Final Dummy

After two weeks of hard work I have these 5 images that represent a summary of the picture book that I am working on in my Children's Illustration class.  It's a story about an little girl and her invisible friend.  These 5 frames came about after several weeks of sketching characters, situations and environments.  I envision the book to be a regular 32 page book and have a full thumbnail dummy that shows all 32 pages, but I am working on just the 5 for this course.  It's a tedious process, but I have learned lots!  So here is my work so far...

Good summary of my feelings today...

Being tender and open is beautiful. As a woman, I feel continually shhh’ed. Too sensitive. Too mushy. Too wishy washy. Blah blah. Don’t let someone steal your tenderness. Don’t allow the coldness and fear of others to tarnish your perfectly vulnerable beating heart. Nothing is more powerful than allowing yourself to truly be affected by things. Whether it’s a song, a stranger, a mountain, a rain drop, a tea kettle, an article, a sentence, a footstep, feel it all – look around you. All of this is for you. Take it and have gratitude. Give it and feel love.

Source:  Zoey Deschanel

Background Studies

So this week I'm working on background studies for my picture book.  Trying to think about the environment being as "alive" as the characters in the story.  I am also trying to create drama with value and extreme angles or perspectives.  So here are two that I liked.

Character Development

So for my Children's Picture Book class we are illustrating 8 pages from a manuscript of our choice.  I am working on a story about a girl and her invisible friend.  This week we are working on character development.  Well I still have some work to do on these characters to round the out more, I am happy with my start.  Here is a quick view of the three main characters, Isabella, Me and Mom.

Nasty Stew....

So this week we had to illustrate a poem by Lillian Moore.  Here is how the poem goes....

Listen! Listen to the witch.  Grinch, grinch, grunch, chip-chop-crunch, grickle, grackle, grooble, grooble, much, munch, munch.  Whatever in the world is she having for lunch?

My thought was that is sounded like squirrels or other animals eating in the forest, so I showed two squirrels watching the witch make her nasty stew.  The female squirrel is wondering what the witch is cooking, while the male squirrel is too busy eating his nuts to notice, or hear, anything:)  I used acrylic paint, prisma color pencil, prisma color marker and collage.  Hope you enjoy!

Polar Plunge - Not Allowed

Here is another bear!  Guess I was in a beary good mood this week:)  This little guy came from a painting I had done previously.  I was experimenting with collage for picture book art and decided to use my bear and place him in a new environment.  This project was so much fun that I'm thinking about putting my bear in several other environments just to see where he goes!  How about the moon?  Or maybe Egypt.  I know, Polar Bear in Paris!  I'll post if I come up with something.  In the meantime enjoy!

Here is another picture book project.  This time I had to create pictures that would be appropriate for a children's board book.  I chose to go with a number theme and bears.  Since bears frequently have twin cubs and I have twins myself I thought it was appropriate.  Enjoy