John Nez Illustration

Kitties, Cats & Dryer repair

2012-01-24T09:37:00.000-08:00

Today I am drawing cats, kitties, palm trees, chairs, coffee tables, verandas, shutters, lamps, books and paintings.

Once I draw all that I put it together in Photoshop and Indesign to make it into a book.

Yesterday I took apart the clothes dryer in the basement and fixed it. This required hours of online research and a trip to the local appliance parts store. Whew!

Hard to say which activity gave me a greater sense of accomplishment. Life goes on...

Snowy sketch...

2012-01-20T11:27:00.000-08:00

The city is finally digging out after 3 days of being snowbound.

On my walk I saw a mom out shoveling snow with her baby strapped to her back. I've never seen that done before. She looked to be from another land.

I captured it in a sketch when I got back home.

It is so nice to see the temperature up above 24 degrees and no more snow coming down!

Work in Progress...

2012-01-18T07:27:00.000-08:00

Working on characters for a new mini-bookette.

The main characters will be a cat and a kitten. Since they're both supposed to be black there will be many silhouettes.

Creating a halftone but keeping it black is a challenge.

Stay tuned for many kitty pix.

p.s. The great Seattle Snowstorm of 2012 is a bit of a dud.

So far it's up to 3/4" and counting.

Always have a Plan B

2012-01-17T08:48:00.000-08:00

One rule of freelancing is always have a Plan B.

I remember when I was first starting out free-lancing, I used to go the Donnelly Library to learn about paste-up so maybe I'd be able to work as a designer if I couldn't make it as an illustrator.

Lucky for me the phone started ringing before I had to take on any paste-up jobs.

Now I do licensed character and educational work instead of paste-up. I suppose you could say I'm a 'drawing addict'. I escape through drawing... so I'm actually quite indifferent in a way to what I draw.

Last weekend I sketched out two detailed drawings that it turned out I wasn't even supposed to do. But it didn't bother me in the slightest. I had fun drawing them. And I'm sure I'll reuse those drawings in something else some day.

Now we artists can apply that same Plan B technique to creating ebooks and apps.

Sometimes life is all Plan B I guess. One problem I'm having is I'm too old to do anything else really... and too spoiled.

So let's hope the planet still needs more images made to order.

Digital, watercolor, acrylic, vector... I make any sort.

I might even make Macaroni sculpture if need be.

Sunrise in the studio

2012-01-11T09:22:00.000-08:00

A glorious sunrise in the studio this morning.

I'm all for new beginnings. I live for the morning.

I'd have it morning all day if I could.

Pictures for Poems

2012-01-03T14:47:00.000-08:00

I guess there's nothing better than making pictures for poems. So I was delighted to be asked to illustrate a poem by Spike Milligan... 'A Baby Sardine'.

This second image is the direct photoshop file. It came out well on paper, I think. One of my first children's books was illustrating a book of poems by Eve Merriam... 'A Word or Two With You'. I'll have to blog about that some day.

My Christmases

2011-12-26T15:16:00.000-08:00

It was fun having a Christmas book. It was especially fun giving away books to people I met... most notably to people who touched my life.

Greg, a plumber from Seattle got the first signed copy in November. He saved my neck with a truly heroic effort to unclog my sewer line (on a Saturday no less). His ingenuity and hard sweat saved me what might have been a $10,000 sewer line dig. Whew! Merry Christmas Greg!

My dear neighbor Carin got the 2nd signed copy.... she's been my neighbor the longest and is a totally amazing person. She's got many amazing stories to tell.

Mark of Atlas Masonry in Seattle got the next signed copy. In December Mark did a miraculous job on restoring my broken down chimney to it's original 1926 glory. A kindly modest man who astonished me with his ability to lift 500 pounds of brick and cement up 35 feet onto an icy roof. He got the next signed copy.

And of course all the family got signed copies.

Overall I don't care much for Christmas. It has painful memories for me. I hate malls. But the closest I got to the spirit of Christmas this year was actually on TV. It was a news feature about homeless families living in motels. It broke my heart to watch.

The humanity of simple love - owning nothing - and having nothing but one another to cling to seemed to originate directly from the pen of Dickens' Christmas Carol. I gave a copy of my signed book to the local TV book drive. So maybe that helped. I hope a needy child might have received my book.

Merry Christmas All - and to all a good night!

:0)

A Christmas present to myself...

2011-12-23T08:16:00.000-08:00

Part of my Christmas present to myself is to work on things I like. So I was happy to take on this little project.

Once again, the step by step reveals everything!

Even Bambi likes my book...

2011-12-20T05:43:00.000-08:00

Even Bambi likes my book! Awwwwww...

In keeping up to date on the grocery store updates, I'm sad and delighted to say that 'The 12 Days of Christmas in Washington' is all sold out. The store manager called and there aren't any more available.

I guess readers will have to beg Santa online if they can't live without a copy.

:0)

It's always flattering to be a 'Cover Boy'

2011-12-15T10:16:00.000-08:00

What a nice surprise I had this morning. Opening up the big envelope on the porch, what should I find but two copies of the January edition of High 5 Magazine!

It's always flattering to be a 'Cover Boy'. And it's always a guarantee that anything I get to do with High 5 will be fun, fun, fun. A great magazine with a great purpose.

Thanks, High 5!

:0)

Adventures in Book-signing

2011-12-12T18:55:00.001-08:00

It just so happens that my new book is on sale in the local supermarkets! That's a first for me. So you can only imagine my secret pleasure in watching the book sales as I drop by every few days for groceries. (at Metropolitan Markets of Seattle - Seattle's best grocery stores)

On the first day I discovered the books well hidden, down in the gift section. The merchandise guy said, "Oh yeah, we've sold 18 in the last week!". I suggested they move them up closer to the cheese.

On my next trip to the store, as fate would it have it, I ran into the kindergarten teacher who taught my children. Appearing out of nowhere, I pounced upon her, no doubt causing some small alarm.

I said,"Have you seen my new book?". Of course it sounded crazy. New book? Here in the cheese aisle? I left her dazed and strode over to grab a copy. I opened it up showing her my name on the title page... along with the dazzling full color artwork.

Mrs. H. was dumbfounded... and I was a tad apoplectic with a mixture of pride and embarrassment. It's hard to achieve such measures of minor fame in the cheese aisle. But one does what one can in the children's book industry.

Yodelaheehooo!

2011-12-09T08:37:00.001-08:00

Yodelaheehooo!

Here's a snowy holiday scene from Leavenworth... the alpine village of Washington.

I turned down an offer to driver over the snow covered 5,400 foot Steven's pass to do a book signing. I guess my author's vanity is not large enough to brave driving 150 miles over a slippery mountain pass.

I'm a prairie chicken.

A Fun Book Signing at Costco

2011-12-05T06:53:00.001-08:00

It was fun signing books at Costco. People say the oddest things. Some sample book dedications I carefully printed out were:

Most touching dedication - *For Us - Tilly & Buck - Kids at heart (a sweet retirement home couple buying the book for themselves)

Most problematic dedication -*For Gazakial, Ebrahen, Tonny from the Kindsdales and also from the Brenners - Micaella, Sabrasina & Rorry - Merry Christmas and we're sorry about what happened at the lake last summer, it won't happen again.

Most unexpected comment -*D'ya know where's the dog food?

The most interested person was a russian woman who made it obvious that writers and artists were important people. She had me write down the name of an earlier book 'Cromwell Dixon's Sky-Cycle' because she was impressed by the artwork and storyline. I was struck by how foreign families seemed the most interested. I had the impression that reading and learning were things of great value to them.

I started out with 100 books and nearly sold them all.

:0)

Costco is Book Heaven...

2011-12-02T06:19:00.001-08:00

I had a great time signing a giant pile of books at Costco. It was like being in book-maker heaven... surrounded by gleaming piles of my brand new book.

In the first 10 minutes I signed more books than I have signed in the last 20 years. It was fun, but a little nerve wracking. I get nervous writing on greeting cards... so signing a book is even harder. I'm always afraid of misspellings or messing up. My handwriting is so awful from years of drawing. I did block printing and didn't make any mistakes.

It is amazing how many unusual names kids have these days... that makes things a bit hard. It was fascinating to watch people milling past.

And while signing books I got my tires rotated and I also bought boxes of my favorite hard-to-find Milton's crackers. Honestly, does life have any more to offer?

Pike Place Market

2011-11-29T07:32:00.001-08:00

It's time once again for some shameless holiday promotion art. Today we're at Seattle's famous Pike Place Market, a bustling and busy scene that was challenging to fit into a single illustration spread. Street musicians, farmers, tourists, seafood, artisans and street people. Not sure I fit it all in but I tried.

One problem was the fish tossing scene, since the practice of tossing fish had been in the headlines from an animal rights group, I was worried it might not be P.C. (politically correct). But after doing some on-site research with the fishmongers themselves, my worries were dispelled. They continue to fly fish happily across the counters to the delight of the tourists.

The world's first Starbucks is in Pike Place Market. I used to go there when I first moved to Seattle, and the store hasn't changed at all since then. Usually there's a good jug band entertaining.

See more at my 'The 12 Days of Christmas in Washington' blog.

12 boats-a-blinking

2011-11-26T08:57:00.000-08:00

Let's see... 12 boats-a-blinking with holiday lights... a downtown scene in the background, a silhouette of the crowd on the shore, Mt. Rainier and the two main characters fit in along with the type and the letter format. Easy, right?

I wasn't sure if I could pull off this spread, since it was probably one of the most ambitious concepts I ever dared try. But I'm quite pleased with how it came out.

Of course I could only do something like this in Photoshop. I'd have torn it up 15 times if it was real paints.

Book signing in Costco...

2011-11-17T06:19:00.002-08:00

I'm very much looking forward to my book signing at Costco on Dec. 3rd... not sure which store. I'm just thrilled that my Christmas book will be in 27 Costos. Finally... a book out where the shoppers can see it!

They're letting me wear a beret because I'm an artist and I'll sign books instead of handing out samples. And I'll go shopping afterwards... at which point I might almost feel famous.

Let the shopping season begin!

Scanner expecting a full recovery...

2011-11-13T09:01:00.001-08:00

I'm happy to report that the open heart surgery I had to do on my Umax Powerlook III scanner was a complete success... the patient expects a full recovery.

Tools used: phillips head screwdriver, syringe, oil can and pliers. The problem was the electric motor had rusted up like the Tin Man. I find that often when scanners don't work it's got to do with needing a little lubrication on the moving parts.

Hopefully it'll keep on working, since I don't feel inclined to toss another $1500 out on a new one. The trusty Umax Powerlook III gives stunning deep rich color scans which are better than many current new scanners.

Things I like are...

2011-11-11T11:06:00.001-08:00

Things I like are:

Bike ride down the Burke Gilman trail with ipod blasting, then walk back up hill.

Go to an art gallery... on the free day the the Seattle Art Museum.

Go to a new cafe and draw caricatures of people and write scraps of stories.

Do NOT go to children's book stores!

Discover a new french movie at the library.

Find an antique children's book in the thrift store.

Try out a new set of digital organic paint brushes.

Find a new shirt to wear in the thrift store... (avoid looking in the mirror if at all possible!)

Watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade to remind me of New York.

The end of the 28 word picture-book?

2011-11-10T08:19:00.001-08:00

http://www.libraryjournal.com/slj/printissue/currentissue/892418-427/make_way_for_stories_theres.html.csp

Brilliant! Might this mean the end of the 28 word picture-book?

I agree with all of the sentiments expressed.

I'm so tired of books being 'dummed down' so they really are just like a joke. I remember bringing home those 28 word books from the library for my children and just tossing them aside after one reading thinking 'not much to that one, was there?'.

And as the writer says so well, who wants to listen to a joke more than once? It is interesting how the book buyers still flock to the classics. Maybe the publishers will follow along?

Sort of like how politicians just follow along behind the public.

Before & After...

2011-11-09T15:54:00.001-08:00

Here's a before and after of a portfolio piece I did up last summer. It shows the rough sketch set against the finish artwork.

Let the merriment begin...

2011-11-07T06:45:00.000-08:00

Let the merriment begin... unleash the Elves as hordes of holiday shoppers descend upon the gifting merchandise.

I'll be joining the crowds myself later this month, at Third Place Books to sign books for 'The 12 Days of Christmas in Washington'.

Who knows... maybe I'll get the hang of it... publicity and all that. Mixing with the public as a 'celebrity' is something we bookmakers don't do as a matter of course. It ought to be a real novelty, if nothing else.

:0)

Happy Interactive Halloween!

2011-10-29T07:03:00.000-07:00

Here's a little Halloween fun made in Kwiksher, which is a photoshop extension for building interactive iPad apps.

Tools used... pencil, wacom, photoshop, Kwiksher, Garage Band, USB microphone, SoundJay... and innate talent.

Halloween

2011-10-28T15:28:00.000-07:00

It's getting to be that time of year again. It was hard to tell who was wearing a costume and who wasn't at the thrift store today.

I felt like the scariest guy there when I looked in the mirror! And I was just shopping for a new plaid shirt.

lol!

Cooool!

2011-10-19T12:35:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting 3 years for a letter like this. Actually when I wrote 'Cromwell Dixon's Sky-Cycle' I just hoped that kids would say... 'Coooool!' when they saw a book about a flying bicycle.

From a reader:

My boys and I are huge fans of Cromwell Dixon’s Sky Cycle. Last year we purchased your book and it was love at first read. My boys were on the edge of their seats and continue to ask for it to be read. They have repeatedly poured over your illustrations studying the details of his invention.

I am always on the lookout for books that allow a child to dream big and Cromwell Dixon does just that. My boys, age 6 and 4, repeatedly ask: "Is this true, did a little boy like us really fly on his bike all by himself? That is so coooool"

The 12 Days of Christmas Book Blog

2011-09-13T07:40:00.001-07:00

The blog for my new book is finally ready... after waiting for the appropriate holiday shopping weather to arrive. This book is 'The 12 Days of Christmas in Washington' and it's published by Sterling Books.

Washington state residents will recognize the many local landmarks right off. I greatly enjoyed writing and illustrating this colorful book. It's full of fun scenes in Pike Place Market, Mt. Rainier, Downtown Seattle, Puget Sound, Tacoma, Winthrop, Leavenworth and Spokane. (all my favorite places).

Although I myself have never been to the top of the Space Needle, I understand it's quite a popular destination. I have often looked up at it from Seattle Center to marvel at it. I did learn in making this book that the Space Needle is way more difficult to draw than the Eiffel Tower. (I haven't been there either.)

Other familiar sights are listed in the 'The places visited' tab of my new book blog. I have been to ALL the above mentioned locations.

This book will no doubt be appearing beneath many an Evergreen State evergreen tree this Holiday season!

Polar-tec temporarily on hold.

2011-09-09T13:30:00.000-07:00

Things have been a bit slow on the old blog lately. But it's not for lack of activity.

* I've been learning how to make inter-active ebook-apps with Kwiksher. It's fun adding sound effects and watching the motion of my artwork across the screen.

* I've been thinking up some options for licensing my artwork.

*And I've been enjoying the never to be forgotten SUMMER!

It has been wonderful to actually have some HOT weather! After last summer, which was barely even half a summer... and it looked like this year would be a repeat of that dismal event. It seems like forever since we had a real summer... so this has been fabulous.

I've been able to do things like water the garden and go barefoot. And the polar-tec is temporarily on hold.

The Dragon Painter reprint...

2011-08-18T15:32:00.001-07:00

I was delighted to get a package with reprints of my book 'The Dragon Painter' from Usborne. I thought it looked very well at a larger size. The original printing was about 2/3 the size of this book.

Quacks & Snacks

2011-07-27T08:04:00.000-07:00

I was delighted to open up a new copy of High 5 and find my two page spread for 'Snacks & Quacks' in the August issue. The printing came out almost as I imagined it might.

In the real magazine there are lots of great little details. Every little duckling and bug's wing... all in colorful photoshop rendering.

It was all done in pencil line mostly... with some scanned splotches of real paint and scanned textures.

Another Kwik iPad tryout...

2011-07-25T09:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I finally got the hang of Kwik so that for part of the afternoon I could actually control it! Believe me, nobody would be more surprised to see things actually work.

So now I'm halfway knowing what to do... but more importantly what NOT to do! Here's the new little three page app sample I did up. These are just cutout stand ins for the finish art. So the first stage is quite sketchy, exactly like making a book dummy.

It's lots of fun.

Like a kid in a candy store...

2011-07-18T13:48:00.001-07:00

Dipping my toe into the world of e-book apps... what a bunch of fun! I felt a lot like a kid in the candy store after figuring out how Kwik and Corona work to transform a photoshop file into a living, breathing ebook app.

For me the motivating factor in wading through the technical mumbo-jumbo is the experience of seeing my artwork floating around on the screen like magic. And it turns out the technical side really isn't all that hard if you know already know how to work in photoshop.

More magic comes from the ease of transforming voices with Garageband. Adding in music and sound effects really has the bookmaker thinking outside the box.

Oh boy! Enter the world of animated ebook apps with sound and voiceovers. All done by moi!

The 12 Days of Christmas Book Blog

2011-07-14T08:52:00.000-07:00

The 12 Days of Christmas Book Blog has been under construction. Blogger makes it easy to transform a regular blog into sort of a 'web-site blog' with the addition of tabs.

I find that some of the features still don't work on the 'new blogger'. For those one has to switch back to the 'old blogger'. But it's fun to improvise new designs and see how they turn out.

One simply cannot beat the pricing schedule of 'free'. I hope it will prove useful in lining up lots of school tours. It should be going 'live' before too long. Only 164 shopping days left until Christmas!

Another step by step...

2011-07-07T09:18:00.000-07:00

Yet another step by step animation from the studio.

These are so much fun I think I'll have to purchase a movie making software app to show some 'live action' film of drawing and clicking.

Read and Be Happy

2011-06-27T12:22:00.001-07:00

I was pleased with how this image turned out.

Part of it is in line and part of it is without line, and flattened into just shapes. I always struggle between the two.

Maybe I'd be better off just going back to old fashioned pencil and watercolor... and old fashioned drawings. I never can decide.

Runaway Monkey...

2011-06-21T08:36:00.000-07:00

I always liked this page. Maybe it's because of the red door... or maybe it's the yellow boots or the zookeeper's cap.

Or perhaps it's because of the happy faces of the story's completion.

It's from my recently illustrated book 'The Dancing Clock'.

Step by Step Cake Making

2011-06-14T07:37:00.000-07:00

Just like making a cake... artistry is easily accomplished with a step by step method.

I find it's the singing of 'Happy Birthday!' that's the hard part. Have you ever noticed how hard it is to hit the right note from the start?

But even with the discordant singing, there are few sounds likely to elicit sentiment as 'Happy Birthday', even when warbled and off key.

'The Dancing Clock' - Color-Texture - Line

2011-06-01T09:34:00.000-07:00

I find there are few things nicer than escaping into a picturebook... especially a picturebook you yourself have made. So I indulged myself and opened the box on the porch.

I was delighted, I have to say... once again the printed digital book seemed to fulfill every expectation. In fact I might even go so far as to say my expectations were exceeded. And that's a good thing.

While creating the illustrations to 'The Dancing Clock' I was curious how the retro-1950's effects might come out in print.

I have this thing about a crumbling brushed line that fades away into textures. I also have this thing about textures... and I daresay, I think they both worked.

I used a brush pen on watercolor paper for the lines... along with digital finishing, of course.

Because the dimensions of this book were large, it is a pleasure to dive into details with the finished book. That's one thing an e-book will never be able to do. And it has a nice booky smell... something no e-book will ever accomplish.

I'm also pleased with how the retro 1950's style turned out... I think the casual brushed line and loose bright colors and patterns came out with a terrific effect.

Thanks, Tiger Tales!

A life in print...

2011-05-31T09:44:00.000-07:00

Goodbye Kitty

2011-05-30T13:25:00.000-07:00

My jellicle kitty meowed her last today. She was the best cat ever, as they say. She had a fabulous long life, so it came as no surprise.

She was a true gift to us all since she was our family cat. We chose her from the pet store 19 years ago and I remember it like yesterday. My boys were in just starting school so there was a lot of life we shared. School trips, pet's day, birthday parties, christmas trees and everyday life.

She had a great life... sharing summer gardens and Halloween nights. She never failed to amuse us hopping down snowy steps on a winter morning. Like any cat, she always had to be in the middle of every thing... when she wasn't busy sleeping.

She was deaf for the last 4 years, but she coped with that by just meowing louder. She was active up until today, in fact... a remarkable life.

Over the years I painted her picture in books and magazines. When I think about how long she's been in our family it about makes me cry. All the things lost to time.

Now she's fast asleep beneath a big lovely rock in the back garden where she liked to curl up on hot summer afternoons.

I'll have to write up some of the stories she inspired from our life together.

My very first all digital book..

2011-05-26T13:36:00.000-07:00

My very first all digital book... 'The Smile Shop', written by Joy Cowley. I did it way back in 1999, on my Powercomputing Mac clone. I think it had a 2 GB HDD.

I think its got some nice pages and the design was fun. I remember how I first drew the shapes on paper, then scanned and converted it into an Illustrator vector file. Then finished it in Photoshop.

The colors still look deep and fresh... probably the lack of any line helps. I think I sent it in on a Iomega zip disk.

Nostalgia for a new age?

2011-05-22T13:36:00.001-07:00

I was carried away with new experiments in filters and color schemes. I'm quite taken with the antique look of some of these filters... they sort of remind me of the way two-color artwork used to print.

Maybe it's nostalgia for a new age?

Proofs of Perfection

2011-05-17T08:40:00.000-07:00

Perhaps the rare visitor to this blog might recall the recent post where it was conjectured that my inkjet printer may have exploded?

Well it's happened again, only this time it was the delivery of the actual proofs from the publisher. Happily, I'm thrilled with the outcome... which as anyone who's been disappointed in color reproductions knows, is saying a lot.

It is a joy to spend hours just soaking up the details of every digital brushstroke which previously had only existed only on the computer screen.

I often wondered if the print outcome would work with the many new techniques I tried. At times making the paintings seemed almost symphonic, the colors obtained seemed so rich, deep and textured.

But I'm happy to report that the printed colors were exactly as I'd hoped. Even details the size of a dandruff speck were matched on paper.

New website logo...

2011-05-13T13:19:00.001-07:00

I guess it's Friday the 13th today... however, I couldn't believe my luck when I drove across town this morning and made it through 14 green lights in a row without once hitting a red light.

This is a once in a lifetime event!

On another subject, I like my new website logo, based on an old vintage motoring sign. Now I just have to relearn how to do rollovers.

Froggy Went a Courting

2011-04-29T10:23:00.001-07:00

Froggy went a courting... and the princess lost her head!

I've been looking into some new directions for different markets besides traditional publishers. Pop-Surrealism seems especially appealing, but I'm trying to focus on traditional children's book themes.

This particular image has gone through many variations. It's interesting to change things around so completely and quickly with photoshop.

The texture is derived from a photo of my back porch stairs... of all the unlikely places!

The evolution of William Shakespeare into a cat

2011-04-14T12:44:00.001-07:00

I know that step by step illustrations are often of interest to artists. So here's a sketch I made this morning as an exercise to transform William Shakespeare into a cat.

Meooo-ooow-rrrr-lll!

So many exciting ideas at hand... forsooth!

Bunnies & Postcards

2011-04-09T06:45:00.001-07:00

New bunnies... and new promo postcards. They're all just right.

When I saw these two bunnies on the thrift store shelf, I knew they would have to move in with me. The $1 price tag made them irresistible. As a professional artist & author even I can afford that.

The postcard pricing was great too!

The Owl & the Pussycat

2011-04-04T08:49:00.000-07:00

The Owl & the Pussycat

The Owl & the Pussycat sailed away to sea.
Owl was strummin' on his ukelele.
The Pussycat cried ‘Oh Please! No more!
Paddle us back right now to the shore’

But the boat had sailed without any oars.
There was no way back from the shore to sea.
So the Owl had to paddle with his ukelele.

And ever since then Owl strums no more.
The song the Owl sings now is "Woe is me!
I do miss a-strummin' on my ukelele".
And he warbles all alone on the shore by the sea, a sad lonely song without ukelele.

© John Abbott Nez 2007

The blossoms are just beginning

2011-03-27T14:56:00.001-07:00

It's that time of year again... cherry blossom time. The rain drops blurring the blossoms made for a nice touch.

The steps of my favorite cafe were seeped in atmosphere... in other words it was raining.

Ye olde trusty Schwinn made yet one more trip to the brick pathways. I'm on the lookout for a new bicycle. The choices are so complicated. Perhaps a Trek Allant... which seems to be a nice bike.

It will actually be better in a week... the blossoms are just beginning.

Did this printer explode?

2011-03-25T05:57:00.001-07:00

Did this printer explode? Or did I just print out a set of soft proofs?

In either event, it can be FUN to finally print out full sized proofs.

I guess for a digital artist the term 'proof' can be thought of as proof that the work actually does exist. That's saying something, I think, after spending weeks just fiddling around in the digital realm. In any case, it's fun to actually lay hands on some real art on paper after making it all on the computer.

I am just thrilled with the color fidelity of the prints I get from my Canon Pixma Pro9000. They look verily like the screen colors. I'm also just thrilled with refilling the cartridges myself for $1 a pop.

Thinking about the whole process of making books, I think aside from the magic of creating art from a blank page, I think a close second in realm of magic is the actual transformation of a book into a REAL object... printed on real paper.

I'm not sure that these ebooks can make the same claim.

An unexpected surprise...

2011-03-23T07:44:00.000-07:00

An unexpected surprise arrived in the mail yesterday afternoon. What could it be? It was a lovely memento sent from Highlights to thank me for being one of their artists! As someone who never wins awards, it actually is very nice that someone appreciates my efforts.

After all the rejections, neglections, remainderings and bumps on this rocky road of publishing joy, this silver plaque is very well received. So THANKS!

Evolution of a Cover

2011-03-19T09:43:00.000-07:00

My first rough idea for the cover to my new book 'The 12 Days of Christmas in Washington' was to show Pike Place Market. I drew the two main characters looking out over the market. I drew more characters on the back cover. I dummied in the fonts.

But then I changed my mind. I decided to show an entirely different scene. This was a houseboat with Mt. Rainier in the distance and a Puget Sound scene on the back. Artists can be fickle... and we easily change our restless minds.

Yet again artistic indecision struck. The houseboat was quaint, but it wasn't Broadway, and covers need to appear on Broadway. I decided to show a skiing scene at Mt. Rainier instead. I also changed my mind about the back cover. I decided to show all the characters together on the back. Here is the rough drawing.

And finally, after all that indecision, we see the finish covers... front and back.

I used a new bright deep color scheme done in photoshop with a proprietary method of combining line and color... which I'm very happy with. Even though I didn't use these sketches for the cover, I did use most of the drawing on an interior scene. I often recycle drawings like this... sometimes even using sketches out of dummy books I've never had published.

Earthquake & Volcanoes

2011-03-12T07:15:00.001-08:00

Here's thinking about the people of Japan and hoping that they pull through. Living in an earthquake zone, as I do, I watched the news with horror.

It is so unsettling to see the news footage and try to imagine the stories behind the pictures.

Seattle had a pretty good rumbler 10 years ago, so we're not due for a while. Maybe that's just wishful thinking. The thing about earthquakes is that they exist largely as a form of paranoia. There's never any warning... just anxiety.

I guess Mt. St. Helens is sort of the American 'sister disaster' to Japan's disaster. But at least with a volcano, it gives plenty of warning.

This painting is from my book, 'The Dragon Painter'.

Favorites...

2011-03-08T08:11:00.001-08:00

Favorite movie of the week: Bye Bye Monkey with Gerard Depardieu. Set in lower Manhattan in the early 80's, this movie is a weird combination of Andy of Mayberry, Fellini and Curious George. The scenes with the World Trade center are incredibly spooky and surreal... in retrospect.

Favorite book of the week: The Lost Painting: The Quest for a Caravaggio Masterpiece by Jonathan-Harr. I guess I'm a sucker for any book about art. But the way this one was written, it was hard to put it down. I think the author's use of the declarative sentence is revealing.

Favorite Photoshop brush: The pastel brush! Would it be asking too much to dedicate a book entirely to this tool?

Today's picture is a scene from the forthcoming book 'The Dancing Clock', which I did the illustrations for.

What color should the sky be?

2011-03-04T08:23:00.001-08:00

All work and no play makes Jack a very dull boy. But at least it allows Jack to finish up some looming deadlines... hopefully.

Here is a nearly finished bit of art from the new book. It's so enjoyable as a digital artist to decide to change one's mind. I wonder if I should make the sky pink instead?

Digital art is challenging...

2011-02-08T09:56:00.000-08:00

Digital art is challenging... it makes an artist think in new ways.

Digital art can be novel, at least it is for me. There are things that which become possible which I've never been able to do with real paints.

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Digital art is problem solving... it requires new learning curves and improvising new solutions.

Digital art is amazing, at least it is for me. If I'm really lucky it sometimes almost seems like it's painting itself.

Digital art is only as good as the artist who dreams it up though. The same basic rules of composition, proportion and artistic discretion apply.

Digital art is fun! Artists do like to have fun.

Digital art can be addictive... especially when coloring in the afternoon and listening to Ravel simultaneously.

"Watson, come in here!"

2011-02-01T13:10:00.001-08:00

One of the hazards of making digital art is that at times it can almost be too exciting.

Sometimes one practically needs to breathe into a paper bag to settle down. I know, I know, I'll get over it and no doubt the next day I'll wonder what seemed so exciting.

But when you discover new techniques and they actually work, it's a little like how Alexander Graham Bell must have felt... "Watson, come in here!"

Why the eraser was invented...

2011-01-31T09:39:00.000-08:00

It's amazing how many odd things one notices once the paint starts going on. Who'd have guessed I attached the harness to the wrong side of the horse-drawn sleigh?

Once I painted a scene and I put two hats on the character. One on his head and one in his hand! No one noticed until the book appeared in print!

This is why the eraser was invented.

It's quite true that I probably erase almost as much as I draw. That comes from being a perfectionist, although in my sights I'd say perfection is only a distant hope.

Crayons & Questions

2011-01-26T10:07:00.001-08:00

When it all comes down to it, what does an artist even have to call their own? I'd guess what an artist has is a sense of themselves as an artist... which really isn't much.

Once I thought it'd be interesting to write down a list of the job attributes that an artist could list. What would an artist put on their job description?

Ability to draw
Knowledge of perspective
Imagination
Knows how to use color

I once applied for a job at Disney. The real stickler was the application where they asked about my last employer. Since it was more than 15 years ago at that time it all seemed absurd. Luckily I didn't get the job.

Pretty nebulous stuff. But the mystery of it is that somehow the marks left on a page can actually communicate a feeling or information. Too many things that are too hard to define. That's what I think.

No doubt it'd be easy to find artists that fail to fill many of these basic parameters, but they're still amazing artists. So I guess it all boils down to the ability to decide things for one's self to discriminate to say I like this, this and this... but not this.

Sure anyone can pick up a pencil and draw. But in fact it's taken me decades to know how to draw a simple face. What to put in... what to leave out. It's harder than it looks. Difficult to fit into a job description. I think in fact every time we put out a new book it's like another job application. Our portfolios are our resumes.

Sometimes it's best to just get out the crayons and color... and not try to think.

Painting!... at last the FUN begins!

2011-01-20T12:29:00.001-08:00

Here's a clip from a new book which is finally approved to go to finish art. Painting!... at last the FUN begins!

I'm having tons of fun with scanned textures and art brushes. The new computer makes it all so effortless... compared to the good old days of grinding, grinding, grinding while a file processed.

Readers of this blog might recall this drawing from several years ago. Yes, it was bumped and it does seem like forever since I began this book. That's why getting the finish art done seems so nice.

I must change my mind on colors at least 7 times for every item, so it's a good thing its digital.

Cookie in the Book Club!

2011-01-07T07:16:00.000-08:00

Imagine my delight to discover that my book 'One Smart Cookie' made it into the Scholastic book club! I had no idea. And of course, the artist is always the last person to know anything in publishing... the absolute last.

So imagine my dumbfoundedness to open a letter from my publisher to find a fine fat royalty check. Disbelief... I thought it couldn't possibly be for me. It must be for some other artist and they got the bookkeeping wrong.

I searched through my files, wondering how best to return the check. But I discovered in the inscrutable royalty figures, that Cookie became a Scholastic book club book a few months ago! Nothing could amaze me more.

Thank you, Cookie!

Sequel anyone?

Onward & Upward...

2011-01-03T10:16:00.001-08:00

Blogger's balk... that's what I've got. Not that it matters one little whit, but a tendency does arise where commitment of thoughts to keyboard seems immaterial.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch I've been busy drawing, drawing, drawing, writing, drawing, erasing, erasing, re-writing, re-drawing, re-drawing and filling the Christmas chore list.

Whew! Glad that's done...

Drinking: just a few last malingering draughts of eggnog remain to see me through to the bright new promise of Spring.

Looking at: HDTV - a regular feast for the eyes! I marvel at the scenes from travel documentaries, movies in exotic locales. It's a low-cost holiday for sure. I'll never pay for cable again...

So far I've enjoyed movies from New Zealand, Africa and the U.K. I think it's already been established that actual travel is beyond the budget of a successful children's book author and illustrator, so why not just enjoy the movies instead?

Writing: Way too many scribblings for my own good. It's a self induced conundrum though, and the responsible artist simply cannot help themselves in this regard. Why should we anyhow, it's what we do.

Drawing: Hopefully all sorts of fun stuff! Things too numerous to mention. The mighty new Mac continues to astonish and delight with speed and efficiency.

Onward & Upwards with the Arts!

p.s. Artwork is from the December High Five from Highlights...

'Twas the night before Christmas

2010-12-14T08:15:00.000-08:00

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not an idea was stirring as I tapped at the mouse.

The keyboard was hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that a concept might soon appear there.

The sketches were rattling around in my head, while visions of photoshop pranced overhead.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the screen to see what was the matter.

I turned off my screen, I closed down flash, tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature tablet with pixels and beer!

I whistled and shouted and tried hard to mix in;
"Draw! Vector and Pixel!
Paint! Neezer! and Vixen!
Draw! Marquee! and Lasso!
Paint! Cloner and Blitzen!"

I muttered some words and kept on at my work, drawing their outlines; then turned with a smirk.

The wacom went flying, the team gave a whistle. The beer suds went flying like flames from a missile.

And then I exclaimed, ere they drove out of sight, Happy Holidays All! And to all a good night!

© the Jolly Neezer

The 'Pineapple Express'

2010-12-12T12:32:00.001-08:00

The 'Pineapple Express' is a local moniker given to the 2,000 mile long tropical stream of rain stretching from Hawaii to Seattle in autumn. If it lands on you, you'll get a soaking!

2 am: I wake to the sound of torrential monsoon downpour. I worry the basement might be flooding. I fall asleep.
4 am: pitch black: I wake up and begin to worry. Torrential monsoon continues. I decide it is prudent to check the basement. Yes, basement is flooding!
4:15 am: pitch black: I venture outside into the downpour to discover downspout clogged.
4:20 am: I carry 25 foot (60 lb) ladder and drag it to the site of the clogged gutter. Flashlight in pocket provides light.
4:30 am: pitch black: I ascend the 18 feet to clear the leaves from the gutter... downspout gushes 50 gallons of pent up water & leaves.
5:00 to 7:00: I sweep gallons of water across the floor to the drain with a sponge mop. Floor is getting really quite clean by now! Monsoon continues...
9:00: Daylight finally dawns. Intermittent mopping continues. Flooding continues. I install an improvised sump pump to remove the pooling water in the worst places. Biceps have had quite a workout!
11:00: Rain begins to taper off from tropical downpour to just plain rain.... whew!
Basement floor will look fabulously clean once it's all dry.

*note: Drawing was from Art School...

Drawing, Reading, Listening, Disconnecting

2010-12-01T13:31:00.000-08:00

Drawing: Mooses, Swiss Misses, cowboys and horses.

Reading: In a moment of weakness I've gone back to Beverley Nichols, 'The Gift of a Home'. I'm also enjoying 'An Hour From Paris'. It's a travel guide book about all the overlooked places surrounding Paris. No doubt it's best just read, since I'll never actually get there in person.

Listening: Getting a bit addicted to WCPE. It's Ravel in the afternoon that really is difficult to resist. Of course Mozart in the morning is a given. Sunday afternoons are especially well programmed.

Watching: I was looking for Black Thursday and Cyber Monday sales... but didn't find anything. Ho hum.

Disconnecting: Cable TV. Good riddance! But getting the behemoth cable company to agree is like trying to convince a giant sea squid to let go. And being a giant behemoth corporation, they have incompetancy on their side. They also have the terrors of the 'phone tree'... a never ending maze of defeating number punching that comes with the guarantee that you won't leave any happier than you started.

I was truly amused though when the robot suggested at option #1 that I offer an assessment of their corporate 'service'.

First off, 'service' is the wrong word entirely. Abuse is a better description... in other words the question should read "How can we rate the faceless corporate abuse we have offered you?" Hmmm... monopolistic price gouging? Insanely complicated and misleading extra charges for spurious unknown items on the bill?

No, no... I'd get right down to brass tacks and ask how does our offering of corporate discomfort compare to say 'Jack the Ripper' or a gang of Blackbeard's pirates on a bad day at sea?

That'd be more like it. lol!

Plumpkin Pie & Whipped Cream!

2010-11-25T12:05:00.001-08:00

Valiant little puffballs...

2010-11-24T09:21:00.001-08:00

Here we have a return to a Siberian winter... sub-zero temperatures, blowing snowdrifts and all the rest.

But at least the sun came out shining the next day! And that makes it all much nicer.

The valiant little hummingbirds somehow manage to survive the snow and sub-zero temps. They puff up into little feathery round balls and go into a state of torpor overnight.

I have to bring their feeders inside or soon they'll be solid ice. I made this movie a few years ago. It's fun doing nature movies. I managed a better one a while back, but haven't turned it into an iMovie yet.

A fun sneak peak...

2010-11-21T10:35:00.000-08:00

Here's a fun sneak preview of the upcoming xmas card. I really had no intention of doing a card, but I started on a figure from the book I'm working on, and next thing you know I had the first figure done, then the next, and then it was almost finished.

Of course since winter begins here on August 15th, that gives us Northwesterners lots of time to practice.

It's fun trying new textures and line techniques... and figuring out all the new photoshop settings. What's especially weird (I think) is that I seem to learn everything by instinct, and not with any planned logic. I just kind of muddle around the keys in a subconscious way to get things done instead of really thinking about it.

Artistic Indecision....

2010-10-29T08:43:00.001-07:00

I think the main activity of being an artist is deciding things. The problem then becomes a question of what do you like? Or more precisely, which do you like more of two similar things?

Or maybe it can just be further refined down to the quesiton: WHO are you? lol!

None of these are easily answered questions, so the artist is left with indecision. This is especially the case when they're starting a new project and wondering what might be different this time.

I think all artists go through this phase, where they have to try a zillion different papers, pens, brushes, etc. This complex process if made easier with the advent of photoshop, of course. But that also can just add to the zillion & 1 choices.

For instance the attached graphic shows some versions of a new book I'm starting on... my last book ever? Anyhow, the details that I argue with myself are the following:

paint: real paint vs. digital paint
color: bright vs. subdued
characters: simple vs. complex
line: brown vs. black vs. no-line
design: complexity vs. simplicity
eyes: dotty eyes vs. drawn round eyes

Add in topics of perspective, texture and overall effect... and it takes an artist to decide it all. As you see, I've spent days trying different approaches... each with it's own merit.

One reason I like digital is that I'm finicky and completely undecided about everything a lot of the time. I have too many ideas and can't keep them sorted.

And I like changing my mind halfway into things. In other words, I'm nuts.

Now, if only I had decided to become an insurance agent instead of an artist, I might just be struggling to decide where to go on my next 2 week vacation.

A Presidential Visit!

2010-10-22T13:34:00.000-07:00

Because we aren't New Hampshire or Ohio, we almost never get visits from Presidents here in the 'other Washington'. So imagine my surprise to discover that President Obama had spent the morning at a backyard business summit just a mile away from where I live... in the quiet Seattle neighborhood of View Ridge!

Presidents usually only drop by for quick airport speeches... then they're gone. I'm sure no president has ever been to a backyard in View Ridge before. I missed the neighborhood summit, but at least I got to see the President of the United States yesterday... at the campaign rally at the U.W. It was amazing. I was lucky to even get in... I sat on the aisle steps.

I arrived late and didn't even realize that there was an overflow crowd of 2,000 in the football stadium. Obama was mesmerizing... at times you could hear a pin drop in the crowd of 10,000. He is a dreamweaver and spellbinder... I felt like I'd been hypnotized.

The President also told what has to be the funniest political joke I've ever heard. A sort parable about the broken down car in the ditch that is our present miasmatic economy. The perfectly timed joke was delivered with the moral lesson being - R for reverse - D for drive.

I'm glad he didn't stop at the View Ridge Top Pot donut shop... that would have been too much to miss!

So long ye olde Powermac...

2010-10-05T12:35:00.001-07:00

I'm immune to wanting a Cintiq... but I finally did upgrade ye olde G4... to a new machine I bought on ebay. Such a confusing experience... shopping and comparing all the components. If you need any information about the attributes of PCI cards... PCIe vs PCIx vs plain old PCI, I'm the guy to ask.

But I'm now enthralled at the ability to open ginormous files in a fraction of the time it used to take. A huge increase in productivity. I see CS 5 has changed lots of things around... most for the better but some for the worse.

But it's the making of images that a computer can often help to expedite. Especially if the artists has too many ideas or is too hard to please.

It's the artist's inclination to forever change things around that I find so compelling. And it's often so quick... but probably the best thing of all is I don't have to tear things up the way I did in the good old days.

I still plan to keep real paints... because they offer unique aspects... but digital has it's advantages!

Bright colors... red leaves and deep blue skies

2010-09-30T11:19:00.001-07:00

Fall is here! The season calls for bright, bright colors... red leaves and deep blue skies.

Brings out the painter in an artist, I think.

Soon I'll be setting up a new computer. I finally bought an older new Mac on ebay. Oh boy! No more waiting... waiting... waiting for files to process. I'll finally be crossing the divide from mac pcc code to Intel mac and 64 bit processing.

Brings out the geek in an artist, I think.

It will be a winter of hiking up the computer learning curve. I hope it's fun...

:0)

If you can imagine it...

2010-09-19T08:46:00.001-07:00

Portrait of the artist as a young pig.

I 'saw' this face in the nap of a pillow... it appeared as a faint shadow in the nap of the fabric. And since I liked it so much I sketched it on the spot. Actually it was only the face that I 'saw'. I made up the rest.

Later I had an idea for a sketchy line style in photoshop. I wondered if it would work. And it did work... almost the same as I imagined. That's one fun thing about digital complexities. Sometimes if you can imagine it, you can make it real.

Two versions of a scene...

2010-09-15T08:42:00.000-07:00

Here's a couple of tangential umbrellas. These two scenes are both for the same page from my book, 'Cromwell Dixon's Sky-Cycle'.

I thought it was interesting, looking back, how much easier it might have been to do a really sketchy style. But I guess that'd be a bit like going to a dress up dinner engagement in blue jeans and a sweatshirt. More comfortable, for sure.

Too many choices!

2010-09-06T08:15:00.000-07:00

One problem with digital art is it's hard to pick just one color.

I find even days later it's easy to decide to change everything! In fact if the digital artist sticks around long enough it's possible to completely redo the book entirely.

Joy of Camping #2

2010-08-28T16:15:00.001-07:00

A very big view

Some seaside hollyhocks in a lovely garden by the sea.

Waterfalls... very big waterfalls.

The fog rolling across the bay... tall ships peek over downtown.

Fields of lavender... buzzing of bees.

Edward Hopper by the sea...

Hansel & Gretel might have been here...

A still life of sea wrack.

1950's Retro & Digital

2010-08-08T07:12:00.000-07:00

This new book I am illustrating is a fun story set in New York's Central Park Zoo. The real challenge to this project is trying to find a new synthesis of a retro 1950's style and a contemporary digital style. The art is based on pen brushed line on watercolor paper. The colors are bright and bold... with patterns and textures done in photoshop.

I searched through the amazing artists of the 1950's, whose work seems very much akin to this current age. I looked through magazines from the 1950's with amazing samples of Alice and Martin Provensen's work which still looks very contemporary. The parallels between 2010 and 1950 seem clear. Maybe that's because 1950's design seems so similar to our own decade... or maybe it's just a timeless classic. Of course they didn't get to use digital tools to embellish their amazing designs, but I guess their work will last the ages.

Some of the hallmarks of the graphic style might be thought to have iconic simplicity, overprinted color areas and simplified color backgrounds isolated by white space. I tried to get some of that same look, along with an added contemporary cartoon edge. I hope I've succeeded.

Joy of Camping #1

2010-08-03T07:53:00.000-07:00

I am back from my week in the sunshine, mountains, beaches, rain forests and victorian seaside towns.

I saw glaciers, japanese tourists, sea otters, winding trails through the rain forest and listened to the eternal surf on the beach.

I think this photo of the campsite in the woods near Rialto Beach captures my favorite things about camping... the mysterious deep woods, the glowing memories from the fire, the simplicity of having a camp for a home.

I hiked all sorts of amazing trails, marveling at Nature's handiwork. I relaxed at camp sites with sunshine glowing through the chardonnay... what better vacation might there be?

I saw numerous picturesque light houses... and had all sorts of exciting ideas about paintings.

I am most likely a camping wussie... since I have to be able to carry along an ice-box, wine, beer, cold cuts, two burner stove, giant tent, umpteen mattress pads and all that. The simple basic necessities.

It's just so much more relaxing than being in cities... from my perspective. Just nature all alone... absolute peace & quiet... a few simple tasks like getting wood and water are all that's needed.
The scent of cedar in the sunshine, the sound of the boughs in the wind, a bubbling brook... it's heaven.

Cromwell Dixon on History Detectives

2010-07-20T09:09:00.000-07:00

It was fun to watch the History Detectives piece on Cromwell Dixon. They didn't use any of my graphics, but then my expectations were low, even though they had requested a graphics release form from the publisher.

Even Martin Kidston, the main Dixon biographer scarcely got more than 45 seconds of airtime... and no image of his book cover. I thought it a bit odd that the History Detectives didn't just get on Facebook, where they could quickly get in touch with the actual living relatives of Cromwell Dixon. Instead they seemed to take a more circuitous route of discovery. Perhaps one might speculate that for the astute History Detective, the instant connection of Facebook might make it all too easy... and they were in need of a challenge.

But I was interested to see this spike of the website stats this morning! I quite agree with the premise of the program that Cromwell Dixon is one of America's forgotten pioneers of aviation. Still, the wisdom of the chain stores to decide to not allow this book on their shelves seems a wise one.. who is to question corporate wisdom? I'm sure the corporate book buyers decided that today's modern child has no interest in dusty old things like bicycles flying up a mile over Columbus Ohio!

My favorite parts were the photos of Cromwell, many of which I'd never seen. The one picture in particular seems to capture the spirit of Dixon's innate mechanical genius and determination.

Imagine... a boy of 14 who built his own flying bicycle!

I think they have an app for that now, so today's kids don't have to leave the couch and get up to that sort of mischief.

:0)

Summer Morning & Fruitopia

2010-07-12T14:11:00.000-07:00

Summer morning... the most beautiful phrase in the english language. William James erroneously said that 'summer afternoon' was the most beautiful phrase, but he probably didn't get up at with the sun.

Yes, it's that time of year again... Fruitopia.

After all the ballyhoo about the iPad taking over everything to do with the printed page... I find it to be reassuring as a professional book maker to read this article which is drawn from conclusions of a study of half a million readers.

The implications of the findings are that students using real books do significantly better in school than students using e-books. Long live real paper and real artists. (40% better).

"It’s not the physical presence of the books that produces the biggest impact, she suggested. It’s the change in the way the students see themselves as they build a home library. They see themselves as readers, as members of a different group."

Theoretical pastimes...

2010-07-01T09:21:00.001-07:00

With the endless days of rain and gloom here in Seattle, I've decided to think up a new summertime sport to match the climate. There is a limit as to how long one can stay cooped up inside, after all.

This pastime might be known as 'lawn rolling'. Lawn rolling consists of heading bravely out into inclement weather for a good roll in the rain soaked grass.

The technique is really very simple. One simply stretches out, with arms held down by one's side and begins to roll. Don't ask me how it's done... it's easier to just do it than explain how.

Variants on lawn rolling might include cross country rolling, uphill rolling, downhill rolling, obstacle course rolling, tall grass rolling, long distance rolling... etc.

Eventually it might even become an olympic sport. There could be speed rolling, the 50 yard roll and even marathon rolling.

Since it's so hard to find anything that's dry and warm around here, we ought to simply embrace wetness and cold! The one rule is that it must always be raining and grey.

I spent the other day out in the rain scrubbing down the porch and stairs. I guess that gave me the idea for the whole idea.
Embrace the wetness... get out in it and roll!

Finally summer & missing comments re-discovered!

2010-06-24T12:39:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone for sending in comments over the last few months. I was shocked to discover 47 comments that had been hidden away somewhere in blogger's settings panel. Since my outmoded version of Camino doesn't seem to pick up on them, I didn't even know they were there. I must have clicked a wrong button or something. I just thought everyone on the planet had been subsumed by Facebook.

But it's nice to know there are still people not abducted by Facebook.

Meanwhile, summer has been a long time coming here in Seattle. Even the natives who are used to the gloom were starting to grumble.

So when the longest streak of cold weather on record finally came to an end I wasn't about to waste a minute of it.

Even though the TV weather-people were all calling for clouds and rain... we sallied forth. They're wrong so often it's not even funny.

These pix are from Whidbey Island's Ebey landing, which is a great place for wide open skies... and it's just an hour from Seattle. One of my favorite places. Langley is a nice little town to drive through on the way there...

:0)

Secret Garden Bookstore 'Ultimate Tuesday' - June 29th 7:00 pm

2010-06-16T13:49:00.000-07:00

The Secret Garden Bookstore in Seattle has invited me to be to be their guest on June 29th at 7:00 for their Secret Garden 'Ultimate Tuesday'. The graphic above shows some of my recent books.

I'll be on hand to chat and sign copies of my new book, CROMWELL DIXON'S SKY-CYCLE, June 29th from 7 – 7:30 p.m. at the Secret Garden Bookshop in Ballard.

It ought to be fun to see a copy in a bookstore. I've heard lots of folks say "Oh, this is just the sort of book that kids need these days."

I quite agree... and this will be just the perfect occasion to make that happen.

The Secret Garden Bookshop
2214 NW Market Street
Seattle, WA 98107
206-789-5006

Blog update #474

2010-06-08T13:15:00.001-07:00

Folklife: It's hard to believe that the 'Folk Life' weekend has come and gone... since it seems like it's still winter. Folklife is the 3 day local folk music festival.

Last year it was sunny and hot and summery and wonderful. This year the weather lived up to the Seattle reputation of cold, rain and gloom.

Events of note: 50th Anniversary of the Japanese Gardens at the Arboretum: Timeless and always wonderful. There's something so perfect about how the manicured pines and the arranged stones makes space seem so timeless. Very contemplative.

Busy: Monkeying around with my pal Photoshop. I'm enjoying trying for a 1950's style with a modern edge. The joys of the brush pen on paper are promising. Drawing, drawing, drawing... and then drawing some more.

Gardening: Major makeover in the backyard. I've been waiting for days for the tree guy to cut down the ginormous 55 foot eucalyptus. The arborist said this Jolly Green Giant was likely to grow TWICE as big by the time it's done growing. This tree is planted in the wrong backyard for that!

It was quite an impressive take-down. The tree crew had all manner of ropes and pulleys and the main arborist climbing 25 feet up into the air with spikes and chain saws. Clouds of gas exhaust and chain saws. It was dramatic. Finally got some sunshine in the yard again... which is nice.

Weather: Rain again... that's about 2 weeks straight now... some days without even a sunbreak. Juneuary, for sure.

Eating: home-made corn waffles & fresh blueberries

Reading: 'I, Fatty', a fascinating historical novel about Fatty Arbuckle and the early days of Hollywood.

Monkeying Around

2010-05-19T08:21:00.001-07:00

Busy: Monkeying around with my pal Photoshop. I'm enjoying trying for a 1950's style with a modern edge. The joys of the brush pen on paper are promising.

Reading: 'Remarkable Creatures' by Tracy Chevalier. Could scarcely put it down, what with the dinosaurs and eternity at the seaside and all.

Also reading: 'The Diaries of Andy Warhol'. I still can't figure out how a shoe illustrator managed to buy a 4 story townhouse on the upper east side. He actually lost money doing paintings for the first few years. It's interesting to see the relentless work ethic and struggles to keep making art. The amazing originality of thought is so interesting. I don't recall any of the other NYC painters who were smart enough to do any writing... or had any ideas worth writing down.

Gardening: Major makeover in the backyard... coming soon.

Pirates Ahoy!

2010-05-07T12:30:00.001-07:00

It was the opening of the boating season last weekend in Seattle, and many a unique vessel was to be seen afloat. All sorts of tugs, wooden boats, yachts, steamboats... big and little.

Of course these two really stood out. They even had a mock battle with gunpowder.

One of these ships, (the Lady Washington) was used in the movie Master and Commander with Russell Crowe. It looked so much bigger in the movie than it does in real life. I believe it also was used in the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movies.

Sometimes they sail these ships all around Lake Union... but this time they stayed far away, towards the Center for Wooden Boats on Lake Union.

I have always had a thing for the sailing ships of old. As a boy I'd draw them for hours on end. I loved drawing every little detail... all the rope ladders and rigging other cool things.

They're the stuff of dreams I think. And they're fabulous as geometric designs... so elegant, complex, distinct and amazing.

Beguiling Cover Bunnies

2010-05-04T07:28:00.000-07:00

The mailman brought along the nicest surprise. Opening a large envelope, I was discovered the new May cover to High Five Magazine.

It came out very nicely in print. I think an artist usually fusses over a cover. In fact it's entirely possible to over-fuss.

Being a cover bunny can do that to an artiste.
I'd guess cover girls must go through all the same things. I've always wondered, but I imagine it's true.

When I lived in Manhattan, I used to do work for 17 Magazine. I always liked dropping off sketches there... where I imagined all things fabulous might well become real.

No doubt being on the cover of any sort of magazine probably carries with it many of the same artistic quibbles.

Nerves, insecurities, nagging doubts and second thoughts....
Should I have worn a different swimsuit? (bunnies don't swim!)
Should I have worn a different sweater? (bunnies have fur, they don't need sweaters!)

Should I have shot my profile to the right instead of the left?
Do I look fat?

It's the same thing with artists and creating cover illustrations.

An artist will wonder: Are the colors too strong?
Is there too much background?
Should I have worked on the silhouette more... and redesigned the figures?
Did I use too many opaque highlights?
Are the figures the wrong size?
Did I overdo the shading?
Is there enough character...
Should I have gone for a more demure jollity overall?

These are the things that try a bunny's soul... but it's all character building in the long run. Like Popeye said, "I yam what I yam and that's all that I yam!"

Blog post #471

2010-04-29T10:51:00.000-07:00

Painting: I've been having fun with the pen-brush and some sketches for a new book idea. It's always fun trying something new. Ever since I began doing illustration I have struggled between 3 dimensional art and flat 2 dimensional design. It's been a lifelong learning curve, making me feel like a dunce too thick to ever 'get it'.

But I guess that's why making art is a struggle.

Writing: I had fun writing up a quick new book idea over the weekend. We'll see if it ever takes off. Hope springs eternal.

Reading: A book about John Singer Sargeant. It's somewhat interesting... but somehow when any artist lives in pampered luxury it won't make for the same dramatic reading as Monet or Renoir who fought decades of poverty, wars and even escaped from the firing squad once.

Also Reading: A book about Paul McCartney. I was always a big reader of biographies.

Watching: Cary Grant in 'The Grass is Greener'. Finally... a Cary Grant movie I'd never seen before. And it was oddly weird to see CG being outdone by Robert Mitchum. I got a 4 disk set from the library. The movie 'Indiscreet' is up next.

Also watching Sons & Lovers by D.H. Lawrence. Great film.

Weather: We're having more winter here. Amazing after all those cherry blossoms. There's even a blue jay nesting in the camelia! A rare event indeed. But I hope their nest hasn't been frozen out by the weather.

I think all those turtles that crawled up out of the mud must now regret their decision to end hibernating.

Yanked off-stage...

2010-04-07T08:03:00.000-07:00

In print: Finally had this little page from Ladybug show up in print. I liked how it came out... one of my digi-real samples.

Watching: Charles Laughton in Rembrandt. Amazing movie. I think Charles Laughton can make reading a phone book sound like something out of Macbeth. It is also astonishing how much the actor looks like Rembrandt.

Drawing: Fun little animal characters. I'm quite pleased with my new project. First I painted it with acrylics... but it didn't pop or look 'fresh' enough. So then I redid it in photoshop, using the same lines. The new color is lots snappier. I guess my chief fear in being an illustrator anymore is the fear of looking old fashioned.

Philosophical tidbit: I think being an illustrator can seem like one of those vaudeville amusement shows, where the characters keep dancing until they're yanked off-stage by a cane. The trick to surviving might be to keep spiffing up the spats and top hat.

The one remaining trump card we hold is deciding to be an artist... as we strive not to get too tatty.

Fun: Looking at the iPads down at the Apple store. I think it would be possible to use an iPad as a portable cintiq tablet! Imagine how nice that would be. Instead of sitting all day long tied to a broiling comptuer and wacom, one could just pack up an iPad to the nearby cafe and color away!

Yon wee bird...

2010-04-05T08:39:00.000-07:00

It was a miserable freezing windy easter weekend. Each day was cold and miserable... with gale force winds that just would not stop.

But in a patch of sunshine I discovered this yon wee bird, known as a bushtit. I've seen them in summer, where they fly together in little magical flocks... the tiniest of birds. They flit through a nearby bush like an apparition of magic and then you won't see them for another 2 months.

I had never seen a bushtit nest before. It weaves the most amazing nest... looking like an old sock that hangs from a branch stuffed with lichen, moss and leaves. Very amazing.

And some of the other usual suspects showed up to proclaim it being spring... despite the battering of the weather.

Reading: read a fascinating book: The Women of the House by Jean Zimmerman. It's a history of five generations of women who lived in New York from 1590 to 1700. It's a veritable page turner. I was interested to learn that the author lives in Hastings on Hudson, just next door to Dobbs Ferry, where I used to live.

Update #445

2010-03-23T11:59:00.001-07:00

Celebrating: A moment in History... the signing of the health reform bill for almost all citizens of the USA! Finally, like every other 1st world nation on the planet, Americans will now know what it's like to live without the fear of financial ruin hanging over their heads. President Obama finally worked the miracle that has eluded every other President for a century.

This will be a huge break for freelancers, who always get the short end of the insurance stick and currently get raked over the coals by insurance companies. I know many illustrators who have to pay $1200 a month just for disaster coverage... and they still pay the first $2000 out of pocket!

Watching: Some lovely movies.... 'The Cave of the Yellow Dog' directed by a young Mongolian woman filmaker from Germany.
Actually she's Mongolian... but grew up in Germany. It's filmed in the wilds of the Mongolian plateau... breathtaking. This movie is so wonderful. Her other movie, 'The Story of the Weeping Camel' was equally magical and wonderful.

Also watching: 'Little Dorrit'... the 4 disk DVD epic. That Dickens was such a genius... who else can create characters like that? The production is amazing.

Reading: A book about Walt Disney. It is fascinating to see the financial wheeling & dealings he had to risk to just stay in business. I think he was really more of a producer, dreamer and director, rather than an artist. I know I would never have the stomach for the risks he had to take to succeed.

Drawing: Happily drawing a collection of anthropomorphic creatures...

Listening: A classic bluegrass tune... 'Sally Gooding'

Pickles and Gators

2010-03-10T09:01:00.001-08:00

I was delighted to open the mail the other day to find samples of a new book. I think any bookmaker must always find a secret thrill in opening the final printed book and turning the pages.

In this case it was relishing the pages... since most of the characters were pickle green. Coming up with a gator character was a challenge... and I'm pleased with the outcome. I suppose having never been to anywhere that alligators actually live it seemed all very exotic.

It was fun to draw and color. l tried some new things with photoshop. The story, by Jeff Dinardo, is very well crafted... achieving that most difficult objective of storytelling - to create the arc with spare simplicity but still entertain and carry a purpose.

Update #221

2010-03-04T09:05:00.001-08:00

I've been puttering away on a delightful new book idea after coming down with a fairly bad case of 'dummy fever'.

Dummy fever is where one can't simply cannot stop fiddling away at drawing, scanning, writing and playing around in Photoshop and Indesign.

listening: to the plaintive song of the returning robins. To hear their song on a dark winter's morning truly seems miraculous and unexpected.

waiting: The eternal wait for 2 different publishers to get back to me... so it goes.

dreaming: About getting a Mac Pro and CS 5 (due out in April). I think that'd cost just about exactly as much as a 5 day trip to NYC. Actually the trip would probably cost more.

excited: I got a very exciting email the other day from a well known PBS TV show. They were curious about my last book and are thinking they'd like to possibly use some graphic bits on one of their new programs. Of course I'd be thrilled - it would be priceless publicity.

But it's not certain if it actually will make it past the cutting room floor as they say in Hollywood. In any event, such exciting things rarely happen around the dusty old studio.

Northwest Scenes...

2010-02-19T08:06:00.001-08:00

pink camellias in the fog

street musicians at Pike Place... it looks a bit like a scene from a new children's book I'm working on

can't leave out the lucky brass pig

iconic cormorants... perfectly posed

this reminded me exactly of a japanese print...
right down to the raindrops

and of course the moody mountains and ferry boats... and snowcapped peaks

b.i.c.i.c.

2010-02-16T12:59:00.001-08:00

I'm a big proponent of the b.i.c. 'butt in chair' philosophy for getting work done. But on occasion I do find it's enjoyable to expand upon the theme.

For I also am a proponent of the philosophy of b.i.c.i.c. 'butt in chair in cafe'. There are few moments in an artist's life that seem more ideal than sketching away on new ideas from a well placed cafe table. (preferably with good light and no loud music).

And also there's the adjunct pre-requisite of b.o.b. 'butt on bicycle'... which leads naturally to b.i.c.i.c. Altogether there's nothing quite like the fresh air and heart pumping exercise of a good bike ride. b.o.b. followed by a little b.i.c.i.c.

Onward and upwards with the Arts!

Animated GIFs & the complexity of computer life

2010-02-13T10:25:00.001-08:00

I found out that childrensillustrator.com will be phasing out animated gifs. Phooey! I only had one on my site there... but when I went to try to change it, my page crashed and I got all sorts of fatal error messages that wouldn't go away till morning.

So I thought I'd post my animated gif here instead...

Sometimes I think all this digital stuff is just too complicated. One does tire of all the learning curves... and if that isn't enough then one has to re-learn everything just a year later.

Oh, and 3 years after that you have to buy yet another new expensive computer and update all the software too. Sigh...

Take two memory sticks and call me in the morning.

Writing - Reading - Drawing

2010-02-10T07:33:00.000-08:00

I was pleased to finally see this magazine piece in print from High 5. Somehow I thought it was already out about a year ago... so I guess I'm out of touch with time.

Drawing: a delightful story about a mouse and a squirrel. Now that's my kind of crowd scene.

Listening: to my iPod whilst out biking, walking and jogging

Reading: a totally captivating book, 'The Private Lives of the Impressionists' by Sue Roe. It's a fabulous history and total eye opener. Somehow I never realized that the impressionists were continually starving artists for most of their careers. This book is marvelous in detailing every incident of their struggle as artists. Amazing incidents like the time Renoir was about to be shot by a firing squad during the commune uprising after the prussian war in Paris. He was saved because he was recognized by one of the revolutionary leaders who had rescued him years earlier in the woods. Renoir had once lent this revolutionary activist a painter's smock and easel so he would avoid capture. It was sheer coincidence that Renoir was recognized and given a hero's welcome instead of the firing squad.

This book is an amazing true story of artistic struggle in the face of grinding poverty. I liked how the impressionists so often escaped to the woods and nature to find solace... as all good artists should.

Writing: a delightful new picturebook dummy. Just my cup of tea.

'Dear James - Letters to a Young Illustrator'

2010-01-28T12:01:00.000-08:00

Lunch is always best eaten standing up... at least that's the way I do it. After having been sitting down all morning, it just makes sense.

Today's lunch was also prepared whilst crouched over the toaster. Even though the first camellias have opened their bright pink petals, the weather is on the freezing side. Huddling over the glowing coils of the toaster with the heavenly scent of baking herb bread brings out the writer in me.

I've finished reading the great book, 'Dear James - Letters to a Young Illustrator' by R.O. Blechman. It's sort of the illustrator's equivalent of the E.B. White book 'Elements of Style'. It is chock full of spot-on observations about illustration and publishing and art directors and all... like these:

"I think it's such a disservice to the public that galleries and museums display only artists' successes, but never their failures. There should be a Museum of Failed Art. It would exhibit all the terrible art that would have ended up in trash bins and garbage cans, lost and unknown to the public. My museum would give a true picture of the artist's life and provide much consolation to fellow artists."

"You'll find that getting a commission puts you on the fast and easy track. You're given a format, a subject, a deadline, so your boundaries are set. How much more difficult it is to self-start a project! You can get overwhelmed with possibilities, like a car whose engine is too flooded to start."

I guess the part that bothered me is the ending though, where Blechman felt like he was done in by digital art and the changing tastes in illustration. I wonder if every illustrator is destined to end up like last week's newspaper?... done in by changing tastes and the endless quest for novelty?

I wonder if...

2010-01-19T11:24:00.001-08:00

Advantages of Digital Art

2010-01-15T07:10:00.001-08:00

I suppose the whole world is going digital. I like the ability to quickly make changes in digital art. For instance this is a revision to the last image from the previous blog post. You'll notice how many things were changed.

I'm pleased with this new style which I've developed over the last summer. It's quick, flexible, manages to incorporate line and has bright high-key colors. And I like the details too.

Cowpokes

2010-01-14T13:05:00.000-08:00

Sketching: Writing refinements to some new stories. It's always good when you wake up and find that new idea that seems like the missing key. I stumble along in the dark until that key is found.

Drinking: Costa-Rican blend. My favorite cup of coffee is when it's just started to percolate... and only half done. At that point the subtlety of the coffee bouquet is sublime.

Looking forward to: Sunshine! (it rained instead)

Working on: About 3 different things simultaneously.
* New finish samples from the new book to be used as a mailer
* A school flyer for drumming up some school visits
* Reworking three new story ideas... (whittled down from about five)

Reading: 'Memoirs of a Victorian Gentleman' by Margaret Forster. A book I can scarcely put down. I've never read such an insightful description of what it's like to be a writer.