Snow Day

Illustration Friday ~ Zoom

Remembering Summer

The County Fair is always a fantastic event!  So much to see, so much to eat, and so much to do.

Trouble in the Hen House

          Wake up ladies!

Storm warning

Prints from my Illustrations

A composite of some of the latest prints I have framed for exhibition.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ HAUNT

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ WATER

©Ginger Nielson

From preliminary paintings for

"Gunther the Underwater Elephant"

The first paintings were done in watercolor then transferred to the computer for finishing touches in Painter 12.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ BOOK

One BOOK too many can cause a bit of distress.

TEA Time

Sometimes it's Tea for Two, or sometimes it's Tea for Four.  It all depends upon what anyone actually wants to eat.

Using the same bear, I created postcards and note cards.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ IDENTICAL

 Beginning with two identical sketches, a pair of almost identical twin bears make their way through the
woods at summer's end.  Searching for berries, seeds, and honey, they will fill up before the winter forces them into their secret places. Safe, warm, and well fed they will spend many days and nights in their chosen hideaways,

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ TEACHER

The topic: Teacher    The lesson: "spelling."

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ BOUNCE

WHAT FUN!

©Ginger Nielson

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ LONELY

©Ginger Nielson

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ CARRY

©Ginger Nielson

Here is the pencil sketch for the painting above.

Tissue Fish Issue ~ Fun Fish you can Create

I did these first with my kids and students in First grade.  At that point we only had newsprint and crayons, but when I found art tissue and tissue paper circles the fish grew real scales.  Here is a step by step for you to make your own.
First of all, I use SPECTRA art tissue for the fish bodies and good quality circles.  There are some tissue circles offered by discount houses that aren't any good at all and the colors are not bright.
The ones I prefer to use are from The TEACHING STORE: http://www.theteachingstore.com/5_tissue_circles_primary_c-p-155463.html#.UAVXdY6zcwI

 I posted the link since it was too long for Blogger html. What I ordered is: 20" Art tissue paper in bright colors. 5" Art tissue circles in primary colors.

 Here is step one: Easy. Lay out a double sheet of tissue. It can be as large or small as you like, but I suggest at least 18 inches wide or the circles will be too large for the scales.
                 

Just be sure you have two sheets or one sheet folded over.

Next draw a fish shape on the paper.  Any shape will do as long as it resembles a fish *:)

Cut the two layers out and begin to use an adhesive tape applicator to join only the top and bottom layers along the edge.  Do not close in the mouth or the tail.

Once you have only the top edge and the bottom edge taped, then put the two layers together.

Remember to leave the mouth end and the tail end open so you can stuff the fish later.

Now you can use the same adhesive applicator to make glue strips up and down the fish from the tail end to the mouth end.  Only do a few lines at a time, because this can dry out as you work.

Continue to apply glue lines and circles. As you overlap the circles, scales will appear.

Continue this until you have covered the entire fish.  I added a big eye that I made with circle sticker paper. It is easy to stick on once the fish is covered.  Do the same to both sides, remembering to keep the mouth and tail open so you can stuff the fish.

When both sides are finished you may want to add some long strips of paper to the tail end.  Then stuff the fish with old newspaper or other scraps of light weight paper that you would have recycled.  Even plastic bags from the grocery will work. But it needs to be lightweight.

Now, once the fish is stuffed you may want to close up the ends with staples or glue, but it isn't really needed.  Sometimes I put a string in the fish's mouth and attach a stick. That way a child can swing his fish around like a kite, or pretend to be fishing.

Enjoy your flying fish!

PS.... as an added option :

You can leave all the stuffing OUT, and leave the mouth and tail ends open. Then use a strip of oaktag or heavy paper to make a ring all around the  inside the mouth. Attach a string and stick and fly the fish around just like a kite on a stick.

Summertime ~

From some new work in a new style.   The Flower Gatherers.  Children's book illustration.
©Ginger Nielson

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ LOST

Sometimes you need a little helper to find something you lost.

©Ginger Nielson

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ SUSPEND

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY, REFRESH

©Ginger Nielson

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ SPACE

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ SECRET

Can you hear it?  The sea is whispering a secret. 

©Ginger Nielson

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ SIGHT

It was a sad sight indeed as the one child left behind, watched the children of the village trailing out behind the piper.

©Ginger Nielson

From the Woodcuts experiments *:)

From the original painting I have begun creating digital woodcut images. 

By changing the background and modifying it a bit I can create even more subtle changes.

These always start with a painting and then the fun begins. This works with many subjects, but not with all. I will still keep both the smoother softer style but will be adding more of the woodcut - like illustrations to my portfolio.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ JUMP

ILLSTRATION FRIDAY ~ VOCAL

©Ginger Nielson

Sing for Joy!

working on this one

Still not sure where I want to go with this one. It has been through a number of changes... and I keep thinking about where they are going or what is coming toward them.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ SWAMP

It was a dark and stormy night in a very noisy swamp.  The critters were croaking and squeaking and fluttering about...... then quite surprisingly it became much quieter.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ CAPABLE

A newborn elephant must be CAPABLE of standing and nursing very soon after birth.  The dangers that are present for newborn calves in the wild are always present.  This image is one from a dummy I am working on and this particular painting was finished today.  I can't tell if it will change before the dummy is complete, but I know that the journey in creating the illustrations for this book will be a very satisfying one.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ FLUID

©GINGER NIELSON

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ FORWARD

©Ginger Nielson

Jason seems to be  moving right along...going forward all the way.  Hope he has a happy landing *:)

Winter again...

Henry does not like to get his feet wet or cold...

And he is always ready to welcome visitors inside, especially if they are bringing him 

 a doggie cookie.......  *:)

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ GROUNDED

From "Carla's Cloud Catastrophe" written by Beth Bence Reinke and illustrated by Ginger Nielson.  An emergency presented itself on Carla's birthday when the clouds suddenly made their way to the ground and just stayed there!   The book is worth looking into.  Carla's story is fun, fanciful, and great for kids.

You can find copies at 4 RV Publishing, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and your favorite bookstore.