A little more Black and White

Sometimes you might wonder why your mail looks a little the worse for wear. It is the Holiday seasonal helpers, I am sure.

And I am also sure that some of the help has a distraction or two.

Polar Moms

When I am working on B&W line illustrations, as I am now for a new Chapter book, I often need to take a break by creating something in color.

When elephants go courting...

Always wear your very best when you go courting the ladies....

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ BALLOON

This is another one of those illustrations that had an earlier life. It is now part of my banner.


Before it looked like this it was a two part illustration. You see, Once you have the idea you still have to find something for the dog to do and you MUST keep the cat busy. Then everyone can pile into the big balloon with PBJ sandwiches, a jug of milk and some homemade chocolate chip cookies for an afternoon snack. Cat Nip is not allowed, but treats and dog biscuits are taken along.

So this, then, is the very first illustration of the trio with their pets off on an adventure...the map was a bit confusing, so they stayed aloft a bit longer than they expected, but still made it home in time for dinner.

Happy Thanksgiving ~ The Alternative

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ OPINION

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ PRETEND

Did you ever PRETEND to be sound asleep once your parents tucked you into bed?

LET YOUR IMAGINATION BE YOUR GUIDE

I always like to let my imagination take over when I am illustrating.  After all if you can think it or dream it you can illustrate it.  Well, most of the time.

This little guy was just asking for a place to be:

So I gave him a new home, with a bit of a twist.  I really love books, but my favorites have always been picture books.   So what if all the pictures decided to leave the books and look for new homes?  Yikes! What a predicament.

This is where little Jackson is now...waiting to meet some new friends.  

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ WISE

Ah, the owl is known to be wise, but our fast escaping mouse is wise as well. Too quick for the owl this night, he will scurry into his burrow and hide safely until morning. Now who is the wise one?
~ From the book I just finished illustrating, by Brettell Hone, "My African Bedtime Rhymes" published by Shamwari publishing in South Africa.~

The BugCatchers

Now that I am happy with this version there is a point where I started...
and I still like this one. It has a simplicity that is perfect for some types of stories. But it evolved a bit to this one next....
and this one is fun too, but it needed something and I also wanted to get a closer view of the children... so that is the first image on the top.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~VACANT

~ Sometimes they would go to the VACANT lot to feed the ducks.  But when the bag of bread was VACANT the ducks would become impatient.  Because Ethan was so much smaller than Jennie he would cling to her for support and protection.    All would end well when the ducks grabbed the bread that fell instead of the tender fingers that had tried to feed them.

PS~   I am aware that this is a stretch of the subject, but I have been working on this one illustration for several days, and wanted it to 'fit.'  It is the fifth version of a much earlier work.  Sometimes when  you think you have a good image and look at it a year later you can see a new way to create the mood.  That is what happened with my old "duckpond" illustration.   I think I may have it where I want it, but who knows it may resurface again at some point.

So.... Kate asked about the original. This is it. It was okay, but I wanted to feature the children a bit more and create an Asian influence.

First I resketched the children and made them larger than in the first illustration.



Next I completely changed the background. I wanted it to be more parklike and even though I did try it with a city scape in the distance I liked the final version better.