more pattern fun

Another patttern to show you. Making patterns is very satisfying, because they can be done in a relatively short period of time and you get to use fun colors and elements to make them. This one has a nice soft color palette - a bit more sophisticated then the last one I posted.

The problem I always have when making something like this, either digital or in my fine art work, is what to call them when I'm done. A name like 'purple leaf vines' is Ok, but then it's kind of boring and uninspired. Sometimes I name my fine art pieces after something that I am reminded of when I look at the piece. Like 'Nevada' or 'Good and Plenty'. Sometimes I use an emotion like 'Happiness' or I choose a color and add an adjective - like 'Very Cherry'.

But this little digi piece has no name. I'm stumped. Any great ideas, my blogging buddies? I'd love to hear from you!

IF - propagate

For Illustration Friday this week - I had to look this word up in the online dictionary. Propagate! Not a word I hear used much. I mean, I kind of, sort of, knew what it meant. Kuddos to IF, for challenging us creatively, and improving our vocabulary, too! Any-hooo, it means to multiply, breed or spread, so I thought with the spring-like weather we have been having here in the NW (sorry to rub it in, all you snow-bound Mid Westerners!) I would do a flower pattern.

I really enjoyed making this fun, colorful pattern. Could you see this on a journal or notebook cover? Yes, indeed! It would be sooooo yummy!

IF - adrift

For Illustration Friday this week - Cat and Dog, adrift in a canoe. Of course, Dog is doing all the paddling and Cat is taking it easy.

That's just the way it is, with cats and dogs. Ah, how I wish to be adrift in a canoe, with no cares in the world. Sigh. I often say, I wish I was a cat. Napping all day in the sun. What a life.

animal alphabet

Here are the first 2 images in an animal alphabet series I'm starting. I know, I know, it's been done before, over and over done before. But, what children's illustrator doesn't want to do a animal alphabet? I mean, it just goes with the job description. Am I right? When I get them done, they will be available for licensing.

IF - muddy

For Illustration Friday this week - Pigs are way cuter in illustrations then they are in real life, don't ya think? This one's a character from the book I've been working on. I don't want to show too much of what I've been doing, since I hope to find a publisher for it, but I think revealing just one character will be OK. I sure hope so. It's not a spread from the book, just the pig and the barn.

In today's world of blogging and portfolio websites, it's hard to know what's off limits. I've seen a few blogs where an illustrator shows the whole process of a book they are working on, from start to finish, so it must be OK with the publisher, or they wouldn't be doing it. I guess it just depends on the publisher. You know, the one I don't have yet.

focused

Lizzie was so focused on her 1st kiss with Julian, she didn't even notice the frog.

For Illustration Friday this week. This is also the image on the front of a Valentine's Day promo postcard I'll be sending out next week. I loved doing this one, it's got everything I like in it. Kids, animals, patterns, and fun colors.

clumsy

An oldie for this week's Illustration Friday. I wish I had time to do a new one, but it's looking to be a busy week for me. This was a little experiment in adding some realistic objects in with some illustrated ones and it wasn't so easy, as I had envisioned it to be! That's why this was a one and only little experiment. I admire illustrators that can do this kind of thing well, like Lauren Child, but I don't think it's my forte. It fits the theme well and is kind of funny, so here it is again.

I'm working hard on getting some of the sketches from my dummy book colored in time for the SCBWI conference in April. As some of you may remember, I was recently involved in a SCBWI event called the Great Critique, where I shared my dummy book with fellow authors and illustrators. The most important message I came away with from that was to edit. Everyone felt the story was too long. So, I went back to the 'ole keyboard and cut and reworded, with the help of my friend and mentor Karen Schmidt. She gave me such great advice and encouragement to keep going.

The other thing I came away with was I needed to do some of the pages in color. None of the people that attended the critique had ever seen my work and I neglected to bring anything with me that showed my style. So, that was my fault, I'm still learning the ropes in the 'ole children's publishing world. There are a lot of rules and things to remember, it's a bit crazy sometimes.

Anyway, I won't be able to show my whole dummy book at the conference, but I am going to be able to meet with an publishing house editor or well known illustrator and show some of my finished pages.