SCBWI The Sky is the Limit

Can you find:
a tea pot
an aviation pin
two snails
three airplanes
a four leaf clover

I am very pleased with this illustration and very excited to see it in print on flyers and posters for the 2013 SCBWI Iowa Spring Conference!

Illustration is hard work: Here is a picture of me collecting references for this piece.

The Sky is the Limit WIP

I am working on an illustration for the Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators! This will be used for their promotional material for the Spring conference in Iowa. This is a sketch of my third concept. My sketches are always very loose because I enjoy doing all of the thinking and problem solving on the actual illustration paper so it stays fresh and lively.

I attended my first conference last year and really enjoyed meeting other artists and writers, learning about the industry and receiving my first portfolio critique. I wanted to capture my experience in this illustration.
Owl represents those who come to the conference with a manuscript to be read by an agent or publisher. He is trying to relax with his wing behind his head, but you can tell he is a little nervous.
Cat is enjoying Owl's story in the way we all hope our life's work will be enjoyed!
Rabbit is an illustrator. Working hard on sketches.
Hedgehog is enjoying a completed and published book with Mole, who just popped up for a surprise visit! All five are important for the success of a book (as are many others.)
The snail represents perseverance, the slow and steady work that it takes to succeed.

An aviation/sky theme is woven throughout keeping with the theme for the conference, "The Sky is the Limit!" Can't wait to paint this!

The Friendly Elk

This is our new addition on the chalkboard wall behind our dinning room table. Doesn't he look friendly?

Unto Us a Child is Born

This is a 20" by 26" chalkboard commission that I recently completed. Its really easy to make your own chalkboard with a quick trip to the hardware store. All you need is 8th or 16th inch masonite hardboard (cut to size) and a can of Rustoleum chalkboard spray. Make sure you spray your chalkboard in a well ventilated area.
I mask the edges with masking tape so that I can draw clean edges and so that afterward I have room to handle the piece without smearing it. I use Nupastels for full fledged illustrations, but if you are making a simple board for messages and lists you can use normal school chalk.
Since becoming a watercolor artist my approach to beginning an illustration has changed. Now I draw the entire image (like I would with pen) and then add the color (like I would add watercolor.) I make my lines with black and then go over all the lines with bright dark blue. I also use the bright dark blue for all my under shading. This ties the piece together nicely. When I complete a piece I have it framed behind glass with a little space between the board and glass. I have not found a fixitive that I like. I find that they dull the colors and make the illustration look grainy. 
This was a fun piece to do. I enjoyed giving Joseph, Mary and Jesus beautiful dark skin and brown eyes. I feel like I always see Bible accounts illustrated with white looking people. But, Jesus is from the middle east, so I wanted to be accurate.
Here is a look at the process:

O Holy Night,

the stars are brightly shinning!

It is the night, 

of our dear Savior's birth. 

Long lay the world, in sin and error pining,

'til He appeared and the soul felt it's worth. 

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices!

For yonder breaks, a new and glorious morn!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Roof Tops

I am new to watercolor and find myself wanting to wander into other mediums. Perhaps another medium might feel more natural?

A year ago I had a conversation with my artist friend Sara, who is a phenomenal watercolor artist. She was telling me how she loves water, everything about water. Swimming, bathing, painting, the movement, the freedom etc. At the time I was trying to transition out of chalk and into watercolor. I remember telling her that I don't like water. I do not like to swim or shower. (I do shower though.) I don't like the movement, and it doesn't feel like freedom. It feels uncertain.

I love chalk. I love dirt. I love stability and thickness. I don't want to give up on watercolor, but I keep dreaming about think paint. Acrylic? Gouache? Oil? The possibilities are overwhelming! The nice thing about watercolor is that it is neat and tidy, and my paintings fit in a scanner.

This is an experimental watercolor. I tried rough coldpress paper instead of my normal smooth hotpress. I used gouache around the edges of the buildings just to see what it felt like to paint with (its gray though it looks greenish on the scan.) I was going to paint the entire background with the gouache, but stopped here, not sure what I should do.

Trick or Treat!

I hope something this cute shows up at my doorstep tonight!

Do You Know the Muffin Man?

I do. He is my husband.

One morning, about 2 years ago, I was baking a batch of muffins and Casey was packing for a solo trip to Pella. On my way out the door I reminded him to pack lunch and dinner for his day trip. Later that night when we were both home I noticed that my entire batch of 12 muffins were missing! Knowing that we had only eaten two at breakfast, I inquired with Casey. He sheepishly unpacked the last muffin from his back pack. He had packed and eaten 9 muffins for lunch and dinner, plus the one he ate at breakfast! His excuse was that my muffins are as good as my kisses and that he wanted me with him all day. Awwww.... what can you say to that?

This is a silly painting to commemorate the day my husband became the muffin man. I still can't believe he ate 10 muffins. He must have shared them with birds and squirrels along the way.