By: Scott E Franson,
on 7/22/2016
Tree Elf | I discovered this little tree elf today when creating the post-it-doodle-a-day. He just emerged in a shy friendly way. There may be a story here. He has been playing in my head most of the day.
By: Alina Chau,
on 8/28/2014
Creature Colors
by Andrew Zuckerman
Chronicle Books 3/01/2014
978-1-4521-1668-6 / 987-1-4521-1667-9
Age 2 to 4 18 pages
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“Learn the rainbow with red snakes, orange fish, and yellow birds. Learn to count as two scorpions fight, four penguins waddle, and nine ants work. Andrew Zuckerman’s vivid pictures of fascinating animals from around the world will enthrall young readers and teach basic colors and numbers in a celebration of nature in two books that bring the wildly successful photographer’s work to a whole new audience. The up-close and personal photos of everyone’s favorite animals make these board books perfect educational tools for any child, and stunning works of art for animal lovers of all ages.”
Review
Creature Colors – The creatures represent ten different colors. Red snake), blue (parakeet), yellow (canary) are the primary colors and can make any other color. Green (frog), orange (bird), and purple make the secondary colors. Purple is not in the book. Black (bear), and white (snow owl), when blended in to any color will produce differing shades of that color. In addition to the primary, partial secondary, and the shading colors, the author adds the colors pink(flamingo), brown (seahorse), and gray (elephant).
Creature Numbers - Here, different animals than in the Creature Color book represent the numbers one to ten. I really like and appreciate that in Creature Numbers each animal is identified on the page. There is 1 kangaroo, 2 tigers, and 3 chimpanzees. In addition, the kangaroo is jumping, the tigers are playing, and the chimpanzees are running. The child will not only learn to count from 1 to 10, but will learn a new animal, and an action word on each spread. There are macaws, penguins, sheep, fish, and two animals identified by a body part rather than a name. The shark is fins and a spider is legs. I do not know why that is, unless the idea of 5 sharks or 5 spiders was creepy (I agree with the spider, where even one is creepy to me. No sense scaring anyone.)
The photographs are magnificent portraits of these wild animals. Only thing close to these would be an actual trip to the wild. Kids will love these pictures and will quickly decide on a favorite. Each animal is photographed against a white background, eliminating anything that might draw the child’s eye and attention away from the animal. According to Chronicle Books: “. . . Zuckerman utilizes a multitude of platforms to produce work that is systematically executed, conceptually based, and democratically presented. Minimalist in nature, Zuckerman aims to create atmospheres of clarity and neutrality to facilitate the viewer’s access to the material.”
The Creature board book series also includes Creature Sounds 
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Adult books include Creature
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Kids will enjoy these animals, all expertly photographed by Andrew Zuckerman, a critically acclaimed filmmaker and photographer. Each book is an interesting way for children to learn numbers, colors, sounds, and baby animals, in addition to ABC’s with the larger edition of the Creature series. The pages are thick, making them easier for little fingers to turn without tearing. The glossy coating will easily let you wipe off a spot of jelly—ask me, I “tested” this feature. The smaller size is perfect for little laps.
If your child is fascinated with animals, there is no better way to introduce him or her to both the skills needed for kindergarten and a variety of animals. The children’s Creature series is a great introduction to the grand animal photography of Andrew Zuckerman at a fraction of the cost of his larger books.
CREATURE COLORS & CREATURE NUMBERS. Photography copyright © 2014 by Andrew Zuckerman. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Chronicle Books, San Francisco, CA.
Learn more about Creatures HERE.
Purchase any of the Creature series at Amazon—B&N—BookDepository—Chronicle Books—your local bookstore.
Also available on iTunes.
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Meet photographer Andrew Zuckerman at his website: http://www.andrewzuckerman.com/
Find amazing kids books at the Chronicle Books website: http://www.chroniclebooks.com/titles/kids-teens
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By: Dain Fagerholm,
on 3/19/2013
By: Dain Fagerholm,
on 3/8/2013
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| ©2013 Dain Fagerholm |
By: Dain Fagerholm,
on 3/1/2013
 |
| ©2013 Dain Fagerholm |
By: Kevin Levell,
on 3/28/2012
Here's a commission I recently completed. The brief was simple, a 21st Birthday; Sidrah (the birthday girl) hugging Sulley.
Interestingly (or not) in my old life as a toy designer, I drew Sulley from Monsters Inc. a hell of a lot - I even sculpted him to be made into a pen. So I was very familiar with the character already.
Here's my sculpt, for that pen. This is one of a small number of casts that I still own out of numerous characters I sculpted during my 12 odd years.
Again, interestingly, or not, as the case may be, sculpting the character to look right with all that fur and so that it would come out of an injection mold tool was, in places, a bit tricky...
Here's the pen, as was available with Smarties as I recall.
As was often the case, the sculpting I had done, for some reason got over worked in the production piece, leaving the finished article looking less like the character than the sculpt that I had struggled to get approved by Disney/Pixar's licensing department.
Looking back at this, I'm surprised by how naff it really is. That was the nature of the beast though, cheap give-aways, by their very definition are a bit naff.
Let's not delve too deeply into my murky past as a toy designer now though. Let us instead focus on, as has becoming increasingly the case with my posts, the process stuff (for this commission).
The sketch work, which I will admit got jiggered about with in photoshop once I scanned it. In fact I totally reworked the likeness. Also adding a sketch-up model of a suitable door that I bunged together very quickly... I still like the flexibility that a sketch-up model gives, should I need to reposition the camera for a different view, I don't have to work out the perspective again... some might think it overkill or even cheating, but, I'll never have to draw a door again and worry that the perspective is wrong.
4 Stars CONGRATULATIONS on your acceptance to Scary School! The drawbridge lowers at 7:30 a.m. and classes begin at 8:00. Your homeroom teacher, Ms. Fang, will provide you with textbooks, garlic, and goblin repellent. If you are late, you will have to report to detention with a hungry T.rex, so please be on time and [...]
Mi Blog ha estado olvidado, pero ha empezado un nuevo año (hace rato, ya lo sé) y espero actualizarlo, al menos una vez a la semana. Han pasado muchas cosas que me han mantenido desconectada, entre ellas: construir una casa, ahora estoy viviendo en el campo, lejos de la ciudad, hay mucho verde a mi alrededor y estoy acompañada por mis perros, gatos y mi novio. En resumen ha sido un cambio maravilloso, pero hemos trabajado mucho en la casa y no he tenido mucho tiempo de concentrarme en mis proyectos personales.
Esta ilustración es del año pasado de Noviembre, pero no la había publicado. Fue hecha para una convocatoria de la página 27pm.net, que es un proyecto colectivo de ilustradores, para su exposición “Mundos desconocidos”. Las fotografías son de Natalia Uribe, gracias Naty.
My Blog has being kind of forgotten, but a new year has begun (long time ago, I know) and I hope to update it at least once a week. Lots of things have happen that have kept me away, like: building a house, I now live in the country, far from the city, there is a lot of green around me and I am accompanied by my dogs, cats and my boyfriend. Briefly its been a wonderful change, but we have been working a lot on the house, and I haven´t had much time to concentrate on my personal projects.
This is an illustration I did last year on November, but I hadn´t publish it. It was made for a web page called 27pm.net, that is a project of a collective of illustrators, for it exhibit “Mundos desconocidos” (Unknown Worlds). The photograph is from Natalia Uribe, thanks Naty.
By: Kevin Levell,
on 9/30/2011
...awry?
I was doodling, this is what happened.
What the hell is it?
Its been so looong, but lost of things have been happening, good things. But now things are back to normal, almost normal. This is my latest illustration for They Draw & Cook, for the cooking 4 kids contest. Hope you enjoy it and you should really try this one, its delicious.
Ha pasado mucho tiempo, pero muchas cosas han estado pasando, cosas buenas. Pero ahora las cosas están un poquito mas normales. Esta es mi última ilustración para They Draw & Cook para el concurso de cocinando para niños. Ojalá les guste y deberían intentar esta, es deliciosa.
By: Scott E Franson,
on 8/16/2011
Octopiguin and his pal Owl | He is a cross between a penguin, octopus with 7 appendages and a pig with a three-horned owl as a pal.
By: Scott E Franson,
on 8/9/2011
By: Scott E Franson,
on 8/8/2011
Humming is the first of an experiment creating characters with the style I have used for doodling and the A-line series. I am working on their form now. My doodles feel like dead animals for scientific examination. I am hoping along the way that I can begin to add life to these creatures that will be able to inhabit a story.
By: Kevin Levell,
on 7/12/2011
Something for A Little Bit Bunny. Coloured version there.
Will Somebody Get This Big Walking Carpet Out of My Way?
By: Kevin Levell,
on 5/21/2011
It's unfinished, it's probably not very funny, but there's no way I'll get something finished up in time... so here's a sketch of what I would have done for Blue Whale over on A Little Bit Bunny.
I'll say it again, Google Sketchup is a an incredible resource... for this piece, I wanted to do one of the classic size comparisons... so I popped along to the sketch-up warehouse and hey presto, some kind soul has already done 90% of the hard work... so thank you Chris for your routemaster bus model, very helpful.
By: Kevin Levell,
on 4/22/2011
Over on the A Little Bit Bunny Blog, I'm late in the month of the Toad...
Initially I was going to do a Sagbelly, from an Episode of the classic Judge Dredd epic "The Judge Child". I got pretty close to a finished piece in photoshop... I was trying out an all digital approach... 
...but then I remembered, I'd already done a Judge Dredd piece over there very recently!
Then I experimented with the idea of those psychedelic Toads... but toads are such weird looking creatures anyway, doing any sort of twist was causing me a headache...
If in doubt, go with a joke.
So, if you wanna see what I sketched out really quickly this morning...you know what to do!
Fantasy Book Reviews
Picture Books
1) Where The Wild Things Are -This picture book by Maurice Sendak and a very popular book. I highly recommend it if you did not read it yet. The book is a classic and has been for years. It was published originally in 1963 and won the 1964 Caldecott Medal for most distinguished picture book of the year. When a boy named Max misbehaves his mother sends him to his room where his fantastic journey begins. After his journey he comes home to discover that barely any time had passed even though his trip seemed to take place a very long time. This book is a wonderful read not only for children but adults as well. It explores the possibilities of other worlds and so much more.
2) The Egg- This picture book by M.P Robertson is less known, but also a great read. It was published in 2001 by Dial books. It is about a boy named George, who one day discovers a huge egg under one of his barn chickens. When the egg is warmed and hatches a dragon is born. It is then when George's adventure begins. His adventure takes him for a special training and eventually to another world where dragons live. The book has amazing illustrations and a great fantasy story line that any child or adult will enjoy. It is a great read for everyone. Make sure to look for this book and to share it with your children in the classroom or by a sizzling fire.
3) Sweep Dreams- This picture book came out in 2005. It is by Nancy Willard and Illustrated by Mary Grandpre. It was published by Little Brown and company. It is about a man who fell in love with a magical broom. The mystery started when the lady at the register had no idea where this broom was from. Since it had no cost on it she gave it to the man as a gift. The man never used the broom to sweep and this made her sick. As soon as started using her to sweep the floors and etc.. the broom became very happy and danced outside in the street. A bad man saw it and kidnapped her. As the book goes on many magical adventures take place. I believe children will get right into the story. The book has all kinds of wonderful pictures that almost everyone will enjoy. Please pick up a copy.
Middle Readers
1) The Phantom Tollbooth- I read this wonderful book back in elementary school. It was written Norton Juster and illustrated by Jules Feiffer who I had the pleasure to meet and talk to a few months ago. It came out from Random House in 1961. I love this classical book that teaches many things to children. It is about a boy named Milo who is bored of everything in his life. One day a tollbooth mysteriously appears in his room. Milo drives through it in his toy car because he has nothing better to do. This leads him to a different world. It is here that Milo's whole view of life changes. he takes on several amazing quests and meets fantastic creatures including a ticking watch dog named Tock. I loved this classic fantasy book as a young lad and I truly believe your son or daughter will as well.
2) The Book of Time Trilogy- I got a chance to read this Trilogy on my trip to FL. You can look back at my older posts to read more about it. It includes three books: The Book of Time, The Gate of Days and The Circle of Gold. They are by Gullaume Prevost and were translated by William Rodarm. The books originally published by Gallimard Jeunnesse in 2006, 2007 and 2008. The English- language translations were published by Arthur A. Levine books in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Cheryl Klein was the wonderful editor who worked on this wonderful Fantasy Trilogy. The books are about Faulkner family. They could be any ordinary family on the outside, but they have many secrets. Sam Faulkner a 13 year old boy discovers a sec
By: Kevin Levell,
on 3/8/2011
This month's chosen creature on A Little Bit Bunny is the Bat.
What the hell has this cruddy sketch of a snowspeeder got to do with it I hear you ask... well, you can see for yourself by clicking here!
By: Kit Grady,
on 2/16/2011
Such a busy time. I'm working on a few new personal projects, directing a few submissions, and taking time to focus on several things I want to improve.
By: Kevin Levell,
on 11/30/2010
I've just done an Artswap with a good pal and long time supporter of mine Graeme Neil Reid. A while ago, Graeme was doing a series of Ghostbuster illustrations and I asked if he was doing a Sigourney Weaver as Zuul, could I have the original in return for an illustration by me...
I'm chuffed to say he was up for it and chose a very broad topic of "Characters from Hammer and Universal Horror movies"... I have to confess to a soft spot for Frankenstein's monster (one of the first things I ever shared on this blog was a "Frankie"). So it was long over due to do another... this time I tried to capture Boris Karloff in his career defining role as the monster...
I hope Graeme likes the illustration when he finally receives it (weather permitting), and I look forward to the Gatekeeper arriving in due course!
Thanks Graeme!
By: John,
on 11/7/2010
Caped Kimkao
I love this Tumblr of creature concept art: Creature Journal. I had to do some Internet digging to discover the artist’s name: Mark A. Facey.
Artists: put your names on your websites. Or do you not want to be contacted for work?
By: Claudio Rodriguez Valdes,
on 11/7/2010
If you like what you are seeing dont forget to check out my blog:
By: Kevin Levell,
on 9/1/2010
Part of the reason behind a drought of posts is because I've (finally) got my head down on Corvus!
I don't want to show too much too soon, so here are some inked sketches of crows and or ravens... Done whilst at the second meet-up session for Cambridge based comic creators inaugurated by the hugely talented Emma Vieceli.
By: Kevin Levell,
on 8/6/2010
Page 33 of Fractal Friction is up.
It features a massive Red Dragon... you know what to do!
Her facebook post reads 'One of the most epic presents ever :D'. I think that says it all. She is utterly spoilt and very hard to please, but you managed and made her a very, very happy birthday girl :-)
Thank you so much Kev. This is one of the most epic presents I have ever received. You're an absolute genius. Hope you Vicky and Ted are good :)