Illustration Friday: Foggy

     One of the things you have to think about when selecting your color palette is how the light, atmosphere and weather of a place effect color. For example, what colors do you see when you picture London? What colors do you see when you picture Arizona?
     This is a spread from "Oscar the Badger" which comes out this November. It takes place in London, a foggy place with lots of rain. The overall feel is muted colors and faded details - lending a slightly more "designery" look.

Illustration Friday: Fierce

     Another image from my latest picture book "Ready for Bed," part of the ParentSmart/KidHappy series written by Stacey Kaye, illustrated by Yours Truly, Free Spirit Publishing.
     Marco needs to brush his teeth and declares that he is "a very hungry crocodile!" Fierce indeed.

Illustration Friday: Hoard

     Despite hoarding toys, kids usually have only one or two favorites.
     This is from "Ready for the Day" - part of the ParentSmart/KidHappy series which was just released!

Illustration Friday: Punchline

From my forthcoming, "Oscar the Badger," (Fall '08) - Oscar is convinced he is turning into a badger...

Illustration Friday: Forgotten

Maya found her sandal, which hid forgotten under her bed.
This is from the one of my two latest picture books, "Ready for the Day," part of the ParentSmart/KidHappy series written by Stacey Kaye (Free Spirit Publishing). Expect a big ta-da soon! :)

Illustration Friday: Worry

     This is from "Ready for the Day" written by Stacey Kaye, illustrated by Yours Truly. It's part of the ParentSmart series from Free Spirit Publishing coming out this June.
     Here, Maya is worried. She doesn't want to be separated from her Dad during the day.

Illustration Friday: Wide

          I created these wide elephants several years ago when I was first figuring out my medium. It was an early digital experiment which accompanied my dummy, "Hyena Jo." I liked the direction, one friend called it "glowy," and it's how I've worked ever since.

Illustration Friday: Seed

     Just under the wire this week as I have speaking engagements out the wazoo to celebrate Paco and the Giant Chile Plant. (I did Mami y Yo yesterday which I'll share in more detail soon - with pictures!)
     Well that chile plant comes from magic semillas de chile - magic chile seeds. So the book is all about the power of a seed! Here, Paco's papa explains a mystery (which you have to read the book to learn more about...).

Illustration Friday: Wrinkles

I love witches with all their wrinkles and warts. They're so much fun to draw!
This is a snippet from my dummy "Lula's Brew."

Illustration Friday: Primitive

Kids can turn pretty primitive when you try to get them to do something they don't want to do . . . like go to bed. Here's an illustration from "Ready for Bed" coming out this June from Free Spirit Publishing. It walks a parent through language that works when trying to get Jr. to bed. It's part of the ParentSmart series written by Stacey Kaye.

illustration Friday: Fail

     We may not get it right the first time, but we tend to figure it out eventually.
     This is another illustration from "Ready for the Day" written by Stacey Kaye, illustrated by Yours Truly, Free Spirit Press, June 2008.

Illustration Friday: Save

     From my new book from Free Spirit Publishing (written by Stacey Kaye, illustrated by Yours Truly, June 2008), here's the illustration featured in their new catalogue (check my post below).
     Dads always know how to save the day!

Illustration Friday: Homage

     Odd theme this week, but I have a fit. The last illustration in "Paco and the Giant Chile Plant" is an homage to family and home, no matter how challenged - and of course, my dog Bernie is running to meet Paco and his family (click the image to see the whole thing).
     I had my first reading of Paco to an all Latino audience last weekend during the Nuestra Vida event at the Chamblee Library hosted by Univision 34. I was nervous trying out my Spanish in a public venue like that for the first time, but the families could not have been more warm and patient with me. I hope to have some pictures to share soon.

Illustration Friday: Pet Peeves

     A perfect fit! This is an illustration from "Ready for Bed," written by Stacey Kaye, illustrated by Yours Truly, Free Spirit Publishing. It will hit shelves in just a few months, so keep your eyes peeled. Oh that's gross. Maybe just keep a look out. But where would you put it? Keep your radar up . . . are you submerged? Um. Yeah, it's Friday and I'm feeling a bit slap-happy. What of it? Anyhow.
     Isn't it a perfect fit!? Get it? PET peeves? Who would be more particular about brushing your teeth correctly than a crocodile? Hmmmm?

Illustration Friday: Leap!

     It's Leap Year Day! So of course, we have an easy theme this week - LEAP!
     I think I can show this as it's a snippet from a book I have coming out in late May. I'll share more as we get closer.
     Do you have a leap year baby? Are you a leap year baby? Lots of fun stuff for you here! Like, why do we have leap year anyway? And when was it invented?

Illustration Friday: Multiple

Back up a few months for this week's theme, "multiple," as there are multiple things going on in Santa's Workshop. Click the image to get a closer look.

Paco and the Giant Chile Plant!!!

     A BOOK IS BORN!!!! WOOHOO!!!
     I am thrilled to announce the birth of my latest book, "Paco and the Giant Chile Plant ~ Paco y la planta de chile gigante" (written by Keith Polette, illustrated by Yours Truly, Raven Tree Press).
     When I first found out about this project, I was excited for many reasons. First, it was a great excuse to finally take Spanish lessons (which I've been doing for over a year now). And second, it's a Jack Tale (which if you know me, you know I have a thing for Jack Tales). In fact, Paco takes the familiar "Jack and the Beanstalk" tale and gives it more than a few new twists. Told as a fractured fairy tale, our hero, Jack, is now called Paco, and the story takes place in a beautiful desert setting in the American Southwest. Could I ask for anything better than to introduce Jack to the Latino community in such a fun way??
     The story is presented as an English text with embedded Spanish in rojo. A vocabulary page is included to jump start learning in either language, so it's got a great educational angle to it as well.
     I am also so proud of my artwork in this book, and feel it is somewhat of an artistic debut for me, like I've finally found my illustrative "voice."
     So, without further adieu, please go see my announcement in its original formatting, CLICK HERE.
Woohoo!!
     Oh, and a nod to Illustration Friday visitors: It is my theory that Paco will do very, very well!!
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
PACO AND THE GIANT CHILE PLANT ~ PACO Y LA PLANTA DE CHILE GIGANTE
written by Keith Polette, illustrated by Yours Truly (Raven Tree Press, February 2008 - TODAY!!!)
Hardcover ISBN# 978-0-9770906-2-4
Paperback ISBN# 978-0-9794462-3-8
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Illustration Friday: Choose

     Well, it's slim pickens around here. Once again I had the most perfect art to share for this week's theme, but it hasn't been published and I can't show it yet. So I'm reaching into the archives. This is from a dummy I created a while back.
     Faced by a herd of water buffalos, what would you choose to do?

Illustration Friday: Plain

An African plain.
:)

Illustration Friday: Stitch

     Well this is different, but I love the topic. I never thought I'd get to share these guys!
     Before I got so busy, I loved creating little felt creatures. I made a whole line of hand puppets, some with horns and teeth, always buttons for eyes. I loved using embroidery thread and creating fun patterns and lines using different types of stitches.
     This is the only one I still have since I gave the rest away. He is pinned to my "ego wall" which I'll talk about later this weekend. I also made Christmas stockings for our animals, but those are put away so will have to wait for another day to share.

Illustration Friday: 100%

     Interesting topic this week and I'm going to share some art from my first picture book (with my name on the cover), The Prince's Diary. It's a Cinderella story from the Prince's point of view, but it can tie into the philosophy of 100% pretty well.
     Sometimes, like for Cinderella, life throws us curves or makes us go through trials we'd rather not, but that's how life works. There's no such thing as being 100% safe and secure in anything we do and that lack of control can be very scary. It's how we deal with that lack of control that reflects who we are as people. That's the one thing we do have power over.
     How about you? Do you let the trials in life swallow you up, or do you decide to remain positive and look for the good in difficult situations? It's 100% up to you.
     Starting out this new year I wonder, are there some difficult hurdles in your path this year? How do you plan to get over them? Can you see beyond them to a place you want to be and set your sights to get there?
     My personal philosophy? I set my sights for the very top of what is possible in life. That way, even if I only get half way there, it's still pretty darned good.

Illustration Friday: Soar

     This is a bit of an experiment. I'm posting to IF from a remote location on my laptop. (Very remote actually - a cabin in the North Georgia mountains!) I couldn't figure out how to size it down to a 50x50 pixel thumbnail using iPhoto, although I was able to crop it. Anyhow, no thumbnail until I get home.
     In the heart of every pig is the desire to soar.
     I created this guy a while back (but never posted him for Illustration Friday), so the URL already existed. Let's see how this works out.
     Hope everybody had a great holiday!

Illustration Friday: horizon and Merry Christmas!

     Ho-ho-ho!
     Good things are on the horizon! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday. (To view my Christmas wishes larger - click the image.)
     And here's hoping we all have a happy and peaceful New Year too!
     If you'd like to be alerted when my new books come out in 2008 (I have six!), sign up for my newsletter:

Illustration Friday: Backwards

     Yet another from Paco and the Giant Chile Plant ~ Paco y la planta de chile gigante (I love that my publisher lets me share). Paco is getting so close I can almost taste it - PICOSOS!
     I've been busy planning events to celebrate its release this spring. If you'd like me to visit your school/festival/event go under "visits" and get in touch!
     Here Paco's cow wants to back up and go home, not be traded for a costal of magical semillas!
     Click the image to see it larger.

Illustration Friday: Little Things

Okay, this is driving me crazy. I have the most perfect illustration to share for this week's theme . . . but it hasn't been published yet, so I can't. ARGHHHH!!!
Slower than molasses in winter. Yup. That's how this business moves. Seems to anyhow.
So, I'm sharing my "bald fairy" instead. He's just a little guy, with a little hair, and a little bent for mischief.

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.