ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ TOY

©Ginger Nielson

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ RESOLUTION

©Ginger Nielson 2011

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ PREHISTORIC

A visit to the interactive prehistoric tar pits, 

a virtual experience coming to your neighborhood later this year.

(word to the wise:  best to leave the dog at home....)

©Ginger Nielson 2010

FLYING POODLES IS NOW AVAILABLE AS AN iPAD APP

This is something completely new for me.  The book I illustrated for the talented Karen Morss is now available as an iPad App.  Just in time for the holidays and at such a fantastic price.  I heard the audio and it is adorably enhanced by the sweet voices of the poodles.   Karen actually set up her own recording studio in home to capture those children's voices.  There is something for everyone in her story.

Just imagine what would happen if all of Santa's reindeer came down with the flu.  Do they even give flu shots for reindeer?  I think not.  You will love Karen's well executed rhyme as well as the emergency, the rescue and the unlikely heros who save the day or night as it may be.

                The app is available via  iTUNES and I think you will really enjoy the adventure.

COMING SOON ~ Flying Poodles, A Christmas Story

Over the past few months I have worked closely with an amazing author and entrepeneur.
Karen Morss is a true renaissance woman. She grows and markets her own Mayer lemons in her very own orchard, creates creative stained glass works of art, coloring books, is the "mom" to Lucy Ball her red haired poodle, several kitties and is a great story teller!

When Karen contacted me to illustrate her book,
"Flying Poodles, A Christmas Story, "I was honored and delighted to be chosen to illustrate this story and enjoyed the challenges it presented to an artist.

Just imagine an illustrator given an assignment that includes not only 8 reindeer but 8 adorable poodles as well.  Each dog with it's own personality will charm readers of all ages.  Beyond the delightful story is a message to us all.   Don't ever give up.... you are capable of more than you realize. Helping your friends in need has rewards that are priceless.

Karen's  Poodle Dog Productions website offers a pre-order for the book as well as the announcement for the iPad app.  The iPad will have quite a few extras for the audience that downloads the app.
For every book sold, Karen offers a donation to the Smile Train Changing the World one smile at a time. So while you are smiling at her fantastic story, others who need to smile will have a chance to do so as well.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ Unbalanced

©Ginger Nielson 2009

Papa Mario should have never tried to teach his children a new feat on Friday the 13th.

At least, however, he works with a net!

Now Children, never try this at home.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ STRONG

It's not magic!

Fresh air, sunshine and vitamins have a direct effect on one's health.

Revision continues

©Ginger Nielson 2009

Revisions are like dying your hair a new color only to discover you have to now change your entire wardrobe.
I have been making changes to this illustration for a couple of days now...hours and hours of decision making. It will all be worth it in the end, but right now it is a question of color, balance, how much , how little...you all know the drill.

Here are some snaps of the saga...maybe if I just add more kids I can use all the different outfits ~

Our Postman

Our postman is patient and kind. I know this because I am in there so often sending out mailers, large envelopes, dummies and postcards. I know this too because I have seen how patient he is with the children who come to mail those very special letters and packages.

He has to wear a uniform, but he has the funnest ties!

IF-SHAKY ~ Happy Fourth of July !!

(note: I did a bit of research on the gait of an elephant as it walks. From what I have been able to observe, the legs on one side extend in either direction while the legs on the other side meet in the center. Although the gait varies a little, this is as close as I could come to an accurate representation of the "walk.")

We rode along with the festive parade

and carried our huge flag proudly.

Our ride was admittedly shaky but

our friends in the crowd cheered loudly.

Old Post New Character

I had been working on this illustration last week, and this week added a character. It is always fun to have friends join you on an adventure.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ UNFOLD

©Ginger Nielson 2009

As the events of the day began to UNFOLD, Mrs. McInnes realized her dreams of becoming a brain surgeon were limited. Of course, had she chosen to be a rocket scientist instead, she might have more options where immediate travel plans were involved.

I made this Illo Friday theme stretch a bit, since I had been working on it all week. The earlier sketches were posted a few days ago. The piece began to grow and may yet still evolve. I had such fun doing this one. I really got to KNOW each child and feel like they belong to me as much as they belong to Mrs. McInnes. If I were to pick the one most like me... it would be the girl with her boot propped up against the door frame.

So, which one are you?

Uh Oh... Better Duck

©Ginger Nielson 2009

journal notes....

Sometimes I need to PAINT with real paint before I finish an illustration in the computer. In this case I used hot press illustration board to begin a sea scene for a project I am currently working on.

I like to be able to use my whole arm ( and soul) when I am painting and my sketches and preliminary paintings are usually done on a rather large scale. They will be reduced in the computer to the correct size for the project underway.
I used Dr. Martin's inks and some transparent acrylics for the first stage. Along with that combination I also used a house paint brush, a fan brush and some more conventional sable brushes.
After photographing the preliminary painting I transferred the image to my computer and completed it in Painter. The advantage for me is being able to get darker layers in place without having to wait a day for paint to dry.. and if I don't like a layer... I whisk it away.
In addition to transferring the painting to the computer I was able to stretch the entire image horizontally to accommodate the size I wanted to work with for this book.

If you look carefully you might be able to find two very recognizable constellations. Did you find them?

©Ginger Nielson 2009