recent doodles

latest promo + updated website

A couple weeks ago I sent out my latest promo.  This one was mostly sent to potential editorial, advertising and design clients as opposed to potential clients in the children's market.  I'll put out a promo targeted to those clients in a month or two.

I also did a small update to my website.  You can check it out here.

warren hellman portrait for swerve magazine

Here's an illustration that I did for this past weekend's edition of Swerve Magazine.  It's a portrait of Warren Hellman, a millionaire in San Francisco who put on a music festival so that he could play the banjo on stage with his musical idols. Here's a link to the article if anyone is interested.

back matter

The picture book that I've been illustrating is part of a series called 'Tell-Me-More'. The books in this series have a 2 page spread at the back of the book (back matter) where one can find educational information about the subject of the book. Because the story that I illustrated is about butterflies, the back matter in my picture book contains information about butterflies. I made several spot drawings for the back matter and I thought I'd share a few of them on here today. 

I approached the illustrations for the actual story in a playful way, but because the back matter is facts, I was much more representational with those images. I haven't painted realistically in ages as I find it much more enjoyable to be loose and playful with my illustration work, but this was a nice little change. I also proved to myself that I'm still capable of painting more realistically if ever I want or need to.

Although I'm waiting to share the full color illustrations for the story, there's one painting in particular that I did for the back matter that I spent a lot of time on. I'm really pleased with the way it turned out and decided to share it today as well.  It depicts a butterfly with eye spots on its wings.

double spread of charlie and his dad walking

Things got a bit chaotic around here as soon as I finished up the art for the book, but I think they've calmed down now and I should be able to resume posting more regularly.  I've been meaning to post this spread for a couple of weeks now, so here it is:

This scene takes place near the beginning of the book.  Charlie and his dad are walking home from getting groceries and having a conversation. I added some interest by putting things in the windows of the buildings that line the street.

finished!

Those of you who follow me on twitter or facebook already know, but for the rest of you, I finished painting the art for the picture book a couple of weeks ago.  I packaged it up and shipped it off to the publisher right away.  They're currently scanning everything and colour correcting printouts to match the colours on the original paintings.  Once they're finished, I'll get the digital files back so that I can do some touch ups and then the artwork for the book will be done.

It's been so exciting to see the images come together.  I can hardly wait to hold the printed, bound book in my hands.  It's slated for release this June.