Just Keep Drawing...

Details, Details...

What I'm Working On Now

I haven't forgotten about you, little blog. I've just been knee-deep in revisions, and now final art (yay!) for Charles Around The World.

I'm posting a lot more frequently over on Instagram, if you'd like to follow along...

(My hairy little assistants... always good for adding hair to the watercolors...)

First Snow

Transfer

I'm in the midst of transferring sketches to watercolor paper for an awesome new book project.* These will be black & white pieces. (Have I mentioned before how much I adore working in black & white?) It's important to get the bones of the drawing down accurately at this point, and then build it up from there.

Below, sneak peek of a cleaned-up sketch:

More about this book in the coming months!

(*I think I probably say awesome too much. Is that such a bad thing??)

On the Desk

Sketchapalooza around here. (Is it really almost the end of August?)

I've Been Working...

Well, the house and yard are beginning to resemble Grey Gardens, but that's pretty normal around deadline time. It's been a fun and busy spring!

There's much art in progress in my little studio. I'm a big fan of cozy clutter, can you tell?
(*Do you see the newest addition to our menagerie in the center of the photo?)









I'm painting, drawing, painting the next book, making notes to myself about where each piece is at. It's satisfying to see the check-marks accumulate, even though I'll go over each spread one more time at the end, for touch-ups.

 A snippet in progress, from a few weeks back...

*And below, our newest addition:

He's in training now, observing and napping...

... when not making mischief of one kind and another...

Oblique Peek

The Great Wall O' Reference...

And a little peek at art in progress...

Make Art While the Sun Shines*

Sketches filling up the wall:

Roughs piled on the table:

And final art accumulating in the drawer:

Not really sure how much I can share right now, but more details about these projects to come soon, I promise!

(*Okay, the sun is not literally shining today. I just like the proverb.)

Near Oops

More building up of line and color here. (Tint courtesy of Instagram. Dang, those filters are fun to play with!)

Sometimes on a long project your brain switches into cruise mode. I was painting along, thinking in the back of my mind that a red lobster would pop beautifully. Only problem– these are sea creatures in their environment. A red lobster would be... a cooked lobster.

Close one, Jen...

Details, Details...

... and lots of layers...

Moose Book ~ Sketch

Here's a rough sketch from the Moose book. I'm deep into final art right now and having a blast drawing the huge variety of critters in this book– birds, bugs, marine life, mammals– and, of course, Moose!

It's a Very Mappish Week

The Wall

Nope, this isn't a post about hitting the wall. It's about filling the wall. With sketches. The wall gets more inspiring the more it's filled. Guess that's a good metaphor for many creative endeavors!

On another note, what's up with the pollen this year? Does anyone else feel like napping all day long? Sniffle.

State of the Studio

I'm having a hard time coming up with words lately, since my brain is in total-overdrive-drawing mode. Also, doing a lot of standing and sketching. It's much easier on the spine. I'm a complete Miss Cranky Pants if I sit and work all day. (Note to anyone starting out in this field: Don't skimp on good ergonomics!!)

It's a good thing I don't mind standing, since somebody likes to call my chair her own.
















Here's a peek at a sketch for the new book I'm illustrating:

















SUPER excited about this one.

Sled Ride Sneaky Peek

Here's a final spread from the Sled Ride book! And here's the sketch, from way back when. I can't believe myself that all the artwork is finished. It's true that you really fall in love with the characters as you draw them over and over. And it's just a little bit scary to be done and sending them off into the big world. But exciting, too.

And now, I'm off to draw Moose!

Detail

Nice PR

... at the Islandport Press blog.

All Thumbs

I'm starting thumbnails for a new project that I'm really excited about. Don't want to say too much yet. But it involves illustrations. And a book. Stay tuned!

Spring Arrives!

So, spring arrived this weekend and it snowed yesterday. Such is life in New England. At least spring snow is only pretend snow, right? This is a rough sketch for a portfolio sample– I'll post the final when it's done. Must keep creating!

It's been a busy month around here. I finished the Maggie and Oliver cover (book to be released in October!), sent out a postcard mailer, worked up a second color sample for a dummy, dipped back into a story that needed to simmer for a while, and completed a nifty magazine map assignment. And I even managed to plant a row of snap peas in the garden this weekend. (The day before it snowed, of course!) I like busy.

And...

...I've been getting ready for the Whispering Pines Writer's Retreat this coming weekend! (I feel like my puppy: So excited, so excited, so excited!)

I'll be speaking as the author/illustrator mentor. I'm so honored to have been invited, and must admit to being a bit nervous, but in a good way. (Hope you behave yourself, PowerPoint.)

I am really looking forward to meeting new friends and the other fantastic mentors. (Oh please, don't let me get tongue-tied...)

Must remember to take lots of pictures. In the meantime, Happy Spring, everyone!