Planet Ham

Lightly Sketching

2012-01-26T12:38:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I think the key to drawing is knowing when to stop.

Merriness to All!

2011-12-24T15:56:00.000-05:00

Original Art Show at the Society of Illustrators

2011-12-15T11:56:00.000-05:00

It was a great honor and thrill to be included in this year's Original Art show at the Society of Illustrators in New York. I finally made it up to see the show and it really is wonderful. If you are in New York, you still have until December 29th to catch it.

The Intern was duly impressed but my piece did not receive the same reaction as a certain turtle. Upon seeing the painting in question, she let out an extremely excited shout of "MELVIN!!!!!" which echoed throughout the historical Society of Illustrators building.*

A special thank you to the wonderful people at Candlewick Press for the lovely frame.

* The Intern was of course referring to Melvin and the Boy by Lauren Castillo which is our favorite picture book of the year. Look for it!

Original Art SALE on Etsy!

2011-12-09T13:43:00.001-05:00

Critters in Sweaters!

Need a nice gift for the knitters, critter lovers, and sweater aficionados on your list?

I have 10 pieces of original art for sale at my Etsy shop. They're small, but so is the price. Each critter is drawn on Cartiera Magnani Italia Acquerello paper with water soluble pencil, crayon, and a bit of watercolor here and there. Each is 6x6 inches (15x15 cm).

Details at my Etsy Shop!

Storm in the Barn MOVIE News!

2011-11-15T12:32:00.001-05:00

I'm very happy to announce that The Storm in the Barn has been optioned for a feature film! Grady Twins Productions is developing the book for a live action movie. Marti Noxon, writer/producer of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Mad Men (two of the best shows ever), is producing and David Goodman (Fringe, Angel) is writing the screenplay. I'm involved in a sort of advisory way. Everyone at Grady Twins has been great and I'm convinced that Storm is in the right hands.

It's a long road to the silver screen, but we are certainly off to a good start.

Wells Library Fundraiser

2011-10-18T09:46:00.000-04:00

On October 22nd, the Bookstore Plus in Lake Placid is hosting a fundraising event for the Hurricane Irene-devastated Wells Memorial Library. There will be a silent auction of more than 50 items, including this pencil & watercolor sketch I drew for the occasion. Event details are HERE.

If you are in the area, please stop by and help out a great cause. Thanks to author Kate Messner for spreading the word and helping to organize the event.

Around the World Has Launched!

2011-10-11T10:07:00.000-04:00

Initial cover sketches.

My new graphic novel AROUND THE WORLD is finally available! The book is based on the true stories of three intrepid adventurers who circumnavigated the globe alone at the end of the 19th century. My own journey to tell the stories of Thomas Stevens, Nellie Bly, and Joshua Slocum felt, at times, as arduous as trekking across the earth. In the coming weeks, I'll be posting some tidbits about how I came to create this book. I hope you'll check back for the journey.

Abandoned "travel journal" concept.

A fine way to procure this volume is through your local bookstore (if you are lucky enough to have one of these rare emporiums in your area). How do you find one? Try Indiebound's nifty store locator or order online from any of the indie stores. You can also order directly from my publisher Candlewick Press, or find it at your online purveyor of choice. And don't forget your local library!

Final cover sketch.

Cover painting of the three. Makes me want to write a fictional team-up.

Ta-da!

And just for fun, here's the trailer once again (and yes, that is me on the ukulele) ...

HUZZAH!

ATW Review Round-Up

2011-10-06T14:49:00.000-04:00

Joshua Slocum faces a wave of enormous proportions.

With only 5 days to go until the release of AROUND THE WORLD, I thought I'd round up some of the nice things being said about my new graphic novel...

Kirkus Reviews (star)

"By focusing on the travelers’ faces, he captures their distinct characters (and shared rock-steady determination) with such force and clarity that readers can’t help but be swept along by Stevens’ aggressive mustache, Bly’s steely glare at male doubters and nay-sayers, the aching heart visible behind Slocum’s tough, grizzled countenance.”

Booklist (star)

"Chronicling the true trip-around-the-world adventures of three nineteenth-century adventurers gives Phelan the opportunity to once again examine the Great American Narrative, as he did so effectively in his beautifully mythological The Storm in the Barn (Booklist Top of the List, 2009)... In addition to tight research and a gift for evoking both an era and the personalities that lived in it, the stories are greatly abetted by the magic of Phelan's art: washes of light and darkness that set the tone and effortless, uncomplicated (yet highly distinctive) faces that are the very essence of determination and adventure."

School Library Journal (star)

"The small, specific pleasures of Phelan’s work–the faces of miners emerging from the darkness as they converse, the way slanting rays of sun illuminate a large interior, the expression on Bly’s face as she eavesdrops on steamship sailors singing–are showcased in panels laid out in horizontal bands, reinforcing the linear, ever-onward nature of each narrative."

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (star)

“Phelan invests each tale with its own distinct mood and style—the humor of Stevens’ bumbling machine, the quick cuts between Bly’s travels and her employers’ journalistic maneuvering, the heart-aching loneliness and eerie hallucinations of Slocum’s peril-ridden voyage. Deftly controlled splashes of translucent watercolor tease along the outlines of Phelan’s spidery ink lines and sure-handed pencil dashes; the buttoned-down neatness of frames and gutters is an effective counterpoint to the daring and uncertainty of the adventures themselves.”

Horn Book

“Phelan successfully weaves graphically told stories with third-person narratives, the travelers’ own words, and, in Nellie Bly’s case, words of reporters. This volume is as stunning as his Scott O’Dell Award–winning The Storm in the Barn (rev. 11/09), with more text and with eye-catching illustrations rendered in pencil, ink, gouache, and watercolor.”

Fuse #8

“Like a good movie director he switches effortlessly between close-ups, scenic panoramas, and other angles and approaches. Phelan has a knack for avoiding the static... By bike, by sail, by train, they circled the globe and lived to tell the tale. And Matt Phelan knows just how to bring such tales to life. Great stuff.”

End of horn blowing. Thank you for indulging me.

500th Post!

2011-10-06T09:51:00.000-04:00

Wow! This is my 500th post which means I've had this blog for 500 days... Okay, I'm not that consistent, but still, it's been ~~a few~~ five years of relatively regular posting. Not too shabby.

To celebrate, here's a sketch of a sort of porcupine/hamster critter. Step 1: slosh some watercolor on your paper in a random manner. Step 2: forget about it for a few days. Step 3: take a brush and ink and draw whatever comes to mind.

Around the World Events!*

2011-09-28T12:56:00.001-04:00

The October 11th release of Around the World is almost upon us! I'm getting ready for a bunch of events at schools, libraries, bookstores, and festivals. Here's the schedule thus far:

10/4 Haverford Township Free Library, Havertown, PA. Presenting alongside my pals Eric Wight and Brian Biggs at 4 pm. Directions here.

10/15 & 10/16 Southern Festival of the Book, Nashville, TN. On Saturday, I'll be talking about my illustration process at 3pm. On Sunday, I'll be talking about picture books and graphic novels with Bob Shea and Jules Danielson from Seven Impossible Things at 1 pm. Here's the complete event schedule!

10/22 Book Release Signing at Children's Book World, Haverford, PA!

10/27 Keystone State Reading Association Conference, Lancaster, PA. I'll be speaking about graphic novels and signing books. Registration required. Here are the details.

11/4 Annual Author & Illustrator Night at Children's Book World. The most star-studded event of the year!

11/5 Family Reading Festival, Pottsville, PA. Some details are here.

11/11 & 11/12 Lititz Kid-Lit Festival, Aaron's Books, Lititz, PA. On Saturday, I'll be doing a drawing workshop with Eric Wight and signing books with the rest of the gang. Expect a good time, chocolate, pretzels, and possibly exotic meat. It's Lititz, after all. Details here!

11/25 Clinton Book Shop, Clinton, NJ. Signing from 12-2.

All events are free and open to the public except for the one that isn't! I'll be adding more events in the coming weeks. Hope to see you!

Interested in having me visit your school or library? How about a special free SKYPE visit?

Send me an email:

matt@mattphelan.com

* Events are for the book Around the World, not a tour "around the world". However, I am leaving the state of PA, to head to Nashville. That's something, right? It's Nashville!

New Arrivals, Part 1

2011-09-27T13:28:00.002-04:00

Hooray! I recently received a box full of my very first board book! I'm so excited that Alice Schertle's Very Hairy Bear (2007) will now be ambling about in a sturdy, well-nigh indestructible form. It is a full version of the original, a great size, and the reproduction is terrific.

The folks at Harcourt have impeccable timing. Here's what arrived the day before...

(Baby not included with purchase)

Bojangles

2011-09-20T12:11:00.000-04:00

One of the vaudeville cameos in my new graphic novel is the great tap dancer Bill Bojangles Robinson. Lots of great clips on you tube.

Shoe-Box Diorama Studio!

2011-09-12T16:16:00.000-04:00

Since it's back-to-school time, I thought I'd share some photos of my favorite school visit souvenir. Some New Jersey public school students made this amazing gift for me a couple of years ago. Is there anything better than a shoebox diorama? No. No, there isn't.

Le Studio

Crumbled up drawings litter the floor, just like in real life.

Past books line the walls to remind me that I can, in fact, finish the current book.

And my absolute favorite part is the note they attached to the box. I re-read this often.

Dear Matt, Thank you for taking out time from your schedule to come to our school. Good luck on the future books you illustrate. It means a lot to us. Sincerely, Mrs. Abella's Class.

Thanks, guys. That means a LOT to me.

More Sketchbook Stuff

2011-08-30T10:37:00.000-04:00

Main Characters

2011-08-19T11:28:00.005-04:00

Sketches for the graphic novel I'm working on now...

Even More Pandas

2011-08-12T11:15:00.003-04:00

Around the World Book Trailer!

2011-07-05T11:14:00.003-04:00

My new graphic novel, coming to a bookstore near you in October 2011 from the fine folks of Candlewick Press!

Exploring Tide Pools

2011-07-02T20:57:00.004-04:00

A watercolor sketch from my recent vacation.

Panda #124

2011-06-27T17:51:00.001-04:00

Water-soluble crayons are kind of neat.

Keaton studies

2011-05-28T15:22:00.004-04:00

Here are some watercolor studies of young Buster Keaton and his dad for my next graphic novel. I'm using Cartiera Magnani hot press watercolor paper for this one. It is verrrry nice paper.

On My Drawing Board

2011-05-18T12:06:00.003-04:00

Still working through the thumbnail sketches for my next graphic novel. The script, which I always write first, is above the sketch pad. Although at times this stage of the process seems endless (211 pages total), it is really my favorite part. These little doodles are where most of the big drawing decisions are made.

My goal is to have them all finished before I leave for Book Expo next week...

Storm on the Stage!

2011-05-10T12:19:00.004-04:00

I am thrilled to announce that the Oregon Children's Theatre will be mounting a stage version of The Storm in the Barn in April of 2012! My book will be adapted by playwright Eric Coble (who's previous credits include an adaptation of Lois Lowry's The Giver for OCT) and will feature music composed by Chris Funk (guitarist for The Decemberists) and his band Black Prairie. Storm is in fine hands and I cannot wait to see this production!

The plan is for this to be a play with music, not a musical. For more on Black Prairie (and to see why they are perfect for this) check out this piece from NPR. Better still, listen to their album Feast of the Hunter's Moon. It only took me a few seconds of Track 1 to be utterly convinced.

The show will run from April 28-May 20, 2012. I'm sure I'll be posting more about this as it develops (although my actual role is limited). I can guarantee you I'll be in the audience on opening night. Who's up for a trip to Portland?

(I'm reposting this for a few reasons: 1) I knew about this for awhile, but couldn't announce it. When I wrote the draft of the blog post, I assumed it would take the date of when it was posted. I assumed incorrectly. 2) The draft was written on April Fool's Day. This isn't a joke. 3) It's so cool, it deserves two postings.)

ABA Silent Auction at BEA

2011-04-28T15:37:00.004-04:00

Here's my contribution to the ABA Silent Auction: The Unstoppable Nellie Bly (and McGinty). The auction will be held on Wednesday May 25 and will benefit the ABFFE Fund for Free Speech in Children's Books. I'll be there ogling the art and bidding with or without noise. Say howdy if you see me.

Here are the rest of the auction pieces... Wow!

TLA Recap (plus Around the World Cover!!)

2011-04-28T15:24:00.009-04:00

The cover for Around the World was unveiled at the Texas Library Association conference a few weeks ago. Candlewick was handing out free advanced reading copies which had the color cover, but unfortunately only lowish resolution black and white scans of the color interiors. It's a necessity at this stage, but I can't wait for people to see the full color version.

At any rate, I had an absolute blast in Austin. The Maverick graphic novel panel went very well (with a pretty large crowd in a gargantuan conference room). It was great to chat with Dave Roman, Raina Telgemeier, and Hope Larson and learn about their process.

I signed boxes of Around the World, Storm in the Barn, Flora's Very Windy Day and more. Conferences are always a whirlwind, but everyone there couldn't have been nicer and it was truly fun. I particularly lucked out at the Bluebonnet luncheon, where Elizabeth Bluemle and I got to sit with a table of students who had entered an essay contest to attend. Keep writing, all of you!

Below are some moleskine sketches from the plane ride home. Now that I look at them again, I think my subconscious was summing up the trip for me.

And the winners are...

2011-04-22T09:58:00.004-04:00

This morning I put all of the names into the traditional hat and had my intern pick the winners. And those winners are...

1) Run goes to Jeannie Birdsall!

2) Leap goes to Jarrett Krosoczka!

3) Play goes to Abigail Halpin!

Thank you to all who threw their name into the hat and/or contributed to Team Nora!!!!!

CHF Fundraiser #3: Play

2011-04-21T11:07:00.004-04:00

pencil & watercolor on Magnani paper (7"x6")

Price: $150. If you would like to purchase Play, please leave a comment here or on Facebook. I will pick a name from those interested tomorrow and contact you if you win.

All proceeds go to the Children's Heart Foundation via the Congenital Heart Walk and Team Nora. Your donation is also tax-deductible!

THANK YOU!

CHF Fundraiser #2: Leap

2011-04-21T11:04:00.003-04:00

pencil & watercolor on Magnani paper (7"x6")

Price: $150. If you would like to purchase Leap, please leave a comment here or on Facebook. I will pick a name from those interested tomorrow and contact you if you win.

All proceeds go to the Children's Heart Foundation via the Congenital Heart Walk and Team Nora. Your donation is also tax-deductible!

THANK YOU!

CHF Fundraiser #1: Run

2011-04-21T10:51:00.005-04:00

pencil & watercolor on Magnani paper (7"x6")

Price: $150. If you would like to purchase Run, please leave a comment here or on Facebook. I will pick a name from those interested tomorrow and contact you if you win.

All proceeds go to the Children's Heart Foundation via the Congenital Heart Walk and Team Nora. Your donation is also tax-deductible!

THANK YOU!

Original Art Sale for a Good Cause

2011-04-19T20:17:00.011-04:00

Each year, my family is involved with raising money for the Children's Heart Foundation. This time I thought I'd try something a little different. I'm offering three original pencil and watercolor drawings for $150 each with every penny going to our team in May's Congenital Heart walk.

How it works:

Here are the drawings (pencil & watercolor on Magnani paper) created specifically for this cause:

On Thursday 4/19, I'll post each drawing individually here on the blog and on my Facebook page. If you would like to buy one, just leave a comment on either post.

On Friday, I'll randomly pick a name (if there is more than one name) and post the winning bidders on the blog and Facebook. Then you can email me your address and we'll work out the details. Note: This isn't an escalating auction. If your name is selected, then the price is $150 for the drawing you chose. And remember 100% will be donated to the Congenital Heart walk.

If $150 is too steep but you'd still like to donate, you can do so here. We personally appreciate each donation for this great cause.

Occasional Plum #4: Mr. Mulliner

2011-04-08T15:58:00.003-04:00

A typical evening at the Angler's Rest: hot scotch and lemon and a few stories from Mr. Mulliner. See Meet Mr. Mulliner, Mr. Mulliner Speaking, and Mulliner Nights.

Kingly

2011-04-06T09:29:00.002-04:00

Storm on the Stage!

2011-04-01T15:16:00.008-04:00

Occasional Plum #3: Services Not Required

2011-03-21T10:45:00.003-04:00

I often wonder what Jeeves does when Bertie is not in urgent need of his skills. I suspect it's something pleasant. Here he is out behind Anatole's kitchen catching up on his Spinoza.

I'll Be There

2011-03-16T22:32:00.008-04:00

My second picture book with Ann Stott will be released sometime next week. I'll Be There is a companion book to Always and provided some interesting challenges. Not only was I returning to a style and feel I employed three years previously, I had to age the boy and his mother approximately the same amount of years. I'm not sure if that's been done in a picture book sequel before. Anyone?
Like Always, I'll Be There is a conversation between a mom and son. The boy is a bit more secure in this one. In fact, he proudly lists the things that he can do alone, without his mom's help. But he still needs to know that she'll be nearby, just in case. Always was almost entirely from the boy's perspective (the mom doesn't even appear until the end), but I'll Be There features the mom prominently. It's as much her story as his.

Ann Stott is a wonderful picture book author. She knows what to include and what to leave to the illustrator. My main task was to find a setting for this conversation. I added a stone wall that the boy climbs and wanders along just slightly ahead of his mom. It seemed like a nice visual metaphor and also gave me the opportunity for some business that showed the boy's independence and the mom's hesitant granting of that independence.

These last two images are "almost finished" versions of final illustrations. I liked this very limited color for the flashback images, but we all decided that a bit more color would warm everything up.

For a look back at some sketches for Always, click here.

Pigeon Sale!

2011-03-14T13:51:00.004-04:00

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, this little fella is on sale for $100 off the original price plus free shipping. Go to my Etsy shop for details. Sale ends Friday 3/18. Sláinte!

Tantrum

2011-03-11T14:19:00.002-05:00

Occasional Plum #2: "The Big, Broad, Flexible Outlook"

2011-03-09T15:35:00.006-05:00

Stanley Featherstonehaugh Ukridge and his long-suffering pal, James "Corky" Corcoran aka Laddie.

Ukridge is one of my favorite characters in the Wodehouse universe. Unlike Bertie Wooster and the Blandings Castle regulars, Ukridge and Corky are forever short of cash and their stories have a slightly desperate edge to them. For a fantastic introduction to Ukridge, I will point you over to Bully's blog. He sums it all up expertly and quotes extensively, including some gems from my favoritest favorite: Ukridge's Accident Syndicate.

Sketched with a Derwint Graphitint pencil, watercolor, and a bit of digital.

Don't Trust This Guy

2011-03-02T12:57:00.001-05:00

Polychromos pencils & watercolor on Rives paper.

Panda in a Sweater

2011-02-25T09:37:00.003-05:00

Occasional Plum #1

2011-02-23T16:44:00.002-05:00

A domestic tiff (with complications) from Lord Emsworth Acts for the Best found in the short story collection, Blandings Castle by the incomparable P.G. Wodehouse. I'd say it's one of his funniest short stories but they're all funny, really.

The Occasional Plum

2011-02-15T09:48:00.004-05:00

You shall find Mr. Wooster... an exceedingly pleasant and amiable young gentleman, but not intelligent. By no means intelligent. Mentally he is negligible — quite negligible.

(The Inimitable Jeeves)

Since I find myself (for the first time in years) not actively drawing a book at the moment, I thought I should concoct a little sketch challenge for myself. I'm going to start a series of drawings, paintings, and doodles inspired by the works of my favorite author, P.G. Wodehouse. I know I won't be able to follow a set schedule (for that, check out Bully's fantastically entertaining Wodehouse-A-Week posts), so I'm calling this series The Occasional Plum.

First up is of course Jeeves & Bertie. I'm not entirely satisfied with Jeeves here, but I reserve the right to re-examine, re-design, and re-draw these characters to my heart's delight.

I've thought about doing this Wodehouse project for years, but so far had only managed two entries. Let's hope I'll be able to stick with it this time. Right ho!

Hula hoopin'

2011-02-11T15:14:00.002-05:00

Here's What Cooks

2011-02-08T16:36:00.008-05:00

(two pages from Around the World dry in the late day sun)

Well, my next graphic novel Around the World is in the supremely capable hands of the design geniuses at Candlewick and it looks all set for its fall release date (actual date forthcoming). It will also coincide with the publication of the paperback edition of The Storm in the Barn which I've just learned will in fact be in color. Yay! I'll be out and about promoting Around the World this spring (TLA in Austin, BookExpo in NYC) and fall (bookstores, book festivals, and whoever will have me).

In March, keep an eye out for my latest picture book, I'll Be There by the wonderful Ann Stott. This one is a companion to Always and posed some very interesting challenges. More on that book soon.

At the moment, I'm hard at work writing the script for my third graphic novel. Again, I'll post more on that project as it progresses but I will say that it deals with summer days, vaudeville, and the young Buster Keaton. It has been a blast to research. So far, the writing hasn't been too torturous either. Here's the big board in the studio with the current project taking up a lot of space:

I'm also planning a new sketch project for this little ol' sometimes neglected blog. More on that soonest.

Movie Doodles: Silent Edition

2011-01-28T10:41:00.005-05:00

Been spending some time watching Buster Keaton movies and sketching (all for an upcoming book which I'll talk more about soon). I'm starting at the beginning with the shorts he made with Roscoe Arbuckle. Great, funny stuff. If you were ever curious about what Coney Island was like in 1918, Arbuckle & Keaton, Vol 2 from Kino DVD is the place to go.

Norma Desmond was right. They really did have faces then.

First Board Book!

2011-01-26T10:39:00.006-05:00

(Korean edition & printer proof for new board book)

I am extremely excited that my 2007 picture book Very Hairy Bear by the wonderful Alice Schertle will be available in a sturdy board book edition this fall! As the parent of a toddler, I have come to appreciate the genius of the board book format. I've been hoping for my own board book for a long while now. Thanks, Harcourt!

And here's an interior printer proof shot against the current snowy scene outside my studio...

A Bit Snoopy-ish

2011-01-25T15:08:00.002-05:00

Movie Doodles

2011-01-20T09:26:00.006-05:00

Happy Belated New Year! I've been enjoying some down-time since finishing Around the World in December, but everything is revving up now for an exciting 2011. I'll post more about this year's books and plans soon, but in the meantime here are some sketches I made while watching a movie on my laptop.

Since I have a toddler in the house, I like to refer to it as Kick-Bottom.

Etsy Shop is Now Open!

2010-11-29T20:46:00.002-05:00

Although I've had the account for 2 years, I have finally opened the shutters on my Etsy shop. There are three original art pieces for sale now with more coming. Eventually, I will also be selling prints there.

Planet Ham on Etsy!

Cue REM song...

2010-11-29T16:24:00.013-05:00

At last June's ALA conference, Gene Yang told me that I would never make the deadline for my next graphic novel, Around the World.

WELL, he was... right, actually. However, I did finish the the interior art last week. It's a wee bit past my deadline, but who's counting (besides Candlewick)?

The last of the three stories was the tale of Thomas Stevens, Wheelman (it will appear first in the book). Looking through my archives, I discovered that I failed to photograph any of the process for the Joshua Slocum section for the blog. I can assure you that I did finish that, too. Actually, it's all a little bit hazy. Graphic novels are like marathons and there are times when you get caught up in a blur of creativity. It is always best not to question the sanity of the endeavor, but to move forward each day.

I am very happy with the way the book has turned out and — for the most part — I did enjoy the process immensely. I'll be talking more about Around the World in the months leading up to its 2011 release. But for now, I shall rest... as soon as I finish the cover.

Collingswood Book Festival

2010-09-29T14:10:00.002-04:00

Just a quick post to say that I'll be at the Collingswood Book Festival in NJ this Saturday (10/2) from 10-4. At 1 pm I'll be talking about all things Storm in the Barn and other than that, I'll be at my little table signing books and chatting. Stop by if you can.

Flora's Launch Party!

2010-09-27T20:39:00.008-04:00

The official launch party for Flora's Very Windy Day at Children's Book World was a rousing success and loads of fun. The store was all decked out with a wall of books, balloons, and an eager crowd and Jeanne Birdsall was decked out in super-special heavy-duty red boots.

Jeanne and I chatted about how the book came to be and the collaborative nature of picture books. Then Jeanne riveted the crowd by reading a super-secret excerpt from the upcoming third Penderwicks novel. Speaking as a Penderwicks fanatic myself, it is going to be a looooooong wait until the book is published in May of 2011.

And to top it off, the good folks at CBW even had a delicious cake made. Thanks to everyone who came by and thanks to CBW for the grand send-off!

Flora's Very Windy Day Round-up!

2010-09-08T08:58:00.006-04:00

I'm a bit tardy with this post, but I wanted to take a moment to trumpet the arrival of Flora's Very Windy Day by the incomparable Jeanne Birdsall. Flora was one of those books that was a joy to work on from start to finish. I jumped into this book after spending a year in the downtrodden Dust Bowl, so spending my days drawing two kids being tossed about in the wind was certainly a treat.

Speaking of treats, Jeanne Birdsall is joining me at the wonderful Children's Book World for the Official Flora Launch Party on Saturday, September 25th at 2 pm. Hope you can join us!

(An early sketch of Flora)

Reviews have been pretty glowing so far. Here are some clips:

As realistic as the mixed feelings it captures and as fanciful as a conversation with a rainbow, the first picture book by Birdsall, author of The Penderwicks (2005), blends homely and fantastic elements as naturally as a child at play... A fine picture book with a fierce, bold and (deep down) compassionate heroine.

- Booklist (STAR)

Phelan's illustrations are simply wonderful: His line floats and traces the air currents, his colors are subtle but strong and he captures Flora's multiple emotions and Crispin's silent toddlerness in every rosy-cheeked image. Emotionally true from cover to cover.

- Kirkus (STAR)

This gem of a book will resonate with older siblings everywhere.

- School Library Journal

...crisp and delightful...

- Publishers Weekly

And there's been some great reviews from the blogosphere including What We Read and What We Think and A Patchwork of Books!

Don't forget 9/25 at Children's Book World. Stop by and say hi to Jeanne and me!

A Stack of Bly

2010-08-31T11:18:00.002-04:00

A big old stack of finished art for Around the World. This is about a third of the book.

Win Some...

2010-08-30T10:11:00.003-04:00

I've been asked a few times about this so I thought I'd address it once and move on. Some have noticed that the new cover on the paperback version of Lucky Breaks is not only different from the hardcover, but is not even drawn by me. This is true. Sadly things like this happen occasionally in publishing. I went through my archives and found this sketch. It was my one proposal for the cover of the hardcover and also the paperback. It was rejected both times, but I still like it. I guess that's what sketch blogs are for.

Anyhoo, more positive posts coming soon.

Oh No! An Auction!!!

2010-08-22T13:33:00.007-04:00

Uber-talented illustrator Dan Santat sent out a challenge to a bunch of fellow illustrators: Create an illustration inspired by his new book Oh No! (written by Mac Barnett). The idea was to come up with an image that would take place within in the story but still be separate from the events in Dan and Mac's book. So I added this little moment after the end of the book... the giant robot has been booted into the bay by the giant frog (really, check out this book) and this little boat comes across it.

Although a fun experiment, the REAL reason behind this project is that ALL of the original art will be auctioned off this week. All proceeds benefit the non-profit writing center, 826LA.

Here's the poster with details of Auction #1 (which is where my painting will be):

For more details, go HERE! Happy bidding!

UPDATE: THE AUCTION IS ON!!!!!

Ripple Blog on Wednesday!

2010-07-19T10:38:00.003-04:00

This is my donated drawing for Kelly Light's fantastic Ripple blog. The idea is simple and great: illustrators donate original art dealing with the oil spill disaster, Kelly auctions them off, and ALL proceeds go to help the bird and marine life of the area. This month is Great American Illustrator month and she's already sold some amazing cards from folks like Mo Willems, Frank Dormer, and Jarrett Krosoczka.

My card goes up for auction this Wednesday, July 21 at 6:30 PM EST.

Above is a slightly enlarged view. The actual card is ink on 2.5 x 3.5" watercolor paper. It's called A Day at the Beach. For details on how the bidding works, go to the Ripple blog and look at the right side column.

Around the World via My Studio

2010-07-17T13:39:00.009-04:00

This summer, I'm hard at work on the art for my next graphic novel, Around the World (due out in 2011). The first of the three stories in the book that I'm drawing involves the unstoppable Nellie Bly. Above is a picture of the 6x4' bulletin board in my studio (I love that thing).

Heather, the book's amazing designer (she also designed Storm) made this incredibly useful mini-version of the rough sketches for the story with temporary placement of the dialogue. This way we could all get a sense of how the story was working. As I drew each page, I started marking them with scraps of post-it notes.

Here it is about a week and a half ago... which means that now I've finished drawing the whole Nellie Bly segment. So now I'm painting and finishing all of the pages. When that's done, I'll start on the second of the three stories. Then repeat.

OK, break over...

Bryant Park sketches

2010-06-15T21:01:00.001-04:00

More Good News Plus Victorian Bears

2010-06-04T16:18:00.005-04:00

More good Storm in the Barn news:

Storm took the gold in the graphic novel category of ForeWord Reviews' Book of the Year Awards!

And has been included in the master list for the Kentucky Bluegrass Book Award!

Moleskine Ape

2010-05-31T15:15:00.004-04:00

And this just in... Storm in the Barn is in the Top Ten of Graphic Novel Reporter's Core List of Graphic Novels for Teens. That's pretty darn cool.

New York Events This Week

2010-05-19T14:39:00.003-04:00

Here's a picture of little Mabel. Do you like it? Do you like it like it? Well, it can be yours if you go to the ABC's Not a Dinner and (Mostly) Silent Auction next Tuesday. There's mingling, the announcement of the E.B. White Award winner, David Weisner's keynote speech, and an auction of work by a gaggle of children's book illustrators. If you see me, be sure to say hello.

And don't forget I'll be in Brooklyn this Saturday for the Graphic Novel for Kids Spectacular event at WORD! It will live up to its name!

A BIG Thanks to SCBWI-NE!

2010-05-17T13:14:00.008-04:00

I had a really, really great time at the SCBWI-New England conference this past weekend. I gave two workshops; one about my approach to writing graphic novels and one about my approach to illustration. It was an interesting experience for me because I had to examine what it is I do (mostly on an intuitive level) and organize it in a way that people other than me could hopefully understand. The feedback I received was very good, so I think it went well.

On Sunday I gave a joint 4-hour Illustration Academy workshop with Yolanda Scott (editorial director, Charlesbridge), Ann

Stott (art director, Candlewick) and author/illustrator David Hyde Costello (click on the link for a look at David in his studio). We couldn't have done it without help from Casey Girard who made everything run smoothly. It was an intense experience for all of us, but I think it also went very well. Heck, I was inspired.

And you can't beat the finale that Yolanda and David worked out... a literal showstopper of a number about the combination of words and text.

David, who is as cool and nice a guy as you could possibly meet, brought an extra uke for me. It added to the shall we say celebratory atmosphere that rocked the Courtyard Marriott on Friday night. SCBWI people are a very social bunch.

Thanks to Casey for the pix. More pix and general round-ups can be found at the conference Twitter page.

In addition to my co-Illustration Academy team, I met and/or re-met a ton of fantastic people including but certainly not limited to Jo Knowles, Frank Dormer, Cynthia Lord, Kate Messner, Abigail Halpin, Mitali Perkins, Cynthia Leitich-Smith, Dawn Metcalf, Kelly Fineman, Jennifer Morris, Kat Black, Deborah Sloan, Michelle Henninger, Anne Sibley-O'Brien, Anna Boll, John Bell, Jennifer Carson, Anindita Basu Sempere, and a host of very cool attendees. Thanks to everyone for making this such a blast.

One of my favorite things about the conference was that I had the chance to meet for the first time in person two authors that I've had the honor to work with: Ann Stott (Always) and Jeanne Birdsall (Flora's Very Windy Day).

SharkBoy

2010-05-12T10:50:00.002-04:00

Onward and Upward

2010-05-05T12:56:00.001-04:00

WORD!

2010-05-03T10:02:00.004-04:00

Happy May, everybody! Just wanted to post a heads-up for the New Yorkers in the audience...

I'll be appearing at WORD in Brooklyn on Saturday, May 22nd at 1 pm as part of their Graphic Novel Spectacular for Kids event! Also appearing are Eric Wight, Jarrett Krosoczka, Chris Giarusso, and Frank Cammuso! This should be an A-1 blast, so I hope to see you there.

Gaucho!

2010-04-29T20:13:00.002-04:00

Tell It to the Walrus

2010-04-21T11:09:00.001-04:00

Free Library Fest This Weekend!

2010-04-17T09:07:00.002-04:00

If you are anywhere near Philadelphia this weekend, swing by the Free Library Festival! It's huge! It's fun! It's literary! I'll be there talking about the making of The Storm in the Barn and signing books on Sunday at 12:30!

Slim

2010-04-05T09:51:00.000-04:00

International Children's Book Day!

2010-04-03T12:03:00.010-04:00

I thought I'd celebrate International Children's Book Day with a look at a couple of titles of international appeal.

You can't escape Alice in Wonderland at the moment. And although I haven't seen Tim Burton's movie yet, from the trailer, it's clear that Wonderland gets the thorough Burton treatment in its disturb-o design. Dark and creepy seem to be where most illustrators go when illustrating Alice, and while I love many of these interpretations (Tenniel, Rackham, Blair), I think my favorite version of Wonderland comes from the great British illustrator, Helen Oxenbury.

Her version of Wonderland is bright and sunny, dare I say welcoming. It doesn't sugar-coat the text or make the characters less odd, but it presents a fully-realized Wonderland that has the added benefit of being a place that the average little girl wouldn't run screaming back up the rabbit hole to escape. And of course, because it's Helen Oxenbury, it is beautifully drawn with a delicate approach to watercolor that makes a very difficult medium look effortless. So while I like dark and creepy as much as the next guy, this is the version of Alice in Wonderland that actually makes me want to sit down and read the book.

Years ago, FSG editor Janine O'Malley gave me a copy of Olof and Lena Landstrom's Will's New Cap and I will forever be in her debt. Simple in the best and most difficult way and hilarious to boot, the Will books (and everything else by this team) are the kinds of books that fall under the category Just Buy Them. You can't go wrong.

So those are my picks. It's a beautiful spring day, so grab a good book and go find a nice cork tree to sit under.

Update: Apparently ICB Day was yesterday... well, this still stands.

A Review... plus a squirrel

2010-03-31T09:32:00.002-04:00

Here is a fine review of Two of a Kind posted by an eight-year old reader named Sonia. It is always good to get feedback from one's actual audience. Good work, Sonia!

Spilling Ink!

2010-03-29T10:38:00.004-04:00

This week sees the release of Spilling Ink: A Young Writer's Handbook by Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter. I was pleased as punch to contribute a series of drawings for this amazingly detailed and highly entertaining look at the writing process. I think this book will be invaluable to any young writer in your life and I really wish I had something like this when I was growing up.

I'm not alone in this opinion. Bruce Coville calls it "wonderful, funny, wise" and Nancy Springer deemed it "outstanding".

Anne and Ellen have launched a fantastic website that is going to be an ongoing resource for writers and teachers. The site also features a Creativity Blog that will host a series of guest bloggers. I was honored to be their first guest. Read my post here.

And leave a comment to be entered into a drawing for a free copy of Spilling Ink signed by Anne and Ellen!

Slow Burn

2010-03-26T12:23:00.001-04:00

The Latest from the Ring

2010-03-23T09:07:00.003-04:00

Check out how The Storm in the Barn fared in the Anita Silvey-judged 1st round of the Battle of the Kids' Books...

(spoiler: Yes indeed, Storm had a spectacular editorial and design team in its corner.)

Squid

2010-03-21T18:57:00.002-04:00

Hey, Cowboy Guy

2010-03-15T21:22:00.000-04:00

Brush pen and H2O.

Top 10 and more!

2010-03-12T14:54:00.004-05:00

The Storm in the Barn has made the 2010 edition of Booklist's Top 10 Graphic Novels for Youth!

In other Storm-related news, the SLG Battle of the Kids' Books is getting ready to begin. You can check out the brackets for your office pool here. Storm's bout is set for March 23rd.

Also, while you're there, why not vote for Storm to come back as a zombie if... well, you know... if things don't pan out for it. Just a suggestion. The Undead poll closes on March 14th.

Hey, Pennsylvanians!

2010-03-11T11:16:00.003-05:00

I will be happily attending the 3rd Annual Author & Illustrator Reception at Harleysville Books TONIGHT from 6-8. There will be authors aplenty, books being signed, cheese being nibbled, and local wine being imbibed!

Check out all the details including the very long list of featured authors and illustrators. It promises to be a hoot. If you're in the area, stop by and say howdy.

Pan!

2010-03-10T20:21:00.001-05:00

Last of His Kind

2010-03-07T13:23:00.002-05:00

Ensign Enigma

2010-03-03T11:46:00.002-05:00

A sadly forgotten crimefighter. While villains tried to decipher the meaning of his chest symbol, Ensign Enigma would punch them in the nose. It was oddly effective.

Not Just a Pug

2010-02-28T14:33:00.001-05:00

Just a Mug

2010-02-26T09:05:00.003-05:00

Polychromos pencil and Liquid Pencil.

Harp Player

2010-02-24T09:08:00.000-05:00

Graphitint pencil and wash sketch.

A Temper

2010-02-23T13:48:00.001-05:00

Washington's Birthday

2010-02-22T16:42:00.002-05:00

Just a quick pencil and wash sketch of His Excellency on his birthday. A new and very nice review of Anne Rockwell's Big George can be found at the All-en-A-Day's Work Blog.

Dolphins in the Barn

2010-02-19T21:25:00.004-05:00

I haven't actually seen one, but here's the "new" cover.

5 Questions

2010-02-10T10:32:00.002-05:00

I answer 5 questions from Roger Sutton in the new issue of Notes from the Horn Book...

SCBWI-New England Conference Registration!

2010-02-02T21:21:00.004-05:00

Ahoy, New Englanders (or Yankees, if you prefer)! Registration for the SCBWI-New England conference starts on Monday, February 8th. The conference will be held from May 14-16 in Fitchburg, MA.

On Saturday, I'll be teaching two workshops (one on illustration, one on writing graphic novels). On Sunday, I'll be joining illustrator David Hyde Costello, editor Yolanda LeRoy, and Storm in the Barn designer extraordinaire Heather McGee in an epic 4-hour Illustrator Academy workshop.

Also on the conference bill are Marla Frazee, Allyn Johnston, Jo Knowles, Kate Messner, Jennifer Morris, Kara LaReau, Kelly Fineman and many, many more (seriously, this line-up is pretty impressive).

Conference details (including faculty bios and workshop descriptions) can be found HERE or if you prefer your info in Tweet form, you can find it HERE.

It should be a lot of fun. Hope to see you there.

Another one

2010-01-31T12:24:00.000-05:00

Ink, neocolor crayon, and watercolor.

Insta-Wash

2010-01-28T08:58:00.001-05:00

Been playing with Neocolor crayons which are water soluble. I like 'em.

Thank You, ALA! (part 2)

2010-01-26T09:15:00.004-05:00

Great news from the American Library Association! The Storm in the Barn has been included in both the 2010 Notable Children's Books list and the YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens list!

Many thanks to both committees for these honors.

Some Ink, Some WC, Some Bear

2010-01-23T14:59:00.001-05:00

One of the Peafowl Family

2010-01-14T10:22:00.001-05:00

The Mariner

2010-01-09T13:00:00.001-05:00

The Girl Reporter

2010-01-08T09:32:00.002-05:00

SCOTT O'DELL AWARD!!

2010-01-06T12:11:00.002-05:00

The Storm in the Barn was just awarded the 2010 SCOTT O'DELL AWARD!!!!!

Here's Roger Sutton's announcement and here is the official website! I am extremely, extremely honored.

The Wheelman

2010-01-05T07:52:00.002-05:00

New year, new graphic novel. Allow me to introduce the cast...

So long, Aughts!

2009-12-31T11:07:00.002-05:00

THANK YOU to everyone who stopped by the Planet Ham this year with an extra bit of thanks to all who left a comment. I really appreciate the support and feedback and I'm looking forward to continuing the blog in the... Tweens?

Bloke

2009-12-29T19:38:00.000-05:00