November is “Picture Book Idea Month” – Participants attempt to come up with 30 ideas/concepts for a picture book (1 a day). For fun, I started thinking up some creative encouragement given by a block of cheese… a bit of amiable affirmation.

CAUTION: These lines may cause a smirk AND possibly cause your eyes to roll SO far back into your head that you’ll be able to SEE your ideas forming.

Feel free to share them and follow me on twitter @JoshAlves – Facebook (joshalvesdraws)- and Instagram @joshalvesdraws

Learn more about #PiBoIdMo at http://taralazar.com/piboidmo/

Do you have a suggestion for a line “Cheesy” encouragement? Leave a comment or message me your idea. Please include any social media links I could reference if I use yours!

November is “Picture Book Idea Month” – Participants attempt to come up with 30 ideas/concepts for a picture book (1 a day). For fun, I started to think up some creative encouragement for creators who were taking the challenge. This block of cheese was born… offering a bit of amiable affirmation.

CAUTION: These lines may cause a smirk AND possibly cause your eyes to roll SO far back into your head that you’ll be able to SEE your ideas forming.

Feel free to share them and follow me on twitter @JoshAlves – Facebook (joshalvesdraws)- and Instagram @joshalvesdraws

Learn more about #PiBoIdMo at http://taralazar.com/piboidmo/

Do you have a suggestion for a line “Cheesy” encouragement? Leave a comment or message me your idea. Please include any social media links I could reference if I use yours!

Getting geared up for May 4th aka (Unofficial Star Wars Day: May the 4th be with you). I designed these “Unofficial Star Wars-ish” finger puppets that you can print, color, cut & assemble! Let me know if you put them together – I’d love to see how they come out!

Here are the NEW puppets! Han, Chewbacca, Boba Fett, Jabba the Hutt, and YODA! Please share, and enjoy!

Like my work? Like my Facebook page and check out my children’s book!

Getting geared up for May 4th aka (Unofficial Star Wars Day: May the 4th be with you). I designed these “Unofficial Star Wars-ish” finger puppets that you can print, color, cut & assemble! Let me know if you put them together – I’d love to see how they come out!

Here are the NEW puppets! Han, Chewbacca, Boba Fett, Jabba the Hutt, and YODA! Please share, and enjoy!

Like my work? Like my Facebook page and check out my children’s book!

When I was a kid, one of the things I loved doodling were stick figure scenes (usually during class… during a break of course  ). I’d draw out a location and then populate it (usually with a friend) with stick figures!

A few days ago I did one with my own kids (ages 3, 6, & 9) and we had a blast! I thought I’d share a “Scene Starter” that we used. Presenting, THE MUSEUM! This was my usual go-to scene since it usually (always) depicted a dinosaur (specifically a “Brontosaurus”, which apparently never really existed ) that the stick figures could slide down.

If you’d like to fill out your own (or maybe your child or student), click the image below to download the pdf to print out. If you do use it, let me know! I’d love to see what you create!

When I was a kid, one of the things I loved doodling were stick figure scenes (usually during class… during a break of course  ). I’d draw out a location and then populate it (usually with a friend) with stick figures!

A few days ago I did one with my own kids (ages 3, 6, & 9) and we had a blast! I thought I’d share a “Scene Starter” that we used. Presenting, THE MUSEUM! This was my usual go-to scene since it usually (always) depicted a dinosaur (specifically a “Brontosaurus”, which apparently never really existed ) that the stick figures could slide down.

If you’d like to fill out your own (or maybe your child or student), click the image below to download the pdf to print out. If you do use it, let me know! I’d love to see what you create!

I LOVE this time of year!

I’ve been taking some much needed relaxation time with the family these last few days (making cookies, eating cookies, housing gingerbread… check it out, I’m pretty proud of my gumdrop tree:

It occurred to me that I’ve written not one, but TWO stories that take place TODAY! On Christmas Eve!

The first is a free mini-comic. If you haven’t been introduced to Heropotamus yet, this character was created after introducing my kids to the novelty song “I want a Hippopotamus for Chrismas”. There’s a line that’s sung “…to see a hippo hero standing there.” and that’s when it struck me! This little girl gets a SUPERHERO HIPPO for Christmas! Heropotamus was born and gets a lot of inspiration from the song (for example, the song says “No crocodiles, no rhinoceroses” – so naturally our hero fights Ninjadiles and his arch-nemesis is Villainocerous). You can read one of the stories for free right here (feel free to share it/tweet it/facebook it), click the image or right here to read it!

It’s got ADVENTURE! CHRISTMAS PUNS! A SUPERHERO HIPPO FIGHTING A GIANT SNOWMAN!

The next story is an interactive book. Inspired by the classic poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas” this story ends where that one begins. It tells what happened during the DAY before Christmas and features a few interactive surprises to discover and activities to do (Color and decorate a Gingerbread house!). One of my favorite bits about this story is that if you wait long enough on some of the pages… the snow accumulates on the windows. This story is available for iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch right on iTunes. Or click the image:

Thank you for taking the time  to check these out! I’ve really appreciated your support and encouragement over the last year. I’m looking forward to what 2014 will bring! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I LOVE this time of year!

I’ve been taking some much needed relaxation time with the family these last few days (making cookies, eating cookies, housing gingerbread… check it out, I’m pretty proud of my gumdrop tree:

It occurred to me that I’ve written not one, but TWO stories that take place TODAY! On Christmas Eve!

The first is a free mini-comic. If you haven’t been introduced to Heropotamus yet, this character was created after introducing my kids to the novelty song “I want a Hippopotamus for Chrismas”. There’s a line that’s sung “…to see a hippo hero standing there.” and that’s when it struck me! This little girl gets a SUPERHERO HIPPO for Christmas! Heropotamus was born and gets a lot of inspiration from the song (for example, the song says “No crocodiles, no rhinoceroses” – so naturally our hero fights Ninjadiles and his arch-nemesis is Villainocerous). You can read one of the stories for free right here (feel free to share it/tweet it/facebook it), click the image or right here to read it!

It’s got ADVENTURE! CHRISTMAS PUNS! A SUPERHERO HIPPO FIGHTING A GIANT SNOWMAN!

The next story is an interactive book. Inspired by the classic poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas” this story ends where that one begins. It tells what happened during the DAY before Christmas and features a few interactive surprises to discover and activities to do (Color and decorate a Gingerbread house!). One of my favorite bits about this story is that if you wait long enough on some of the pages… the snow accumulates on the windows. This story is available for iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch right on iTunes. Or click the image:

Thank you for taking the time  to check these out! I’ve really appreciated your support and encouragement over the last year. I’m looking forward to what 2014 will bring! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Getting geared up for May 4th aka (Unofficial Star Wars Day: May the 4th be with you). I designed these “Unofficial Star Wars-ish” finger puppets that you can print, color, cut & assemble! Let me know if you put them together – I’d love to see how they come out!

Getting geared up for May 4th aka (Unofficial Star Wars Day: May the 4th be with you). I designed these “Unofficial Star Wars-ish” finger puppets that you can print, color, cut & assemble! Let me know if you put them together – I’d love to see how they come out!

Here are the NEW puppets! Han, Chewbacca, Boba Fett, Jabba the Hutt, and YODA! Please share, and enjoy!

Like my work? Like my Facebook page and check out my children’s book!

If you’re on the internet, there’s a good chance you’ve seen this. But just in case you haven’t – take 10 minutes and check it out. I can wait:

Caine’s Arcade from Nirvan Mullick on Vimeo.

So how about THAT?

I love this on so many levels. Mostly because I can relate to Caine. I never built a cardboard arcade, but I remember spending summer vacations building forts or stages for magic shows (complete with trap doors!). There’s a few things we all can take away from this.

Caine: The kid with ingenuity and imagination. With perseverance he built up his cardboard arcade and waited. He knew customers would come. He just didn’t know when. So he waited.

George: The encouraging dad. I don’t know how many business owners would let their kid take over most of their store with such a contraption.

Nirvan: The benevolent filmmaker. Proving it only takes one person to make a difference, this guy takes it upon himself to champion Caine’s Arcade.

For me, this really shows the collaborative relationships that illustrators and authors need. We all need that perseverance and patience and we build our arcade and make improvements. We need people around us to encourage us and push us along while giving us the room to be creative. And we all need that person or people that stumble across our little musings and ideas to take it and run with it. Spreading the news.

Nothing is a one person show.

For more info on Caine and his arcade, check out www.cainesarcade.com (you can even donate to his college fund!)

If you’re on the internet, there’s a good chance you’ve seen this. But just in case you haven’t – take 10 minutes and check it out. I can wait:

Caine’s Arcade from Nirvan Mullick on Vimeo.

So how about THAT?

I love this on so many levels. Mostly because I can relate to Caine. I never built a cardboard arcade, but I remember spending summer vacations building forts or stages for magic shows (complete with trap doors!). There’s a few things we all can take away from this.

Caine: The kid with ingenuity and imagination. With perseverance he built up his cardboard arcade and waited. He knew customers would come. He just didn’t know when. So he waited.

George: The encouraging dad. I don’t know how many business owners would let their kid take over most of their store with such a contraption.

Nirvan: The benevolent filmmaker. Proving it only takes one person to make a difference, this guy takes it upon himself to champion Caine’s Arcade.

For me, this really shows the collaborative relationships that illustrators and authors need. We all need that perseverance and patience and we build our arcade and make improvements. We need people around us to encourage us and push us along while giving us the room to be creative. And we all need that person or people that stumble across our little musings and ideas to take it and run with it. Spreading the news.

Nothing is a one person show.

For more info on Caine and his arcade, check out www.cainesarcade.com (you can even donate to his college fund!)

Part of my work flow/process is the warm-up/random doodles.

I find doing this before I start on work – and sometimes during brief intervals while I’m working – helps keep my momentum. Sometimes these doodles are just stream of consciousness, other times they’re inspired by something.

With today’s, it’s a little of both.

One of the projects I’m working on takes place around Halloween – which is how I would explain the were-bear/graveyard doodle.

Below that are scratches inspired by a story my daughter was writing about a horse and a sea monster.

Part of my work flow/process is the warm-up/random doodles.

I find doing this before I start on work – and sometimes during brief intervals while I’m working – helps keep my momentum. Sometimes these doodles are just stream of consciousness, other times they’re inspired by something.

With today’s, it’s a little of both.

One of the projects I’m working on takes place around Halloween – which is how I would explain the were-bear/graveyard doodle.

Below that are scratches inspired by a story my daughter was writing about a horse and a sea monster.

I love being introduced to new, cool things.

I’ve been busy, working away on the next round of Zeke Meeks books and haven’t had much time to create extra art. I’ve got my warm-up doodles and some other projects I’m working on – but nothing I can post.

Until today.

Today’s warm-up was inspired by a collaborative project from The Miller Brothers and RocketSnail games. It’s a book/video game/show/toy combo called “Mech Mice” and it features…. Mice with Tech and Mechs! (I don’t have to pitch it to you anymore  )

Cale Atkinson’s art along with the concept sparked this (it ended up being a little more than a warm-up ):

This is the character “Nightshade”. Something about this one looked very “Snake Eyes-esque” ( Go JOE!) and I had to draw him.

The first book is now available! I haven’t read it yet (emphasis on “yet”). But you can check out the WHOLE thing and read it free here! If you like it, please consider picking up a copy and sharing it with your friends.

I love being introduced to new, cool things.

I’ve been busy, working away on the next round of Zeke Meeks books and haven’t had much time to create extra art. I’ve got my warm-up doodles and some other projects I’m working on – but nothing I can post.

Until today.

Today’s warm-up was inspired by a collaborative project from The Miller Brothers and RocketSnail games. It’s a book/video game/show/toy combo called “Mech Mice” and it features…. Mice with Tech and Mechs! (I don’t have to pitch it to you anymore  )

Cale Atkinson’s art along with the concept sparked this (it ended up being a little more than a warm-up ):

This is the character “Nightshade”. Something about this one looked very “Snake Eyes-esque” ( Go JOE!) and I had to draw him.

The first book is now available! I haven’t read it yet (emphasis on “yet”). But you can check out the WHOLE thing and read it free here! If you like it, please consider picking up a copy and sharing it with your friends.

####
UPDATE:  So, I’ve had a chance to check this book out. SUPER FUN!!! “Nightshade” is definitely one of my favorite characters….

According to recent studies, Dentists are reporting a rise in cavities among preschoolers. While there are various suspected causes – I would lean toward the theory that not enough kids have read “Baxter Beaver’s Bad Breath”

For iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch toting parents – this little story encourages the activity of “brushing your teeth” and is available at Interactive Touch Books! (It includes coloring and activity pages).

Quick update on projects – I’ve been busy working on the next round of Zeke Meeks books as well converting existing picture books into interactive books. I’m also toying around with another project with a friend of mine… more on that soon!

According to recent studies, Dentists are reporting a rise in cavities among preschoolers. While there are various suspected causes – I would lean toward the theory that not enough kids have read “Baxter Beaver’s Bad Breath”

For iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch toting parents – this little story encourages the activity of “brushing your teeth” and is available at Interactive Touch Books! (It includes coloring and activity pages).

Quick update on projects – I’ve been busy working on the next round of Zeke Meeks books as well converting existing picture books into interactive books. I’m also toying around with another project with a friend of mine… more on that soon!

That’s right! I’m giving away a set of “Zeke Meeks” books (hardcover!) and it’s easy!

Details on how to win on here on my facebook page! 

That’s right! I’m giving away a set of “Zeke Meeks” books (hardcover!) and it’s easy!

Details on how to win on here on my facebook page! 

What a great weekend!

A special thanks to the great folks at “The Briar Patch” bookstore for hosting a great event celebrating the release of ZEKE MEEKS! And a HUGE “Thanks” for those of you that came to hang out!

When I woke up to snow on Saturday morning, I wasn’t sure how many people would be there – but then I remembered I LIVE IN MAINE. Snow doesn’t phase us, and it ended up being a GREAT turnout.

Thanks for all the great questions – I enjoyed talking with you. If you have any more or want to send me a pic of the puppet you made, contact me!

Meanwhile, for those in the Bangor, Maine area, there are only a few more Zeke Meeks books in stock at The Briar Patch – and I signed them, so grab them while you can!

Thankfully, I remembered to bring my camera.

Unfortunately, it ran out of battery. So thanks to Gibran for taking these pics (as well as the parents who have emailed me!)

(For those that might be interested in winning a WHOLE set of Zeke Meeks books – stay tuned  )

That’s right! If you find yourself in the Bangor, Maine area on Saturday, March 3 – stop by The Briar Patch and say hi!

I’ll be there from 11-noon celebrating the release of the first four Zeke Meeks books!

We’ll be hanging out making “Putrid Puppet Pals” for fun, so tell your friends and bring your kids (and your kid’s friends)! I know the first printing is sold out and is being reprinted. (Sold out at the publisher level, so if you see it on the shelves, GRAB THEM NOW!) To reserve your copy before hand, call The Briar Patch at 207-941-0255

For those of you who are Facebook inclined, RSVP at this link (and you are invited to invite your friends too).

If you’d like a hi-res, printable version of the flyer above to pass out: click here to download the pdf. 

I’m wrapping up the rough sketches for one of the next Zeke Meeks books, and I’ve started to think about how I approach illustrating chapter books.

The saying “show, don’t tell” is a popular one among writers. It’s the idea of hinting at something to allow the reader to fill the gaps that results in a fulfilling reading experience.

For picture books, the idea is similar. Illustrators are bringing words to life, not necessarily drawing EXACTLY what is written, but maybe adding to the prose. Maybe even including characters and interactions that aren’t specifically dictated in the manuscript. A collaboration between words and images that results in a fulfilling reading experience.

I consider illustrating chapter books a combination of the two.

To me, these types of books are part of transitioning young readers into other books. Bigger books. Books that don’t include as many pictures perhaps.

These books are visualization training grounds.

When I read, movies play in my head. I see characters, scenes, actions, etc. It’s fun! And that’s what I see illustrated chapter books helping develop!

My role as an illustrator is to aid in visualizing the story elements, but to let the reader’s mind engage the text as well!

When I’m translating the events to images, my hope is to do it in a way that’s a springboard for the brain. I don’t want to illustrate the punchline every time. I want to stay in the realm of “setup” and “anticipation” so that the reader can fill it in… and experience the satisfaction. (Other times I do illustrate the punchline because it’s fun for me to see it drawn out  ).

Train the brain!

So, if you (or a young reader) find yourself reading the Zeke Meeks series and having a favorite scene/event that I DIDN’T illustrate… SHOW ME (don’t tell me  )! I want to see what it looks like to you! Post a link in the comments, or send me a note on my contact page.

Check this out!

James Burks has been on my list of “favorite artists/creators who inspire” for years now (for those that may be familiar, I first came across his work when he was posting an online comic titled “Martin’s Misdirection”). He’s an illustrator/animator who has created fun comic-esque picture books like “Beep and Bah” and the graphic novel “Gabby & Gator”!

UK studio “Studio Distract” contacted him interested in developing “Gabby & Gator” as a television show and put together the promo clip above! From what I understand, this is getting prepped to be shopped around. If you think it’s as cool as I think it is, feel free to share the link, and “LIKE” Gabby & Gator on Facebook!

One of the fun parts of creating characters, is finding a home for them!

Baxter Beaver, the title character from “Baxter Beaver’s Bad Breath”, originated in a wordless, short comic book story. He then found his way into a comic strip concept before landing in his own interactive children’s story.

I was going through some old files and found some of the comic strip concepts that I had put together. Baxter was part of an ensemble cast of character who lived in a zoo. The series was called “Shut Up!” (read the first comic and hopefully the title will be a bit clearer) and featured our beaver friend along with the lovable armadillo, Dembly (a character originally created by my buddy, Chad LaForce).

These are the only comic strips created so far. They were drawn a couple years ago during my lunch breaks at my day job. I hope you enjoy them!