I plowed through my emails yesterday to find a very welcome notification from The SVA Curation Team on the Behance Network, informing me that my kid’s illustration portfolio is featured.
Proud to be an alumna, and I’m thrilled:) Here’s a link if you’d like to view the work.
The third illustration in my not yet written, middle grade novel. So many projects, so little time:)
There is a story behind this painting. I posted this piece first on my Illustration Friday page for the topic mysterious, but I its first obligation is to serve as an illustration for a story floating around in my head. This story will convert itself into text after I have a few more illustrations worked out. This is the second piece. I’ve a third in the works. You’ll see that one soon too. When this story fully unveils itself to me, I will reveal it to you too. Stay tuned.
“The Rescue” also employs a scanned textural item. Obviously it’s the net. The oranges that came wrapped in it were delicious.
I like a nice rat. Charming conversationalists if you don’t mind the defensive tone. I met a rat quite recently whose knowledge of subterranean culture was really quite extraordinary. His opinions regarding a great variety of issues, I found to be both informed and refreshing. This particular rat also understood the importance of attentiveness in an engaging tête-à-tête. As well-traveled as he was, he never for a moment hogged the conversation or took on airs. A great shame my cat Princess did not share our camaraderie. She was terribly rude, and I believe she caused him to take his leave prematurely. It’s really too bad. Apparently, Princess informed my mother of the encounter. Mother forced me to spend the remainder of the day indoors. My little brother is a very poor substitute for such illuminating communion. I am bereft.
Never let it be said however, that I am a quitter, nor am I a complainer, therefore I sat myself down, took stock of my options and sought a suitable partner for an informative one on one. Malamar, our resident bunny rounded the corner avoiding the attentions of my brother who was apparently in hot pursuit of Malamar, until the hideous theme of a television program, that my brother for some reason enjoys, became audible. Brother was transfixed by the magnetic rays of the television; a largely sophomoric device. I therefore, secured the opportunity to invite our comely lagomorph to a raucous discussion regarding the unspeakable practice of encasing miniature bunnies in chocolate in an effort to delight unsuspecting children with an Easter “treat”.
I myself have never sanctioned such a practice. Perhaps the topic was insensitive, because despite my attempts to put Malamar at ease by immersing myself in his cultural stance, Malamar continued on his course, overtly ignoring my invitations to commune. I’m sure that he was able to hear me, due to the ample size of his ears. The evidence that perhaps Malamar took particular issue with my topic of discussion materialized in the form of small pellets that he left in his wake.
I am offended.
to be continued…
This isn’t easy to admit. My work is well, sort of old-fashioned. At least, it’s not HOT. Not a big deal, I can change, except I really don’t want to. Let me back up a bit. What I love to do, is not as marketable as it could be, and I am really not at all good at what seems to be winning the children’s illustration awards in 2011. The style is spacial, heavily designed, and far less realistic than mine. Some of it is stunning. I simply gape. Some of it in my humble opinion, is boring. The work that I’m not crazy about is lacking the charm, emotion, and magic that I look for in a children’s book or app or magazine.
I enjoy working digitally. Photoshop has become a great friend. And, I’m open to working in any kind of medium, so no problem there. I do not want to be left behind, and I want to grow while remaining true to what I love. So, I’ll be posting some new work with a more inclusive age range, a little distortion, a different color palette, and a lot more space. I’ll also be experimenting with texture and line drawings.
I’ve no idea what will evolve. Please let me know what you think, especially if you are a young person (five to about forty:>). Seriously, all of your comments are always helpful and appreciated.
Happy New Year! I’m beginning 2011 with a family pulling together. The family pet is the center of concern in this spot illustration. Often, affection for the non- human being in the family can bring siblings together like nothing else. I’m not sure what type of creature this is, but these kids are willing to face certain peril to protect her.
In the interest of strengthening and varying my portfolio of illustration for children, I noticed a shortage of joyful images in my book. I browsed through Google images hunting for inspiration. I found a photo of a group of happy children holding hands and racing round a circle in “ring around the rosy” fashion. They certainly looked happy, so I took it as inspiration. I put the inspiration aside, and happy children morphed into happy imaginary bunnies.
As the painting started to take shape, some of the bunnies began to take on more complex expressions. Maybe there’s a fox or an irate farmer stalking the warren. An intruder threatening the lettuce stash? Perhaps a territorial dispute. Not so uniformly happy any more, but maybe a little more interesting?
Happy Bunny Sketch:
