This illustration is near and dear to my heart. It has SUCH such nostalgic value for me. I did this back when I was studying art licensing as a career option
way back when, and this was one of my first designs I did specifically with licensing in mind that I really felt that "a-ha" moment when you know you are on to something good!
I love the concept — the cats in picture frames, the stories the photos tell, and then the 'larger picture' the image also tells (are they a family?). You do see variations on this idea here and there these days. But when I first did this piece, I had not seen it anywhere else myself and I knew I'd done something really unique.. So that is a little bit of a point of pride. :D
Anyway, I reworked the concept earlier this year. I tried it out in another medium, and also with a bit of a different focus and execution. It just goes to illustrate how much this concept still speaks to me. I think it's got legs, there are places you can go with it. Years later, this particular execution, I can tell now, is a bona-fide sentimental favorite of mine. I really never get tired of it. I like to tell an open ended narrative with one piece, but also do something decorative at the same time—something you'd want to look at every day, something you can find something new in, over and over again. That, really, is what I love to accomplish! High fun factor, no boredom factor. Makes me happy! You can check out Family Photos on stuff
here.
In my family, this is a special birthday week. My mother and
One of my sisters each celebrate birthdays three days apart, and this year, it's happening this week! CHEERS and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to BOTH of them!!! XXXOOO!!!
So after some worry I decided to ink with the good old
Koh I Noor Rapidograph. A tool I've struggled with in the past. I tried using Rapiographs while in college but I insisted in using the ink I had used for my crowquills, FW Speedball Acrylic India ink, which was too thick for the technical pen, too thick sometimes for the dip pens, and it would clog within moments of use. This time around I'm using
Rapidograph ink which flows really smoothly from the pen. I'm on the second page and it's going great. I can sit there for ages and no pen dipping or burnt out Micron markers.
Above is panel one from page two, I'm hoping to be well into page three by tonight.
A subway sketch of a girl who spent a crazy amount of time putting make up on. She was kind of fascinating, looking like someone out of the 1950's. Not in a dress-up retro way but in a sort of hard to define, well put together way.She helped me in trying to draw things more simply, looking for shapes and patterns rather than details and lines.
Henry woke us up at about 2 AM this morning and I just got up and started working. It's 7 AM now so I'm a bit wonky.
I'm just finishing up inks on page one of Maddy Kettle and I'll start in page two. I'm also thinking about colour. I'm not sure how to colour it yet. I'm going to do an experiment with painting on acetate...
The first page was inked with a .25 width rapidograph ( the brown one ) and it's going really well, it gives me the clean, even line I'm looking for.
Members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club are invited to a manuscript critique telession tonight at 7:00 CST. Manuscripts must be submitted for tonight’s critique by noon (CST) today.
The really great part about these manuscript critique telesessions is that writers get to TALK to other writers about their work, not simply read comments or suggestions written in the margins of the manuscript.
Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club right now and submit your manuscript for tonight’s critique telesession by noon (CST).
Later today, you’ll receive an email with the call in information you’ll need in order to take part in tonight’s session.
Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club here.
Childlrens Writers Coaching Club,
Cwcc,
manuscript critique,
writing for children
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Kathy,
I remember when you first came to me for art licensing consultation, you had this small group of illustrations of cats and dogs. We talked about all that these illustrations could be for product designs. MMM, maybe I was really on to something way back then? I told you!
Hey Carol, why yes, you certainly did give the concepts your seal of approval didn't you! :D