Puzzled

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 “And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow,
stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?
It came without ribbons. It came without tags.
It came without packages,boxes or bags.

 

 

 And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before.
What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store?

 

 

 What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?”

 

The idea here was to take a master, like the animators that drew the Grinch and make him look dimensional, and textured. I really liked Jim Carey’s version of the Grinch but the old hand drawn version will always be my favorite.

Houston 2012 SCBWI Conference

This is my portfolio display for the 2012 Houston SCBWI Conference that I attended last weekend.  I like to practice the layout before I get there, so what you see here is actually on my dining room table.

The morning was spent listening to informative speakers. The keynote speaker was the prolific and colorful,  Dan Yaccarino. His presentation along with his numerous art examples, were  a visual feast. Lots of fun and very dynamic.

On the tables were birdhouses created by Houston illustrators and other crafty conference attendees. They were auctioned that day, with the proceeds going to future illustrator activities. Each was created with a literary theme.

I chose Charlotte’s Web by E.B.White.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the afternoon the illustrators were treated to a break out session with Charlesbridge Art Director, Susan Sherman. Her breakout session was very interesting, and featured books she has worked on with many talented artists, such as the very talented Vanessa Newton.

Later that afternoon,  I had a portfolio review with Susan Sherman and sat with her at dinner. I found her very approachable. She gave me advice, direction and honesty, which I  truly value.

But wait…. there’s more!

The conference ended the following day with an Illustrator Intensive, lead by Dan Yaccarino.  My take from this conference this year?  Be Bold!!!

 

Thank you to all the Houston SCBWI coordinators. It was a good conference!

Capable

Just what makes that little old ant
Think he’ll move that rubber tree plant
Anyone knows an ant, can’t
Move a rubber tree plant

But he’s got high hopes
He’s got high hopes
He’s got high apple pie
In the sky hopes.

So any time your feelin’ low stead of lettin’ go
Just remember that ant
Oops there goes another rubber tree plant

                                           ~Sammy Cahn

Writing and Illustrating


Click on the picture above to see the next page.

Here’s a new character for a story  that I wrote last month while participating in the 12 x 12 writing challenge.  It’s been interesting to  do a book design and character that was funny, but still sweet like the story. After wrestling with him for about a week, I think I’ve found him.   Now you don’t have to illustrate anything to participate in the 12 x12 challenge.

That’s just what I did with this one, but I am learning a lot about myself as both a writer and an illustrator.

There are eleven more to be written, and I doubt there will be eleven dummy books to go with them…. for now !      :)

Polar Bear

 

 

“There’s a Polar Bear
In our Frigidaire–
He likes it ’cause it’s cold in there.
With his seat in the meat
And his face in the fish
And his big hairy paws
In the buttery dish,
He’s nibbling the noodles,
And munching the rice,
He’s slurping the soda,
He’s licking the ice.
And he lets out a roar
If you open the door.
And it gives me a scare
To know he’s in there–
That Polary Bear
In our Fridgitydaire.”
― Shel Silverstein, A Light in the Attic

Perennial


I’m just a mean green mother from outer space
And it looks like you been had
I’m just a mean green mother from outer space,
So get off my back ‘n get out my face,

Cause I’m mean and green and I am bad!


Pics from my set design