Monster Mirrors Collection

All of the monster mirrors that went up on Tumblr over the last month, now collected in one convenient place!

Tuesday Zoo!

I'm pleased to announce the opening of the artist challenge blog, Tuesday Zoo!  It's two illustrators going head to head on a weekly challenge- one illustrator being yours truly, the other being the most talented illustrator Robin Kaplan ( www.robinillustration.com ).  

Every Tuesday, we will each illustrate an interpretation of that week's 'odd, weird, fantastic and occasionally made up creature'.  Have a look here! 

This Tuesday- An emergency clockwork mouse!

SCBWI WWA Illustration Exhibition

Tremendous news!  This piece has been accepted into the SCBWI WWA Illustration Exhibtion!  It will be on display at the Seattle Convention Center from October to January.

I'm so excited I could burst!

Doodles & Robots

Robots need to exercise too!

New Print on Etsy!

New print up on Etsy folks!  The Education print is 24"x18", limited edition and depicts construction classes in the owl world.  The teacher has his work cut out for him- pay attention little owls!

Have a look!

Out and About at the SCBWI conference

Last weekend was a time of busily running around doing my best to look professional and fantastic-  it was time for the yearly Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators conference (Western Washington edition).  For those of you looking to get into doing children's books, you'll want to check out their website (here!) or head to one of their conferences.

SCBWI conferences host a ton of learning opportunities, including the chance to talk with professionals in the industry.  This piece of art was created specifically for the conference; I was lucky enough to be able to sign up for an illustration class taught by Patti Ann Harris, who is an extremely nice Senior Art Director at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.  You might have heard of that publishing company!

Part of the class was to have a critique of the art at while it was a sketch and then take the comments into account when creating the final art.  So next post, I'll show you the process of creating this particular painting- stay tuned!

Illustration Friday- Egg

You've got to be careful about which eggs you pick to paint!

Illustration Friday- Talent

True Bremen Talent!  Also testing out a new way of doing things for Illustration Friday- ink and watercolor sketchbook illustrations.  Because as much as I favor my usual method of using gouache and acrylic, it's a little hard to paint with those on the go.

Thursday Doodle

Today's scrimshaw doodle features the supremely muscular Cap'n Brawnsworth and his left bicep Tad. His right bicep is named Chester, but sadly because of a rogue parrot attack, he refused to be drawn.  Not being in peak condition, you see.

Thursday Doodle, yet another pirate captain

This week's silly pirate is the good Captain Cetacea.  His first mate Ishmael tends to call him 'old whale-face' because he thinks it's funny.

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.

Thursday Doodle, part 2

Like I said last week, I really like the idea of this for a doodle series, so yet again:  ridiculous pirates.  This time featuring the marvelous Captain Ham Thickbrick and his faithful steed narwhal Jeremy.

Thursday Doodle

Interrupting your usual blog for a doodle of a vaguely ridiculous pirate!   You can probably expect to see a few more of these over the next few weeks given how fond I am of goofy ideas like this.

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.

Happy Holidays! (Illustration Friday- Snow)

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Aritst's note: Well, this is me signing out for the holidays on account of work and festivities barreling down on me at double speed.  See you in the new year everyone!  Also, if you were looking for links to just released projects, the Needles and Artifice knitting book link is here and the 3 Red Birds children's book series app link is here.

Illustration Friday- Stretch

A quick painting for Illustration Friday!

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!

Illustration Friday- Tall

"What could go wrong' ye said.  We keep an eye on the cap'n while he gets new peg legs, simple!, ye said.  The first mate be skewering us fer lettin' this happen, I say."

"Quit yer bellyaching an help me already!  Cap'n?  Could ye go fer a shorter pair o' pegs maybe?  Please?"

"NAY LADS!  THE LIKES O' THESE PEGS MAKE LOOSING ME LEGS BE WORTH IT!"

"And what in blue blazes be happening here?  Lads?  Care to be explaining this?"

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!