Time To Put Wings On These Cats

I am wrapping up the illustrations for the latest middle grade novel, and I am really excited to see this one come together. The first few ink painitngs were not quite right, and I had to make a paper change. I started on Arches hot press, which is a lovely paper, but I was more pleased with a change to cold press paper. I think it had a bit more texture that gave the ink a better play with blossoming and staining.

I still think my drawings of cats are a bit stiff, even after working with them for a few months. They have such strange heads, I still need so much reference. On the other hand, I now know more about four masted barques than anyone of the twenty-first century should. I love research!!

Feature in Fantasy+

In the mail today, wrapped nine ways til Sunday, came a book that Antoine and I were featured in.

Fantasy+ 4: The Best Artwork of Fantastic Art:
Fantasy art, like literature, continues to have a growing resurgence as consumers of popular culture long for a respite from today s forced reality. For this fourth volume of the highly successful Fantasy+ series, the selected artworks are arranged thematically according to the focus or manifestation of the work. The international roster of commercial artists featured offers the very best in imaginative art created for movies, animation, publications and games. Not limited to illustrative output, this volume gives voice to the talented sculptors in the industry, with three-dimensional models and garage kits presented for the first time. Thoughtful commentary and interviews enhance the work and inspire, providing rich tips and insights for professionals and would-be artists alike.

It was very fun to both be featured and interviewed. I loved seeing our names side by side. Although I cannot say my work is the best artwork of the fantasy genre, I was thrilled to join others who are!

Childhood Memories

After a long time working on projects, I decided to take a break and work again on a project started back in the summertime. It's a painting of my childhood woods, behind my house on Fairbanks Road. Looking back on the time spent there, many amazing and bewildering events occurred.

Most memories are miniscule, and only important to myself, but then other richly bizarre tales: Such as my black cat Magic appearing and disappearing from her grave. Our woods naturally had a pet cemetery, where our beloved pets and sometimes accidental drowned chipmunks were laid to rest. Magic, after suffering an extremely bad broken leg, was put to sleep, and then placed in our family plot. About a year after, my best friend and I were taking a walk through the back woods and noticed that the cat's grave had been... dug up! But, there was no body to be found. We though this must be some strong nosed animal and dirt was filled back into the tiny hole. Well, what followed were several months of the grave being dug up again, and occaisionally the body being seen in other parts of the woods. Each time, we'd quickly rebury the poor creature, pour bleach and other noxious smelling chemicals to deter what we though HAD to be an animal. Me thinks... there was more at play here.

The woods near my old house lies in a very spooky section called the Bridgewater Triangle. Many odd occurances have caused the locals to name this area as a very supernatural swamp. There's quite a lot of documentation about it, so I welcome you to poke around. What I can tell you is I am also a beliver of this area's oddness. My woods were the home to many Wampanoag burial mounds, and I secretly hoped their spirits kept me safe as I played. My brothers and I made bark masks to keep watch of the woods while we were away.

They were very fun days, but incredibly imaginative days. But imagination can conjure up all sorts of playfulness... and wickedness. It was New England after all... a region rich with old lore.

...Just Draw.

If there is one message I try to get through to students or anyone looking to become an illustrator, it's this: Just draw. Draw all the time. Draw to get excited, draw to get angry, draw to improve, draw to make mistakes. But for God's sake, just draw!

Renata Liwska's sketchbooks take the cake! Check out this really great video made by Mike Kerr.

A Quiet Look - How to become a children's book illustrator in one (not so easy) step from mike kerr on Vimeo.

Reminders like this are important for me to remember that important ingredient for creativity!

A Toast for 2013!

There are good ships,
and there are wood ships,
The ships that sail the sea.
But the best ships, are friendships,
and may they always be!

Happy New Year!

Hot Buttered Rum

2 oz Rum
3 tsp Sugar
.5 tsp Allspice
.5 tsp Cloves
1 tbsp Unsalted Butter
Hot Cider

Warm a mug or glass, and then add sugar and about 1.5 oz of hot cider to the mug.  Stir sugar and water until sugar is well-dissolved.  Add rum and spices and then fill top the mug with hot cider. Add butter and stir until it is completely melted. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and/or orange peel, depending on the flavor you’re looking for.

An 18th century recipe would sometimes call for heating a loggerhead to red hot in an open fire (a fireplace poker knocked clean of ashes will do), which would then be thrust into the drink. Soon after, the concoction would steam and sputter. It was strongly advised to drink immediately after!

Rum, a distillation of sugar cane or a byproduct like molasses, can be made just about anywhere, like other spirits fashioned from ingredients that can be easily imported. Invented in the West Indies in the 17th century, rum caught on in the American colonies, where distillers began importing molasses and quickly created a major industry. At its peak in 1770, the American colonies imported six million gallons of Caribbean molasses, much of which became rum in New England’s 159 distilleries. The style varied widely, but it was said to be thicker and less sweet than its Caribbean cousin.

Hooray! SNOW!!!

 Snow is one of the key things that gets me excited, and luckily tonight, we got plenty of it! I love the colors, especially during night shoveling. Hooray!

Lighted Lawn Dandruff 2012!

Another success year Lawn Dandruff Night! Flasks were filled, cars were warmed, cameras were charged, and pizza was consumed. We were a bit nervous with our destination, not too sure if people would be festive enough for our thirst. North Providence did not disappoint ONE bit! Christmas is no longer complete without this ridiculous tradition. Can't wait for next year! As each year passes, the prospect of actually approaching a publisher for a coffee table book of silly Christmas Americana seems more possible.

Ursa Major

I was recently contacted by Brown University to help them with their New Year's greeting. I was excited to help the friendly neighbors at the top of the hill (since my school was adjacent to it, down the hill). Because I've called Providence home for maybe a bit too long, being able to paint some of the architecture I know so very well was a pleasure. I was also glad to include a little bit of astronomy! It's also nice to work on seasonal pieces... in the actual season you're painting! Typically I'm painting snow scenes in July for publishing deadlines, so this was a nice change.

A Busy Couple Of Months

So, I regret immensely ignoring my little blog here. It's been a very busy couple of months, and sort of tricky to share what it is that I've been working on lately. Classes have just ended at both RISD and Montserrat, so I have a bit more time on my hands! I've been finishing up all of the art for Mouse With A Question Mark Tail these last few weeks, and I'm very excited to see the book's F&Gs! They're including three color tip ins, which have been a bit complicated to paint. Over 80 mice in one illustration is a bit intense.

 

  

Also, I've just finished up the cover for a reprint of Florence Laughlin's Little Leftover Witch. I had a great time painting this cranky little lady, who I related to VERY easily.

Some more projects are finishing up that I can start to share with you! I got an F&G of FACEBUG, a poetry book written by J.Patrick Lewis and featuring photos by Fred Siskund. So... I'll be back real soon. YAY!

Illustration Friday: SNOW

It's no secret that winter is my favorite time of year. Oddly enough, I become much more active, looking to go outside for exercise, or an excuse to take a walk to look at the gleaming nighttime sky. Here are a few snowbound images, both personal and professional!

Jingle jingle!

Ahoy, My Felines²

Well... had to scratch that last painting for various reasons that I will chat about later. But... it all makes sense, and I am hoping this new version does the trick. Here's some snippets of more fancy felines, too!

Ahoy, My Felines!

There's a new project on the desk these last few weeks, and it's been mighty fun. These two chaps will be my friends for the next month or two, and I cannot wait to get to more of the illustrations. Research has been very fun with this one! Excited to share more with you soon.

Look out you land lubbers!

Cat O' Lanterns!

Halloween was mildly uneventful around the studio since it was a teaching day. We didn't even know if we got trick or treaters at the new place. Maybe next year we will be able to tell! But, we did get some Devil's Night fun with the pumpkin and pets. Lily still thinks there is a new cat roomate. Poor Lils.

Word to Live By

After checking out Drawn.ca for my daily inspiration, I saw this excerpt featured. I'm not the most eloquently gifted person, so I don't usually have words of wisdom to recite... but this is fantastic. High five.

I’ve spent my entire career obsessively trying to “learn how to draw” when I should’ve just been drawing. Always thinking “I just need to get a little better… and then I’ll start working on (insert any of a hundred personal projects)”

The fact is that i’ve been good enough since my teens- and would’ve improved so much more rapidly had my study been in the service of any of those projects- and not in the dozens of sketchbooks pilled in my closet.

Lesson: Don’t use “learning” as an excuse to avoid “doing”.

Shane Glines

Desk Bound

I may be stuck at my desk for long stretches of time, but I am so lucky to be surrounded with books that allow me to see the world.

*sigh*

I love to travel.

The British Mice Ride Again!

It's been a low blog post year, but I feel as though it's been a successfully busy year. I think it's a matter of not being able to show exactly what I've been plugging away at. Well, here's a sneak peak! It's a companion novel to Secrets At Sea!!

Tu Me Manques, Paris

Recently completed working on a fun project that called upon my Parisian relationship. I was working on a few backgrounds for an animation. How could I say no? Will clue you in more about the project when I am allowed.

Here's something to wet your whistle!

The Original Art Show 2012

I am extremely pleased to be included in this year's juried children's exhibition at the Society of Illustrators. Secrets At Sea was selected, and I cannot be more excited. To be included in The Original Art, books must be selected by a jury drawn from illustrators, art directors, editors, and experts in the field.

This year’s show features 139 books chosen from entries submitted nationwide. Two Silver Medals and one Gold Medal are awarded by the jury for outstanding achievement in children’s book illustration. This year’s Silver Medal winners are Jon Klassen for This is Not My Hat (Candlewick Press), and Steve Jenkins for The Beetle Book (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt / Books for Children). The Gold Medal winner is Laëtitia Devernay for The Conductor (Chronicle Books). Congrats, fellow illustrators!!

 I've gathered enough courage to head on down for the opening. I know... I sound like a big whimp, don't I! I am typically a tad shy with these types of events, but I cannot pass up this opportunity to see all of the amazing work that has been collected. Perhaps I will see you there, too?

 For more information, follow this link.

Opening Reception and Awards Presentation
6:00 pm Cocktails (YESS!!!)
7:00 pm Awards Ceremony
Annnnd, then I have to run to catch a bus by 9pm.

 Society of Illustrators
128 East 63rd Street New York,

NY EXHIBITION DATES
October 24 - December 22
Tuesday 10-8 Wednesday- Friday 10-5 Saturday 12-4

In The Garden

 At first people refuse to believe that a strange new thing can be done, then they begin to hope it can be done, then they see it can be done -then it is done and all the world wonders why it was not done centuries ago. ― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

FInding Lost Time

It's so important to have personal work on the back burner. I may not have been able to work on this painting in 2 months, but I know when I am done with my client work, this little world is waiting for me. Rewarding work with work. Nice. This will be a painting of my childhood woods. Complete with shed, pet cemetery, tree spirts, and the ghost of my cat.