Manelle Oliphant Illustration - [email protected]

I was sitting in artist alley at salt lake comic con fanX surrounded by fan art when I had the idea for this painting. Well, not this painting exactly but it was the beginning of an idea that led to this painting. Let me tell you how it happened.

I’ve never been able to pull off fan art. When I try to draw an established character, it always ends up looking exactly like the character already looked. So, you know, what was the point? For some reason, I thought of fan art only as an established character drawn in a different style or turned into a cat, which made it hard for me to want to create my own.

At conventions like Salt Lake Comic Con, I do alright. People like my stuff and they buy it, but not as much as people like and buy fan art.

Another Way To Draw Fan Art

But as I sat there behind my little table last March I realized that was silly. I needed to forget about drawing characters in my own way, and think in stories. I like stories and although I’ve tried to branch out recently, drawing narrative illustrations is my favorite thing.

So, in my head, I made up a story about what Rey and BB8 did the morning after they met. I sketched, and sketched and eventually got this. I think the image could have told the story better, but overall I feel good about it.

I’ll try selling prints of it at Salt Lake Comic Con in a few weeks, and we’ll see if it makes a difference in sales. If you’d like to buy one look for me in Artist Alley Purple 19. Or follow this link to buy one from the shop. 

 

 

 

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Manelle Oliphant Illustration - Illustrator and Writer

 

This interview on one fantastic week with J.A.W. Cooper was really inspiring to me, and from what I’ve seen on the facebook group I wasn’t the only person inspired. They talked about being deliberate about choosing your influences. Even to the point of keeping a written record of who they are and why. I have many artists whose work I admire, and many who I choose to inspire my work but I’ve never thought about making deliberate choices about this.

Lately I’ve been paying closer attention to how I draw hands and feet because Wylie Beckert does such an amazing job with this, and I’ve been trying to keep my watercolor looser like Joseph Zbukvic. I know I am doing this but I haven’t thought about where allowing these influence in would take me, and if I want to go there.

I think it’s time to focus on this a little bit more.

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Siren’s Song

A Short Story

By Manelle Oliphant

To Download This Story Click Here

Joseph stood on the ship’s deck where he’d served for the last three years and stared at the miniature painting his wife had sent. The picture showed his smiling two-year-old son in a sailor’s outfit.

“I show him your portrait and tell him about you every day. We are very excited you will be home soon,” her most recent letter had read.

Joseph smiled. The shortcut through the pass would allow them to be home in a few short weeks. He would see his wife and meet his son. Best of all he could now retire from the navy. The crew had made a fortune on this voyage. His percent plus the money he’d saved from his pay was enough to buy a small house.

The ship’s bell tolled and someone yelled, “Amar Pass ahead! Make yourself ready.”

Joseph stuffed the letter and miniature in his pocket as he ran toward the helm. Sailing through the pass required strict protocol. Every sailor must have their ears plugged and be tied to the ship. One man steered the ship with his hands tied to the helm. The pass’s smooth water held few hidden rocks, despite the high hills on either side. The pass itself was safe. Any danger came from the creatures who lived there.

Commander Weldmen would steer the ship, and Joseph’s assignment was to help him prepare. When Joseph arrived Weldmen handed him some rope. “Get on with things Midshipman. We don’t have long.”

“Yes sir.” Joseph took the rope and waited while Commander Weldmen plugged his ears with wads of cloth. Then he tied the Commander’s hands to the wheel. Weldmen nodded and Joseph ran to the main deck.

The pass was in view. The sight filled him with dread no matter how many times he’d seen it before. He took some rope from Billy, another Midshipmen, and tied himself to the railing. He double checked its tightness around his waist, and stuffed his ears with cotton cloth.

The only sound Joseph could hear as they entered the pass was the breathing inside his head. Huge boulders jutted up out of the water on either side of them. He looked toward the shoreline where the sirens sat.

They were ugly. They looked like women but green and blue scales covered their skin. Instead of legs they had long tails, which flopped in the water like a dying fish. When the ship steered close enough they bit at the sailors with their sharp teeth.

All the while they sang a song Joseph couldn’t hear. The song enchanted men to drown themselves. Stories told of only one man who heard the song and survived. His shipmates kept him from jumping overboard and he lived out the rest of his days in an asylum. Joseph shuttered when he thought about it.

The movement loosed the cotton in his left ear and it fell into the water. Horrified he watched it fall into the water, and the beauty of the song wrapped around his heart.

Joseph reached up and pulled the other plug from his ear. Waves of song flowed through him. The water, clouds, and rocks dazzled before his eyes. He looked at the singing women and sighed. Such beautiful women! His heart leaped in his chest when one smiled at him. Her teeth shined like pearls and her scales glistened in the sun. She waved him over. He waved back. He thought about feeling her cold skin and wet tail. He imagined putting his arm around her tiny waist and pulling her close. Would she let him give her a kiss?

He tried to jump over the railing but a rope tied around his waist stopped him. He remembered tying the rope but couldn’t understand the reason. There was no danger here. He grabbed at the knot with his fingers. It wouldn’t budge. Curse his knot tying skill. He pulled a knife from his pocket and sawed at his prison.

Someone grabbed his arm. Joseph looked up. Billy shook his head and reached for the knife. Joseph scowled and jerked it away. Wasn’t Billy his friend? Now, when he thought back, he remembered all the times Billy had betrayed him. Why hadn’t he seen it before?

Billy reached for the knife again. Joseph hit him with its handle. Billy’s nose started to bleed.

Joseph smiled. Serves him right. He finished sawing and jumped into the water.

Cold engulfed his whole body and a current pulled at his legs. The sensations invigorated his body. He’d never felt so alive. He kicked to the surface and looked around. The ship had passed him. He waved at the men who watched him from the poop deck. Silly fools, they would regret not taking this chance. He turned to the shore and spotted the flirt who smiled at him before. He grinned and swam toward her.

He ignored the current pulling at his legs, and imagined running his fingers through her long clammy hair. His muscles grew colder but rainbows danced off her scales as the sunlight hit them. He smiled again. His eyes had never beheld such a feast. He had never heard such a song. He ignored his body’s protests and swam closer. His whole purpose in life was to make this beautiful creature happy.

She was so close now. She smiled at him again with her beautiful arrow-like teeth. Inviting teeth. Oh, to kiss her mouth!

The current pulled at his legs again, he fought it, but his cold muscles protested. His head went under water. He kicked hard and resurfaced. He reached for her. She sang her song. He relaxed and sunk again. He looked up through the clear water. She grinned at him. Water filled his mouth. He didn’t fight. Water filled his nose. He breathed it in. He could still see her smile. He had made her happy. Now he knew every event in his life, good and bad, had happened to lead him to this blessed moment.

November 6, 1895

My Dear Mrs. Hansen,

I understand you have heard the news of your husband’s death. I write to offer you my deepest condolences. I served with your husband on the Greenfly for the last three years. He talked of you often, and was very proud of his son. He showed me the miniature you sent. He looks like a strong healthy boy who takes after his father. I was with him as he went overboard and I know he thought of you ‘til the last. Your husband was a good man, and a good friend. It was an honour to serve with him.

With deepest sympathies,

Midshipman William Smith

 

The End

 

Thanks for reading. If you enjoyed this book support the author and the creation of other ebooks like this at http://www.patreon.com/manelleoliphant

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My next story is all about ghosts. It is october after all. But thinking about ghosts led me to think about our histories. Genealogy or Family History has become the second most popular hobby in the US after gardening. I’ve dabbled in it some. Who doesn’t want to know where they came from  after all its a part of who we are.

But we come from more than just our ancestors, and as an artist we have our own geneology. Wether writer, artist. or mathmetician, we can’t help but be influenced by people that came before us. So I got to wondering who were my artist ancestors?

Lets Break it Down

First there is me.

My most influential teachers where Sydney Bowman my art teacher when I was high school age, and my teachers a BYU-Idaho where I got my art degree. Sydney introduced me to Michelangelo which led me to study other artists like Da Vinci, Whistler, The Impressionists and the Pre-Raphaelites.

My college teachers introduced me to the illustration side of art where I became a heavily influenced by more current illustrators like Lisbeth Zwerger, and Trina Schart Hyman,  and the illustrators of the golden age like J. C. Leyendecker, Arthur Rackham, and Kay Neilsen.

I’ve also been influenced more recently by my close illustration friends Shawna JC Tenney, Sherry Meidell, and Jennifer Eichelberger. So I suppose my artist pedigree chart would look like this.

 

Try it yourself. Here is a blank chart you can save and fill out. I’m sure this would work if you are writer, artist, or anything really. If you make one I’d love to see it. Post in comments and send me a link to your image, or tweet the image @manelleoliphant.

 

And don’t forget to download my new ghost story Midnight Ghost. 

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Manelle Oliphant Illustration - Children's book illustrator and writer

Look at these two drawings.

I’m working on sketches for Just in Time Book 4. These are for chapter 6. I drew the first one but it lacked the life it needed, so kept trying. In their basic elements they are the same. A spot illustration of little girl kissing a dog. Both figures are in profile and the eye level is strait on. So why is the second one so much better than the first? Watch the video and I’ll try to explain.

 

I drew the first sketch at the end of the day, I was tired and I just wanted to get it done. The next day after some rest I knew I could improve it. Seeing the problems in the first sketch really helped me as a jump off point to improve the drawing in the later sketch.

As you work on your own drawings keep these few tips in mind.
First:

This isn’t the middle ages and paper is CHEAP, Feel free to mess up a few pieces to get the drawing you want. Don’t let the fear of not getting it right the first time time keep you from trying.

Second:

Use your mistakes to help you improve the next drawing. In the case I scanned the old drawing into photoshop, made some changes, printed it, put a paper on top of the print out, drew some more, scanned it, messed with it, printed it and drew on top of it again.

Now I’ll send the sketch in for approval if the art director likes it we’ll see it in the book, but I may have to make even more tweaks before I can move on to the finished drawing.

Third:

Never forget becoming better at anything is a process. Trust it and don’t get frustrated if your not where you want to be yet. Just keep swimming and you’ll get there.

Do you use a similar approach in your own process? What does it take for you to get a sketch where you want it?

Just in Time Book 3 will be released May 20, 2014! Pre Order Your Copy Here!

The post How to Make Your Drawings Suck Less appeared first on Manelle Oliphant Illustration.

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After a summer slumber in blogland, I thought I'd wake things up a bit with a happy announcement. The Society of Illustrators in New York will be hosting their 32nd Annual Original Art Show this October. For those who do not know, here's a bit about the juried show from the SI website:

"Founded by Dilys Evans in 1980, the show celebrates the fine art of children’s book illustration. It has been sponsored by the Society of Illustrators for the past twenty-two years.  The selection process will be by a jury of outstanding illustrators, art directors, editors, and experts in the field of children’s publishing."

With that, I'm pleased to announce that my latest picture book, No Dogs Allowed, by Linda Ashman (2011, Sterling Children's Books), made the cut! After years of submissions, this has become the title that brings a whole other level of validation to my work.

...pat on the back to me...

I am so proud of it, and still I strive to want to do better. For now, I will bask in its success, show you a few pieces from its interior pages, and let you know that the Original Art Show opens Oct. 24 and runs through Dec. 22, 2012.  I'll post more news about it as the date approaches!   

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If you haven't been yet, go to your local B&N store and take a peek at the children's book wall.  I believe you will find my latest book, No Dogs Allowed, proudly displayed.  As for me, I'm bringing my camera, folding chair and giant foam #1 hand to watch it perform.  In the meantime, if you're stuck behind your computer, which you must be if you're reading this, check out Jenn Bertman's interview with me in my work lair on her blog: From the Mixed Up Files of Jennifer Bertman.   

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With this latest Picture Book ad, what this story might entail is up to the viewer.

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I had the honor of illustrating a poster for a fundraising event on Fire Island featuring Martha Wash, best known for singing "It's Raining Men" and the voice behind The Weather Girls. An icon for the gay community, the assignment serendipitously coincided with the legalizing of gay marriage here in New York.  I almost felt a part of history! The poster was art directed by Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez of Somos Arte.  It was a departure from my usual projects and a welcome change.  I enjoyed doing work for the "adult" world and hope to do more in the future.

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A ballet where the prima ballerina is a cat, the admiring audience a dog, an orchestra pit full of piggies, and you have my latest Color Me Puzzle from Mudpuppy!  This one's unique because it's double-sided.  On one side you get the full-color illustration, on the other, a black and white version of the same image, so that once you've assembled the piece you can color it.  You even get a nice set a of fat wipe-off crayons to boot!  How can you not be a fan of Mudpuppy? 

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Rolling out the big promo guns this summer.  The first one is a sneak peak of an interior spread from my upcoming book No Dogs Allowed (August 2, 2011, Sterling).  I'm also working on a few original pieces which I'll share with you once they hit the press.  Hope you like it!

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I am excited to finally have an advanced copy of my brand spankin' new book No Dogs Allowed!.  Its official release date is August 2, 2011.  It was a challenge to illustrate as the story is mostly told visually, with very few words.  The most exciting part is you can order an advanced copy online now.  Yay!     

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As you can see it's been a busy summer.  Can you tell by the Christmas-themed image?

Not that you would know since I haven't posted a lick all season.  But trust me, busy busy as a bee I have been.  Went through a major move from my home of ten and a half years (!!) to a bustling town closer to NYC.   I'm still unloading some things, constantly rearranging and organizing, and it goes a lot slower when you're carrying a load yourself.  

Yes, that's right, I'm sporting a new baby bump (don't what kind of load you were thinking)!  As of today I'm a week shy of seven months along and due right around Christmastime.  Here's an illustration I did for Amscan a bit ago to commemorate what I've been doing...you guessed it, Christmas shopping.  It's a bit different from what I normally do, but what's fun about Amscan is creating art in styles that aren't always your own, keeping things interesting.  Still I do like to put my own stamp on new styles.  

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I illustrated a series of books for Picture Window Books, written by Amanda Doering Tourville, about Friends with Disabilities, and am very pleased with the results, especially in the design and printing of the series.  If you have young friends or family members with Dyslexia, ADHD, Autism or Down Syndrome, these important books help children understand their peers who may be living with any of these disabilities.

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OK, this is the last time I'll be spouting out about groundhogs for a while now, but of course, today I must because it IS Groundhog Day!  Most of the groundhogs throughout the country, including Punxsutawney Phil, saw their shadows, and unfortunately for us cold weather dwellers, the prediction calls for 6 more weeks of winter. In the meantime, I've enjoyed some Groundhog Weather School book sitings around my area (NY).

Also, I made an appearance yesterday at my local Barnes and Noble during their morning storytime to talk about my book.  John, the regular host of the event, was gracious enough to lend me some of that time.  He also read aloud a book called Groundhog Stays Up Late and I found the illustrations by Jean Cassels to be very beautiful and worth sharing. 

Also, here's a great inspirational blog post from Design Sponge.   

Happy Groundhog Day everyone!

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Take a look at my latest interview with Joan Holub, writer of my latest book, Groundhog Weather School, and contributor of Readertotz, a blog devoted to promoting quality in children's literature.  While you're at it, peruse the site, or better yet, add it to your favorite link list!  Enjoy!

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Galison makes wonderfully designed paper products that you'd want to display in your home, pieces of art, if you will. So when I got a call from Galison's art director for an illustration assignment, I was thrilled!

I was told the product was for their Mudpuppy block puzzle line, specifically made for 2-3 year olds, so I quickly hopped onto their site, clicked on the product, and noticed that great illustrators and classic characters like Eric Carle, Maurice Sendak, and Curious George, respectively were represented.
Then, when the art director told me I was to illustrate princesses of different times and places, I was doubly excited to take on the job! It took me back to the time I was three, drawing princesses with large...no...tent-like skirts.

I'm pleased to show you one of the pieces here (there are 6 total), a classic 1950's princess, her lovely skirt, appropriately large and poofy. It won't be on the market until June 1, 2010, but I couldn't wait that long to share even a taste, plus the art director was kind enough to let me!

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I finally found some time to write about my first open studio this past weekend at the Garnerville Arts and Industrial Center. It was a big success thanks to the local community and despite the scattered showers and cooler milder temperatures.

Since I've yet to build up a collection of large paintings, I decided to show the original art from my published work, some of which have not seen the light of day in years. I finally had an excuse to pull them out and hang them, rather casually on clips and string, for all to appreciate, including myself. It was cool to see them all up in one space.

I had a table set with crayons and pencils, prepared an activity book called "The Best Day," where the kids could write about their best day and illustrate it. I also brought my button maker for kids and "big kids" to make buttons. It was a hit! I also created a display on "How a Book is Published: an artist's perspective."

I sold a few books, and while most of the art was also for sale, with the sluggish economy, the pieces were admired from afar.

I most enjoyed talking to the attendees and all the kids. I met many bright children, some who wanted to be illustrators, others who were fascinated by the process and still others who just liked taking the time to create a story. I met a young girl who suffered from Hodgkins Lymphoma and was nearing the end of her treament with a good prognosis. As a survivor of childhood Leukemia, we bonded over our "war stories," and before she left she showed me the story of her "Best Day," which she dedicated to me...excuse me...having a moment.

For many it was a big learning process, an eye-opener for local teachers and the regular art appreciator. So indeed it was a success even if I sold not a one painting.

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