Illustration Friday- Future

Space-themed jumpsuits will be all the rage in the future!

Thursday Doodle, Scrimshaw series (IF, Wings)

Another for the Thursday doodle series of silly pirate captains (now officially named the Scrimshaw series).  This time we have the good Cap'n N. Ares with his trained doubloon-seeking birds: Basil, Stuart, Victor, Ian and Bob.

And I'm back!

Well, I've slithered out from underneath the pile of mail that's piled up from the holidays- is it just me or does more mail show up during the holiday weeks than most months combined?

I've got some recently unveiled work for you guys- 2012's holiday card for the Textura corporation.  This would be the fourth holiday card I've done for them, gosh.  This year I was handed the concept of 'education in construction' and asked to take that someplace interesting and vaguely wintery.  And so, owls.

3 Red Birds!

I'm pleased as punch to announce that the children's book series 3 Red Birds, published by Byrne Publishing LLC has been released to the app store!  It's a series of four books (all contained in one app!) entirely illustrated by yours truly, featuring three of the most mischievous cardinals red birds around.  Each ten page book takes place in a different season, with the series beginning in Spring.

There are also a ton of extra features!  Would you like to have the books read to you by a kid narrator?  That's an option!  Would you like to see each of the illustrations go from line drawings to full color paintings?  We have that!  Would you like a behind-the-scenes tour of how I paint?  Done!  Would you like to color the illustrations in yourself?  Play a matching game based on the book?  Have the book in Spanish?  Yes, that's all there too!

If you'd like to see for yourself, please check it out here!

In the Works

Plenty of news today on a few projects!  The Kickstarter campaign for Chocolate Chips & Rocket Ships failed to meet its fundraising goal unfortunately (everyone who supported the campaign, thank you).  But all hope is not lost!  The book may yet be published- hopefully by November!  So keep an eye out on the official website for more details.

On the 'Needles and Artifice' (a book of exquisite knitting patterns, adventure story and fabulous photographs)  front, new pattern previews have been released on the Ladies of Mischief blog.

Photograph ©The Ladies of Mischief

They'll be releasing more photos in the future to whet your appetite for the book, so definitely check it out!  In the meantime, some progress shots of illustrations from the book:

Father's Day

Thanks for being you, Dad.  Happy Father's Day!


Published a mite late because while Mum chooses not to get involved with the internet much at all, the same cannot be said for Dad- and I did try to keep this gift as a surprise!

Kickstarter Reveal!

Today's the day the artwork I did for Chocolate Chips & Rocket Ships shall be revealed!  (And if you're wondering what that is, go here for the explanation!).

To read the wonderful poem "T" by John O'Marra, which this illustration is about, check out the Kickstarter page!

Chocolate Chips & Rocket Ships

I'm tremendously excited to announce that the Kickstarter funding of Chocolate Chips & Rocket Ships has launched!

Q: Eh?  What's that?
A: Chocolate Chips & Rocket Ships is 99 1/2 poems written by John O'Marra and illustrated by 100 different artists!

Q:  So then, Kickstarter???
A:  Yes!  All the poems (and accompanying artwork) will be slowly released on the Kickstarter page and the Chocolate Chips & Rocket Ships homepage.  If the funding goal is met, then Chocolate Chips & Rocket Ships gets turned into a lovely shiny hardcover book.

Q: Who are the other artists involved?
A:  Well, so far up on the site- with many more to come- are: Wylie Elise Beckert, Shawn McManus, Yoshi Yoshitani, Kristin Abbott, Tim Probert, Mizna Wada and David Wenzel.

Q:  So the artwork you did for the project is still secret?
A:  Sort of!  If you wander over to the Kickstarter page and watch the promotion video, you might see a few seconds of a painting with a yellow background where some dinosaurs are up to something.  Sneaky!

But why not watch the video right now?

'Tis the Season! (to get some knitting done quickly)

A little bit of a holiday watercolor doodle, mostly inspired by how I really need to finish up on my own Christmas knitting. December really snuck up on me this year!

Illustration Friday- Stay

Sit! Stay!

Illustration Friday- Safari

Yet another book cover painted for the Every Child An Author project that fit the theme of the week perfectly. Out of all the animals in the painting, the giraffe is my favorite; he has such an earnest yet goofy expression!

Illustration Friday- Cultivate

On the first day of spring, come join us at Robinson's Worm Farm for a special family outing. Help cultivate the fields and you can have all the plump, juicy worms you can eat!

Illustration Friday- Surrender

Lesson of the day: Thieves should never even think about swiping Officer Brown's snacktime treats.

A Grand Adventure!

So, as I promised, news most exciting! In the upper right of the blog, you will notice a new link: Allin Art Etsy shop. Indeed! I am now selling reproductions of my artwork as greeting cards. In the future there will also be art prints, gift tags and perhaps some original art.

So wander over! Have a look! And if there happens to be an illustration you'd like to see on a card- drop me a line, I'm working on the next batch of prints.

Illustration Friday- Savour

I'm not certain if it's the Canadian in me showing, but a nice big mug of tea on a cold day makes everything a little bit better.

Illustration Friday- Racing

Because everybody knows that as soon as you find out which house is giving out the full sized candy bars, the race is on. Happy Halloween everyone!

Illustration Friday- Spooky

Instead of going with the traditional elements of spooky (witches, ghosts, all the usual creatures that go bump in the night) I went more towards what I find creepy: really heavy fog. Being outside in a real mountain-swallowing fog bank gives me the willies.

Illustration Friday- Acrobat

Why yes, I do realize what an awful, terrible, dreadful pun this is. Never stopped me before!

By the way, there most likely won't be a new Illustration Friday piece from me next week. Vacation time, and where I'm going the internet is a rare and skittish beastie. I've managed to do Illustration Friday every week for over a year, so it's time for a bit of a break!

Illustration Friday- Proverb

A penny saved is a penny earned, and a penny earned means that the next time the ice cream truck comes by, you can get as many ice cream sandwiches as you want.

Illustration Friday- Satellite

Time for another Illustration Friday and also another terrible pun! So I present to you: 'Satellite Employee'.