Illustration Friday - Balloon

I immediately thought of a red balloon let loose... I'm not sure why. Seems like a symbol for something.... hmmmm. Anyway, I'm still experimenting with my watercolors.... thoughts? Good, bad, ugly?

Kisses from Great Aunt Bertha

I hope none of you are on the receiving end of cheek pinches and kisses from Great Aunt Bertha this Thanksgiving! Shudder.... shudder!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Frog Sock Hop

My 6 year old brought home spelling words last week that included frog, sock, and hop. She thought these in particular were very funny, and wanted a me to draw a picture of a frog at a sock hop. So, this is what I came up with. I've also started experimenting with my watercolors. I'm quite a novice, neophyte, amateur, well you get the picture, when it comes to color mixing. Thanks to my Southern NH Illustrator critique group, I was inspired to create a color chart of all the paints I have right now. (Thanks guys). I know I have a long way to go, but we all have to start somewhere!

Thanks, but no thanks!

I decided to use this illustration for the SCBWI "Thanks, but no thanks" contest. I'm pretty happy with the turkeys, and I like the bugs, but the colors turned out a little warmer than I had imagined. Ah well, live and learn.

Illustration Friday - Opinion

Older sisters always seem to have an opinion about something... I should know, because I am an older sister too. Can we help it if we know better? :-)

Bedtime Book

Little B&W spot illo. I love reading a good book!

Hansel and Gretel - super rough sketch

This is what I've been working on today. A sketch I've done for Hansel and Gretel. I know, I know, I should be working on other spreads for Snow White for Watercolor Wednesdays, but I'm awaiting the arrival of my new super thin, way cool, light box. I figure once I have that, I can work on my SW spreads. So, for today, it's Hansel and Gretel.

I'm hoping to get a few illustrations for my portfolio to show story sequencing. So, please critique away. Is it dynamic enough, how's the composition, should I have the ax fall off the page, etc., etc.?

Happy News

I'm so excited. I just received notice from Stories for Children magazine, that I have been accepted as a contributing illustrator!! YAY!! I get my first assignment in December for the January issue. I'm really looking forward to working with them!

And, I also got word that I'll be one of the illustrators whose work will be on the New England SCBWI site. The website is being revamped, but once they go live, my piece "Saturday Morning Soccer" will be there along with the other amazing New England illustrators! Double YAY!!

They say things happen in threes ... so here's to hoping for some more good news!! :-)

Illustration Friday - Pretend

Peter wanted to pretend that he didn't pull the head off Polly's doll, and he wanted to pretend that Polly didn't send her dog Pip after him to even the score...

Snow White - Sketch

Here's what I'm working on for Watercolor Wednesdays. Our assignment is to create page spreads from Snow White. This one is the scene where the dwarves find Snow White asleep after having eaten the apple. Still in sketch stage.

Saturday Morning Soccer

My daughter's soccer is over for the season. (Although, we've had some warm days here in NH, usually this time of the year we're getting ready for the snow to move on in). So in honor of her, and her teammates, I did this little piece. Great job sweetpea!!

Thanksgiving dinner - Sketch

I'm thinking of turning this into this month's mailing. Is it exciting enough, does it feel stagnant, are the expressions on the characters varied enough, etc., etc. I wanted to get some feedback at this stage before I ink it. Thanks!

Illustration Friday - Wise

When I saw this week's prompt, I thought of my Oma. She was an amazing woman, and I miss her.

Thanksgiving illos

I needed to do some illos for my daughter's school Cranberry Day party, so here they are...