A Lot'a Otters

The Sno Isle Library website will debut a brand new children's area in February, with illustrations by moi!

Zina revisited

Another experimental painting for my next picturebook. This particular version is watercolor with a charcoal line... More sketches of Zina & co. to come in the next few weeks and months.

Snow Days

Finally, winter has arrived in earnest. The view from my window looked a lot like this for much of the day on December 31st. There's a Trip Shakespeare song, Snow Days, that always comes to mind, along with the irrepressible joy of my inner snow-fort builder :) Happy New Year!


Today, at just above 10 degrees, we had an incredible Blue Skies afternoon. Perfect classic skiing weather, if you know what I mean. Peace and best wishes for 2009.

Merry Christmas!

A Room with a View

A few views from in and around my studio yesterday: First, my daughter and I walked home from the school bus stop under this spectacular December sky. I love these rare sunset reflections on the late afternoon clouds. We're very much in the shadow of the mountains out here. On occassion, under certain light conditions, the early dusk makes for great contrast between the trees/hills and the lighter glowing sky.


And these are simply two new views of my slightly modified studio space. (It was lunch, so please forgive the plate and discarded cola can!) I spent a day or two this summer building a guestbed/loft (on the right) and a new hanging system for sketches/final art above my drawing table. The loft defines the space in a cozy way, and it also gives me third wall for hanging sketches or taping up various inspirations. I'll put some cork on it eventually. The new hanging system on the wall is a major upgrade - in terms of strength and aesthetic appeal - from a similar but far inferior version using thumbtacks and fishing line :) The next photo is a close up:


In the works are final sketches and few painting experiments for my fall 2010 book with Marshall Cavendish. Lots of other stuff too, and that is pretty much the "state" of it. Hardly ever really clean, but it feels good that way :)

...and a third

Two Birds

Happy Thanksgiving!

Frigidity

A hard frost. Frozen sunrise. Winter on the way!

Considering Covers...

One of the last things that the illustrator and art director do, is to design the cover. Very important when you think about it, because the cover sets the stage for what's inside. It's exciting too, because it means that you are getting close to the finished book. What you see here is the final cover for Dog Diaries, plus a few additional sketches. How did we do? Do you have a favorite?

Cat Diaries is currently "in the works" so stay tuned for more news and a few sneak peeks of that project soon.

Shiver me timbers!

Just a few recent sketches for a book-in-progress. Cold winds a blowin' from the west...

And now the snow...

Happy Halloween!

On the drawing board...

Detritus Part II

And last, but not least, the poster that contains all of these images...

Click on the image to see get a closer look!

The Methow Cycle Wolf Awards

Some quick awards that I whipped up for my U6 soccer team. Go Wolves!

Digital Detritus

In geologic terms, detritus is a rubbing away, a fragmentation - as in rock dust. I've been cleaning up - dusting if you will - my office of late, and came across some excellent detritus of my own.

As my only venture into digitally produced artwork (Adobe Illustrator vector drawings) these samples from the Seattle Public Libary Summer Reading Program c. 2004 seemed like a fun post.

Enjoy!

Picture Book People Politicing!

This week, the mud will fly. For a much less nasty version of politics 2008, here are two very excellent sites:

Picture Book People for Obama

Authors & Illustrators for Children

That pretty much tips my hand, but if there is any year for making a personal opinion public... this is it! Get out and vote!

A pat on the blog...

Thanks Jeff! I think...? I've never been singled out like this before (along with six other folks no less) but I'll take the bait.

To wit, here's my nod o' love love to some blogs as well - in no particular order:

No 1. Phil's Good Photo a Day
N0 2. Fox in Socks
N0 3. Planet Ham
No 4. Solidarity*
No 5. Dantat
No 6. Philip Dunn - Olympic Racewalker
No 7. Blue Rose Girls

*Not always kid friendly... not awful though.

PS While"love" is a strong word, I do find each of these blogs to be pretty cool, entertaining, or otherwise informative and/or at times inspiring :)

According to the official rules, as passed on and quoted from the faceless but seemingly affable Mr. Newman, those listed above should:

1) Add the logo of the award to your blog
2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you
3) Nominate at least seven other blogs
4) Add links to those blogs on your blog
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs

If you want to. No pressure. But Really. Thanks!

Autumnal Art

At this point in September, school is well underway and summer a lukewarm memory...

Hooray! The season of school visits :) To celebrate, here are several fine thank you notes that I received during the Humbolt County Author's Festival last October. THANK YOU!

Lots of great detail and some very careful coloring in all of those letters.

Percy never looked so good. Kind of a Stoic, James Dean thing goin' on...

Awesome colors!

My school visit calendar is quickly filling for 2009. If you'd like me to visit, please get in touch ASAP. I am also booking days for 2010 and beyond!

Kids, send your own fan art to:

PO Box 731
Winthrop, WA 98862

Can't wait to see it...

Black & White

Phew, it's been nearly a month since my last post. Lots of end-of-summer-new-school-year excitement, but things are finally getting back to an even keel. I am currently illustrating two new books (one that I wrote as well, hooray!) and trying desperately to get a second new manuscript out the door...


I've also been experimenting with some geometric inspired black and white artwork. I LOVED geometry when we finally got it in school - 9th or 10th grade? - so two thumbs up for the confluence of art and arithmetic!