Meet Katharine!

I got the ok from the editor so I'd like to introduce Katharine, the Almost Great! The author, Lisa Mullarky has posted more about the series on her website and journal. Lisa is a great writer and I really have enjoyed working on this fun series of chapter books over the past 6 months. I think the kids are going to love reading these!

Available January 2009 through Magic Wagon, a division of the ABDO Group, www.abdopublishing.com or your favorite educational wholesaler!

Here is a peek at three out of the six cover images.

The smell of sharpened pencils

Late summer has been fairly mild here which is a rarity for Missouri in August! The grass is still green and the nights are just beginning to cool. It's back to school time and the smell of sharpened pencils and boxes of new crayons are in the air.

I know I am WAY early with this sketch but it's been in my head for a long, long time and I finally put a rough on paper.

I'm sure we'll have the 90's again next week but I'm enjoying the Fall-like weather anyway!

with blue added

Here it is with blue added. I had to get some actual paying work done today as well so I didn't get to paint it anymore than the addition of blue but I think I like it like this. I think I would like to do a whole book in this palette.

Color experiment

Here is my first attempt at painting this piece. I tried it in digital watercolor, first. I've been wanting to try a sepia watercolor and thought this would work nicely for an upcoming Fall promo post card mailer.

I may try painting it in my regular watercolor palette as well. The great thing with doing it digitally is you can experiment a lot.

Best Friends

On another blog that I am on, the topic is best friends so I came up with this. I may try to paint it tomorrow. I really want to write a book about my dog before she leaves this world but I'm afraid that probably won't happen so this piece is dedicated to my sweet Brandy dog.

Another illustration process

Here is my attempt at traditional watercolor. It's been way too long and watercolor is so tough for me to stay loose. I am in love with my friend, Paige Keiser's work and I so wish I could stay loose like that.

Anyway, I decided to document the process on this piece I did over the past couple days for fun.

Here's stage 1, my original sketch:Then, I cleaned up my sketch, although trying to keep that spontaneity of the first sketch. That is so tough for me.
Stage 2:
Next, I do the first layer of water color washes.
Stage 3:
Next, I add shading and a little more detail without going too crazy. That's another tough thing for me...not to overwork my piece. Especially with watercolor.
Stage 4:And lastly, here is the final painting. And as I load these images I realize that I scanned these a bit dark but oh well. You get the idea.
Stage 5:

My illustration process

First off, let me explain why the big copyright on illos from now on. Unfortunately, in this new world of technology, folks just don't understand that it is illegal to lift images from the web to use for their own purposes without asking permission first so from now on, I will be putting my copyright on all images that I own the copyright for.


OK, now back to blogging...

Here is a sketch I did for my portfolio a year or two ago for the tween market. I thought it might be helpful to share my process.

First, my sketch done on the Cintiq



and then a color study(which I don't always do), done in watercolor washes


and then, finally the acrylic final.

It's still hot!

OK. It's 100 degrees today with high humidity to boot! That's what I get for complaining about the 80's and being humid.

Here's another piece pulled from the old archives. It was for another ed. publisher.

I'm dreaming of those cooler Fall days to come in about a month or two...where you can actually go to the park and play.

It's hot!!!

The weather in July and August is soooo miserable here in Missouri! It is so hot, sticky and humid! I always long to live somewhere else during these months...somewhere with less humidity. The temperature is only in the 80's but the humidity is 85 percent so it feels like it's 100 degrees. Yuck!!! I don't mind higher temps when the humdity is low but man!!!! This humidity is just unbearable!

About the only place that's bearable outside right now is in the water. So, on that note here is an old illustration I pulled out of the archives that I did for an educational publisher awhile back.

Another book trailer

Here's another book trailer I did for the same publisher. This book was written by my hubby and illustrated by me. ;o) I've posted this book trailer on this blog previously but with different music and this one is just a wee bit different. The other one was just for my own enjoyment. This is for their website to promote the book. Hope you enjoy... These trailers are all posted at www.aakp.com which is the publisher, "All About Kids Publishing" in San Jose, CA.

What I've been working on...

In the midst of computer problems, I was asked by the publisher of a previous picture book to create some book trailers for their website. Through many trials that went along with upgrading my system and dealing with a sick computer, I am proud to say I pulled it off.

Here's just one of them for a new book coming out in the Fall of 2008. It looks like a really fun book!!

New computer

I have been going insane the past few days trying to fix a sick computer and then finally buying a new one. I LOVE my new Mac!! I got the new 24-inch: 3.06GHz iMac. I am still busy trying to get everything up and running and back to work but it is taking longer than anticipated so hopefully soon, I can start posting some actual artwork again but in the meantime I be happily playing with my new toy! :o)

A peek at the summer edition of Jack and Jill

Here's a peek at the art I did for the July/August Jack and Jill magazine. To see the whole story go pick up a copy or better yet get a subscription for the kiddos here. :o)

A five minute sketch

This is a departure from the norm for me but my sweet Brandy, my 14 year old golden retriever is sleeping peacefully beside me on the studio floor so I did a 5 minute sketch on my Cintiq and painted it in Painter. Keep in mind, I didn't fuss with the it at all. Just a really quick sketch.

She looks so peaceful. And right before we head into her least favorite time of year...the 4th of July. Poor thing...she's a fraidy dog of fireworks and since she can longer hear much she usually knows it's the 4th by the sulfur smell in the air. That's all it takes and she's hiding behind the toilet for the rest of the day...

Some more animals

I am having to pull some old art from the files to share since I still haven't had time to create new stuff that I can actually show without breaching contract copyrights, etc. One of these days very soon I hope to create some fresh new stuff just for me and then I will happily share it with you all. :o)

Here are some animal images I created a few years back for a company. It was for a "match-ups" card game. Pretty basic spot illustrations but I thought some of them had a bit of personality. I think the horse is my fav.

Summertime and fireflies

This little kitty is actually small part of the star gazing painting that I posted awhile back. I haven't had time to do anything new to post that's not under contract because I am working on so many deadlines but I like this kitty and I used to love catching fireflies so here it is...

Procrastination from work...

My husband and I went to Quebec City this past weekend for an award ceremony with his company. It was an AMAZING place to visit! I have SO many good pictures but I will just show some highlights. We stayed at a stunning hotel. It was called the FAIRMONT LE CHâTEAU FRONTENAC.

All the pictures are of the hotel except the window box which was in the town. The architecture was so beautiful. The city was filled with old homes and shops that were hundreds of years old. Quebec City is celebrating their 400th Anniversary this year so you can imagine. I may post a few of the beautiful town shots eventually as well.

I am now even further behind with my deadlines but I couldn't pass this trip up . I will eventually get my work done some way and on time. (Just in case any clients are visiting my blog ;o)) It may mean some long nights but it was worth seeing Quebec City!

I'm back...

Only one post in May...that's sad! I guess my excuse is that I've been swamped with work and then went on vacation. Here are a few pics from the cruise which ended up not being our best trip thus far. Our poor daughter got terribly sick on the third day and then was down for most of the remaining cruise. I think she was so worn down from her finals in college, etc. Oh well, I guess everyone needs a yucky vacation to appreciate the good ones.

Here's a pic from one of the night's our daughter actually felt good.



One of these days I might actually have some art to show. Everything I've been working on lately is under contract and I can't share anything here because of that. But soon, hopefully.

Animals

I really LOVE to create animals in my work but I'm finding that all the jobs I've been hired for lately don't have animals, just lots and lots of children and a few adults thrown in here and there.

My goal is to start working on some animal samples in my spare time. Ha! What's that?! But seriously, I really want to do more animal stories. Here are a couple animal pieces I did for Standard publishing way back in 2004. This was before I started experimenting with my acrylic style. These are digital watercolor.

From Koala Does His Best


and here's the cover for Lion Can Share



Here is another one that I created years ago just for fun.

Need your input please...

I did this piece awhile back and I'm not sure what I think of it. The theme of the piece is near and dear to my heart since it's one of my daughter and my favorite things to do so I am just wondering if that is clouding my judgement as to whether the piece is strong enough or not or where I could improve it.

Ok, I'm asking for honest opinions here guys...so don't just be nice.