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Stacy, you put this in your portfolio and you'll be raking in the bucks. More than a couple of times I've been told that my style is... what's the polite word that's been used... "Retro."

These are cute! If these are for kids, they're gonna love 'em.

The brush work is just awesome.

Does the Japanese character mean anything or is it made up? If it's made up, you'd better check and make sure it's not a bad word or something.

What's cool about this is that it's both Manga style and Stacy style. It's Stanga! To me, there's a boringness that comes from Manga work where the artist has known no other influence.

Sweeeet. I agree with ted. Stanga is the %$#@!

-Wes

Ted, that Chinese symbol means "monkey."
I've been practicing writing/drawing Chinese symbols lately. I love the look of them. I drew my wife's Valentine's Day card in Chinese this year. It looked very authentic and artsy.

Thanks on the Stanga comments, dudes!

This is absolutely wonderful! I can't say enough! It is a real attention getter. . .It's going to bring you lots of work!

Thanks so much, Sherry!

You know Paige this illustration kind of has a Richard Scarry feel to it. (Mr Paint Pig)It is just wonderful! It has so much to say. . .it tells so many stories all at once.

The final painting is perfect!

TY again Sherry! My scanner is going dead I think--my scans are all becoming blurry so this scan didn't come out very well (darn).

Yes it does look a bit like Richard Scarry - I used to LOVE his books as a kid. Enjoyed trying to find the worm in all his pictures.

I was going to mention Mr. Scary as well, but I think it has more of a Paige Keiser going on here. As usual I love the sketch as much as the watercolor. Each and every little creature and person has something wonderful to do and the entire piece is worth a hundred glances.

It also makes me think quite fondly of 'Lowly the worm.' Do you have a secret animal to hide in all your illustrations?

Sherry Rogers yes its tre, i agree with you. But do you know that
since the golden age of automobiles in the early 1900s, the American public has been fascinated by the elegant, daring, or just plain outrageous designs of
the limousines and town cars in which royalty, movie stars,
and captains of industry are driven.

Hey...Same to you, Buddy!

Thanks, Ted.


-Wes

Ted, you post way more than we do and you're posting some amazing stuff.

Wes, you are a workhorse, man.
I don't know any agent or rep can look at you and feel nothing but total confidence in your ability to produce beautiful artwork and meet deadlines.

The tub is full o' talent!

The cards are cute! Too bad they didn't go for the egg car. I think it's cool!

Adorable!! Love you work, chickengirl
!

these are so darn cute! I really love the eggmobile!

It is very cool, sometimes just when you think a director or client will love it, they want something else!

So fun!!! I really love the last one, even if the client didn't go for it. You should definitely make time to illustrate it as well. What I wouldn't give to take a ride in an egg-mobile. Haha! Well, the other two are great too. Splendid colors and critters. Terrific work as always.

Well I wish you a (belated) Happy Easter too. I'm sure it was lovely. :)

Cheers,
Theresa

So that car goes from 0-20 in .34 seconds, right. Only problem is that it max's out at 30 mph. Theses are cute! Happy Easter Chickengirl.

What a wonderful article. Congrats! Its great to see such a huge article covering illustrators in the paper.

Ohh... thanks for posting this article. It means a lot to me as I'm about to moving from Maracaibo (Venezuela) to Montreal and I hope to be a professional illustrator someday :)

Thanks Susan!

Great Susan! I don't think you sound cranky - what you said is so true and very important.

Excellent, Susan! You don't sound cranky, just telling it like it is. It IS like how you said, people don't understand it's hard work. Oh, and I was surprised to see my name in the initial listing! I never hough of myself as a Quebec-based illustrator since I straddle the continent. Thanks for posting this!

Congratulations Susan, it's nice to be recognized this way. I agreed exactly with what you said - I thought you expressed yourself really well.

Wow this is just wonderful! I can't wait to see it painted! This is one of your best yet! I mean I love all your work. . .but this one is just great!

Thanks Sherry! I think I might have rushed into this one too much--should have spent more time on the sketching and planning. Ah well.

Hi! I love this work!!!

Cute, Jannie! The bunny turned out well. : )

Oops , used a weird account.
I'm roz. Againg...adorable!

awww this is so adorable!

Thanks Jannie!!
Hey, the cards are coming soon!! I didn't forget about them! I've just come out from under my "rock" so to speak! :)

Hey! nice piece. I like the clouds a lot. they make me wish more of the painting had that quality to it.
I agree about the outline, I don't think I hate it but I don't love it either. I think you should probably go without it or give it a lot more variation.
I think the trees in the foreground seem awfully close (large) and are making jack seem not quite as high up as he is.
Most, I would like to see more specifics in certain areas. More drawing behind the painting. folds in the shirt/sweater, serious root structures and plant craziness at the base of the stalk, etc.
I don't know if that fits in with the style you were going for, but I think that's what I would do. Nice to see your new work!

I really like this piece! I'm going to have to disagree with Bob. Even though the clouds stray towards the realistic I don't think there is any need to pull the rest of the painting that way. If you went that root you would not only get into wrinkles and vines but also into a realistic manner of climbing/gripping the plant. I love that Jack is sort of floating atached by his elbow. It makes sense in a child's world. Childrens books are best with then exist in a different reality of gravity and every other law you can think of. You're striking a really nice balance between interest and simple shapes. I think you should keep pushing the outlines of the plant (not on this piece. This piece is done. In the future) and the pattern of the quilt-like hills. Your work has been looking really polished for a while so I would suggest that you think about what it is that you really enjoy doing with a piece that usualy gets in the way or trips you up, then just run with it, even if it crashes and burns. What little tiny part of this piece secretly pleases you? Don't be afraid of veering away from what feels polished and solid. I think you'll find something that stamps the paintings "Courtney". You know what I mean?

Nice work! The mood/colors are solid. Its tough to crit work this good but I'll give it a try.

I think that while the clouds are painted well...they do not fit with the rest of the piece. The paint handling is speaking a different language. Also, Maybe try playing with the shapes of the clouds. There are a lot of similar patterns in there. Clouds can be useful for manipulating a composition. Use their random nature to be your friend. ;)

Keep up the good work!

Cheers!
Rich

Oh I went to RISD too. I was in the illo dept. 06'

I love this piece. I love the stylization that you are playing with, and I love your colors. I don't mind the outline around the beanstalk at all, in fact I rather like it. I think the outline in your pinnochio piece gets to be a little stiff, but I think it works here. My favorite thing about this painting is the rich reds in the shadows of the bean stalk and bushes, you should continue to play around with complimentary colors. My only criticism is that Jack's elbow looks more like a piece of paper folded over the stalk than an elbow. I understand you're not going to anatomic acuracy, but even within your stylized world it doesn't look like an elbow. Overall I love it.

Hello, I think your work is wonderful! I love the wool purse, and the flower is gorgeous. I also wish my craft room looked half as neat as yours! Several bombs have gone off in mine, and I've yet to clear through the debris!!

Like the previous comment, my little craft corner is a disaster right now and I am so envious of your beautiful space. It gives me some inspiration, though!

You have done a super job, I have a few of these cork boards lying around and if you don't mind I think I will take a lesson from you and do the same!

The bag is great and the lining fabric you chose is perfect for it. Love the corkboard idea, too!

lovely corkboard, claire!
i'd love to make one of these for our living area. i have a feeling it would help me be more organised if i posted little reminders to myself on one of these.
happy easter!

I'm getting ready to make a couple of lattice boards out of old corkboards--thanks for your instructions! You helped clarify my mind as to how to go about it!

Like the notice board... It is such a good spot for inspirational pictures!

I am madly in love with your new desk! and I love your blog, and your work is wonderful! Well done! :o)

Love your beautifully organised craft supplies! The cork board is great, and the collection of wicker and other storage boxes is lovely on display on the shelves.

Wow! Beautiful and so intricate! :)

Absolutely amazing! It's such a creative outlet for artists.

Glad you liked the pasta e ceci!!! And I didn't know that you lived in Ontario for so long!