Thanks to one and all!

I just want to say thanks to all the swell people that I had the pleasure of meeting at the ALA convention. I had a sincere and total blast. Since I am a blogger of few words, I'll simply post the initial sketch of what became the cover of The Higher Power of Lucky, and direct you to the intrepid Fuse #8 for a recap of the whole shebang. She's good with the words and stuff.

Pick up a copy of the new Horn Book for a transcript of the wonderful speeches by David Wiesner and my friend Susan Patron, a class act through and through.

ALA!

I'm pleased as punch to be attending the American Librarian Association's Annual Conference in DC this weekend. On Saturday, I'll be signing copies of the upcoming Very Hairy Bear (preliminary sketch above) at the Harcourt booth from 1:30-2:30, and then I'll be at the Simon & Schuster booth from 3-4 with Newbery Medal winner Susan Patron to sign The Higher Power of Lucky. If you miss that, Susan and I will be signing Lucky again on Sunday from 11-12. Later that evening, I'll have a pretty good seat at the Newbery/Caldecott Banquet. Stop by and say howdy.

A Sheep for Monday

Earl

Grendel's Ma

Don't mess with her.

Another Brush Sketch and Many Thanks

Thanks to all who came out to the Books of Wonder signing yesterday! It went swimmingly well.

Book Signing in NYC!

My latest picture book was officially released yesterday: A Box Full of Kittens by Sonia Manzano. You may also know Sonia as Maria from Sesame Street. That's right, Sesame Street. Being a first generation Sesame Street kid, the thrill of illustrating this book was immense. And now I get to meet her in person. And so can you if you live anywhere near the Big Apple. Stop by Books of Wonder at noon on Sunday, June 10th, and get your book signed by both of us. Plus, there will be cupcakes! I'm also hoping that Grover shows up...

Knight

Drifter

Fun with Classics

Seven

So, I was tagged recently by Susan to fess up seven things about myself. However, I do believe my foot was touching base, so instead I'll offer seven sources of creative inspiration.

1. Buster Keaton. Not only the greatest of the silent comics, but film's purest genius. He was also the best director of the silent era. Watch The General and think about his editing, pacing, and composition. Also, it's hilarious.
2. Orson Welles. The sound era's genius. Yes, Citizen Kane is that good. Also check out his radio work..all of Welles' stuff is about rhythm. Extra genius points for his sketching abilities.
3. Charles Schulz. I grew up devouring the Peanuts on Parade books and I think Schulz has had the greatest influence on what I find funny. His drawing is superlative. Huzzah to Fantagraphics for reprinting the complete works.
4. Ernest Shepard. One of my favorite children's book illustrators. The Pooh books and The Wind in the Willows are simple perfection.
5. The Beatles. Creativity, energy, and confidence. Listen to all of A Hard Day's Night and hear four guys who know they're the best band ever. And they're right.
6. King Kong. Of course I mean the original. No other movie has the power to instantly make me a kid again. Remains one of the greatest adventure movies of all time.
7. Jim Henson. Originality and conviction. The Muppets are one of the great creations of the twentieth century. Orson Welles thought so, too. Extra genius points for Henson's drawings. There's a reason the Muppets haven't been good since he died.

Another brush sketch

Brush Sketching

BookExpo/ABC Auction!

Going to BookExpo next week? Enjoy the thrill of an auction but feel shy about waving a little fan while some guy talks really fast? Like this drawing? Go to the ABC Secret Garden Silent Auction on June 1st and quietly bid away to your heart's content. All proceeds go to supporting projects that benefit the Association of Booksellers for Children members. Remember, Friday night at the Copacabana...yes, the Copa, Copacabana.

Ranger, Alone

Ratty Mountain Breakdown

Bear in a Boat

Conte pencil owl

Breakfast Sketches

Sketched whilst drinking coffee and listening to Studio 360 talk about the new Buffy comic (go, Joss!). Why this led me to medieval-esque doodles, I have no idea.

Illustration Friday: Neighbor

Red Cross!

Yikes. 2 posts in one day...well, heck it IS my birthday. This one's a sketch for my upcoming Dust Bowl-era graphic novel.

One of 6000

Another Ireland sketch. So many walls, so little time.

Old Salt

Uncle...

Faeries are bad news.

Mystery Monk

Exclamatory Beastie

Philly Book Fest

If you're anywhere near the Philadelphia area this Saturday, swing on down to the first Philadelphia Book Festival! I'll be doing some sort of presentation and then signing books at 1:30 pm. Also scheduled are Jerry and Gloria Pinkney, E.B. Lewis, Ginger from Gilligan's Island (?), and Patti Smith. Okay, Patti Smith doesn't have a kids' book, but c'mon...it's Patti Smith! Also check out the cool poster designed by Caldecott Winner and fellow Philadelphian, David Wiesner.

More from the Ireland Sketchbook

Na Seacht d'Teampall (Seven Churches), Inishmore.

Ireland Sketchbook

Sheep in Connemara.

Pub regular, Inishmore, Aran Islands.

Happy April 7th!

Characters

Go read Mark Kennedy's posts about sketchbooks at the always excellent Temple of Seven Golden Camels blog. Makes you wanna draw.

Cubicle Guy

Ed

Mr. Potato Head, circa 1900

Grendel

Ink and gouache on a scrap o' cardboard.

A Most Curious Development

Pumpkin Orange Verithin

From the Washington Sketchbook

More preliminary sketches for "Big George" by Anne Rockwell.

Moleskine a la Le Pen

Red Knit Hat

Bowler

A little sketch to try out my new brown Le Pen. I was happy to discover that the ink turns all purpley when wet.

Runaway Pillow

The Endless

If you have any interest in comics and graphic novels, you really oughta read Neil Gaiman's Sandman. Maybe a couple of times. I just read "Endless Nights" which is a collection of stories about his main characters, The Endless, accompanied by knock-out artwork. Written years after he finished the Sandman series proper, Gaiman revisits these characters with his writing skills sharpened to pointy perfection. So with hat off to Neil, here are this morning's breakfast sketches: Dream, Delirium, and Death.

Here is the Claw!

To continue with my superhero series, here's a sketch of the great Lobster Johnson, one of my favorite characters from Mike Mignola's extra-brilliant "Hellboy" graphic novels.

A Pug's Favorite Day

One Keene Owl

Here's my contribution to the Festival Owl Project of Keene State College, home of the annual Children's Literature Festival. Thanks to the Blue Rose Girls for posting about the call for owls.

Podcast!

A pretty extensive interview with me can now be heard at the Thousand Times No podcast!

Illustration Friday: Sprout