Wordless Picute Books

Interesting article about Wordless Picture Books on the "Eye Magazine" website.....

One of my favorites is Pancakes for Breakfast, by Tomie DePaola. The only problem is, it always makes me crave pancakes.;)

I Draw Comics - What Should I Do Next?

I've added a new Will Terry video on the "Resources" page.

This is so helpful, if you're at a place in your artistic journey, where you'd like to actually, possibly, maybe start making some money...hey, it can happen....

Thanks, Will!

Watermelon+Sailboat+Bird=?

My twoodle for this week looks like maybe it could be in a baby board book about shapes, or something!:) Watermelon, sailboat, bird!

Need Chocolate!

Here's a comic I just completed....

"Rules for Freelancers"

Take a look at the comic by Grant Snider, on the "Red Lemon Club" page.:-)

Lizard, Hula Hoop, Bubblegum!

This week's twoodle: lizard+hula hoop+bubble gum.:) Oh, and I had to add in a ladybug who is cheering him on!

I tried to make the sky look as if it were made of torn paper and the surface he's standing on has a fun kind of fake granite look, creating a collage effect. It was all done, start to finish, in Photoshop.

Good fun, good practice!

Digital Illustration has Gone to the Dogs...

I believe I've finished my Photoshop painting, which I'm calling "Watching."

I had fun creating it, and it was a great opportunity to practice things such as cloth, wood, fur, and light effects.

New Twoodle

Here's my twoodle for this week: cow, milkshake, and owl.

Why Not Twoodle?

What's a twoodle? Combine doodle with twitter, and you've got a twoodle! It's a weekly drawing activity started by Alicia Padron on twitter. Combine 2-3 random words suggested by others or that you've thought of yourself, draw it, and #twoodle it!

Great fun and practice. Also gets ideas flowing. I've loved seeing what others are twoodling, too!

Here's mine for last week for giraffe and pastrami:

"Finding" My Art

I guess I'm still trying to "find myself" as an artist. While I really dislike this phrase, I can't really think of a better way to put it.  I look at other artists' portfolios and see a unity(?) in their work that I don't seem to have.  My art is literally all over the place. So, I've come to the conclusion that I'm still trying to....figure out my style(?) I don't know....do I need to stick with one style? I don't know...

I just love so much to experiment, though, and to push myself to try new techniques!

What's a girl to do? For now, I guess I'll keep practicing and testing and see what happens...

Here's what I'm working on, at the moment.  Really enjoying painting digitally...seeing what Photoshop and I can do.:)

I'll update this, probably when it's complete.

Keyser wistfully looking out the window, like me searching for my artistic style.

How to Put Together a Portfolio

Just read a great article on putting together a portfolio, written by Juana Martinez-Neal.  This is the first of a series of posts on this topic.  I don't know about you, but I can certainly use some help with this!

Just click here to read:  How to Put a Children's Illustrator Portfolio Together

What I do on Friday nights, now...

I stare at my dog who is staring.

Friday evening sketch....Keyser looking wistfully out the window.

Helpful Pinterest Tips for Artists

I've now seen 2 illustrators discussing how to use Pinterest to improve your work, fuel creative genius, and to get your work out there. Also, it's a good way to see what other people (besides family and friends;) think of your work.

I'm too lazy to write about it myself, plus, this has been explained marvelously by a couple of illustrators much more experienced than myself, so I'll defer to them...

Check out Will Terry's blog post about it here (you have to scroll WAY down to see it...you may see some other helpful things along the way, too).

Read Emma Block's post about it here.

Both have some practical and motivating ideas.  Have fun!

Squirrel Graphic

Yet another squirrel....I'm also working on taking images and drastically simplifying them.  This is a good exercise for me, as it doesn't come naturally!