another design to die for....

I swear Chad Beckerman kills me...

In case the previous post wasn't enough... check out his blog and then you will understand why he is simply awesome.

He goes through the design of a new book, Peter Nimble and his Fantastic Eyes!

:)

Click here!

Interview with Chad Beckerman...

Check this interview on childrensillustrators.com with Abrams Creative Director extraordinare Chad Beckerman! Click here!

Uncovered Cover Art

I received an email from Heidi Kellenberger regarding a new blog/wordpress site, Uncovered Cover Art!

I have decided to subscribe to this page- it's basically a site where people can submit their own versions of book-covers!

So far, the results are mouth-watering!

:)

So... anyone want to follow/submit as well?

;)

(ex: Artwork by Heather Ross, Inspired by The Princess and the Pea)

A Few of My Favorite Things...

These characters have always been so refreshingly alive to me and I've always loved them.

I am especially in love with Gigi and I think I have read Anne of Green Gables at least fifty times... I'm sure they are all recognizable?? except maybe Eliza Doolittle from My Fair Lady... I drew her when she was a flower girl and then when she's having to practice her vowels.

I might just have to paint one of these...

sketching...

So the summer heats seems to have turned off my brain... (I really need that Mary Blair poster to arrive now!!!!)

However!

I managed to sketch a bit. In-between projects and late at night... :)

I kept thinking of flopping into chairs ... or looking out a window... or reading... blowing bubbles... playing with water.... (can't explain the turtle neck)... can you tell I've got Summer-itice?

Does this ever happen? Your brain is off... but you want to draw... you can get as far as sketching... but there isn't that crazy... "Oooh, want to paint that one!" feeling??? I really hate this.. haha...

Well, the weekend is around the corner... so who knows, right? ;)

And I DO still have some more birthday money to spend...

HMMMM....

Mary Blair!

For those who don't know who Mary Blair is, click here and check her out!

I recently went to Disneyland and was able to view the Colors of Mary Blair Exhibit up-close!

Very impressive..

I was also able to use my B-day present giftcard to purchase a print of the Tomorrowland Mural concepts... :) It's the one on the bottom-right of this image below.

Isn't she wonderful?

I really think that with this hanging in my studio, I will feel truly inspired!

Back from New Mexico

I just got back from a 4 day Family Reunion in Albuquerque, New Mexico... :) Of course, the morning after our 16-hour drive, I was hit with a vertigo spell due to Labyrinthitis... (inflamation of the inner ear that throws off your sense of balance). Luckily, my older sister is a nurse and she gave me some meclizine (like a kind of dramamine). Anyway, still a bit dizzy, but feeling ok.

The trip was to see my Grandpa who is not feeling great as of late... although he seemed in good spirits with everyone around him. I'm glad I got to see him as I don't often get to... sometimes years between visits to see our relatives. I'm always a bit stunned at how awesome my extended family is, too. :)

Well, being back at home is nice, too.

:)

Here are some shots of our apartment and my relatively "new" workspace in Long Beach, not Portland. :)

I also was able to draw a bit. Here is a close-up of the sketch you can see on the desk.

I really should paint some new little paintings and get my submissions out for the summer! I uploaded some pictures... (you can see part of my calendar that I print every month and have scribbled in deadlines... this month hasn't filled up yet, but I'm hoping it will soon!).

Below is Josh on the computer with our two pugs napping in the summer heat... they just got baths... we turned off all the lights and have fans going to help keep their little bodies cool...♥♥♥

Interiors done!

Well, I finished the interior pages... but the cover remains!

:)

Painted this page last night...phew! I am tired!

Weee

some doodles in-between setting up paintings... ;)

I've been looking at a lot of different artists and noticing that there is a loose-ness that I wish more for my finished pieces... and maybe more chances for other textures... color pencil? Crayon? More sketchy work?

Well, that will have to be explored.

Ok, back to work!

;)

Yours Truly- the Cavity Witch!!(character owned and created by Julie Sullivan©2011)

Sleeeep!!!!

Ok...

well, here's another snippet!

:)

So far...

Here is a snippet of the poster I painted for Fadenrot...

I have still more paintings to work on for my client's book.... and the cover sketches!!!

Eep!

I am busy, busy!

I also turned 30 today!

;P

Yay!

Month of madness...

Soooo I am booked solid for the month!

This week I've been diving head-first into a book and this weekend, I'll be working on a poster for Fadenrot!

Lots and lots to do!!

The following weeks will be more pages for the book and hopefully other projects here and there from Fadenrot- my favorite client ever!!

But well, I really had fun painting this... what I am posting is only part of the picture... The main character and her pal on a typical day...before the plot thickens!!!

(I have to say the computer never quite captures watercolors... :( It's a little sad... I keep getting a bit of a neon quality to some colors... - any suggestions??)

Ahhh work... :)

More sketches... these are for the book I am working on for a client... ;)

So far so good!

A Long Weekend...

Well... this weekend has been full of work! Which is definitely a good thing.

Here are some paintings I worked on over the weekend as well as a logo I am designing...

This is the logo... It is for a camp group that teaches art to children. :0

These are more work for Fadenrot...

I still thinking working for this client has been like a dream!

I have to print out a manuscript I received over the weekend as well to see if I can get it all worked out... I like the first stages of working on a book... letting it kind of stew in my brain, let first impressions really set in, try and highlight instances I felt really stood out in the story, moments I can use to get emotional responses, etc. This book is by a self publisher, but I am not opposed to working for these clients.

I will post the work as I go! This project is due at the end of the month so it should be a bit grueling as far as schedule goes, but it should also be fun!

So, let's keep in touch!

:)

God Bless!

Marriage and Work

Well, I've been MIA, but with good reason!!

I recently got married, went on a weekend Honeymoon in Cambria, CA, and then have been busy painting on more projects!

:)

Here is the image so far... it is still pending approval, but following will be the two snow queens I blogged about in earlier posts.

Josh and I were engaged for quite a long time... too long, to be honest, but we were trying desperately to save up for a wedding... and it seemed life wasn't going to allow us to ever keep enough of our money to do this! But we don't mind... we are happy! :) We had a family friend marry us in their backyard with just immediate family. Nothing fancy, nothing too formal. We are both religious, or at least we are now, and thus, the wedding was not really about anything except our commitment and so I wouldn't really have it any other way...

April has been nuts though, I must say!

As I write this, Josh is giggling to the Onion Radio News on his ITunes... pretty funny stuff. He's going back to Grad School soon enough as well so more change is on the horizon.

Well, onward and upward!

A Queen in progress...

Hello again!

I started out with my sketch... but after collaborating with my client, I have pushed the image... and I like it much more! Here is the original:

I am so pleased to work with this client (Fadenrot)... for one, as I've said before, the creative freedom is totally inspiring... but secondly, I am actually getting the kind of feedback that improves the image!! I love it! It reminds me of when I used to draw with my twin sister, Mei, and we'd push ideas around and just go crazy with new ideas... pushing images and having so much fun.

So anyway, I can't wait to get approval and begin painting!

:)

I'm also looking forward to this weekend! Easter is around the corner!

(The top one is the last, and the bottom the first revised drawing.)

Sketches

More work... more ideas in the making...

:)

I think that sketching is the most fun...

:)

I am in good spirits! Happy Spring everyone!

Easter is around the corner!

Chirply

So Josh recently did a card design (click on the link to see his card) for a new awesome card design site called Chirply... :)

And of course, he finally got to feature our pugs!!

;)

been busy!

Here is another piece I have finished for Fadenrot! I will be doing more work for this client of which I am happy to do!

The other night I went to Portfolios with Josh and Mei to meet up with our co-worker Rodney and we had a little drawing sessions. We talked about Star Wars and art and war and history... :o

I think we may end up doing this every month... I like meeting up to draw. Its nice to get out of the house once in a while, too. Josh and I used to walk all over downtown Long Beach when we were first dating, too, and because of this, both love Long Beach. So its nice to get out on the town once in a while.

Anyway, I will now get to other projects!

I got my copies of Polka-dot Fixes Kindergarten (written by Catherine Urdahl) in the mail as well!!

;0

Yay! Its always nice to have the hardback in your hands and to re-look at your artwork in print. Sweet!

They look awesome!! :)

More work

Well, I am just having a blast working for Fadenrot! It's amazing when you get to work with someone with great ideas and also someone who gives you so much creative freedom!!!

I am however, totally exhausted, so I will make this short!!!

This is another image pending approval... more to come!

;)

Good night!!!

Some work in progress

More work for Fadenrot... still pending approval!

I have two more to paint following these and more projects to come! I am super happy with this work!

♥ :)

The boy is reminiscent of earlier painting I did of a boy with a goldfish in a pond.

I painted these while Josh was editing a new BIPT podcast. It's actually pretty rad because I get a preview of the podcast before it's up. It's also funny because I get to hear all the "outtakes." Stutters, badwords, etc. HAHA. This week's topic sounds pretty interesting, too. I think so many illustrators have their own experiences and opinions when it comes to the "High Art World/Gallery Culture" vs "Commercial Artists" quote on quote. At least, I've had some experiences in college and just visiting different galleries. Anyway, it's interesting topic to listen people talk about.

Well, I better try and hit the hay as I still have 8 hours of day job tomorrow followed by more paintings!! :)

Which isn't a complaint!

Good night!

PS: thanks for all the comments everyone- I truly appreciate it!

;)

More work...;)

I was working on my sketches for another job... :) Mostly having fun coming up with different ways to go with a theme... maritime boys and marine girls... I love it! I also love having the creative freedom to do these.

I also need to do some paintings for the CSLA posters... I used some images I already have, but I would like to do one using Polka-dot and Shelby, too.

Cheers!!
:)

Final Image... ♥

So here is the final image for the job I just completed for Fadenrot- a small fashion label in Germany.

:)

Please check 'em out!! ;)

I love watercolor...

So this is a snippet of my illustration for a clothing designer... I am really hoping that this does lead to more projects because its been a blast working on this... She's really nice about having the artist be creative and there seems to be a narrative to a lot of her ideas. :)

Anyway, its the budding beginning of working with her so I hope all goes well.

On a different note, I've been keeping up with the news regarding Japan and praying for them all.

I plan on donating to the Red Cross just as soon as I receive my next paycheck.

Yay!

Josh is playing a computer game where he is a cactus man shooting people on a moving train - with a very silly western soundtrack. He is a green man with a red cape and black hat. It's very funny... Who came up with this idea? I want to shake their hand.

I guess he's been playing a round as little breaks between work. My breaks are usually only interrupted by my dogs needing to go out. If I manage to someday be freelance fulltime, I wonder what I should do as a break? What do you do? I have a feeling it would be mostly watching videos of Miyavi or the GazettE on YouTube. :P

I am going to try and remain positive and work hard! Ganbare!!! (Japanese for "Be strong!").

Trying to paint again...

So this is a painting that I was working on in the midst of another project I posted about earlier...

It isn't finished, but I thought I'd post what I've been doing. I haven't been as productive as I should be... but I did do some tonight.

It was a bit hard to focus at painting to be honest. I've been feeling very aloof and sort of bummed out. But I have to jump back in and keep going!

Japan

Sad news to see my mother's country in rubble and disarray. I am praying for Japan's quick recovery but know that it will not be quick. I will donate what I can to the Red Cross to help... but I wish I could fly over there and help right now.

This was a sudden frightening event... I am very affected by it. The homes I see smashed to pieces look like my aunt's and I see the pictures of people trying to "hold it together." I am glad that their leaders seem to be optimistic and sound proud of how calm people have been.

I think this year has really been a hard one.

I hope you are all safe.

Wow

This is hilarious.... I sometimes get emails from Guru.com

The last post I saw for a job was this (I have edited out the name, etc):

"Budget: Under $250
Category: Illustration & Art
Description: Hello, 90 illustrations, same style as the attached samples, target group is 4 year old children, the illustrations should be fresh and cheerful. Its simple Illustration so my budget is Less than 1$ per illustration and time frame is within 1 week this is initial job and We have quite a few more illustrations, if I satisfy with your quality i'll give more illustration with good price in future. **** Please provide samples of your previous illustration work related to my project. Thanks"

Free Shipping!

(this is not my own image but an image of an art print)

Society6 is doing Free Shipping on their mini & small art prints!

Pretty cool... ;)

Stars and Coins

I have a new project that I am working on... which I don't know if I should post yet... but I wanted to post some drawings I did. It involves a very poor but giving little girl who is then rewarded for her charitable actions.

Its very sweet.

:)

I am also busy working on an idea for a poster for a campaign to save Libraries in schools...

The sale (which ends this months) for my original paintings seems to be going alright although I wish I could sell more! :) New images to come though!