I'll Tumble 4 Ya!

I just finished up my second Monster dummy! I was so excited to complete it, and get some feedback, just before the book's release this July. As I was composing the pages, this song keep repeating in my head... and I am glad for it to go away for a bit. Although perky... it becomes a bit too much.

You see, I don't want to ruin the surprise of the theme of the next book... but this should give you a healthy hint.

Typically at the end of illustration projects, I really spoil myself a bit. I get to CLEAN. You see, I LOVE cleaning. It's like a ritualistic purging and a moment to refocus. But, I'll save it for tomorrow morning. Menawhile... Downtown, we'll drown, doo doo doo doooo dooo!

Bleeding Heart

It's been sometime since I've done a personal piece. Always good to take those hours for oneself. Now back to the grind!

More Dragons!

This is by NO means a complaint, but I think I may be known as a "dragon illustrator". I soo welcome it! This is for a magazine, and i worked a bit more with an under drawing.

Having the drawing allowed me to be a bit more loose with my painting. It allowed me to have the line weight and depth, but still be able to move the paint on top without losing that structure. I think I am going to involve this more and more... experimenting a bit more with line styles... something fine to something more broad like a chalk or pastel stick.

When I was younger we had a pair of chinese ink landscapes that hung near our fireplace. I flipping loved looking at them, picturing myself walking along the tiny mountain path, or floating high about the river valley. I need surround myself more with these dreamy landscapes. Total brain food!

Charakarts!

I am pleased to announce studio mate (and husband) Antoine Revoy's newest project, Charakarts! I've been seeing these come alive the past few weeks, and I can guarantee more amazing karts in the future.

Charakarts™ is a character design side project by illustrator Antoine Revoy. Charakarts are an eclectic ensemble of characters driving imaginative kart-like vehicles, coexisting in a videogame-like realm. This project originated in a series of drawings created in 2002 and remained confidential till 2011, the decision now made to present the initial charakart artwork as well as new designs online.

I especially love the first sketches from 2002. He explains here, the inspiration for the project.

Secrets At Sea a BEA Top Pick!

What wonderful news! I just saw that Secrets At Sea, written by Richard Peck (and illustrated by me) was named one of the top 26 books featured at the BEA (Book Expo America). This is AWESOME news!

Here's the Kirkus review featured with the article:

Problem novels, ghost stories, historical fiction—is there anything Newbery Medalist Peck cannot do? Apparently not.

Helena Cranston, oldest surviving member of her family after the deaths of both her parents and her sisters Vicky and Alice, has her hands full: dreamy sister Beatrice and skittery sister Louise keep sneaking out at night—Helena fears inappropriate liaisons—while brother Lamont skips school for more dangerous pursuits. Worse yet, the Upper Cranstons, dissatisfied with Hudson Valley beaux, are embarking for England to catch daughter Olive a husband. Europe, as Helena knows, is across a very large body of water, and Helena, being a mouse, fears water with all her heart. Yet soon she and her family, secreted in one of the Cranstons' steamer trunks, are carried onboard ship, where they discover an aristocratic mouse society heretofore unknown, including the Mouse-in-Waiting to Princess Louise, Queen Victoria's daughter, who shows Helena that mice can in fact change history—at least on a mouse-sized scale. Peck must have had a blast writing this. Whimsical language, sure characterization, unflagging adventure, even romance—all seen through Helena's relentlessly practical beady little eyes. Think The Tale of Despereaux without the twee.

Sheer delight. (Animal fantasy. 8-12)

Pub Date: Oct. 13th, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3455-5
Page count: 203pp
Publisher: Dial

Ne'er were truer words typed

ps.) I MIGHT get in trouble for this image.

Illustration Friday: Shadows

This is an oldie, but there's something about its looser painting style I still like. Got to loosen up!

Dark Sneek Peeks

I can't say much more about this project, but I am excited to share these with you! Let's hope the higher powers that be like them too!



I can't say much more about this project, but I am excited to share these with you! Let's hope the higher powers that be like them too!

Sassy Cat

This is a class demo I did many moons ago, and have been slow to tickle in the color. But you know what... I am glad that I did not render the willies out of it. I need someone to take away my paintings, because I feel like I overwork them in most cases.

Here's... Sassy Cat!

Mama, our black cat, has the mouth of a bratty fifteen year old girl. It's impressive.

Trail Of Tears

This past winter, Montserrat College of Art hosted another illustration theme show, this year's being Wild West. I opted to go for a more somber approach, focusing on the suppression of the Native American tribes, particularly related to the Trail of Tears.

In 1838 and 1839, as part of Andrew Jackson's Indian removal policy, the Cherokee nation was forced to give up its lands east of the Mississippi River and to migrate to an area in present-day Oklahoma. The Cherokee people called this journey the "Trail of Tears," or, as a direct translation from Cherokee, "The Trail Where They Cried" ("Nunna daul Tsuny"), because of its devastating effects. The migrants faced hunger, disease, and exhaustion on the forced march. Over 4,000 out of 15,000 of the Cherokees died.

It might be gentle in color and contrast, but I kind of like the quieter approach that describes something so tragic.

Here's a detail:

Where'd She Go?

So, this spring is slowly covering me in its dust! I've had some long range projects that I've been chipping away at, but nothing to show of merit! School and my independent studies have also occupied more of my time, and I'll be sad to see some of the seniors gradumacate!

BUT! Here are a few things I can show. Some character designs for a board game, and some book cover ideas!



Some fun news about this summer: I'm headed to Italy with Montserrat's Study Abroad program. I am BEYOND stoked to be Fred Lynch's TA in his journalistic drawing class. My mind is about to explode with sketchbook ideas. Fred maintains the sketchbook blog of the student's work and you can find it here.

Now... to learn Italian. I was just getting a hold on French dagnabbit!

Illustration Friday: Bottled

Ok, so this one is actually my blog header! But it matched perfectly with this week's theme. A bit of back story: this is in fact my lame version of my little family, complete with Antoine Revoy: dropping our messages in a bottle, Mama; the bewildered black cat, and of course Lily; bravely at the bow of the mighty vessel!

Alleluia!

My goodness... it's been some time. I've been BURIED! BUT, I am finished with the last project and moving on to the next three. Can't stop now! I'll be back much sooner, I promise!

Mice Sneek Peek!

Been working away on my next chapter novel, and two others in the wing as well. Lots of work, but I couldn't be more pleased. I also managed to slice the dickens out of my thumb... you know, just to make things more challenging during deadline season. WEE!!!

Five Years!

It's a big day here at Did You Drink My Beer! It's the FIVE YEAR anniversay! Back in 2006, I decided to start sniveling away for the world to see. All joking aside, I think it's been a fun chronological experiment to see what's been going on these last few years: work, boozin', travel, teaching, love, marriage, animals, cakes, more work, books, and more books. Pretty exciting to still be here (albeit a few pounds heavier and into the thick of my thirties) and ready to continue on.

CHEERS!

Ah, the innocence of youth...

If there was footage of me as a child... here it is:

Illustration Friday: Sweater

With a recent trend in ugly sweaters being cool, years of teasing could have been erased from my memory! I still really dig the horrible sweaters I had when I was a kid.

Ahoy! Another Painting Demo

Here's another painting demo from last semester. This one is on watercolor paper, with watercolors, some colored pencils and gamsol, and then some oils on top. Mixed media is one word for it! Then to bump up some of the dark, I monkeyed with it in the ol' p-shop. Finally got around to finishing it months after class.

I have no idea what it means.

Tough Day At The Office

Yup, caught sleeping on the job. Cats make THE WORST employees.

Actually, it's been fairly chilly in the ol' house, and I refuse to give National Grid all of my munmuns, so Mama found the warmest place she could.

MINDBLOWING!! GoogleArtProject Insanity

Ok, maybe I am the last person to check this out, but holy cow... GoogleArtProject is amazing, and I've blown the better par of an evening getting close to the world's treasures. Now, it's one thing to finally be in these museums, but being able to see the art THIS close is amazing. Art Project is an online compilation of high-resolution images of artworks from galleries worldwide, as well as a virtual tour of the galleries in which they are housed.

Check it out!

Marie-Antoinette's lookin' balls are GINORMOUS!