A Fun Little Sketch

Here is a little sketch I did for a potential client... its always nice when you get offered right off the bat to be paid for samples!!!  This could be the start of a beautiful relationship.... ;)

I really want to do this book though because I had a lot of fun with this sketch and want to see it painted and printed!
;)

I know the Christmas theme is either late or too early but needless to say the colors make it more fun!

Updates!

I finished painting my images of the Hedgehog and the Hare... here is one of them!  I posted the rest on my website under my Freelance Work.

I have more projects underway with Fadenrot with Fairy Tale themes, more Lou Lou soon, and of course, I need to get my Portfolio cleaned up and re-vamped as well...

Tons to do!

On a different note, I've been getting sick a LOT lately... my most recent spell was something called costochondritis- an inflamed ribcage that makes you feel like you're having a heartattack.  Fun, right?

Hope all is well with everyone else!
Now that I"m back on my feet, I hope to really take off running!
Cheers!

work in progress...The Hare and the Hedgehog, a German fairy tale

More work for Anka (in-progress)... ;)

Squirmy

I am in this weird state where I am slammed with freelance work, but not yet sure if I can make the bounce from full-time Purchasing Agent to full-time freelance Illustrator Extraordinaire!  As I've never had quite so much illustration work pouring in and therefore am feeling a bit overwhelmed but also at this point where I don't want my day-job getting in the way of my illustration work- which it seems like it is....
So, what to do?
I am praying and hoping for some clarity there soon... I think if I get some "for sure" jobs (I have two in limbo at the moment) then I might make that jump...

In the meanwhile, here is a little character study for the second installment of Lou Lou!  (She is in her U.K. School uniform garb and lookin' cute if I may say so myself...hee hee.)

V for Veritas posted this.... ;)

Maurice Sendak teaches Stephen Colbert to write a children’s book (video)http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/176536/maurice-sendak-teaches-stephen-colbert-to-write-a-childrens-book-video/

Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater... and other sketches

So it's Sunday night.  I managed to do my character sketches for Fadenrot as well as do some sketches of my own.  These are a few for the Peter Pumpkin Eater poem... :)  I kind of liked it to be a bit dark... so in case its hard to see in the bottom ones, she's actually sort of being kept prisoner.  I wanted to put bars on the windows and the gate to be a bit intimidating...

I also did a little sketch of what I thought Mrs. Hudson from Sherlock Holmes might look like when she was younger... the boy was maybe a love interest?  I didn't go very far with that idea... I did kind of think she must've been a bit mischievous?  and perhaps had an interest in Mystery novels? ;)

I also did a little sketch with a girl and her Scottish terrier... My mother-in-law just put her Scottie down... and I couldn't help imagining a little girl with a matching bow on her dog... 

Anyway, I hope that I can get a final version of the Peter Pumpkin Eater painted... but a little birdie told me that starting Monday I may be a bit over my head with work!

Once I get approval on my work for Fadenrot I can then show those sketches as well.

Well, the house is clean... the dogs are sleepy... Josh is typing away at his new script... what a day!!!

Personal Work as a Means to A Better Portfolio

I have been inspired by a blog post by Amy June Bates (one of my most favorite illustrators!!!) to take up my big ol' book of collected Children's stories and just illustrate from these as a personal project.  Updating my website with personal paintings I think adds flavor, adds fun, and definitely can help show off some skill!  I can pretend I am "on assignment" to illustrate my favorite rhymes and stories... ;)
Meanwhile, my favorite client, Fadenrot, has contacted me to do some fairy tale based illustrations as well!
Fun!

Feeling Charmed

Hello all~
I finally finished my last interior page for a book that I was working on during December!  It was a crazy deadline and consisted of a week with no sleep and lots of painting, but in the end, it was totally worth it!  From what it sounds like, there is promising interest for it in the UK and this is exciting!  I am extremely grateful for the work and also am very hopeful for the book as well.  Here is an interior I did...

Once I get more info and the okay, I will post more info! I believe it will be released in March!

All of this excitement meant that I also had NO time to do any housework.... so this weekend I had bags of laundry to haul around and I'm still not done... dishes, etc... I will hopefully get this all caught up soon.  Josh also got a pretty bad cold this weekend so I had to help him out too.... Feverish and dizzy and totally congested, poor man.

:)
Cheers!

Merry Merry Merry!

I have been working hard to bring to life a new children's book for a client... and will be working on it until up to Christmas Eve and then right back again once Christmas is over... but the work has been looking good!  And my client is happy, which makes me happy as well!
Meanwhile, piles of other things pile up and in the back of my mind lingers many ideas of Christmas presents I have yet to buy (yikes!).  But I am still feeling merry and blessed!  I do miss my friends and family but I will see them all soon enough!

I wish everyone a Happy Christmas!  ;)

The "Go-ahead"

The "Go-ahead" is what I refer to as the "Ok to start painting" part of project... this makes me both excited and nervous.  I managed to paint the first page of a book I am working on and have here a portion of the painting.  So far, this has promised to be one of my most loved book projects.  I think this girl is someone I am happy to help create.  She is truly lovable... which I keep writing and cannot give more details!

;-/  Some day soon!

Anyway, I am tired... but I am waiting up a bit longer in case my client from overseas wants to give me a call for some quick feedback!  Again, glad for the coming weekend... it means I can spend all my attention on the paintings!! Although Saturday is the Art Supply Warehouse Christmas Party... so maybe I will have to make some time for that event!

Some day I hope to have more time to do art... to do this full time instead.  There are so many things that could be said about having to work a day job... while your love lies in wait... and you struggle with the "day to day" vs. moments of complete sadness/panic that you'll never truly see your dreams come true.  Jeez, that was a downer.

Ok, on a positive note, love the work, glad for it, and enjoying!!

:)

more because I can't help myself!

I found more images of my images on the Fadenrot clothing site and had to post a couple more of my favorites... hee hee.  Don't hate me.  These are cute!

Fadenrot!- Xmas Merch!

Here is a Christmas clothing illustration I recently did for Fadenrot! ;)

Have you already finished shopping for Christmas presents?  How about an adorable outfit for the Holidays?

I also see that a new book I illustrated written by Alex J. Stokas, The Little Weaver (a Christmas Story) is now available on  the web! ;)

Fun! Fun! Fun!
Been going crazy working on new character work and interiors for Lou Lou as well... she has gone through many transformations, but we have finally decided upon her look ♥

I have posted images before as well... but I am really enjoying working on this project so far... I wish so much I could tell you all about her and all the awesome things going on with her island and her adventures and how brave this little girl is... but that will have to wait!

Ok, a quick break... ice cream and Humphrey Bogart with the husband before a weekend of working, cleaning, and pug bathing!

;)

So I got sick last week with vertigo (again) and am now finally 100%.  I managed to paint my last illustration of the Rabbit and the Leprechaun, the cover image, and some character studies for another client!  Not to mention give my whole apartment a sincere once-over... it has been slowly becoming more and more disgusting the more sick or busy I get!  Ha.

But well, here are the character studies:

She looks a lot different now from when I first started her... :) But it was nice to get over being sick and clean and get some work done!

Especially before the Holidays!!!

It's raining at night, then sunny and crisp during the day!  I love Fall in California!!!

Super Punch: Win a copy of Barbarians: A Handbook for Aspiring Savages

Super Punch: Win a copy of Barbarians: A Handbook for Aspiring Savages

Josh's book is featured ;)

Kid Review for "Polka-dot Fixes Kindergarten" :)

Sun 2 Oct 2011
KID REVIEW: Brooke lifts up “Polka-Dot Fixes Kindergarten”
Posted by Pat under Book reviews No CommentsStarting a new school year is always exciting and scary. And that’s doubly true for students venturing off to kindergarten for the first time.Author Catherine Urdahl takes on this topic in Polka-Dot Fixes Kindergarten (Charlesbridge, 2011). Dorothy, who’s better known as Polka-Dot, skips off to kindergarten ready to learn. But she brings a fix-it kit full of her grandfather’s favorite repair tools just in case.
At first, kindergarten doesn’t look like it will be very fun. Her name tag says, “Dorothy,” there are lots of rules to remember and there’s a girl named Liz who doesn’t appreciate Polka-Dot’s name or fashion sense. And, grandpa’s fix-it tools don’t seem to work as well at school as they do at home — at least initially.
Today’s guest reviewer has successfully navigated the waters of kindergarten and, therefore, is thoroughly qualified to comment on this book. So take it away, Brooke!
Our reviewer: Brooke
Age: 8
Things I like to do: Play with my friends and my sister.
This book was about: A girl named Polka-Dot going to kindergarten.
The best part was when: Liz and Polka-Dot made up.
I smiled when: Polka-Dot fixed Liz’s dress.
I was worried when: The boys saw Liz’s underpants.
I was surprised when: Liz’s dress split.
This book taught me: To always be nice.
Three words that best describe this book are: “Fix.” “Help.” “Friendship.”
My favorite line or phrase in this book is: When she said, “Let’s be friends.”
Other kids reading this book should watch for: Stripes and polka-dots.
You should read this book because: It is a good book.
Thanks, Brooke!

(from the Blog "Read, Write, Repeat" by Pat Zietlow Miller)- thanks for reviewing!!! :)

Shop Fadenrot! (my stuff is printed!)

So I was perusing Fadenrot's website and see that they have new product with my images printed on them!!  :) It's very flattering to see them printed and now I think I may have to buy this sweater...!!!
(NOTE: not all images are mine!)

Leprechauns are fun to paint! (especially with dainty shoes!)

He had to have crazy red hair... :)

We've been having rain (which isn't really rain to me after living in Portland... more like very light showers) and then hot afternoons here in SoCal.  However, this morning was crisp, sunny, with that nice cold Fall air... I was walking around in a T-shirt and ran into a couple all bundled up (even their dog) and realized that the Pacific NW was still in me somewhere.  And I'm usually so cold?

Anyway, I'm pooped.  Glad tomorrow is Friday although this weekend proves to be busy anyway with work.

This must be all I ever blog about... hmmm....

Our Netflix came in the mail today - lot's of Charlie Chaplin!  Which should be interesting since we recently watched a slew of Buster Keaton (whom I like more).  When I'll find the time to watch these, who knows...  I still haven't caught up on Dr. Who!!! (ooh, that's so bad).

Pugs are snoozing...  I think they are trying to tell me something... zzzzz....

More work!

I've been sort of "binge" reading blogs and commenting lately... it seems I can't keep up!! On nights when I have a bit of time before bed after just posting something I can usually get a couple reads in... :) loving John Shelley's blog... as well as Amy June Bates!!!  They have the best sketches ever!!  It's hard to really call them sketches as they seem so well finished!

Anyway, I can't believe how LONG it took me to finish these three images!! I must have had this project on my plate for at least 2 and a half weeks!!!  (Keep in mind these are not large).  Although, this isn't the only thing I've been working on...

Actually, I've been pretty slammed and busy... but with these cleared off my plate, I can maybe get a ahead on the next one that's due Friday!!

Still waiting to see what will come of some other projects as well.

Got some time in to help my mom paint the master bedroom in her little townhome as well... she's happier now, which is nice... :)  She's been wanting to get her home looking nicer... after a wave of animals she rescued to living with a toddler and a bundle of other people, her house was starting to fall apart some.  It's on its way though!  I pray I can help her out more and more!!

So on a different note, it's already October!!!  I think we are expecting rain on Wednesday... and it's getting darker earlier and earlier.  I'm looking forward to the smell of winter in the air.. but not so much the gloomy skies... I got kind of over that in Portland.  :p  However, that does mean that we are that much closer to Christmas!!  ;)

Cheers to work!

;)

Fadenrot!

More ideas for a project with Fadenrot... ;)

A Few of my favorite boards so far...

I have been working on a self-published book along with other projects and these are a few of my favorite storyboards so far...
Of course, they are pending approval ;)