Pickles and Gators

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

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...

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.

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

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

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'

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...

Advantages of Digital Art

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

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.

Artists are supposed to be fickle...

It is an artist's prerogative to be forever changing their minds.

I know I drive my spouse crazy with my tendency to change plans on a whim. But what can I say? Artists are supposed to be fickle and difficult to live with...

I had fun redoing my old blog at last. The new features are great... can't wait to find some fun Blogger apps to add.

Spring in the Northwest

Drinking: Just plain old whole bean coffee for me... Costa Rican ~ French Roast, please!

Delighted: I was delighted to discover some new (for me) natural media photoshop brushes. I don't know why I didn't try using these years ago. I see all sorts of new approaches to a more painterly style possible.

Weather: No snow here... and the sun is out and it's very spring-like. Mostly because it's a brand new year and the Holidays are over. Usually I declare spring shortly thereafter. There are lots of little green shoots poking up.

Amazed: I was amazed to discover that there is a beaver lodge right here in the neighborhood! Yes indeed... wild beaver on the shores of Lake Washington, right in the middle of Seattle.

We had heard accounts of them slapping their mighty beaver tails at sunset and we once saw one swim past in the daytime. They're nocturnal and very secretive. Oddly, their den is right beside a sewer outlet too...

I think it's nice that there are still wild places like that around in the city still. Here's a photo of the beaver lodge... notice the green shoots too.

Reading: Margaret Forster: Memoirs of a Victorian Gentleman. I think I'll probably wind up reading every one of Margaret Forster's books. It's telling when you can read any page and it seems like it was written just for you.

Drawing: Pencils to a new book with Northwest scenes in abundance.