The REAL reason Humpty Dumpty fell...

©Ginger Nielson 2009

The mind and muse of the illustrator

Sometimes an illustrator can launch a conference within his or her own head... all those voices combine and generate new ideas.
©Ginger Nielson2009

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ POISE

©Ginger Nielson 2009

Winston Wednesday ~ Chapter IX - What now?

You can find the next chapter in Winston the Wonderhound's Adventures right here.

someone asked...

Someone asked if I ever do self portraits... well not really. I have done one other in the past, and this one is just a brief sketch. My usual outfit, paper and brush in hand on my way to the drawing table...and then on to the scanner and computer.

So, do you have a self portrait to share? Leave a link to your post or website and let us see what you think of yourself!

You can do almost anything with a self portrait. I actually decided to make myself about 5 pounds thinner. Neat.. a digital diet!

Think I finally have this one ..

©Ginger Nielson 2009

I did decide I wanted to paint the final sketch for this one...but will most likely keep the other illustrations in sketch or line form for the finished dummy. This may or may not be a "good" thing, but right now I have got the TIME to work on this. Illustrators out there will know what I mean for sure. *:)

Spring Mailer

I had already sent out Spring postcards, but decided I needed to send out a flyer to key prospects. The mailer is two sided. One side has a brief resume and book and client list, and the other is a composite image from many illustrations. I decided to add some interest to the envelope as well.


I also designed an envelope for the separate mailers I will be sending to Magazine publishers.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ SUBTRACT

©Ginger Nielson 2009

Olive's in a pickle

She needs a dime or nickel

Something to subtract

from a piggy always packed

Alas today she's finding nuttin'

Just one lonely orange button.

Black and White to color

Time to catch up on some reading....

©Ginger Nielson 2009

Still working on this one..

Clearly I wasn't happy with one of the sketches I created for my latest dummy. I have redone the sketch and think for the purposes of the dummy I will leave this one as is, and not paint it. There are a few that I will finish, but this one needs to stand as a sketch for now.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ LEGENDARY

Wednesday means...

It is time for WINSTON WEDNESDAY... you can read the latest installment in his Adventures right here.

Progress for the dummy

Also intricate...

A carefully crafted dragonfly made by one of our daughters perches on some dried blossoms.


This lovely dried arrangement has been sitting in our dining room for over two years...still going strong. I love the way the dried flowers and the strands mingle.

Likewise this grapevine bunny holds another mass of intricate dried blossoms.


My other post is an actual illustration.

Work in Progress ~ Intricate

Creating an illustration or a group of them for a Picture Book Dummy is an intricate process. Sketches need to be made, research needs to be done and if you can find them, models need to be studied. The more complex the work, the more intricate the details become.

BUT....

Isn't it neat to be able to go to work each morning in a sweat shirt and jeans...and even without shoes if you want?

I am working on my own story/dummy and it will take a while. I like to get a handle on the design, color, and character as I see it in my mind, but minds being what they are... and mine is no exception... it doesn't always translate perfectly on paper.


This is one sketch and a couple of color studies.

...for the spread I have been working on for the past week.


Having the ability to undo and redo the colors and placement is helpful, because it gives you time to think and change direction if something ' CLICKS ' and you find a better view point, color scheme or even a whole new approach.


I am still not at the finished stage, but have come a long way since the first sketches were put on paper.

Time Once Again for Winston Wednesdays

Go to Winston's Story Center to see the next chapter in his adventures and catch up on all the previous events.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ BREEZY

While Henry and Trevor sat under the huge elm tree with Winston at their side, brave Amelia climbed high into the tree to retrieve thier kite. Tossed high on a breezy day, it had gotten stuck and couldn't be pulled down... When Trevor tried to pull the kite, it just became more stuck and a branch went right through it. Then his best friend Henry pulled and pulled until the string broke altogether. How happy they all were when Amelia Mae saved the day!