Summer Reading -- On the banks of the Columbia!

Summer reading programs with the regional library took me to the banks of the Columbia River this past week -- with visits to Brewster and Bridgeport, WA. I've got several more library HEROES still waiting in the wings for their online debuts, but here is one from Brewster (both in sketch and final form) and then another from a week or two earlier in Entiat. My final visits of the summer take place next week in Wenatchee, Cashmere, Moses Lake and Mattawa, WA -- and then the family and I hit the road for a little non-work vacation time!!! Awesome tree sculptures that line the main drag in Brewster are always a pleasure to see. New entries added to the experience this year and maybe even a work or two still in progress.

And FINALLY, some quick photographic evidence of the "cartoon challenge" that has taken place throughout the summer. The number 9 -- in this case -- deftly turned into a giraffe. Keep up the great work kids!

Harts Pass No. 259

Thankfully, real wolverines don't haul around this much stuff, or have to work, or get their kits to numerous summer activities... but my parenting/people perspective does seem to slip its way into the strip every so often :) Hope that your own summer's are going Grand and definitely don't miss out on splashing in a mountain lake or two!

Harts Pass No. 258

The one-year anniversary of the start of last summer's Carleton Complex wildfire. Although extremely dry and fairly warm so far, the land is healing and the rebuilding is well underway. I haven't seen this week's edition of the Methow Valley News, but it promises to be an issue dedicated in some small way to remembering last summer's fires.

Summer Reading Heroes: Okanogan & Quincy!

The summer reading posts continue with these two fine additions to the North Central Regional Library's Legion of Heroes. Please welcome ACTION ANNA (plus her indomitable sidekick Tiny the Ladybug) and QUICK JACK, the ninja hare with the nunchuck teeth! Watch out world. Heroes on a roll!

Stay tuned tomorrow for Soap Lake, Omak, Warden, Ephrata, Chelan, and Entiat!

Harts Pass No. 257

Tips for Graceful Aging No. 1: Life might just be a little easier with four feet and a less obvious waistline.

Harts Pass No. 256

It. Has. Been. HOT!

Harts Pass No. 255

Kids at summer camp. Parents... still trying to adjust!

Summer reading rolls!

With design input from the audience, here are three more heroes for the North Central Regional Library Summer Reading Program. Six visits next week - which means six more heroes to come! And I'll get some of the kid's cartooning posted here soon well :)

NCRL Summer Reading!

The start of summer = the start of Summer Reading, and this week I kicked things off in style with visits to the Twisp, Tonasket, and Oroville branches of the North Central Regional Library system. "Every Story has a Hero" and "Unmasked!" are the season's themes, so I'll be sharing new story news, pondering the similarities between creating comics and picture books, and leading cartooning workshops this June and July. The library kids and I will also create a NCRL Hero mascot for each of the 16 branches that I visit - "YES!" 

To wit, Twisp's most excellent new Hero team: BUZZ & BUZZY!

(Stay tuned for others within a day or two of each visit - and colored versions too!)

Harts Pass No. 254

Nothing wrong with being No. 2, although an article in this week's Methow Valley News speaks to renewed public support for the reintroduction of Grizzlies (Dangerous N.A. Mammal numero Uno!) to the North Cascades. Showdown baby!

Harts Pass No. 253

This one pretty much explains itself. Hard to believe that Kit is moving on to middle school! :(

Sketches: Elephrump!

Just a doodle. 

Nothing more. 

Elephrump upon the floor!

Happy Book Birthday, Tino Tortoise!

TINO THE TORTOISE: Adventures in the Grand Canyon hits the shelves today! The author, Carolyn Ahern, did and AMAZING job with setting up a website for the book, so be sure to check it out and cross your fingers for more Tino adventures in the not to distant future :)

Harts Pass No. 252 - Guest Cartoonist No. 2

Another great comic courtesy of 5th grade guest cartoonist, Stella Gitchos. Looking forward to more comic creativity at both this week's Methow Valley Elementary Young Writer's Conference and throughout the summer in my North Central Regional Library summer reading visits. Write on!

Harts Pass No. 251 - Guest Cartoonist No. 1

Between finishing my next recent book and coaching at the State Track meet, I'm a little late in posting this week's comic. Lucky for me, it's guest cartoonist week here at Harts Pass :) After a recent Methow Arts residency at the local elementary school, I've put a few kids on the payroll for both this week and next. Kinda like Family Circus... except these kids are the real deal! Much thanks to Isaac Carlsen for this week's excellent unicorn strip.

Sketches: Blue Moose

Harts Pass No. 250

Personally, I can never quite remember what snake it is that "looks" like a rattler. Bullsnake it is... but no matter what such thoughtful consideration of this particular situation isn't really necessary :)

Sketches: A radiant Pig!

Nearing the end of a new illustration project for Sasquatch Books (more on that when its done!) but after days/months of intense focus on one main thing, its always nice to be playing around on the side. I've been having some fun with a style much looser than the current book and I'll post a few each week just to keep you looking :) Enjoy!

Cover Story: Creating new DOG DIARIES cover art!

I just recently finished some new cover art for a paperback edition of Dog Diaries (Henry Holt, 2007). It doesn't officially published until April 2016... but it's a popular choice with school visits and I'm very excited to have a paperback version in the mix.

Why a new cover? Well, as much as the good folks at Holt (and hopefully the authors!) liked the first cover, they actually liked the cover of Cat Diaries (see below) just a little bit better. Since there will be a simultaneous paperback release of both books, the art department wanted to create a "companion" cover of sorts that was a little more focused on a single dog.

Just like the original, the new cover was painted with watercolor, ink, and colored pencil. Scroll below for a glimpse of the process -- from early sketches and options to final art -- and I'll remind you again when the books are available next spring :)

LOTS of sketches... some pencil and some digital.

And then revisions to the consensus pick of the Macmillam Art Department and on to final sketches...

...and then the final art :) A little mock-up here on my part, but it should be pretty close in the final version.

Harts Pass No. 249

My daughter asks a LOT of questions. Sometimes so many that I am certainly not this nice about answering them all... Anyway, maybe she gets gets inspired when she feels like she has our full attention. So it goes :)