I’ve started making small watercolour scenes in matchboxes. This is my first try: Paris in a box
Filed under: paris
I’ve started making small watercolour scenes in matchboxes. This is my first try: Paris in a box
The precurser to the Archipelago series. I'd mislaid it but it turned up today.
People always have ones and I never do. I always just try my best to do what I can do. This year, however, I have a few.
1) to go back to publishing 2 books instead of 1. I've been feeling better these days (knock on wood) so I think I can do it. I still have my ups and downs but the downs seem manageable.
2) to publish my bully project
3) to figure out how to make my electricity graphic novel - maybe not graphic novel - idea happen once and for all
4) to be a neater more organized person. I AM organized when I want to be (kind of OCD in fact)... but only in certain parts of my life - can I stop losing my keys and dropping things and being a mess? We shall see.
5) to go to the gym more consistently
6) to post on the fireside chat more often
I could make this list longer but that's enough.
As you continue to write, do you notice any other opportunities to return to Montgomery for inspiration?
From a technical standpoint, I continue to look at her writing as inspiration for writing description (most recently, I've been studying how she writes sunsets) but her overall work and her thoughts as an author also inspire me.A lot of children's/young adult books these days are "dark" and many feel as if that gives them more weight and seriousness. So every once and a while, I'll worry if my work is not dark enough. But then I will think of the Anne books and Montgomery herself, who (in response to reviews of her work) wrote, "..one which sneered at my ‘sentiment.’ The attitude of some English critics towards anything that savors of sentiment amuses me. It is to them as the proverbial red rag to a bull. They are very silly. Can’t they see that civilization is foundeBy: Chuck Dillon, on 1/5/20120 Comments on odds and ends as of 1/1/1900Add a Comment
For the past year or so I have been the illustrator of Highlights High Five's monthly craft and cook spread. One thing that I have discovered while working on these is that it is deceivingly hard to draw someone pouring something. Most of the time I find myself acting out the action in a mirror or googling an action online but photos like that are hard to come by. Also, with drawing these steps I found that I was drawing lots and lots of bowls, spoons, and measuring cups which brings up an interesting point: Why is it that the things that we look at every single day are the most difficult to draw? Cartoonist Chris Ware said he draws an everyday object everyday which I think is a wonderful habit to get into.Anyway, posted here are some of the many craft and cooking steps I have drawn...
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Electroshock feels like feature film condensed into 8-and-a-half-minutes. Directed by five students (Hugo Jackson, Pascal Chandelier, Valentin Michel, Bastien Morteleque and Elliot Maren) at France’s ESMA School of the Arts (Ecole Supérieure des Métiers Artistiques), it’s a nicely paced spoof of superhero/geek culture.
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By: Claire Louise Milne, on 1/5/2012
Blog: Needle Book (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Add a tagI've been keeping busy with the Spoonflower contests and learning so much while doing them. My Bluebell field fabric was #2 a couple of weeks ago and my Weekend Bread fabric was #7 this week! So now they're both for sale in my Spoonflower shop.
The current contest was good practice making a set of coordinates. I called mine French Seaside, and it includes a polka dot, a stripe, seagulls and a French yacht pattern. The set needed to include a dots and a stripe print, but I also created an extra print of a striped beach chair and made them each as separate prints to go along with the four-in-one coordinate fabric.
Sometimes you get caught up in making the illustrations, but I always like to make sure the result is a fabric I would actually like to sew with. And even better if I can picture a specific project for it. In this cases I was inspired by beach houses in soft grey and cream, like the beautiful one (Shell Cottage) in the last Harry Potter movie. If I was decorating a beach house I would like prints like these.
1 Comments on Happy New Year! New fabric designs..., last added: 1/11/2012Display Comments Add a CommentBy: Claire Louise Milne, on 1/5/2012
Blog: Needle Book (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Add a tagBy: Kayleen West - Children Writer/Illustrator, on 1/5/2012I've been keeping busy with the Spoonflower contests and learning so much while doing them. My Bluebell field fabric was #2 a couple of weeks ago and my Weekend Bread fabric was #7 this week! So now they're both for sale in my Spoonflower shop.
The current contest was good practice making a set of coordinates. I called mine French Seaside, and it includes a polka dot, a stripe, seagulls and a French yacht pattern. The set needed to include a dots and a stripe print, but I also created an extra print of a striped beach chair and made them each as separate prints to go along with the four-in-one coordinate fabric.
Sometimes you get caught up in making the illustrations, but I always like to make sure the result is a fabric I would actually like to sew with. And even better if I can picture a specific project for it. In this cases I was inspired by beach houses in soft grey and cream, like the beautiful one (Shell Cottage) in the last Harry Potter movie. If I was decorating a beach house I would like prints like these.
0 Comments on Happy New Year! New fabric designs... as of 1/1/1900Add a CommentI have launched into 2012 with great enthusiam creativly and spent some time on my much-needed journaling sketchbook. This and the play time on my Ipad has been fun to say the least. I have my 2012 goal list at my right and I have used my first week in January well. The kids and I have cooked up a storm and I have finished a logo for my hubby who is to start a personal training business this year
0 Comments on Christmas Card Illustration for this coming Christmas as of 1/1/1900Add a CommentBy: Brooke Boynton, on 1/5/2012
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JacketFlap tags: Add a tagBy: Jarrett J. Krosoczka, on 1/5/2012While reading my Google reader early this morning, I came across a post by author Lee Wind about the Great Comment Challenge. After reading his post I decided I would like to read more about it and possibly sign up. So I followed his advice and went over to the Mother Reader blog. The Great...
Add a CommentBy: Thomas James, on 1/5/2012
My comments on the copy edited manuscript for Lunch Lady and the Picture Day Peril are in, which brings us that much closer to the finished book. The copy edits come back digitally now and I gave the sketches a once over on the iPad. (A great way to see them with fresh eyes.)
How very futuristic.0 Comments on Copy editing LL8 while reviewing the sketches on an iPad as of 1/1/1900Add a CommentBy: Editpus Rex, on 1/5/2012
(Illustration by Thomas James)
Looking for ways to revitalize your business this year?
Check out this article that EFII’s Editor Thomas James recently wrote for the Agency Access blog that features 3 Illustrators who have taken matters into their own hands to create their own success.
Also, be sure to check out his critically-acclaimed eBook and Audiobook, 15 Steps to Freelance Illustration for an even more focused approach to building your freelance Illustration business.
0 Comments on 3 Illustrators Who Are Taking Control of Their Businesses as of 1/1/1900Add a CommentBy: Ingrid Sundberg, on 1/5/2012So here's a recent drawing of J.Lo from The True Meaning of Smekday.
2 Comments on Oh Yeah, I Have a Blog., last added: 1/5/2012Display Comments Add a CommentBy: Ingrid Sundberg, on 1/5/2012
Earlier this week I talked about the hot picture books of this holiday season, and today I want to jump into the older age groups of Jr. Fiction, Middle Grade, and Young Adult. Although there were lots of spectacular individual books that sold well this holiday (and I’ll get into that in another post) I can’t help but deny the fact that the big sellers are the books that come in a series. Parents, Grandparents, kids, they all go crazy for __________ (insert child’s favorite book series here).
I have a few theories as to why series sell so well:
1) When a kid gets excited about a book, they don’t just have a passing interest. They are PASSIONATE! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: kids run, scream, and jump for joy when the next book in a favorite series hits the shelves. They’re ravenous! And any parent who sees a kid get this excited over a BOOK (rather than…say, um, Angry Birds) has the good sense to buy them the rest of the series for Christmas. And they do.
2) Book box-sets make great gifts! I found that many adults were looking to buy two or more books (per kid) for the holidays. Nothing makes shopping easier than the suggestion of a great new series that has a box set. In fact, most customers asked for box sets rather than the first book of a series. It’s the holidays, they want to splurge a little and get a nice gift!
3) Book series are a lot like your favorite TV show. After you’ve read the first book (or watched a few episodes of a TV show) you’re invested. You know the world. The characters feel like your best friends and you want to hang out with them. You already know what to expect and don’t have to start from scratch with a book that could be good…or could be a total dud.
Okay so, here’s what was HOT in Series this holiday season:
- The new Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney.
- Susan Collin’s The Hunger Games is still selling like we are in the games and our lives depend on it.
- With the release of Inheritance by Christopher Paolini (the final installment of the Eragon Series) these books were a common request.
- The Lost Hero series by Rick Riordan.
- The Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz.
- Steampunk is gaining traction with both The Clockwork Prince by Casandra Clare and the Leviathan Series by Scott Westerfeld doing really well.
- The Rangers Apprentice series by John Flanagan.
- Origami Yoda and Darth Paper Strikes Back by Tom Angleberger
- As for in Early Series and Jr. Fiction, we are always (year round) selling tons of books in the Magic Tree House series (Mary Pope Osborne). Other popular series include The Rainbow Fairies (Daisy Meadows), Ivy and Bean (Annie Barrows), the Warriors series (Erin Hunter), and t
2 Comments on Secrets of a Children’s Bookseller: Series Make Spectacular Gifts!, last added: 1/11/2012Display Comments Add a Comment
Earlier this week I talked about the hot picture books of this holiday season, and today I want to jump into the older age groups of Jr. Fiction, Middle Grade, and Young Adult. Although there were lots of spectacular individual books that sold well this holiday (and I’ll get into that in another post) I can’t help but deny the fact that the big sellers are the books that come in a series. Parents, Grandparents, kids, they all go crazy for __________ (insert child’s favorite book series here).
I have a few theories as to why series sell so well:
1) When a kid gets excited about a book, they don’t just have a passing interest. They are PASSIONATE! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: kids run, scream, and jump for joy when the next book in a favorite series hits the shelves. They’re ravenous! And any parent who sees a kid get this excited over a BOOK (rather than…say, um, Angry Birds) has the good sense to buy them the rest of the series for Christmas. And they do.
2) Book box-sets make great gifts! I found that many adults were looking to buy two or more books (per kid) for the holidays. Nothing makes shopping easier than the suggestion of a great new series that has a box set. In fact, most customers asked for box sets rather than the first book of a series. It’s the holidays, they want to splurge a little and get a nice gift!
3) Book series are a lot like your favorite TV show. After you’ve read the first book (or watched a few episodes of a TV show) you’re invested. You know the world. The characters feel like your best friends and you want to hang out with them. You already know what to expect and don’t have to start from scratch with a book that could be good…or could be a total dud.
Okay so, here’s what was HOT in Series this holiday season:
- The new Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney.
- Susan Collin’s The Hunger Games is still selling like we are in the games and our lives depend on it.
- With the release of Inheritance by Christopher Paolini (the final installment of the Eragon Series) these books were a common request.
- The Lost Hero series by Rick Riordan.
- The Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz.
- Steampunk is gaining traction with both The Clockwork Prince by Casandra Clare and the Leviathan Series by Scott Westerfeld doing really well.
- The Rangers Apprentice series by John Flanagan.
- Origami Yoda and Darth Paper Strikes Back by Tom Angleberger
- As for in Early Series and Jr. Fiction, we are always (year round) selling tons of books in the Magic Tree House series (Mary Pope Osborne). Other popular series include The Rainbow Fairies (Daisy Meadows), Ivy and Bean (Annie Barrows), the Warriors series (Erin Hunter), and t
0 Comments on Secrets of a Children’s Bookseller: Series Make Spectacular Gifts! as of 1/1/1900Add a CommentSarah Dillard, on 1/5/2012By:
Blog: Sarah's Sketch Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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JacketFlap tags: Add a tagBy: David Hohn, on 1/5/2012Okay, I've been slacken' big time. I've made a goal to sketch more so hopefully that means you'll see a lot more stuff on the ole blog. If I'm not doing enough just let me know and I'll try harder. Here is today's doodle.
5 Comments on First post of 2012, last added: 1/14/2012Display Comments Add a CommentBy: ANGIE ROZELAAR, on 1/5/2012
I've been playing around with new ways to use my images (They're not just for books 'ya know!)
And spent the last couple weeks trying them out as wooden jigsaw puzzles. The cool kind, that were popular in the 1920's. This is one of the early efforts. Pretty happy with how it turned out. This is a 48 piece puzzle. Going to go for a 100 piece one next!!0 Comments on Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle as of 1/1/1900Add a CommentBy: johnmanders, on 1/5/2012
It's SO windy here in Normandy today, the Highlight of my day has been sitting inside my warm studio painting this little character!
Happy New Year everyone : )8 Comments on IF: Highlight, last added: 1/6/2012Display Comments Add a Comment
My pal Mary Nethery alerted me to this latest review of The Famous Nini.
0 Comments on Nice review of Famous Nini as of 1/23/2012 10:27:00 AMAdd a Comment
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Thanks hedwig! They are so fun to make too Hope your son loved Paris!
Please make your ‘mushroomboy’ scene! I’d love to see it!! I’m off to visit the shop you mentioned now…
Big best wishes, linda xx
wow, creative (~_~)
thanks zendictive!!