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. 

Year in Review 2018

Merry Christmas everyone! For all who wanted my Christmas card this year, here it is! We like to keep things simple with a year in review. And of course, I had to illustrate our awesome pets. Seriously, these two are the greatest non-humans you could ever ask for. We had no idea these two would become best friends! At least I keep saying they are. And yes, I plan on creating a story for the two of them. This card started as a sketch for a story, but then I remembered that it is almost Christmas and should probably have a card to hand out. Anyway, have happy Christmases and Merry New Year's ;) 

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.

Couple Tattoo

Sometimes I get on a kick of wanted to get a tattoo. I have ideas, all I think I could live with. But that’s usually as far as it goes. I think this is something I would like to play around with some more. My husband is an obsessed fisherman, and I do the whole art thing. So I think this is a super sweet way of getting a tattoo together without putting our names on it. 

More Lettering

Still on a hand lettering kick. Today I decided to write down the names of all of my nieces and nephews. Practicing different letters and different versions of the same letter.Again, I look to Pinterest and Instagram for letter styles and techniques. I'm not the greatest but I am seeing improvement.

Flight Doodles

I am on my way to Albuquerque, New Mexico! During my flight I decided to pull out my sketchbook that is usually within arms reach of me. The Flight attendants were entertained every time they walked by when they saw my progress. For some reason, their compliments seemed to make my day. It always seems to be my instinct to draw trees with my fine point sharpie, which was fine since the ride was a little bumpy. Trees are very forgiving. Since I was going to New Mexico, feathers seemed to be another good choice to doodle.  

Dog Drawing

Hard to see, but I've got the beginnings of a pet drawing commission, and the finished product. I'm loving all this extra drawing and painting work before Christmas! Message me with any creative projects you might have, I've got a sewing job to do too!

Hand Painted/drawn portraits make great valentines gift as well!! Never to early to start planning!   

😉

Tshirt design idea

Here is a t-shirt design I want to work on. Obviously I will have to work on the actual type, but this is the general idea of what I want it to say. I really like the idea of the standing fisherman giving the idea of a cross from far away.

Family Tree

Sometimes, you just want to paint a tree! Also, I needed an excuse to hang a bunch of family photos and I know that I never hang things very evenly, this way I just need to make sure they are hanging on a branch!

Clint Eastwood Sketch

I'm watching Gran Torino tonight and sketching Clint at the same time! Yes, I do have a photo reference on my phone. I am mostly just enjoying myself and trying to get that stare that we have all come to love just right. I'll probably go back in later and add so black sharpie to make it all more dramatic. I love this movie!

Gone Fishing...

When your boyfriend is constantly talking about fishing and tying flies, use it as inspiration! At least now I know what a brown trout is and a wooly bugger thingy... Ok, maybe I need to draw more!

Fortune Cookie Idea!

Two more ball point pen quick doodles. While on a trip to Boston, it is a challenge drawing while on the bumpy roads. 

        This sketchbook also had a Chinese fortune glued on each page. Sometimes it is tough to decide what to draw, so the fortunes help! 

Arrow Head

Here are two more drawings. One had a theme of different arrows. the other was just experimenting with the pen and nibs.

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.

Second Children's book

For my next children's book that I am doing for class I want to play with the idea of a child learning what the imagination is. I'm not sure how I want to word it quite yet but I am playing with the idea of how as a child, we used simple house hold items to help take us to another world. Like if you were going to sword fight a dragon, you could wear a colander on your head, have a pillow case as a cape, a pillow for a shield and a ladle as your weapon of choice :) This is just a sketch of what I had in mind.

The Frog Prince in Rome.

In my Children's book Illustration class for this semester we were given the assignment to pick a book that has already been published and change the time and place. I chose to do "The Frog Prince" and it will take place in Rome. I had a friend, Kate Maggiolino, dress up in her roman clothing (Bed sheets :P ) and she posed for me as I took reference photos. Here are some of the actual illustrations so far.