Fox Sketch

Here's a character sketch I did of the fox from Stone Soup that I never posted. Just getting to know the character here.

Stone Soup - ReadingA-Z.com

What does the fox say?...

"I will make stone soup for everyone!"

At least that's what the fox says in my latest project...Ok, Ok, enough pop culture, back to art!

I had the privilege of working on a Leveled Reader book for ReadingA-Z.com based on the old folk-tale Stone Soup. I actually hadn't ever heard of the story, so I looked it up and read it for myself. This version is, of course, a very simplified version of the original and the best part is that all the characters were animals! My favorite!!

I created 8 illustrations total, one version in color and another version in black and white line art so kids can color them in themselves. Such a fun idea, AND I found a brush I like in Adobe Illustrator that is fast, easy, and pressure sensitive! SCORE!

The book will be released in February of 2014 through ReadingA-Z.com. Sign up and get this book and SO many more for your young readers at home or for school.

Kobee Manatee has Arrived

Look who swam in through the mail today! Kobee Manatee and his friends!

You can get your own copy from my website store. Hurry, before he swims off again!
 

CSUF Children's Book Panel Event w/Pictures!

Last night I was on a Children's Book Panel of Alumni at CSUF. All 5 illustrators have all had some kind of experience in getting published, but each with a very different story. Some work as full-time animators, some have agents that represent them, some have also done some self-published projects. We've all had jobs at one point or another that we shouldn't have taken and we've all grown to understand that we have to take ourselves seriously as an illustrator before anyone else will.

It was a good turn out and all the students had good and important questions to ask. I only hope we gave them sufficient responses and that they came away with some valuable information on how to get started.

What a supportive group these people are. This is why I love my job.


Photographs by Cliff Cramp

From Left to Right:
      Wendy Grieb : http://www.chuckandwendy.com/
      Jennifer Wood : http://artofjwood.com/
      Jennifer Gray Olson : http://www.jennifergrayolson.com/
      Lauren Gallegos : http://www.laurengallegos.com 
      Rodolfo Montalvo : http://www.rodolfomontalvo.com/

PiBoIdMo 2013

I'm officially signed up for PiBoIdMo! This is my first time participating partly because I always miss the start date and don't remember until half way through the month.

If you have never heard of PiBoIdMo, check it out here and register for yourself here.