's also a little chubbier.)

Illustration Friday: Sprout

     Funny theme this week, and it happens to go with the picture book I'm currently illustrating, "Paco and the Giant Chile Plant," which will be released by Raven Tree Press in June, 2008.
     I'm so happy to be working on this bilingual story (it's the reason I'm finally taking Spanish lessons).
     Here, Paco has planted his chile seed when suddenly the ground rumbled and grumbled and a chile plant shot into the sky.

Illustration Friday: Red

I'm pulling another illustration from "Haley and the Big Blast" which was released from Amy Elise Press in November. Here, Haley gets to ride in her aunt's hot red convertible.

Illustration Friday: Super Hero

Here's a quickie I did last night. It's not "Mighty Mouse," it's "Super Rat!" Or so he likes to think...

Illustration Friday: 80's

     The first thing that popped to mind was doing a charicature of Boy George, or somebody wearing jeans so tight, you can read their credit card number through their back pocket. And then I thought, do I really want to go there? I lived through it, that was enough.
     So, I'm going for the more serious side of the 80's and sharing something I've not done much of so far here. This is an image I created for "A Bird on Water Street" back when it was still a picture-book, or a chapter book (it's now a full blown novel and with my agent as I type).
     The story centers around the closing of the local copper mine through the eyes of 13-year-old Jack. And, even though my story is fiction, it's based on a real event in 1987. The coppermine was in Copperhill, Tennessee, and it's closing crushed the local economy.

     This image is of Jack and Piran watching a slag dump. The waste from separating copper from the rock left a sludge that, when molten hot, was poured down the sides of the company land (which sat on a mountain of the hardened stuff). It was like watching a fireworks show as the lava spit and sparked while it cooled.
     You can read a snippet of my epilogue describing the complicated history of the region HERE. But be prepared - it's kind of shocking.

Illustration Friday: Buzz

Buzz? How easy is that!? Well, I have to show something from my story "Queen Bea" - duh! I don't think I've shown y'all this one yet (I hope). This is Bea guiding her Grandpa as he backs up his truck to get the bees (who have inconveniently relocated to the school playground) into a hive (see them on the branch?).
Click the image to get a closer look.

A bloggy THANKS for the New Year!

     THANK YOU!! to all you wonderful people who comment on my blog. I try to respond when I can, but with bloggers new settings, most of the comments come in without an email address to reply to these days.
     But, I want you all to know how much I appreciate your kind words, encouragement, and general silliness. Your comments often arrive right when I'm in need of a pick-me-up and make me smile. So, thanks to all, and I wish all of us a peaceful, successful, and happy New Year!!
     Okay 2007 - I'm ready for ya - let's see what you've got in store for us this year!

Illustration Friday: Phoenix

     Well, this was a tricky one! I didn't have anything in my archives that would work, and hey, it's the weekend, so here we go.
     So, why does a Phoenix have to be a bird? Okay, despite the actual definition of a "Phoenix" - pah! I can think of a lot of things something might want to rise out of other than just fire (boring!) I mean, what about a pig from . . . well, you get the idea.
     But Hubbie complained, "A phoenix has to be a bird." Pooey. So, I thought, what if a baby phoenix could be born from a match? Really, really tiny and quick. And here's where art can be lacking - I need a sound effect. Can't you just hear this little guy? "Eeep!"
     Actually, I was reminded how much I love finally knowing what my medium is (digital) because I drew these (pencil) while watching tv last night, then pulled out my old coloring pencils to get 'em going (and still be a couch potato). And? Well, I hated them - hated them! So into the computer they went this morning - ahhhhhh. Much better.

     Note: I just went through the IF posts, and Matt Phelan did a "Match Phoenix" too. What can I say - bright minds think alike (get it? bright minds?) - LOL! I'ts very cute - check it out!

Illustration Friday: Help

     In line with what I've been posting for IF lately, I'll post another illustration from "Haley and the Big Blast." Haley is a young scientist whose constant experiments go awry - here's another example.
     Haley thought that adding some dry ice from her father's fish cooler, would help make her flat root beer bubbly again. Well, as you've seen in the IF theme, "Sticky," the results were disastrous.

Illustration Friday: Might

     I love these themes that can be translated in completely different ways. Is it "might" as in "strength" or "might" as in "I might do this, I might do that?" Well, I'm going to translate it this way, "Hiding your cheese puffs in the cooler with the fish your Dad caught over the weekend might not be such a good idea.
     This is another illustration from my latest book, Haley and the Big Blast, which is now available through Amazon in My Book Store as well as through the publisher, Amy Elise Press.

illustration Friday: Invention

     This is another illustration from my latest book, "Haley and the Big Blast," written by A.E. Scotland and illustrated by Yours Truly for Amy Elise Press.
     Haley is a young inventor who's constant experiments get her into all sorts of trouble.
     In this scene, she noticed the slide didn't "slide" very well - so she added cooking oil - which made it work a little bit too well!

Illustration Friday: Thanksgiving

     Happy Turkey Day! This is an illustration I did for an Andes chocolates in-store promotion about . . . ten years ago - really? Wow, I think that's right. Anyhow, the bowl in front is supposed to be full of Andes (that was a photo dropped in later).
     But, you get more than just a pencil drawing this week kiddies - here's another free coloring page - just click the image to download a pdf of Mr.Turkey!

Illustration Friday: Clear

     This is a tricky theme this week, but I'll give it a go.
     This is an illustration from my latest release, "Haley and the Big Blast." When Haley pours hot water on clear, cold glass, it cracks - solving (clarifying) the mystery of the school's broken windows. (Notice she's wearing clear goggles . . . ) Ha!
     I just received my copies of "Haley" yesterday and am putting together my big web announce over the weekend. Look for details coming soon on my blog and in my newsletter (sign up to the right)!

Illustration Friday: Smoke

Well, I had about three pieces of art that fit this week's theme, however they were all still in black and white. So I'm going to take one of them all the way and show you my progress. This is a piece from my picture book dummy, "Queen Bea." First is the line-art version. I usually do sketches, scan them into the computer, then arrange my composition. Sometimes I then do a cleaned up line-art version to then work from. But I have to say I probably won't create line-art anymore. Editors seem to respond better to pencil sketches - where things look more rendered in black and white. My line-art seems to have more of a cartoony look that doesn't hint enough at the extent the final piece will be rendered.

So here is my next stage, flat color. I set the pencil or line-art layer to multiply in Photoshop. I work on a flat color layer below it. I may go in and add a few more color blocks to indicate light and shadow, but this is almost finished with stage 2.

Next I'll pull it into Painter where I do my shading and rendering. You'll have to check back to see how the piece ends up - it usually takes me a few days.

Update: Thanks for all the great comments - I'm so glad some of you find my process helpful. I used my weekend to finish the art - isn't that what weekends are for? Anyhow, the last step was to render in Painter then pull it back into Photoshop for minor adjustments. Click on the final piece to get a better look.

Black & Orange!

     Penelope does it again!
     The creator of the insanely popular Illustration Friday (which I try to participate in almost every Friday - you can check out my submissions HERE) has created yet another "I must participate!" creation. This one is called Black & Orange. It's a gallery of Halloween themed art, with judges and everything.
     I reworked a piece I originally did in colored pencil several years back. I always liked this piece, but the more I stared at it, the more the weak spots screamed at me, so I pulled it into Painter and reworked it. I think I can live with it for a while longer, although I ought to change . . .
     But don't just look at my piece - there are some truly wonderful submissions in Black & Orange. And if these don't get you in the mood for the ghosts and ghoulies this evening - I don't know what will!
Happy Halloween Y'all!

Illustration Friday: Wind

Wippee! This week's theme fits with this piece I just finished for a friend. The wind is carrying their balloon away, when they suddenly realize, they don't know how to get down! To see a larger version, click HERE.

Illustration Friday: Ghost

     Bwahahaha! I love Halloween. It's my fave.
     This is a pencil spread from my picture book dummy, "Lula's Brew."
     Lula wanted to be a famous chef with her very own restaurant. But her Aunties Zelda, Tippy, and Dink were notorious witches, and they were determined that Lula would be the wickedest witch of them all.

     Well, Lula get's her restaurant. This scene is "Lula's Cafe was a hit." (Click on the image to see it larger.) See Mr. and Mrs. Ghostie going out to dinner? :)
     Here's a peek at Lula in color:

Illustration Friday: Smitten

     This is an illustration from my first picture book, "The Prince's Diary." It's a Cinderella story, but from the Prince's point of view (and boy was he smitten). Not only was I honored to work on this story adding to Shen's Books collection of Cinderella stories from around the world, but "The Prince's Diary" was named No.1 2006 Valentine's Day Pick by Book Sense in conjunction with the Association of American Publishers. (Click the image to see it larger.)

Illustration Friday: Trouble

     No Paco! Don't take the seeds!
     Okay, well just about everything in my portfolio can fit with this week's theme, but then, I think most good art should represent trouble (a.k.a. tension) on some level.
     This piece is from the bilingual picture book I'm currently working on for Raven Tree Press, "Paco and the Giant Chile Plant ~ Paco y la Planta de Chile Gigante." It is a retelling of "Jack and the Beanstalk" with interesting parallels. Here, Paco sells his vaca for chile seeds.
     Look for it in Spring 2008! (And click the image to see it larger.)
.

Illustration Friday: Quiet

     Lula wanted to be a famous chef with her very own restaurant. But her Aunties Zelda, Tippy, and Dink, were notorious witches, and they were determined that Lula would be the wickedest witch of them all.
     The Aunties made Lula read stacks of books on magic spells and potions. "You can make people do anything you want," they said, "or turn them into toads!"
     "How boring," Lula thought and studied cookbooks instead.

     A snippet from my picture book dummy "Lula's Brew." Reading is usually quiet time, but you've got to wonder how relaxing it would be with witches looking over your shoulder!

Illustration Friday: Farm

I did this illustration for a magazine a few years ago, definitely "farm" related.

Also, here is a coloring page you can download,
right click the image:


On another note, my blog is now included in a mega blog at Jacketflap.com. If you're trying to break into children's publishing, this site is a fabulous resource, check it out!

Illustration Friday: Safe

Okay, I did this a long time ago for a candy packaging company. Maybe you've seen him on the candy isle at your local store? I have a good excuse for not doing anything new this week though, it's the weekend of the Decatur Book Festival - first annual - and I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I'm going to blog my experiences as the weekend progresses, so check it out HERE.

Btw, "Lifeguard" can be downloaded for coloring by clicking HERE!

illustration Friday: Run

This is a spread from "Glitter Girl and the Crazy Cheese" - Lilly ends up chasing the cheese from her sandwich all over town when it jumps off her plate and runs out the cat door! To see it large, click HERE.

Illustration Friday: Match

Emma doesn't care if her socks don't match - they're her favorites!
Just a little character study I did a while back.

Illustration Friday: Play

We all have our own ideas of what play is. Some of us have a much quieter idea of fun.
This is from my story "Queen Bea." To see a larger version, click HERE.

Illustration Friday: Capture

This is an approved pencil sketch for my upcoming "Paco and the Giant Chile Plant ~ Paco Y La Planta De Chile Gigante" written by Keith Polette for Raven Tree Press. It won't be released until June 2008 - so you won't see the color version until then. Although you can see the cover in color at the above link. I'm going to have a lot of fun with this one.

Illustration Friday: Opposites

Attract!
This is from "Simon Bigfoot" again.

Illustration Friday: Sacrifice

Okay, well. There was a hiccup on the theme and I actually like the new theme better - in fact, something new came to mind. Shocking, I know. So I've started working on this little dittie. I've got it to the flat color stage - but have a long way to go with the rendering.

New: Well, I received enough nice comments (from illustrator friends) that it is finished the way it is and makes a great educational art piece. Hm. I need a new trade piece to send out. I guess this isn't it. But I do like this - so I've added it to my educational illustration section on my website.

Illustration Friday: Aging . . . well

Just a silly one this week. This is the goal right? As we get older we get richer? Right? Right?

Illustration Friday: Skyline

I don't know if this will ever be used or not, but it's a scene from the mid-grade fiction novel I'm currently writing. The setting is based on a real town called Copperhill, Tennessee. The mining practices there were so bad for so long, the entire region was completely denuded. The astronauts on the space shuttle mentioned being able to see three man-made things from space: the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids in Egypt, and the landscape of Copperhill, TN. If you'd like to learn more, click here:
Copper Basin History.
In this scene, the mother is checking the weather for wind. The sulfuric acid fumes in the air were so bad, that the wind could eat a pair of drying stockings in a matter of hours.

Illustration Friday: Sticky

What a sticky mess!! This is an illustration for "Haley and the Big Blast" (Foundation for Girls, Inc, Fall 2006).
To see a larger version, click HERE.

Illustration Friday: Dance

Another image from THE PRINCE'S DIARY, where Prince Stephen is cornered by the step-sisters. Can you see the mice hanging in the chandelier?

Bonus week again. Click HERE to download the image below for coloring:

Illustration Friday: Jungle

This was one of my last pieces while still working with "traditional" media - markers and colored pencils on matt board. It was an illustration for my story "Gonzago's Green Thumb."

Illustration Friday: Portrait

Well this is a journey to the past for me. I did this self portrait in . . . college I think. We're talking a l-o-n-g time ago. I never claimed to be a painter, so this is certainly not proficient in that sense. And scanned in, I see some proportion flaws. But to this day, I still feel like this looks like me (even now) more than any other attempt I ever made in my life (except for my bud monster maybe - upper right corner). I just think that's kinda funny.

Illustration Friday: Cake

Funny theme this week. This is cropped from an illustration for "The Prince's Diary" (Shen's Books, 2005).

Okay - bonus time. This is "Birthday Bear" - click HERE to download a .pdf to color.
Love the new thumbnails layout for Illustration Friday! (I wonder if it's possible to edit one's listing after posting? Hm.)

Illustration Friday: Sorry

This is an illustration from a mid-grade coming out this Fall, "Haley and the Big Blast." Can you tell what she did? It's a cute story. The scientifically minded Haley cannot stay out of trouble.

Illustration Friday: Angels and Devils

I actually did this several years ago for Worth 1000 - a theme of opposites. Fit with the theme this week though, didn't it?

Update: Okay guys, for some reason everybody and their mother is downloading this image. I don't mind, but could you leave me a note? Let me know what you like about it or how you're going to use it? Maybe even say "thanks"?

Illustration Friday: Spotted

This is Hyena Jo - he's a graffiti artist, but doesn't have any walls to paint on - so he paints his tags on animals instead.

Illustration Friday: Spring

I'm late this week, but I have a good reason - we had our kick-off book signing for GLITTER GIRL AND THE CRAZY CHEESE in Fairhope, Alabama this weekend. More above.
:)

Illustration Friday: MONSTER!!!

     Gaads, I LOVE monsters!!! But only the friendly kind - y'know, they'd only eat you on a Tuesday if they were in a really bad mood.
     This is Simon Bigfoot. I posted the cover last week (scroll down). He's a bigfoot, but he's a pacifist. He doesn't want to run around scaring unsuspecting hikers like his brother does. His family is dissappointed in him. So how does he get them to accept who he is and leave him to be the peace-loving bigfoot he really is? Well, let's just hope this book gets picked up by a publisher so you can find out . . . ha!

Illustration Friday: Feet

What a perfect theme this week! I've just finished the dummy for my latest story, "Simon Bigfoot." This is the cover.

Illustration Friday, Theme: Tea

I couldn't resist. This weeks theme is great, and this image popped into my head and wouldn't let me do anything else until I got it out. :)

Illustration Friday, Theme: Simple

     I don't get to do things like this enough. I love creating simple line-art images. I either do them with pen and ink, or the variable pen tool in Adobe Illustrator.
     I learned the importance of line quality while working at Buster Brown Apparel. I worked on the Peanuts line and got to draw Charlie Brown and Snoopy for several years. Charles Schulz had a degenerative disorder that made his hand shake. Bad for him, but great for his art. Duplicating his line quality was amazing. We'd draw two wiggly lines close together and fill them in. Thicks and thins varying throughout were very important.
     It's now one of the first things I teach in my beginning drawing classes - how much information you can share just with a simple line.
     So here is my simple drawing of a cow. Bonus this week - if you click below, you can download a pdf to color. Bessie needs spots!
     Click: COW.

Illustration Friday, Theme: Chair

This is a spec illustration I did for a client recently - got the job, but for a different story. So I guess this one just exists now, without a purpose. *sniff* Until Illustration Friday came along that is . . . CHAIR!!
:)
e

Thanks for all the nine comments guys! I created it with my typical method of pencil sketches, scanned and arranged then flat color applied in Photoshop, then rendered in Painter - so mostly digital.
:)

Illustration Friday, Theme: E is for . . .

ME!! Elizabeth, otherwise known as "e!" Haha!!!
(if you click on my bud monster, you can see what I really look like.)
:)

illustration Friday, Theme: Sea

This was a spec sketch I did for a publisher a while back.
I haven't created anything new for Illo Friday in a while, gotta fess up. I'm busy illustrating a chapter book which is due the end of this month. It's going well, but it's keeping me busy! On top of that, I applied to the Master of Fine Arts program at Georgia State. Please cross your fingers for me on that one. I'm pretty excited about the prospect. Anyhow, after this deadline, I'll create some original pieces for Illo Friday. Promise.
<8-P
e

Illustration Friday, Theme: Flavor

I drew this weird dude eons ago - not sure exactly what he is really. This weeks theme can be so widely interpreted, "flavor." Hmmm. So, here's my weird dude enjoying the flavor of his soda.

Illustration Friday, Theme: Holiday

Happy Yule, Y'all!!

illustration Friday, Theme: Imagine

Hi All. Thanks for all the nice comments. If you'd like to see the image larger
CLICK HERE.

Illustration Friday, Theme: Surprise

This is an illustration from "The Prince's Diary" written by Renee Ting for Shen's Books. I had fun posing to get her gesture just right.

Illustration Friday, Theme: Blue

Well this week's theme is "Blue" and I have the perfect thing. This is a scene from my story "The Big Blue Oops!" Lou is trying to find something to clean her world - which has turned completely blue!!
:)

Hey Y'all, thanks for all the nice comments recently. I'm always amazed anybody has time to see my postings - Illustration Friday has grown so big! I really appreciate your thoughts.

illustration Friday, Theme: Small

Well, I've posted several images from "Teacup" - but this is the cover - the key to it all. Never published, it's about an itty bitty dog who wants to see the great big world.

illustration Friday, Theme: Free

I'm late posting this week - more on that later (or above?). Anyhow - this week's theme is "free" - which is what this turkey wishes he was . . .
Happy Turkey Day Y'all.

Illustration Friday, Theme: Strength

This is appropriate considering I'm already hearing Christmas music when I shop. Gaads. Did this Santa for a freelance job recently. This is Santa after he's been pumping the irons. Is it time for the iconic image to be updated?

Illustration Friday, Theme: night

Created this a while back for a poem I wrote called "Storm":

A storm came to visit.
Tap, tap, pitter pat, the rain danced on my window.

Rat, tat, titter tat, the rain drummed on the roof
—clitter, clatter, clang, and washed through the gutters.

Pound, pound, pitter pound, the rain beat harder down and down
—on the driveway, on the walk, on the doorstep where I sit on sunny days.

Swoosh, woosh, shreeee, the wind blew through the trees
and made spooky shadows sway on my walls.

I closed my eyes, I squeezed them tight,
but there would be no sleep tonight.

The sky rumbled, and it tumbled.
It rolled with surging sounds.

CLAP! CRACK! flashed the lightning.

BOOM! BANG! crashed the thunder.

I hid under my covers, my dog and cat did too,
as lighting clapped and thunder smacked and echoed in my room.

What if it never stops, Mama?
What if it’s here to stay?

Boom! Bang! went the thunder
—this time farther away.

Drip, drop, drippy drop, the rain slowed to a drizzle.

Everything grew quiet, and all the night sounds waited.
We curled up in my bed, it felt so safe and warm.

We closed our eyes and finally slept—we made it through the storm.

Illustration Friday, Theme: Broken

This is an illustration from "The Big Blue Oops" - another of my projects along the way that never saw the light of day.

Illustration Friday, Theme: Remote

Missed last week because of the move. This is an illustration for a chapter book I have with my agent right now, "A Bird On Water Street." Definitely the feeling of remoteness.

Illustration Friday, Theme: Lost

Again with an image from "Teacup" - although this one didn't make it into the final dummy. I've always loved ths image though. He is so small and alone. Yes, there are cows, but they're big and dumb. Ahh, but somebody is watching - keeping an eye out for our little fuzzy hero . . . hm. Makum me happy.

Illustration Friday, Theme: Float

Pencil - did this a while back. Wood ducks.
:)
e

Illustration Friday, Theme: Escape

I wish I had time to create something new for this week. I've got this great idea for a mouse as Bacchus - escaping via wine and partying. Oh well, with the move and all the craziness right now, there's just no way.

Illustration Friday, Theme: Roots

I drew this a while back - a gnome village built into the roots of a huge tree. I pass several trees that look move-in ready for a gnome family every day. Wish one day I'd walk by and notice a little door, or a window . . .

Thanks for all the great comments! I've uploaded a larger version so you can see the details - just click on the image.

Illustration Friday, Theme: Dreams

Well, pooie. "DreamBoat" would have been perfect for this week's theme. But I think this one fits too. Gotta wonder, is the little one awake? Sleepcrawling? Hmm.

Illustration Friday, Theme: Reflection

Well, reflection can either be something reflected on a mirrored surface, or the process of thinking back on things. I think this covers both.

illustration Friday, Theme: Wisdom

Well, she may be more appropriate at Halloween, but she fits this week's theme! Actually created her in stages over about ten years. Pencil sketch sat in a box for most of those years. I applied color about three years ago, mostly with colored pencil. Hm. Maybe I'll take her into digital next . . .

Illustration Friday, Theme: Empty

I actually drew this a Long time ago when I was first starting on this journey of children's books. His name is Yamy.

Illustration Friday, Theme: Aging

Ouch. This week's theme is aging. Nah, not me. I'm not doing that. No bags or droops here. No way.

Illustration Friday, Theme: Tranquility

Well, I didn't have anything to fit the themes the last two weeks, and didn't have time to create anything new. Luckily, this week's theme is perfect to show my latest illustration, "Dream Boat." This is my typical style created with pencil sketches scanned into Photoshop, where I apply flat color, and then render in Painter.

Illustration Friday, Theme: Metropolitan

Well this is about as close as I ever get to drawing anything metropolitan. It's funny, a friend and I were talking about how sometimes our "styles" are defined by what we don't enjoy drawing - therefore you rarely see them in our art. Not saying I wouldn't give it a go if there was a need, it's just not what I seem naturally inclined towards. Hm.