Looking for Character

Just a quick sketch...trying to get a personality down.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the SCBWI Fall Philly event! I had a great time and it was really nice to meet so many folks. I'm aiming to add more stuff to the blog in the next few weeks...until then, here's an interview with me from a cool Philly blog that I somehow missed when it first appeared.

Fresh Moleskine

Afoot!

Pigeon of the Month #9

Typo Apropos

I was browsing the Winsor & Newton website and came across this tidbit...

Dilution with water will provide a variety of blending/ drying times. crying rates will vary and depend on the temperature and air flow.

Ain't it the truth. Anyhoo, despite the occasional typo, the website is a goldmine of helpful watercolo(u)r info.

Monkeys of the World, part 9

Hay-on-Wye, Wales.

Pens and Pencils

Doodled with a Pilot Precise V5 Rolling Ball Extra Fine pen on a Staples Steno pad (green page kind). The pen was also from Staples, I think.

September Girl

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