Sharing the Love

I want to share this - because I LOVE it! I love everything about it. It is a breakthrough in developing the main character for a book I'm working on, it was quick, it was easy, it was fun!

Some more good news yesterday but I can't quite share it yet. Also, I'm working on not one, but two Highlights covers currently and have another cover coming out for the March '10 issue.

Tim didn't get laid off, his new hours aren't going to kill us, and he has picked up a new client for both of us. The kids are thriving, our Odyssey of the Mind teams are starting to kick it in high gear, Tim's bands are gigging around and playing like they are on fire. 2009 ended badly! But so far 2010 is looking up!

What I'm working on today...

..and loving the freedom to mix techniques! Ink line, watercolor, photoshop!

Sylvan Dell's Blog

Sylvan Dell Publishing does a fantastic job of promoting their books in unique and meaningful ways. Have a look at this week's blog post about kids in the kitchen and how you can use cooking to teach science and math skills.

In addition they offer e-books in English and Spanish, all their books have For Creative Minds sections in the back that extend the topic of each book in fun and engaging ways, all the books are curriculum aligned, are Accelerated Reader, and offer tons of teaching activities online. They are truly unique - delicious, wholesome, healthy brain food. Plus recipes!

Vintage Ad Browser

From Seth's Blog today a searchable vintage ad site! Vintage Ad Browser

Character study...

I'm having a hard time figuring out where I want to go with my drawing. I've always valued a skilled drawing in my own work and am drawn to it in other's. Not that I don't respect it, but a naive or super cartoony style just isn't something that blows my skirt up. Especially for children's work, the viewer needs to be able to identify with the characters. I think having characters that are too realistic creates a barrier that prevents the reader from truly engaging in the story. The goal is not to have the artist intrude on the relationship between the story and the reader, nor to have the characters become so individual that the reader can't occupy the story.

So I am trying, really I am, to let go of my bias toward skilled drawing and let it live a little. I'm not there yet. This kind of drawing is fun for me but I am not convinced that I couldn't get a little closer to that balance that would make my art unique but leaves enough unsaid that the viewer can fill in their own details.