New seasonal mailer ready to print

I ordered the seasonal mailers today. They will be here in time for mailing to select publishers and a few friends.    Henry was kind enough to pose for both the front and the backside.  He does get along with cats, but there are limits to his patience.

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

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ SNEAKY

Just when Henry found the best cushion in the house, along comes trouble!

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ TRANSPORTATION

©Ginger Nielson 2010

Winston Wednesday

It is Winston Wednesday again... Hop on over to Winston's site and find CHAPTER IV. Use the TAB under his header and you're on your way with Winston and Roxxanne. And if you missed any of the chapters so far, just click on the tab at the top of the page for the older chapters.
Oh Boy!  Is Winston in trouble today!

Take a Break

One thing about illustrators is that they often spend way too much time indoors not moving around much. At least not much more than those busy hands that hold the brush or pen. I have thought about getting an oven timer and just setting it for an hour to remind me to get up and out with Henry. He needs the walking as much as I do...and even without the sun, it is always refreshing to take a break and come back to work renewed.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ CAUTION

Yes, it's a 'dog day afternoon,' but let's approach this activity with caution. *:)

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ ADAPT

©Ginger Nielson 2009

In order to get a head start at school, Oliver found new ways to work smarter: he adapted.

The Skating Party

HAPPY EASTER

There is a little backstory to this one. About 5 1/2 years ago I worked 9 to 5 in an office. My job included a lot of time on HOLD with providers, and while I was on hold I would begin a doodle of sorts. Some of these were large and created on my deskpad and took several weeks to become anything, but this is one that finally got colored in little by little with my pen and highlight markers that I used at work.

As the weeks passed each of the doodles I drew became more complex until they became a finished picture. I used them as calendar art and I think I did one almost every month. I saved a lot of these and they may show up now and then...either in their original form or something more refined.

Several years later after moving north to NH I unpacked the drawings and doodles from those "HOLD" times and this is one that I recreated as a painting in Painter IX.

The border of colored eggs at the top is an image hose I created of delft china eggs.

ILLUSTRATION FRDAY ~ FLAWED II

AND while I was turned away from the computer...probably outside with Henry....
Kathy Weller awarded me this lovely tribute. It comes with a rule, however, I must reveal 7 things I love and pass on the award. If you are so inclined, play along with us!


Seven things I love.....
1.) My family, of course, everyone of them from the oldest (94) to the youngest, (just one year) at least that is the youngest we are currently aware of.
2.)MAGIC... I don't care how simple the trick, I love magic and I love to keep guessing and I love to be totally stumped!
3.)Being an illustrator of children's books. My life long dream came true and I am living it.
4.)Chocolate...this has a place on any list I create. It often winds up on the shopping list too.
5.)Dogs...they are so loyal and loveable. I could name them all but then I would be out of blog space.
6.)Teaching. I really enjoy working with young people, little ones especially, but all age groups have a special place in my heart.
7.)Friends...without my dear friends and their support I might not find the constant joy that I do even on a bad day.

And in turn I will award this Kreativ Blogger Award to the following artist friends in the hopes that they also have time to play along.

BRON SMITH
ROBERTA BAIRD
PAIGE KEISER
VALERIE WALSH
ANETTE HEIBERG
ALINA CHAU

Be sure to visit their websites, you are in for a treat..... and check out my blog list of artist friends they are all AWESOME!!!

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.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ REPAIR

Henry Houndog needed a repair after jumping before looking. Chasing rabbits is great fun, but you need to watch out for sticker bushes when you are 'hunting.'

The biker boy ~ revisited

Another version and one I like enough to finish with greater detail.

Three Friends ~ Remember when....?

©Ginger Nielson 2008

I think this needed a little something extra, so I added some items. Who knows what will show up next...

I am sure the cat is going to get in on this at some point.

In this last version, the cat made it into the illustration.

The Replacement for Snow...

Ah, but those arms looked a little too long to me, so with the assistance of Painter I was able to make them shorter. A lot better.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ 100% ~ CONTENT

Ah, a dog's life. Most of the time it is 100 percent content. MOST of the time.
©Ginger Nielson 2008

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ SCALE

©GingerNielson2007

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ OPEN

11 x 17" printed on Brilliant Lustre stock
©Ginger Nielson 2007

POSTCARDS WORK!

Postcards, those that illustrators send out every 3 or 4 months really do work! I have been creating them and wondering if any ever made it to an art director's bulletin board or file cabinet. I would prefer the bulletin board of course, because you can really see 'though' a file cabinet to find our labors of love.

A little card I created over a year ago just brought me some work. I know this because the art director asked for the same style and wanted the dog added in to the piece.

So, do your best, send your cards, and keep sending them.