The Coal Thief on Storyline Online

     After a loooong wait, I am so excited to share this video with you all of Christian Slater reading The Coal Thief on Storyline Online! What an honor to be included in this literacy program put together by the SAG-AFTRA Foundation and BookPals.

     BookPALS (Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools) is a signature children’s literacy program of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. BookPALS provides union performers, gifted in the art of storytelling, the opportunity to give back to their local communities. Every week dedicated volunteers read to thousands of children in title 1 public school classrooms across the nation.

     And don't forget to take a look at the Activity Guides for Families and Teachers! Pass them on to your kids' classrooms!


     And P.S. No, I didn't do the animation in the video, and no, I didn't get to meet Mr. Slater. Everything was taken care of by the talented people from SAG-AFTRA.

Making A Postcard - An Act of Kindness

     I was recently given the "assignment" by my agent to create a new piece for a postcard mailing. The Agency does this 3 or so times a year (as we all should!!) and they usually like to give their artists some kind of theme or prompt to work off of. This time it was "an act of kindness". Very broad, and the possibilities are endless! These are great prompts for artists to run with and really make their own.

     Personally, I hadn't made a personal piece of art in quite awhile due to a lot of paid work, so I was excited for the opportunity to make something all for myself. I am usually the kind of person who gets going on a project pretty quickly and I have the problem of not spending enough time on the idea/concept of a piece and spend a lot of my time on rendering the final piece of art. This usually makes for a nice looking piece, but not with a lot of substance.

     So this time I gave myself several days (instead of maybe 1 day at most) to brainstorm and researching what my idea was going to be. I googled "acts of kindness" and "random acts of kindness" and got a lot of very simple ideas that didn't lend itself to a very good narrative idea. Things like writing a nice note to someone. Although that can mean the world to someone who needs it, it doesn't really read visually as a single piece or 2 pieces at most.

     I wanted to go for something a little more impactful and unexpected. Maybe something ironic? All I knew for sure was I wanted to draw animals – my favorite! So the question was what would a specific animal specifically do as an act of kindness. I came up with a few ideas, some usable, some not so much. In my research I came across a list of "acts of kindness" that listed "donating blood". I immediately thought of a vampire bat and laughed to myself at how ironic that was. I had my idea!!

     Now to sketch out my ideas in the sketchbook. I tried several ideas of how I wanted to tell the story. In the end, I didn't want a lot of action because, well, when you give blood, there isn't a lot of action. Instead I wanted a still image so people could read it more slowly and let the idea of it sink in.

     Then I picked a color palette. I knew I wanted to blood to really pop, so I let everything else in the image be cooler colors so they'd fall into the background compared to the bright red blood. I used the Adobe Kuler website to find my palette. It's a great site to make your own palettes or search for palette that others have put together. I also found some reference art that match the palette I was looking for.

After spending a lot of my time planning, and thinking, I finally got started on clean sketches, color sketches, and final paintings (done in acrylic). I'm happy how these turned out, and I think I have a better concept because I spent the time on the front end to allow myself to just think about it for awhile. Try it!

    

    

The Parking Ticket - ReadingA-Z.com

     Here are a few pieces from a finished project that is now available on ReadingA-Z.com. It is a leveled reading book (Level H), and available on the subscription based site. GREAT for teachers!

     Most of you know that I love drawing animal characters. And it's always extra fun when they get to wear clothes and act like humans – like otters who use Smart Phones and drive cars!! So much fun!

Kobee Manatee Book 3 - Finished Artwork

     The artwork for Kobee Manatee: Shipwreck Sea Friends (Book 3) is done and getting ready for print! The book should be out in early 2017.

     I always love laying out my artwork for a full picture book to see how it all looks as a unified body of work. And to know how much work went into creating each piece of art. It feels so great to be at the finish line and look back at all that has been accomplished!

SCBWI Summer Conference 2016

I just got back home yesterday from this year's SCBWI Summer Conference in LA. I've been to this particular conference several times now and every year I need a few days to debrief and reorient myself. I think anyone who has ever attended would probably agree with me on this. There is so much to take in over just a couple of days that it's hard to know where to start once you get back.

This year I went into the weekend with a different mindset than in years past. My first year I did everything. I went to every keynote, workshop, critique, showcase, gala -- everything on the schedule because I didn't want to miss a single morsel of information. It was exhausting. For my first time, and where I was as an illustrator, I think it was appropriate for me. But after going a few more times I started hearing the same things repeated over and over again. This isn't a criticism of the speakers, but simply because I've started to become familiar with how the industry works and what is expected of you if you plan to do well as an Illustrator.

So this year I went to the Conference with more of a focus so I didn't come home so overwhelmed and full of inspiration that I was actually paralyzed by it (it's a real thing!). I didn't feel bad if I skipped a keynote (or two). I was more experimental with the workshops I attended -- some ended up being the wrong choice for me, but that's ok! I completely opted out of a critique this year. I didn't get worked up about who might win the Portfolio Showcase, or even hope (or expect...) that it might be me. (It wasn't me.) I didn't dance the night away at the Gala, and I let myself sleep in the next morning. And I don't feel bad about any of it. It was the right choice for me this year. I was able to enjoy myself so much more and not get stressed about missing something. I was able to meet new friends, and catch up with old ones! I wasn't sleep deprived or anxious. It was completely different than the first year that I attended, and it was just as great!

So now that it sounds like I skipped so much that I might as well have not even gone, I'll share some nuggets of inspiration that I did come home with because I still learned some really great lessons and it was still absolutely worth it to have attended.

• Writer Pam Muñoz Ryan, gave a list of Confessions. And although they were coming from a writer's point-of-view, they translated easily to apply to Illustrators. I very much appreciated her honesty and it was great to hear that the things I consider to be my weaknesses and struggles are the same things other people struggle with! 
• I don't draw in my sketchbook every day.  Pam doesn't write every day.
• It has been a slow climb when it comes to my "successes". Pam didn't get published until she was 43.
• I can't afford to wait for inspiration. Pam doesn't have time for writer's block. 
Instead of waiting for inspiration, she has learned to create momentum. Like pumping your legs on a swing, once you learn to propel yourself, you can create your own momentum instead of waiting for someone to push you from behind.

Although it was presented as a confession, as if she was doing something wrong, there seemed to be an understanding and agreement in the room. Even though social media makes it easy to pretend we've got it all together, I think we all secretly struggle to check off all the boxes from time to time. And maybe that's actually a good thing according to Pam: "If you aren't struggling, your setting your goals much too low."





Sitting with my Conference buddies as the weekend kicks off. Khara Dizmon (left) and Katy Betz (center)

• Jon Klassen talked about finding yourself in your work. He talked about style and how it is such a "mysterious thing that it must not be touched".  Instead, take care of the machine that makes it, so you can get better at making your work. Young artists sometimes become overly concerned about finding their style, but really style is something that emerges over time. It's just the way you as a creative person interpret the world. That doesn't have to be something you plan or decide on, maybe it's best to let just be what it is and not even worry about it. Don't even try to define what your style is! Now that's an interesting thought! 





Gotta get a picture with my Agency sisters at CATugeau Agency! Priscilla Burris (center) and Katy Betz (left)



• Jon Klassen also gave some advice that I have never heard before, and it just felt so true. He told a story about when Pixar was just getting started they had such new computer technology, it wasn't very good as creating a very convincing human figure. They were stiff and the skin looked like plastic. It was horrible. So instead of fighting with the technology or just using it to make poor looking films, they embraced the technological limitations and used it to their advantage -- that's when Toy Story was made. As artists, it is the same thing. We all have weaknesses. I personally have a difficult time drawing people, and so I have filled much of my portfolio with animals. So now my animal pieces have become stronger and more liked overall. Instead of filling my portfolio with poorly drawn people, I left them out and worked on drawing better people on the side until I've become better at it. But until then I put a spotlight on my strengths.
  
  

  

  One of my favorite parts of the weekend is grabbing as many postcards as I can and following all the amazing artists on social media!



• Sophie Blackall, this year's Caldecott winner for Finding Winnie, talked about Foraging for Stories. She talked a lot about how she made the book and how much research went into making sure everything was accurate. She often found herself going down so many rabbit trails, she'd eventually find herself reading about miniature donkeys....WHAT?  But she inspires us to put our all into our work saying "Always push your limits. Making images and books should not get easier. Always challenge yourself." Going the extra mile to put something meaningful and accurate into our work can make it that much stronger. She talked about a writer (I didn't catch the name) who got up every morning before the sun came up and wrote until the house was filled with light saying "It's not being in the light, it's being there before the light arrives". That is to say, be there when the light (opportunities) arrive. Be ready, and take advantage when the time comes.
  
  

  

  My portfolio and postcards for this year's Portfolio Showcase.

Of course there are so much more to learn that I could write on and on about, but these are just a few nuggets that really stuck with me from this year's Conference. Whether it is your first time attending, or your 20th, the weekend is only what you make it. I would encourage anyone to go at least one time because it offers so much, there is something for everyone. And if the big Summer Conference is too much to commit to, definitely invest in a smaller conference in your region. Check SCBWI.org to see what is happening in your area!

CATugeau!

     I'm so excited to announce to the world that I am now represented by Christy Ewers from The CATugeau Artist Agency!!

     It definitely took awhile to get to this place. A lot of growing and reworking of my art to get it where it needed to be, all with the encouragement and guidance of Christy.

     I originally contacted CATugeau in October 2014 after a somewhat discouraging event that I attended. At that point I had been searching for an agent for about 2 years and had very little response. So I went home from that event and sent an email submission to CATugeau, without thinking much about it. No other submissions went out, which was unusual for me.


     I was shocked to discover that the very next day I got an email asking if I wanted to talk on the phone...WHAAA?? It was all very positive and encouraging. Nice things were said....but...my art still needed some work.... And I didn't disagree! I had a good grasp on my animal characters. I've heard that several times. But my people needed work. So I set goals and fill pages and pages of my sketch book of kids. I created new artwork with kids as the focus.

    Fast foreword a year and a half. I have kept in touch with Christy throughout, and I now have a ton of new work, with human characters. I also have a full picture book dummy completed, which I send to Christy, and one magical day she emails me offering me representation!! The rest is history, I guess.

    I won't say I have "arrived" or that I am completely satisfied with the way I draw people. I firmly believe that I will continually need to work on my craft and get better. It's a life-long process of learning, and I am ready for the long haul!

     I am so excited for the next step in my career and what the future will bring!
Head over the CATugeau website to see my portfolio!

The Egg Thief – Happy Book Birthday!

     Happy Book Birthday to The Egg Thief!!! I'm so excited to see this book going out into the world!

     Author, Alane Adams, and I are enjoying our Starred review from Kirkus, and Alane has already been reading it to schools all over town!

     Head over to my website to get a signed copy!

Young Georgie wakes up to a morning of chores back in 1920s Pennsylvania when he gets the bad news―someone has stolen all the eggs in the henhouse. The culprit is Buster, a stray dog who takes Georgie on an adventure to find more eggs. Follow Buster and Georgie and their mischievous antics in this heartwarming tale of farm life in America’s storied past.

2015 IndieFab Finalists and Reviews

     Congratulations to The Coal Thief and Kobee Manatee (Book 2) on becoming a 2015 IndieFab Finalist!! This was so exciting to see!

     There were also recently 2 great reviews for The Coal Thief from Foreword Reviews an Kirkus Reviews! Click on them to read them yourself!

The Coal Thief Out in the World

    Over the past few months I have had the pleasure of seeing author Alane Adams going out to several schools to read The Coal Thief to them and talk about literacy. The Rise Up Foundation (Alane's non-profit) has been doing a fantastic job support kids literacy and encouraging them to read!

    Here are some shots of Alane in action!

     I even got to join Alane for one of her local school visits to talk about how I created the art for the book. It was great to see the kids engage with Alane as she read and discussed the book with them.

     Alane and I were also blessed to have a few Disney stars get out there to read The Coal Thief (thanks to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation's Book Pals Program!) Karan Brar, Jack Davis Griffo and August Maturo were all so great to participate! So exciting!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's always nice to get a loving note from even the most unlikely of friends. Give some love to someone special this weekend, even if it's just some friendly love.

Black and White Pieces

     So I just realized that I have been horrible at updating my blog recently! Blah! But I HAVE been getting a lot of work done, so please excuse the non-communication and sharing of goings-on.

     Here are a couple new Black and White pieces I recently finished in an effort to expand my Black and White portfolio. AND I added a Black and White section to my website, so check it out. It's a little thin right now, but I'm hoping to beef it up soon.

     Enjoy these for now!