C is for CB Radio

In 2019 I’m hoping to illustrate 3 children’s books. Normally this would be an impossible task, but I have 3 solid ideas already, and sketches started for each story. I’ve been thinking about these 3 stories now for several months, and sometimes that process can take the longest. 

This is a sketch for one of my books that I am working on. I feel like every illustrator at some point illustrates an alphabet book, well, this is mine. I’m very excited to include all of my nieces and nephews, and various other children of family members and friends as the photo references for the book.

Once I have more of a collection together for one book, I will choose a general color pallet. Every page will have a completely different subject, but the color will really help keep them together. I am using an iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, and Procreate. I have been using these tools and program for a few months and I’m learning something new every time I draw on it. 

The Day the Milk Went Missing

After many, many months of drafts and drawings, we finally completed out book project! Meredith Neill did such a wonderful job writing this story about our niece and nephew. It was such an honor to be there for the first time the kids, my sister and brother-in-law heard the story. Who knew this project would have been so rewarding!? I am definitely going to continue this pattern of drawing for several hours a week. This project has really helped me discover the possibilities of using an iPad Pro, Apple Pencil and Procreate for drawing.

My favorite books

It’s been to many years since I’ve had these books in my hands. I finally unpacked them from storage from my parent’s attic. This is not quite all of them.   Yes they are children’s books, but to me, they are beautiful. I love the illustrations, the little details and how the pictures interact with the type.  As I study these, yes study, I get more and more excited about working toward my goal of illustrating a children’s book with the hopes of one day being published.  

At least half of my books came from books signings I’ve attended throughout school and a few after.  I’ve met the top pop-up books artists, my favorite illustrators like Chris Van Allsburg and even Julie Andrews (I Know!!!). Hearing all of them read their books and answer questions afterwards has always been inspiring.  I’ve never met a children’s book author or illustrator that didn’t love what they had accomplished. And to me, that is important in any dream/goal that you have in mind.  

 

My mother's doll house

My parents started building this dollhouse from scratch when I was really little. Literally from a sheet of plywood. We recently set it up again after many years. My mom had it turned around so you could only see the outside of the house. We had gotten some dollhouse furniture at an auction years ago that we hadn’t looked at yet and we found lots of treasures. There is a small fortune in this house but it’s been almost a 30 year project.
My parents cut all the shingles, all of the working windows and moldings, and sand paper bricks on the outside. My mom has knitted sweaters with string and tooth picks, and if you look at the one photo with the sewing room, she created the half dress too. You can even see the pins she made from really sewing pins.
They say they aren’t artists but they just do different art than I do. Someday, I will create a children’s book from this and it will be epic.
 I asked my mom about this tonight and she said she can remember snow white was always playing in the back ground on the tv when they were building it. And to this day, when she hears that movie, all she can smell is saw dust and hot glue. 

Crafty Shows

I've been pretty busy the last few days getting ready for a craft show. I did fairly well even though it was cold and windy. My wonderful husband helped make another display shelf that turned out perfect. I also made greeting cards which I have never tried to sell before. I questioned on doing it because I wasn't sure on how to price them. I charged double what I thought I should but that was still below average price for something like that. Turns out, people who do buy greeting cards are more than happy to pay for them. Once again I am reminded that I should not belittle my work. My prints are good, my painting style is great, and I should charge accordingly. I know this is not an uncommon problem with most artists.

Painting does make me happy.

For a few weeks, I've been a little worked up over switching jobs, interviewing and that sort of not so fun stuff. Dakota said a few nights ago, "You NEED to paint again, you're much happier when you paint."
I've always thought in the back of my mind that I paint because I am happy... maybe I've had it backwards all along.
Tonight's painting... let's just say I'm feeling pretty great right now, and my husband is pretty great too.

His Promises

Feeling protected while you sleep

Getting courage when things are tough

Here are some illustrations I did based on some verses from the bible. I don't mean to persuade someone one way or another, but when you are a child you need help and guidance whether it is from family, teachers or a religious person. These illustrations are for children to relate to and understand. Sometimes no matter how old you are, taking a step back and seeing something simple enough for a child to see is a really great feeling. The world seems to make so much more sense for a moment.

Lambert the Dinosaur

Here is a quick 30 minute doodle of a compsognathus dinosaur named Lambert. Right now he is playing with a crayon and is lacking personality I think. Some friends and I are doing monthly sketches and this weeks topic was school supplies. I will definitely be doing more studies of Lambert.

Sammeth the Mammoth

Here are two sketches for my next children's book. A story about Sammeth the Mammoth. I still have a ways to go. I think that the bottom one he looks a little old for the story so I need to work on making him look consistent, and younger.

Cowboy Line

 I'm breaking out an old drawing from last year. Looking back at it now, I see where a lot of work is needed. I already added color to the line drawing, but now I will continue by adding shadows and maybe a little more textures on the dirt in the background. The reference is from a photo I took at the 2011 Farm Show during the rodeo. It was originally a children's book spread from an assignment in college. I want to revisit this project and make it better.

Danny Meadow Mouse pages

Here are some illustrations from the story "Danny Meadow Mouse" that I have illustrated. This makes 2 children books that I have completely on my tablet.

New book Cover

Here is another Children Book cover that I have completed.

Velveteen Rabbit Cover

I've been working for a new site called Great Stories 4 Kids as an illustrator for children's books. Here is the cover for the first book I completed. The site is not up and running yet but I'll keep you posted for when it is. The site's goal is to encourage children to read along with online books. The Velveteen Rabbit was my first project and I am very pleased how it all turned out. The second picture is the first page in the story. I'm doing all of the illustrations on a Bamboo Tablet and I'm loving it. I've been doing 1-3 drawings a night. It's a great feeling finishing these books. Soon you can check them out at www.greatstories4kids.com.

Finished Tablet Drawing

Here is the finished drawing from before. There are some parts that I really enjoy like the tree in the background but I also feel I still need to work on my nature scenes.

More tablet drawings

Here is another tablet drawing. It's not finished but it looked pretty cool so far. Sometimes unfinished work looks better than finished work.

Tablet Drawing

I finally got myself a Bamboo tablet. I recently was asked to do some drawings for some online children's books, and to get me started, they bought me a tablet. It just came in the mail a few days ago and the first thing I did was a self portrait. Something they can put on there website with a short artist bio. Overall, I feel like I captured my messy hair pretty well. It was done fairly quick so I might go back in and work on the skin tones. But all in all, I think it was a good start with my new drawing tool.

Option ?

Drummin'

Here is the start of a colored page. I'm trying it digitally and have to figure out a way for my illustrations to match my text

Beginning stage of a Children's book.

Here is a spread, in its very rough stage. I hand drew these and scanned them in. I would like to try and digitally color them so we will see how that goes. Lets face it, the digital world can't be avoided forever.

First Book; Cattywampus

Here are some pictures of the children's book I did last year for class. The inside pages are mostly just rough black and white sketches. There are 2 spreads and a single page with complete color and finished illustrations.