Friday, December 12, 2014

SKETCHBOOK













A color test for the new picture book I'm working on.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Monday, December 1, 2014

SKETCHBOOK
























I hope you all had a great long holiday weekend. Here's a few new images from my sketchbook.

I also want to say "Hello!" to all the 4th graders at Chapman Elementary in Portland, Oregon. Here's a photo of me with your classmate and my good friend Eva.



Wednesday, October 29, 2014

HOW TO DRAW A BLACK CAT, A SKELETON AND FRANKENSTEIN

Frances and Henry asked if they could post another Halloween drawing lesson this year and of course I said yes. So here they are. If you didn't see last year's here's a link. HOW TO DRAW WITCHES AND GHOSTS.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYBODY!

HOW TO DRAW A BLACK CAT by Frances


HOW TO DRAW A SKELETON by Henry


HOW TO DRAW FRANKENSTEIN by Henry




Friday, October 10, 2014

UPCOMING EVENT: BYU HOMECOMING

I'll be speaking at BYU next week on Thursday the 16th as part of the Homecoming celebrations. If you are anywhere near Provo I hope to see you there. Here's a link for the details. BYU HOMECOMING.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

THE DOLL PEOPLE SET SAIL























A couple of years ago I was asked to illustrate the 4th  book in Ann Martin and Laura Godwin's Doll People series. It was a great honor and after a lot of work it's finally here. I just got my first copy last week. Above is a shot of the cover and below are two of the interior images. The book will be available in about two weeks, I hope you will
give it a look.



Tuesday, September 23, 2014

SKETCHBOOK: HOW TO DRAW THE HEAD























I spend most of my sketchbook time drawing heads and faces. This is partly because faces are what I enjoy drawing the most and partly because I find drawing faces well to be difficult. I feel a constant need to practice drawing the head and face. When I have time and opportunity I enjoy drawing from life. This can happen either in a formal drawing session or by just getting out on the streets with my sketchbook.

I think there is also great value in returning to my library of "How to Draw" books. Here's an example of how I sometimes do this. The drawing above is my copy of a drawing from Burne Hogarth's Drawing the Human Head. It is a simple structural drawing of the head in a 3/4 view from above. This is not a point of view that I use frequently so I thought it would be good to practice. After copying the basic structural drawing a few times I put the book away and do some drawings of my own using this point of view. Below are a few of the drawings I did during this session.

 


 

 

As you can see I'm using the same basic framework and just changing the details. Give it a try, just try to make each face a little different some how. It's a good way to practice.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

GROUNDHOG'S DAY OFF



















I’m close to finishing the paintings for the new picture book Groundhog’s Day Off, by Robb Pearlman. The studio is a mess as it always is at the end of a big project.

Monday, July 21, 2014

FAVORITE ILLUSTRATIONS: LITTLE WHITE DUCK
























I found this book at the library a few weeks ago, LITTLE WHITE DUCK by Na Liu and Andres vera Martinez. It's a really good read and I think the art is fantastic. Just look at the emotion in the girl's face, that's great drawing.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

NEW PICTURE BOOK: GROUNDHOG'S DAY OFF



















I've started painting GROUNDHOG'S DAY OFF.  It's always a good day when I can finally start painting. Making a book is all hard work until I get to start painting. Now the fun begins.

Friday, June 20, 2014

READING RAINBOW CALENDAR

















I’m pleased to announce that I have been asked to create a new piece of art to help the Reading Rainbow Kickstarter project. Here’s a link for the DETAILS. This is a great project and I hope you'll consider supporting it.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

SKETCHBOOK: THE LEAGUE OF SEVEN
























Today I'm working on an exciting new character from ALAN GRATZ'S new League of Seven book. I'm having a lot of fun with this one.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

SKETCHBOOK: GROUNDHOG'S DAY OFF














A sketch for a new picture book called GROUNDHOGS DAY OFF, by Robb Pearlman.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

SKETCHBOOK: THE BLACK ARROW

























Here are a few more sketches inspired by my reading of THE BLACK ARROW by Robert Louis Stevenson.


Wednesday, May 28, 2014

BEA STUDIO TOURS
















Today it was my great pleasure to be a part of the BEA studio tours. It was an honor to have the book sellers in my studio. That’s Catherine van der Bil (above left) from EIGHT COUSINS and Tegan Tigani (above  right) from QUEEN ANNE BOOK COMPANY. In the photo below on the left is Gussie Lewis from the GAITHERSBURG BOOK FESTIVAL and on the right, Amy Oelkers from RED BALLON BOOKSHOP. Also if you look closely you can see my cover for Ann Martin and Laura Godwin’s new book “The Doll People Set Sail”. I'll post more of that on another day.