Portland Central Library Exhibit

Drawing on Imagination: The Art of Children's Illustration

I'm pleased to announce, the work and creative process of 11 published illustrators will be exhibited at the Portland Central Library, including We Eat Food That's Fresh!, presented by The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Oregon Chapter aka SCBWI-OR.

Collins Gallery, Portland Central Library 

Sat, Dec 21, 2013 to Fri, Jan 31, 2014

Opening Reception: Sat, Dec 21, noon - 2pm

The exhibit promises to be an interesting display of original illustrations, sketches, dummies*,  and published books. If you're in the area come by and take a look... better yet, come to the opening reception!

I'm honored to exhibit my work with an exceptional group of illustrators!  Here's the line up...

• David Hohn
• Carolyn Conahan
• Nicole Rubel
• Maggie Rudy
• Kaaren Pixton
• K.C. Snider
• Johanna Wright
• Mark Fearing
• Cathy June Arneson
• M.K. Nelson
• Lee White

* Dummies: A dummy book is a small sample book made of sketches, used to layout a plan for illustration compositions to make sure they work with the story and text, and have a visually interesting flow.

Fresh! Start for 2012 at New Seasons Market

Let's help the little ones start the New Year with a healthy positive attitude towards wholesome fresh fruits and veggies!

Bring the kids and join me at the New Seasons Market
weekly "Kid's Day" kick off event.

    Book reading/sing along
    Crafts - kids make their own chef's hat
    Food tasting - "Try something new!"
    Original Illustrations on exhibit

    Book signing

 

Sunday, January 15, 2012

1:00pm

New Seasons Market, Fishers Landing

2100B SE 164th Ave.
Vancouver, WA 98683

360.760.5005  

 We Eat Food That's Fresh! 

is for sale at New Seasons Market. 

I'll be happy to dedicate your copy 

after the scheduled activities.

More about We Eat Food That's Fresh! 

More about New Seasons Market, Fishers Landing

IF - Messenger

Have a Happy, Joyful, Merry Christmas!
And Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish friends!

 

digital and pastel on paper

7.5 x 7.5

IF - Sink

The Illustration Friday topic for this week is Sink.

Don't you wish kids were always this happy about helping out around the house?

From Wash the Dishes by Geneus English, LLC

This illustration started out as a  pencil sketch. I scanned it, cleaned up the sketch and painted the color in photoshop.

IF - Separate

This week the subject for Illustration Friday is Separate

Pastel on PastelMat   12 x 9.5

 I've been having fun with this stout little girl and her tall timid friend. I had been working many long hours digitally painting illustrations and I was ready to revisit my beloved pastels, pencil and paper when I started this piece.

I was happy with the original drawing layout, but I wanted the giraffe to have more character, so he got a redo.

I traced my original drawing onto PastelMat using a light box (which doubles as my sliding glass door). I like PastelMat for illustration, because it takes a lot of layers of pastel like sanded papers, but it is much smoother, so it's easier to do a small illlustration with details.  

 

Next, I blocked in the main color with PanPastels using the large oval sponge applicator at first, then the small wands. The Pan Pastels cover a large area and blend easily. You can see their painterly effect in the clouds. Last, I finished off the details with colored pencil, though I have to admit that I'm feeling the urge to go back and define some edges a little more, since some of the detail was lost when it was photographed. 

I'm having so much fun with these two characters, that I'm sure they'll pop up in another illustration soon!

Remember Your Local Merchants this Season and in the New Year

Can they say it 

any plainer than this?

This is a hand written sign posted in front of my favorite local toy store, Kazoodles, in Vancouver, Washington.

SEE IT HERE
BUY IT HERE
KEEP US HERE 

They give so much back to the community, like many small brick and mortar businesses. Activities for children, support for local charities, friendly smiles and personal help for everyone who walks in. Why, they even have %10 off for all grandparents on Tuesdays. Participants are required to pull out their brag books (cellphone photos will do) for all to admire!

Wouldn't we really miss our favorite small businesses if they were gone?

The 3/50 project is all about reminding us what a difference it makes for us to patronize these brick and mortar businesses, even if it's only $50 a month.

So, please remember to SHOP LOCAL during the holidays and throghout 2012!

IF - Brigade

This is my vision for the Illustration Friday subject this week - a brigade of peace makers, starting with one...

"Peace"
6.5 x 6.5
pastel on paper

This is another illustration that I used the process of scanning the original sketch. I then edited it in Photoshop, changing the pencil lines to black and blue. I also filled in the darkest areas with blue to avoid white paper showing through (below). I printed the photoshopped image on Canson paper and finished it with soft pastels and pastel pencils (above).

Finally, I scanned the completed illustration, printed it and tore the paper right to the edges of the image. Here's the finished product as a Christmas greeting card.