IF: Messenger

One of my goals this year is to consistently participate in Illustration Friday: illustrationfriday.com
Each Friday a word prompt is given. This weeks word is "messenger." Illustrators submit their artwork to be publicly viewed and one illustration becomes "pick of the week."
I am looking forward to the exercise and challenge! This illustration was completed earlier this year, but in the future I will let the word "prompt" and inspire a new illustration. There are many challenges and goals to come in the new year!

Chicken Licken Illustration Entry for the Tomie DePaola Award

 

So they went along and went along until they met Turkey Lurkey
“Good morning, Goosey Loosey, Ducky Daddles, Cocky Locky, Henny Penny,
and Chicken Licken,” said Turkey Lurkey, “where are you going?”
“Oh, Turkey Lurkey, the sky is falling and we are going to tell the King!”
“How do you know the sky is falling?” asked Turkey Lurkey.
“Ducky Daddles told me,” said Goosey Loosey.
“Cocky Locky told me,” said Ducky Daddles.
“Henny Penny told me,” said Cocky Locky.
“Chicken Licken told me,” said Henny Penny 
“I saw it with my own eyes, I heard it with my own ears,
and a piece of it fell on my tail!” said Chicken Licken.
“Then I will go with you,” said Turkey Lurkey, “and we will tell the King!”

 

Every character is dressed as a member of the kingdom. Henny Penny is a penniless beggar, Cocky Locky is a noble, Goosey Loosey and Ducky Daddles are common folk (or fowl) and Turkey Lurky is a knight, they are on their way to see the king!

Chicken Licken is the fool/prankster of the story, he is given the "fools hat"

 

The sky is blustery as if it could be falling, everyone is all a flutter!

 

The question is: Will this make Tomie "surprised, excited, and VERY jealous?!" Good luck to all those anxious illustrators out there! The winner will be announced Jan. 2nd.

Tomie DePaola Illustration Contest

I joined the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators last month in order to participate in the Tomie DePaola Award. Every year Tomie selects an excerpt from a classic story and gives this charge to the participants:

"I want to be surprised, excited and - VERY jealous that I didn't think of that way to illustrate it.

I want to see an image, a style, a vision that I've never seen before!

Good luck. I'm on your side!" 

That was enough to get me hooked! This years text was from Chicken Licken by P.C. Asbjörnsen:

So they went along and went along until they met Turkey Lurkey
“Good morning, Goosey Loosey, Ducky Daddles, Cocky Locky, Henny Penny,
and Chicken Licken,” said Turkey Lurkey, “where are you going?”
“Oh, Turkey Lurkey, the sky is falling and we are going to tell the King!”
“How do you know the sky is falling?” asked Turkey Lurkey.
“Ducky Daddles told me,” said Goosey Loosey.
“Cocky Locky told me,” said Ducky Daddles.
“Henny Penny told me,” said Cocky Locky.
“Chicken Licken told me,” said Henny Penny 
“I saw it with my own eyes, I heard it with my own ears,
and a piece of it fell on my tail!” said Chicken Licken.
“Then I will go with you,” said Turkey Lurkey, “and we will tell the King!”

I felt like all of these sketches had been done before. I liked the composition of the last sketch but knew I would need a fresh vision in order to catch the eye. Every illustration I found while doing my research had all the feathered friends running around the barn yard..... Who is the king of the barn yard? I continued sketching until I knew my next drawing would be a good one, then I moved to watercolor paper.

The whole time in the back of my mind I KNEW that my best illustration would need to have everyone dressed up in medieval costume..... because they are one their way to see the king! I kept avoiding this prompting because I had no idea how I could accomplish it. Once I did accomplish it I was so pleased and excited to move onto paint :) With a busy week ahead I knew I would be finishing on the due date: December 15th!

What is at stake here? Not only will the winner be the happy and accomplished owner of the 2012 Tomie DePaola Award, but will receive $1,000 to be spent on art supplies and a full scholarship to attend the SCBWI winter conference in New York.

Book Fair Poster!

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! This looks amazing! This is the first time I have seen my watercolor art in "published" form. I love the colors they chose for the rest of the poster. Very well done!

New York Book Fair!

Yesterday I received a very exciting phone call from LaNette in New York. She was wondering if I could create an illustration for their school's Winter book fair. She inspired me with words like "cozy" "warm" "books" "fireplace" and "snowy window scene." I couldn't resist! The image was playing in my mind before we hung up. The challenge: due the next day at 5:00pm!

That night (early this morning) I went to bed with the illustration penned and sized on watercolor paper, with some under painting completed. I woke up at 6am to get some work done before we went to town. On the way home I had the shocking realization that 5:00 New York time is 4:00 Iowa time! That provided me with the extra shot of adrenaline I needed! I finished at 3:30. Just in time to scan and send it.

The illustration is 81/2 by 11 and will appear on 11 by 17 posters that will be hung around town. It is exhilarating to think my little illustration will be seen around town in New York :) LaNette really liked it and we agreed that it was by the grace of God that it was completed on time. Praise to the Ultimate Creator!

WIP: Help me name this illustration!

It snowed a couple days ago and it might snow again tonight! I love snow, especially when it requires that you stay home all cozied up with a book and a blanket. I am hoping for lots of it this winter.

I am sticking to the hours of detail and am really pleased with the results! Although this is becoming a favorite of mine, I am completely stumped for a name. I want it to be something festive, warm and joyful. Any ideas? If so, please leave a comment below.

*WIP: In case any of you are like me, and didn't know what this means, WIP: Work In Progress. Watercolor coming soon!

A Foxy Disguise

What do you think? This is a totally different look from my previous paintings. I made myself slow down and paint every stroke with purpose. I also forced myself to build color and contrast and pay better attention to light. I am really happy with it! And excited to see what comes next.

Tom will definitely elude the coyotes with this disguise.