Children's Publishing Blog: Creative Whimsies

Home > All Blogs > Blog > Creative Whimsies

What is JacketFlap

JacketFlap connects you to the work of more than 200,000 authors, illustrators, publishers and other creators of books for Children and Young Adults. The site is updated daily with information about every book, author, illustrator, and publisher in the children's / young adult book industry. Members include published authors and illustrators, librarians, agents, editors, publicists, booksellers, publishers and fans.
Join now (it's free).

Sort Blog Posts

Sort Posts by:

in
from

Suggest a Blog

Enter a Blog's Feed URL below and click Submit:

Most Commented Posts

In the past 7 days

MyJacketFlap Blogs

Login or Register for free to create your own customized page of blog posts from your favorite blogs. You can also add blogs by clicking the "Add to MyJacketFlap" links next to the blog name in each post.

Blog Posts by Tag

In the past 30 days

Blog Posts by Date

Click days in this calendar to see posts by day or month

new posts in all blogs

Viewing Blog: Creative Whimsies, Most Recent at Top

Results 26 - 50 of 664

A Blog by Illustrator Laura Zarrin

Statistics for Creative Whimsies

Number of Readers that added this blog to their MyJacketFlap: 9

26. Sometimes you just have to dance

By: Laura Zarrin, on 3/30/2014
Blog: Creative Whimsies (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: little girl ballerina, dance, ballet, children's illustration, Add a tag

This piece was a doozy to work on, but I'm really happy with the result. I'll share details on SimplyMessingAbout.com soon.

0 Comments on Sometimes you just have to dance as of 3/31/2014 3:19:00 AM

Add a Comment

27. A girl and her pig

By: Laura Zarrin, on 3/26/2014
Blog: Creative Whimsies (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: girl, pig, Photoshop, sketch, children's book illustrate, Add a tag

A new sketch of a girl and her pig.

And here she is in color. Pencil sketch colorized in Photoshop.

0 Comments on A girl and her pig as of 3/26/2014 5:03:00 PM

Add a Comment

28. Sweaters for Penguins in color

By: Laura Zarrin, on 3/20/2014
Blog: Creative Whimsies (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: children's book, playhouse, knitting sweaters, sweaters for penguins, Add a tag

I just added this to my portfolio. I really loved the idea of penguins in sweaters!

0 Comments on Sweaters for Penguins in color as of 3/20/2014 5:23:00 PM

Add a Comment

29. Sweaters for Penguins

By: Laura Zarrin, on 3/7/2014
Blog: Creative Whimsies (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: penguins, knitting, sketch, children's illustration, animal sketches, Add a tag

The internet is all abuzz about knitting sweaters for penguins. Snopes.com first said it wasn't true, but now they're showing uncertainty. As a children's book illustrator, I can just use the story as a jumping off point for a sketch. Lucky me. What could be cuter than penguins in sweaters?

0 Comments on Sweaters for Penguins as of 3/7/2014 11:58:00 AM

Add a Comment

30. Procrastipainting

By: Laura Zarrin, on 3/6/2014
Blog: Creative Whimsies (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: fox illustration, children's illustration, gouache painting, Add a tag

A quick little gouache painting.

0 Comments on Procrastipainting as of 3/6/2014 7:00:00 PM

Add a Comment

31. Olympic Sketching

By: Laura Zarrin, on 2/14/2014
Blog: Creative Whimsies (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Add a tag

0 Comments on Olympic Sketching as of 1/1/1900

Add a Comment

32. Horse in gouache

By: Laura Zarrin, on 2/10/2014
Blog: Creative Whimsies (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Add a tag

I got this little lady painted up over the weekend. I'm really enjoying my new gouache paints.

0 Comments on Horse in gouache as of 1/1/1900

Add a Comment

33. The year of the horse

By: Laura Zarrin, on 2/7/2014
Blog: Creative Whimsies (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Add a tag

A bit of silliness to celebrate the year of the horse.

0 Comments on The year of the horse as of 1/1/1900

Add a Comment

34. Pizza Making Gone Wrong

By: Laura Zarrin, on 2/3/2014
Blog: Creative Whimsies (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Add a tag

The Superbowl wasn't much of a game yesterday. Luckily, these three had their own festivities to entertain themselves with.

0 Comments on Pizza Making Gone Wrong as of 1/1/1900

Add a Comment

35. Sketching bits

By: Laura Zarrin, on 1/24/2014
Blog: Creative Whimsies (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Add a tag

Sorry to be so quiet, but I've been working on some things I can't share right now. It's so difficult not to share! Here are some random bits out of my sketchbook.

0 Comments on Sketching bits as of 1/1/1900

Add a Comment

36. Happy New Year!

By: Laura Zarrin, on 1/2/2014
Blog: Creative Whimsies (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: baby sketch, new year, baby, Add a tag

I'm on vacation until Monday when I will be (hopefully) energetic and ready to rock 2014!

0 Comments on Happy New Year! as of 1/2/2014 5:32:00 PM

Add a Comment

37. Merry Christmas!!!

By: Laura Zarrin, on 12/26/2013
Blog: Creative Whimsies (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: fox, bear, Christmas art, Christmas illustrations, swaddled baby, squirrel, penguin, Add a tag

I want you all to know that I really appreciate your visits and comments on my little blog. Thank you!!!

If you follow me on Instagram, you've seen my #HoHoDooDa sketches. Here are a few of them for your viewing pleasure.

Add caption

0 Comments on Merry Christmas!!! as of 12/27/2013 1:10:00 AM

Add a Comment

38. HoHoDooDa

By: Laura Zarrin, on 12/14/2013
Blog: Creative Whimsies (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: sketches, octopus, hohodooda, Add a tag

I've managed to squeeze some sketching in between deadlines.

Hope to do more soon.

0 Comments on HoHoDooDa as of 12/14/2013 9:06:00 PM

Add a Comment

39. Mistletoe Madness

By: Laura Zarrin, on 12/6/2013
Blog: Creative Whimsies (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: dog, Christmas, sketch, mistletoe, #HoHoDooDa 2013, Add a tag

You must be cautious about when standing under the mistletoe. You may experience a very awkward moment.

4 Comments on Mistletoe Madness, last added: 12/8/2013

Display Comments Add a Comment

40. November Sketching Leads to December Sketching.

By: Laura Zarrin, on 12/4/2013
Blog: Creative Whimsies (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: #SkADaMo 2013, #HoHoDooDa 2013, sketches, Add a tag

I managed to sketch every day in November and posted it to my Instagram account, but not always on the blog. I also completed PiBoIdMo.

Now I'm sketching for Linda Silvestri's HoHoDooDa for December.

2 Comments on November Sketching Leads to December Sketching., last added: 12/5/2013

Display Comments Add a Comment

41. Small Business Saturday

By: Laura Zarrin, on 11/30/2013
Blog: Creative Whimsies (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: small business saturday, pirates, gifts, christmas shopping, prints, decor, original painting, Add a tag

I'm participating in Small Business Saturday! I've recently reopened my Etsy shop with prints, collaged decor, and original paintings. Please stop by and check it out.

I know I'm way behind on posting for SkADaMo! I promise I've been sketching everyday, but I haven't had time to post them. Here's a little something to tide you over.

0 Comments on Small Business Saturday as of 11/30/2013 3:03:00 PM

Add a Comment

42. Painting a Pig

By: Laura Zarrin, on 11/19/2013
Blog: Creative Whimsies (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: painting, piglet, ballerina pig, Add a tag

5 Comments on Painting a Pig, last added: 11/30/2013

Display Comments Add a Comment

43. SkADaMo #13 & 14 Ballet Piglet

By: Laura Zarrin, on 11/15/2013
Blog: Creative Whimsies (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: pig, hummingbird, #SkADaMo 2013, ballerina pig, Add a tag

1 Comments on SkADaMo #13 & 14 Ballet Piglet, last added: 11/18/2013

Display Comments Add a Comment

44. SkADaMo #8-12

By: Laura Zarrin, on 11/13/2013
Blog: Creative Whimsies (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: sketches, SkADaMo 2013, Add a tag

Soaking up lots of inspiration around here.

I have been sketching everyday, but I can't show it all.

Sneak Peaks

2 Comments on SkADaMo #8-12, last added: 11/15/2013

Display Comments Add a Comment

45. Blog Hop!

By: Laura Zarrin, on 11/12/2013
Blog: Creative Whimsies (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: wolf, pigs, sketching, Blog Hop, collage painting, Tomie DePaola award, pigs in a car, Add a tag

I was recently tagged by my dear friend, Renee Kurilla, for this author/illustrator blog hop!

What are you working on right now?

I'm working on playing more while I wait for sketch revisions on a work project. I've been creating lots of new art for the past two years for my portfolio, but I'm never satisfied. Recently, I realized that I had stopped doing some of the things I love to do, like collage and smearing paint around a canvas. I returned to that for my recently completed Tomie dePaola Award contest. Now I want more of this style in my portfolio, so it's back to the drawing board.

How does this differ from other works in this genre?

I'm exploring how I do collage. Lots of other artists are doing it, but I am working on my own unique voice. I strive to keep it as simple as possible.

Why do you write what you write?

I love drawing adorable animals. In my writing, I give them a home and a story. I love funny books that seem straightforward but are anything but. I like to throw in a little subversive twist. I'm currently writing a story for these two. I'm also participating in #PiBoIdMo and loving it. That's what got me started writing in the first place.

The hardest thing about writing, is, well, the writing! These pigs have an amazing story. They have too much story! What started as a simple idea took off in so many directions that I just had to step away to clear my head. I'm almost ready to try to rein them in again, but so far, they have resisted all of my efforts to contain them. They are irrepressible and unapologetic.

Now to spread the fun and tag some more lovely author/illustrators:

4 Comments on Blog Hop!, last added: 11/14/2013

Display Comments Add a Comment

46. SkADaMo 7

By: Laura Zarrin, on 11/8/2013
Blog: Creative Whimsies (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: #SkADaMo, Add a tag

It's been a challenging week, but I still managed to get my daily sketch on.

5 Comments on SkADaMo 7, last added: 11/10/2013

Display Comments Add a Comment

47. SkADaMo #6

By: Laura Zarrin, on 11/6/2013
Blog: Creative Whimsies (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: SkADaMo 2013, Add a tag

3 Comments on SkADaMo #6, last added: 11/7/2013

Display Comments Add a Comment

48. SkADaMo #5

By: Laura Zarrin, on 11/5/2013
Blog: Creative Whimsies (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: sketch, sketch a day, #SkADaMo, Add a tag

Why can't we be friends? #SkADaMo #5

9 Comments on SkADaMo #5, last added: 11/11/2013

Display Comments Add a Comment

49. November means PiBoIdMo & SkADaMo

By: Laura Zarrin, on 11/4/2013
Blog: Creative Whimsies (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: sketch, PiBoIdMo 2013, SkADaMo 2013, Add a tag

I've jumped in with both feet this month by joining PiBoIdMo (brainchild of the lovely Tara Lazar) and SkADaMo (started by the lovely Linda Silvestri) this month. I'm keeping it loose and low pressure. I'm already sketching everyday and I'm really excited about coming up with more book ideas. Last year's PiBoIdMo finally got me writing and I now have a finished dummy out in the world as well as two more in the works.

I'll try to post sketches daily.