Pirate's take over studio...

Here’s a peek at my newest picture book.

Sketch for cover design.

Detail of cover art in progress.

I recently finished a new book, Pirate’s Lullaby- Mutiny at Bedtime, written by Marcie Wessels (Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 2015).

Here are a few early pics of the process…sketches, etc.

Pencil sketches for pirate boy character.

Sketches for pirate dad character.

Very rough pirate heads for reference (super sculpey).

Pirate head in different positions and lighting.

More heads in different positions and lighting.

A final illustration spread with reference sheets.

Everything is started but a lot of painting ahead. Oil paint on canvas (acrylic underpainting).

I can’t wait until next year’s Talk Like a Pirate Day.

You can take that to the Bank(s)!

I spent Saturday, in Cincinnati at the Books by the Banks 2014. Here is an overview of the event-

Books by the Banks: Cincinnati USA Book Festival is an annual celebration of books and reading that takes place every October in downtown Cincinnati. The day-long festival, which is free and open to the public, features national, regional, and local authors and illustrators; book signings; panel discussions; and activities for the entire family to enjoy.

It was a great day of book signing, seeing old friends and meeting new friends. There were kids with really cool looking painted faces. I almost jumped in line for a total face and head painting...but, changed my mind. When will I ever grow up?

Here are a few pics that were taken...

Adam Watkins, me and Jon Bowers.

This would be me and the great Marc Brown. Wow, this pic is a keeper!

I'm with Loren Long (and his lunch). 

I made two new very talented friends, Michelle Houts and Melissa Guion. Their table was filled with chocolate baseballs and penguins. And books, of course! 

Now, I'm back in the studio, coffee in hand, ready to paint some skunks and chipmunks...sure with I had a few of those chocolate baseballs.

...back to the brush.

BULLY ALERT!

Another school year is starting, which usually means that the classroom bully is back in business. This can put a damper on the school year for some unfortunate students. But, here are two examples of bravery that come to mind.

First, an illustration from my college days, illustrating the story of David and Goliath. Goliath was a big bully, for sure.

David and Goliath (or, Dave and John)

This is an illustration that I painted, using my room-mates as models. They were both, excellent artists and good sports, when it came to posing for reference pictures. When an art student is pulling an all-night, last minute rush to complete something for class, class-mates become excellent reference material (many thanks to Dave Groff and John Jude Palencar for this one).

I'm not condoning violence or the sling shot response but it did work out pretty good for David. Nobody likes a bully.

The other example of bravery is Knuckleball Ned, who stands up to the bullies and saves the day in one of my newest books, published by Dial Books for Young Readers.

The story was written by R. A. Dickey.

Overview:

Cy Young award winner R.A. Dickey creates a funny anti-bullying picture book with an adorable baseball character that kids will love
    
Ned the baseball is very nervous on his first day of school. Everyone else seems to know where they belong, but not Ned. He isn’t a fastball or a slider, and the Foul Ball gang makes fun of him for the way he wobbles. When they do something particularly dastardly to another student, it’s up to Ned to come to the rescue with his unique abilities. Not only does Ned realize he’s a knuckleball, but he discovers that he can be a hero, too!

The Foul Ball gang.

Knuckleball Ned saves the day!

So, here's to the little guy, the pushed around kid, the student who "wobbles"... 

there's a brighter day, ahead. Be brave, be yourself and hang in there!

... (wobbling) back to the drawing board.

Christmas in August?

I just returned from a trip to a local store and saw aisles of Christmas stuff on display. IT'S AUGUST! What happened to Christmas...AT CHRISTMAS TIME? Is it me or is it way too early to start thinking of Christmas??  Way, way too early!  Oh, wait a minute...

Memoirs of an Elf by Devin Scillian, published by Sleeping Bear Press.

A couple of packages were just delivered to my door. Wow! You'll never believe what was packed in those little boxes.  Advance copies of my newest children's book!

Spark Elf

Texting: "Time to fly..."

Halfway around the world.

It's never too early to think about books.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!

Back to School...

It's that time of year, again. The first day of school starts this week for a lot of area schools. To get back in the groove, I'm reaching for my copy of Cool Dog, School Dog written by Deborah Heiligman.

About-

Tinka is a cool dog, a school dog, a breaking all the rules dog. A hall dog, a ball dog, a crash-into-the-wall dog.

Join Tinka, a dandy, sandy Golden Retriever, as she unexpectedly visits her owner at school and helps his class learn to read. Bright illustrations rendered in acrylic paint add to the excitement in this playful back-to-school story about a boy and his "loves-to-hear-a-book" dog.

The author and illustrator of Cool Dog, School Dog have donated this book to the Worldreader program.

"Tinka" wants to play but it's a school day.

"Tinka" attends class.

Best wishes to all, who are starting or returning to the classroom. Have a great year!

Zoo thoughts...

I took a trip to the zoo last Sunday morning.  I took my camera as usual, thinking that I'd get a few reference shots during the trip. The Columbus zoo is really nice but way too many people to see animals. What? Yep, the zoo is a very popular place but you should plan on getting there really early... maybe on a weekday, when the entire state of Ohio isn't lined up to see an animal. It's great to see so many people interested in wildlife...just not the right time for reference shots. Does anybody else have tips on their zoo visits? When is best? If you live in Ohio, which is your favorite? 

One of the wildest species, know to man. Is he climbing in or climbing out?

I remember visiting the Cincinnati Zoo as a kid. Very nice zoo. I photographed a lot of animals during high school and did some drawing at that zoo, as a college student. Here are a few of them.

Have a wild week, kids!

Back to the drawing board.

Gone Fishing...

 Last weekend, I thought about going fishing. This is as close as I got, to a lake. Another miniature painting was started and I could almost smell the cool lake breeze, hear the water lapping against the boat and see the bobber, riding the ripples on the lake.

Anyway, my plan is to start several miniature paintings over the next month or so, then finish them as time allows. I really need to work hard to meet my miniature painting goals, for the year. 

I did a few quick sketches of the cat characters and then went to a final painting. I've been adjusting the final drawing, as I go. 

The first sketch on the board (above) was too human-like. The arms were too long and shoulders were too high. I was getting too far from cat-like bodies. 

The arms still feel too long. I need to refine the proportions until they feel right. This was my weekend fishing trip...minus the fish...and the trip. 

Oh, well. I might get out on the lake, next weekend.

Such little paintings, so little time...

I started another miniature painting over the weekend but had to put it on hold, for now. My newest children's book sketches have been revised and are waiting for approval. I'll start the final artwork, this week.

The Call- background roughed in.

Although the miniature work is small, the amount of time it takes to render the fine detail is as much or more than my bigger paintings.

The Call- in progress.

The Call- main figure roughed in...detail, next.

This fox will have to wait... The Call is on hold.

It's Miniature Saturday!

Today, I'm starting another miniature painting. Here is a sketch for the newest idea.

sketch for "The Call"

My goal is to complete six miniatures, this year. This is the first chance in a long time, that I've had to work on these little gems. Monday, I'll get back to my newest children's book...pirates. I'll fill you in on that, later.

...now, back to the tiny brushes.

Blues Update- No longer "Still Alive and Well"...

A sad day.

I just received some good news...and bad news. Last night, my Hot Licks Bluesfest poster design was approved (that's the good). This morning, I received the news, Johnny Winter had passed away (that's the bad), yesterday, in Switzerland. He was 70 years old.

I was really looking forward to meeting him. Johnny Winter was the first big concert (Hara Arena, Dayton, Ohio) that I attended in the mid-70's. I was in High School and his album, Still Alive and Well was burnin' up the record player.

Prayers for the Winter family.
Bluesfest poster on hold.

Hot Licks and WET PAINT!

I just finished the artwork for this year's Hot Licks Bluesfest. I took a few pics during the painting so that I could show the in progress stages.

First, I blocked in the shapes over my drawing with acrylic washes (skin areas and guitar) and painted in the shapes that I know were going to be very dark, almost black (sky, shirt and shoes).

Then, I started to add detail to the character's face, trying to capture the moon lighting.

From the face, I kept working outward, adding more detail to the hands and guitar. I kept the light source in mind and decided where and how it would hit each part of the image.

You could still see some of my pencil drawing under the acrylic washed areas.

After the hands and guitar were mostly completed with detail, I started to work out the affect of a second light source. The words- "HOT LICKS"(in bright orange-red) will be placed along the backside of the character.

Here, you can see the warm light hitting the hands, guitar neck and body, etc.

When most of the image was finished, I went back to the top area and added some stars and stylized steam, rising from the image.

Small detail was added, sweat on the player's face and warm light on the underside of his hat and ear. I love adding little touches like that to a piece...kind of an afterthought but it works.

Well, there you have it! I still need to work on the type...stay tuned!

Singin' the Poster Blues

This year's idea sketches
with the last two years artwork in the background.

It's that time of year, when I start thinking about creating the artwork for Granville's Hot Licks Bluesfest.  This year, the headliners are: Johnny Winter and Rory Block, two super talented blues giants. 

I found some really cool reference photos and started working with those, keeping as far from the exact photo as I could (I don't want to get a letter from some photographer's copyright attorney). I kept getting nowhere. The sketches were dull, something was missing. I wasn't getting what I wanted. It was driving me crazy. There were some "O.K." designs but this is the Hot Licks Bluesfest...O.K. wouldn't cut it!

Then, I realized that I was too focused on the reference photos. I kept forcing the poster design to conform to the pictures. They were preventing me from finding a great solution to the poster design.

I put everything away and started over, trying to capture an overall energy in the composition. After I got a descent design, I could find or construct some photo reference to support it. Plus, this wasn't suppose to be a Johnny Winter or Rory Block poster. It's a Hot Licks Bluesfest poster. Although I like to include something that relates to the headliner, it isn't a portrait. 

Thumbnail (idea) sketches approx. 1.5 x 2.5 inches.

Finally! I started to see something that I liked. The sketch on the left seemed a little too country.  It's the Blues-fest...not Country-fest.

Note to self:
Remember to keep it simple. Focus on big shapes instead of detail.
Detail will come later.

Then, from the thumbnail sketch, I enlarged the design and blocked in the shapes

Sketches were done on tracing paper so that I could refine the drawing and add more detail on each layer.

Then it started to feel right. It had some energy. It had some burn and despair...it's the Blues, baby.  And, I could finally stop singin' the Blues Poster Blues.

Final sketch, ready to submit for approval.
The space along the left side is for sponsor logos.

So, I'm back on track...ready to get to it! This week, I start the final artwork. 

I'll keep you posted.