New magazine work

I really love working for children's magazines! Here are a couple pieces I recently illustrated for Highlight's and Humpty Dumpty magazine. The spread for Humpty Dumpty was in the Nov/Dec 2009 issue and the single page for Highlight's is in the Jan. 2010 issue.

A White Christmas

Although I feel sad for the families that didn't get to spend Christmas together because of flight delays or cancellations I still enjoyed our white Christmas.(Sorry Dickersons!) My 4 door Jeep Wrangler really gets around in the snow great, thankfully.

Here is a shot of our house just a couple hours ago as it began to turn dark and the snow keeps falling. It looks like we didn't get much snow but they say we got 7 inches. I think it's because the winds were so high (40 mph gusts) that the snow has just blown around and drifted instead of accumulating.

May your day be merry and bright...

Some of my snowmen collection...

Merry Christmas!!

Wishing all my blogging friends a very Merry Christmas!

I have been working on a new book and can't post anything from it but here's a sketch I did very quickly last week. Can you guess what's been on my mind lately?! We are going to get a dog in the Spring if I can wait that long! Can't wait!!

40 Inspirational Speeches in 2 Minutes

A fellow artist shared this youtube for all of us who have had a tough year! Hope it inspires you to keep up the good fight! :o)

First snow

We got our first snow last night...well, more like a dusting of snow but it started out as freezing rain so I was very happy to see it change to snow. Here's a photo as of this morning. It was freezing! I took my camera out to the curb when I had to go fetch the trash can.

Entangled - Illustration Friday

Thankful!

This is a bit late but I am VERY thankful this year for so many things! My health, my family and friends and so much more! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration!

Blessings to you all!

Another Illustration Friday post for Music

Music - Illustration Friday

It's almost time for the Holidays again!

Thanksgiving is next week and then let the Christmas decorating begin the day after! It's tradition at the Harris household! :o)

Author/Illustrator Loren Long

I can't wait to get this book! It looks amazing!

Blur - Illustration Friday

This is a small look at a piece I did for an upcoming magazine piece but I changed it a bit and put it through a really fun Photoshop filter to give it the blur effect as if you are looking through a frosted glass window. Be sure to click on the piece to see the larger version and the full effect.

Skinny - Illustration Friday

Here are a couple characters that were part of a series of six books I illustrated last year. They are definitely on the "skinny" side.

Fast- Illustration Friday

Emma was peddling as fast as her little feet could go!

My favorite tree

I had some fun with Photoshop and my favorite tree in my front yard. It's especially bright this Autumn. The leaves in the background were all gathered from this tree. It's always fun to see what color it will be each year.

FROZEN - Illustration Friday

Great tips for getting published in Children's Illustration

For those who want to get started in Children's publishing as an illustrator or even those who are already working in kid's publishing; check out this wonderfully informative post by Paige Keiser. Thanks Paige for all you do for illustrators on your blog!!

Helen Craig: Book illustrator

Highlight's Illustrators Party 2009

Here are some of the "Highlights" to the 2009 Highlight's Illustrators Party! As you can see...fun was had by all!

My sweet Brandy girl

It will be a year in October since we had to let our sweet Brandy girl. I still miss her so. Here she is just a couple years ago by my favorite tree in the front yard.

Highlight's Illustrator's Party 2009

Honesdale, PA...here we come!! I know I've posted this one before but it seemed appropriate. :o) I'm looking forward to seeing my illustrator friends again this year at the 2009 Highlights Illustrator's Party. What a great group of people!

Happy first day of Autumn!

Helen Oxenbury

Helen Oxenbury has always been a favorite of mine. Thanks to Alicia Padrón for sharing this video!

The fabulous Quentin Blake!

Here is a wonderful new video by one of my favorites, Quentin Blake! Thanks to Anette Heiberg for this fabulous link !

Fall is in the air

Sorry for my long absence on my blog. I have been working on my writing and have been neglecting the drawing side.

Fall is just around the corner which is my favorite time of the year! I love the cooler nights and the lower humidity this time of year in the midwest. A few of the trees are just starting to get tipped with warm hues of oranges and reds.

Here are a few of the leaves I picked up last Fall.

Illustration Friday - Wrapped

Here's the traditional version of the post below. It is also my IF post for the week.
Grace's kitty had her wrapped around her little finger. Kitty could do no wrong in her eyes.

color study

Here is my digital color study and although it's in final form I am still going to try a traditional version so stay tuned. Here's the original sketch. It's funny, with all the cats I have been drawing lately you'd think I was a cat person but actually I am a dog person. My hubby's allergy to cats is most likey a big reason for that. Don't get me wrong...I love kitties, it's just I am a MAJOR dog-lover!

Another observation I made regarding the chair pattern. I love plaids and polka dots and I realize this pattern may look a bit too traditional or out of style with the current trends but it reminds me of a well loved and worn-in grandpa's chair so I kept the pattern.

a little peek

I have been busy working on a new magazine piece but it won't be published until November so in the mean time all I can show is a little peek. I'll be painting some of my recent sketches soon so check back.

GoD And DoG by WJ Francisco

A friend sent this to me....I LOVE, love it and had to share with you all.

first try...

OK, here's my first try. I will eventually try one with the boy, too. That is if I find time before the fall mailers need to go out. I have been keeping busy with some work...yay! That is a very good thing considering what a dismal year it's been in the industry. So, once I get my magazine illo. painted, I'll get back to trying another painting. But for now, here is the first try.

A Fall sketch

I know it's a bit early for Fall but I am working on images for my next mailer. I need to decide wether to leave the boy in the background. My hubby thinks it would make a more dynamic piece if I left him out. What do you all think?

JK Wedding Entrance Dance

What a fun way to start a marriage!

another sketch

Here is another sketch...I am working on some Fall images for my next mailer so you will see that theme in the next couple sketches.

a new sketch

While on vacation last week I had a little time for sketching just for fun. Here is one of them. I'll post more soon.

We're back!!

We're back from a fabulous vacation. Here are just a couple of the many photos I took of the Big Sur coastline in California. Some of the most beautiful country I've seen in my life!

Joyride in color

I practiced on Strathmore bristol board and then did it on watercolor paper, Winsor & Newton Hot Press which has a little more tooth to it than most hot press. I like things about both of them. What do you all think?

On my desk

As I am waiting for sketch approval on an assignment I am painting the previous "Joyride" piece. I'll post the final soon.

Worn - Illustration Friday

Crockett loves his worn in skate-boarding t-shirt best! This is a character sketch for a book series I did awhile back...

my favorite flower

Sorry, I have been absent from posting for awhile. I have a fun new magazine piece I am working on so I have been a bit busy. I will return with some new art soon but in the meantime here is a photo of what's in my kitchen at the moment. I found these lovely sunflowers at the grocery store and just could not resist!

I love so many flowers but if I had to pick my favorite, it would be sunflowers...at least for now. Tomorrow, it might be tulips or poppies or....

Joyride!

While relaxing at my brother's wonderful cabin this weekend I also got a little sketching in...

Summer art

My hubby and I recently flagged down the popsicle man and got orange creamsicles. We both felt like kids again! Oh the memories of summer's past.

Sorry about all the copyright marks but with the internet, it's become a necessity since so many folks don't understand they can't just borrow images that don't belong to them without permission.
: (

Craving-IF(Illustration Friday)

another spot illo

spot art for bedtime...

painting

Here is the traditional watercolor of the previous piece. As you can see I changed the colors a bit here and there. I may still add some more to it but thought I'd go ahead and post it in case I overwork it. Then again, I may not touch it and leave it as is.

digital color study

Here is a digital water color study. I plan on painting it traditionally next. I find that when I paint without doing a color study first, I usually regret it.

Illustration Friday - Cracked

I know I am taking these IF topics pretty literally but I had this one in the archives so I thought why not! This was done for an Easter/Spring book back in 2007.

Illustration Friday - Contagious

Peonies

My sweet friend, Kathy Couri brought me the most beautiful bouquet today! I never knew there were so many varieties of peonies!! I had fun playing with the camera and lighting as well as Photoshop. THANK YOU, Kathy!!