Fishin’

This was a summer themed cover illo for the Mid-Atlantic SCBWI summer edition newsletter. The final piece has a masthead and text superimposed over the center part of the composition (thus the space in the composition). I will post the image with text from the final newsletter as soon as it is published.

Storm approaching

I recently finished this spot illustration for the SCBWI newsletter. It is for an article on Point of View in writing and how the POV the character has should be reflected in the choice of descriptive words. All this, of course, is greek to most folks, but to illustrate this, I chose an image of a character, in this case, a WWII era child viewing an approaching bomber. The idea was partially fueled by a story my seventh grade english teacher, Mrs. Patrick, told my class years ago. She was a young girl in the UK during those war years and remembered the terror she felt when she saw the German Luftwaffe planes. All these years later, it came in handy. Thanks, Mrs. Patrick, wherever you are!

Cherry blossom

Just another little watercolor study I’ve been playing around with. I’m experimenting with some techniques.
TT

Sirena

Artrage experiment

Just my first cut at using the software Artrage to digitally “paint” one of my drawings. I kinda like it. It was hard adjusting to the radically different interface (I’m used to Photoshop…love CS3!) but hey, it had some features that I couldn’t get in the beloved CS3.
This was a drawing I did on the fly, from memory…thinking of Ellen Page as Juno….just a fun sketch to kill time.

So, there it is…and man, is it late at night, almost 1 a.m. and I’m wide awake scribbling on my little tablet in front of the tele (Food Network…what else is on?) So pathetic. I have to get to bed…peace out!

Originally uploaded by NewLeafCreativeWorks

IF Topic: Tales and Legends

Eliza Dolittle is a character that has always fascinated me. I read the play, Pygmalion (George Bernard Shaw) in middle school and it was years until I saw Audrey Hepburn (one of my favs) play Eliza in the musical, My Fair Lady. I love the undercurrent idea in the story of Pygmalion that happiness isn’t a byproduct of wealth or social status. Eliza ultimately chooses her own happiness, regardless of the desires of the people who try to mold her to their ideals.

Admittedly, I am also fascinated by the romantic vision of Edwardian England and I love a good love story!

Later, much!
TT

Kipling’s Princess

Perhaps this might be Mowgli’s love interest in the Jungle Book. I do so love Kipling and read all of his stories as a young child. I remember feeling the terror inspired by Shere Khan, the tiger nemesis of all the jungle. I do love a good story and Mr. Kipling had a way with words.

Little Match Girl and Goldilocks

I’m currently inspired to create illustrations based on all my favorite childhood fairy tales. These are a few of the ideas I’ve been toying with . I have more! Hansel and Gretel will be posted in a bit and there’s some sort of Indian Princess that I guess is a nod toward my love of Kipling.

Illustration Friday topic: Hats

Ok, so it’s not exactly a hat, it’s a hood but I thought this illustration of Little Red Riding Hood was appropriate for this weeks IF topic. Why not?

new ideas

I have been working on sketches for a story idea based loosely on my grandmother’s stories of her young days. She was born in 1913, so she grew up in some interesting times. I am still formulating the characterization and plot lines but I thought I’d post some of the character sketches I was working on. It’s easier for me to draw the characters in a story, first. Then I work on personality traits and unique qualities they might have. That’s very different from illustrating someone else’s story, as you are given the manuscript and have to draw the character to suit the authors description. Both paths are fun, but it’s always more fun for me to do my own stories.

pen and ink sketch