Pigeon of the Month #8

Monkeys of the World, part 8

Helensville, New Zealand

Oddly Amusing

aka The White House Book

I was extremely honored to be asked to contribute a story to "Our White House, Looking In, Looking Out" which is being released in September. This massive anthology was spearheaded by the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance and assembled by the massively talented folks at Candlewick Press.

I was asked to write and illustrate a story about the Great Depression. In four pages. The result, a stripped down comic about Herbert Hoover and apple peddlers, will be the first story that I've written to be published (although my upcoming graphic novel was written before this). Above is a sketch for the first page of the story. Other contributors to the book include M.T. Anderson, Jerry Spinelli, Katherine Paterson, David Small, Brian Selznick, Susan Cooper and really too many to list here.

Publisher's Weekly just did a very nice write up about the book here. And the NCBLA has a website that should explode with extra content around the time of the book's release. Personally, I can't wait to see this thing.

Pigeon of the Month #7

Monkeys of the World, part 7

Vaduz, Liechtenstein

SCBWI Fall Philly Conference

I'll be speaking at this year's Fall Philly Conference of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (eastern PA chapter). Details are not up on the website yet, but when they do go up, they should be here. Registration ends August 25th, but it's limited to 140 people, so you might want to register soonish.

Five years ago at this very conference, I showed my portfolio to a Simon & Schuster art director who then showed it to Richard Jackson who then hired me to illustrate my first picture book. So, illustrators, be sure to bring your shiny shiny portfolios and sign up for the optional review!

Pigeon of the Month #6

Monkeys of the World, part 6

Norman, Oklahoma.

Don't Call Him Yellow

Cowboy Guy

Scarlet Sprite

Sideburns

Monkeys of the World, part 5

Antwerp, Belgium.

Raw Sienna Melancholia

Palette Doodles

Splotches of extra paint make interesting backgrounds. Pro Tip: Wait until it dries.

Pigeon of the Month #5

Washington Sketch

Sorry for the paltry blogging of late. I am nearly finished work on my graphic novel and by nearly I mean I still have about 40 pages to go. But since Children's Book Week is next week, I thought I'd show you a sketch from Big George by Anne Rockwell, coming to a bookstore near you this fall. This is Washington at Carpenter's Hall, volunteering to lead the army. Clearly, my uniform research came after the sketching phase.

Monkeys of the World, part 4

Reykjavik, Iceland

Pigeon of the Month #4

Pencils

Monkeys of the World, part 3

Battle Creek, Michigan.

No Pencils Were Harmed for This Post

Here's my first digital doodle using Alias Sketchbook Pro and my Wacom tablet (which I got 8 years ago...ancient by computer age standards). Kind of fun program. I like the pressure sensitivity and various pencil options.

Anyhoo, if this isn't green enough for you on St. Pat's Day, let me direct you to this bit of Muppet genius...

Again with the Brush

Pigeon(s) of the Month #3

Very Small Brush, Black Magic Ink

Leap Day Special: Bonus Monkey!

Location unknown.

Leap Day Special: Bonus Pigeon!

Cackle

Monkeys of the World, part 2

Calcutta, India

Spud

Sketchbook Stuff

Pigeon of the Month #2

Doodles for Breakfast

Abominable!

Lucky Hat

Monkeys of the World

Marrakech, Morocco

Pigeon of the Month

Twelve pigeons. One year.

Think Small

A color study for the country dance in Big George.

What? 2008? Really?

I'm just wrapping up work on Big George which has occupied most of my waking moments for the past month or so. As I shake off the 18th century (and prepare to enter the early 20th century, where I'll be for the first half of this year), I thought I'd try to get some regular posting in.

To make up for my lack of posting recently, I'm planning on adding new monthly features to the blog beginning...soon.

Good Old-Fashioned Creepiness

'007 was a pretty sunshiney year for me. For 2008, I'm going to have a couple of opportunities to go a bit dark in my work, which is sure to be plenty of fun. But I must warn you...there may be clowns.

Bear Doodle

Merry Christmas!

Peace on Earth. Good Will towards all. Not bad ideas.

Another Mishap

Once more, an unintentional yet interesting effect. Medium: suddenly leaky Prismacolor pen, paper towel smearing.

A Bit Rummy...

As my workload begins to ease a trifle, I'll try to get back to the ol' sketchbook and, consequently, the ol' posting semi-regularly on the blog. One thing that has helped me stay sane in the past couple of months is my current obsession with reading the complete works of P.G. Wodehouse, Suuuuuper Genius. The latest was Heavy Weather, and it did not disappoint. So here's a rather quick sketch of Lord Emsworth and his prized pig, Empress of Blandings.

If you need to be further convinced of the greatness of Wodehouse, let me point you to my Favorite Blog Written by a Little Stuffed Bull. Bully's regular posts are also genius, by the by.

Good Work, People.

A big thank you to everyone who bid on a Robert's Snow snowflake (whether you won an auction or not). My unscientific observation of the bids seems to indicate the auction was successful. And now...Go, Science!

Robert's Snow Auction 3!! Bid! Win! Fight!

The third and final auction for Robert's Snow 2007 starts this MONDAY, DECEMBER 3 and ends FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7 at 5PM!!! Check out the original works of art that can be all yours... just for fighting cancer...HERE!

NYPL's 100 Books

Where I Live by the wonderful Eileen Spinelli has made the New York Public Library's annual list of their 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing!

In Absentia

Sorry for the lack of posting...I've been working on next year's crop of books. I did take a tiny break to hang out and talk shop with these guys at the lobby of the Ritz Carlton (where they offer complimentary hot apple cider...thanks, Ritz!).

In other news, Auction 1 of Robert's Snow is in full swing. Go bid against me here. Auction 2 is next week, and Auction 3 (which has my snowflake) follows on December 3rd.