Welcome to this wandering tour of blogs by artists, writers, musicians, painters, photographers, and more.
I'd like to introduce Nata Romeo a.k.a ArtistaDonna, who is the author and illustrator of her first children's book titled Alphabet Wildlife A to Z. Originally from Toronto, Canada, she now brews and sprinkles her art and stories from the Philadelphia skies. She dreams that her work gets swept up and tangled into a massive storm front so that her world can travel across the universe and beyond. Check out her blog at http://artistadonna.blogspot.com
Now for my part of the tour....
1. What am I working on currently?
Currently I'm preparing work for a gallery show in October. Fourteen of us from our local SCBWI illustrator group are having a show entitled “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words” at Times Ten Gallery on October 9, 2014. I'm working on some new paintings and re-working a few old ones. I have a picture book dummy that I’m completing and several more ideas for picturebook dummies.
2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I guess the strongest component in my art is my color. I love color and I am drawn to use it expressively. I feel there is so much emotion in color and an artist can say so much by the colors they use.
3. Why do I write or create what I do?
Hmmm.. that’s a good question. Growing up drawing all the time, I just knew I wanted to do something creative. I felt I HAD to do something creative.. there wasn’t a choice. Before illustration and picture books, I transitioned from fine art and i especially enjoyed drawing and painting portraits. Working in children’s picture books just felt like coming home. I felt as if I had found my tribe.
4. How does my creating/writing process work?
If it’s single illustrations.. First I doodle, or it might be something my grandkids do that triggers an idea. I make a sketch and refine that with composition and different angles. Then I scan my sketch, enlarge it and print it. At that point, I decide if I’ll paint on paper or canvas.. usually paper these days. I use a light box and trace my sketch onto my paper. If I’m painting in oil alkyds I gesso the paper before I transfer the sketch. As I near completion of my painting, I will often scan the painting and finish digitally.
Now I’m going to pass the blog hop torch to the following artists – who will participate next Monday, August 18. Please make note of (or possibly visit).
She now works in oil, watercolor, pastel, and ink, often combining multiple media in one piece. Digital techniques also often come into play. And sometimes she still uses crayons. Robyn is currently working on paintings in the landscape and floral genres and illustrations for children’s literature. In both the paintings and the illustrations, Robyn uses layering, texture, and color to create a mood. The paintings are often done from life and are meditative studies of color, shape and composition. The illustrations, rooted in the classic golden age tradition, add the element of storytelling. Visit Robyn at
http://robynjorde.com/blogNancy Heard is a freelance illustrator/artist. She has illustrated children’s books, activity books, and coloring books. She has designed/illustrated wallpaper, scrapbook paper, party invitations, and has also produced illustrations for corporations. Some of Nancy’s clients include: NRN Design, Glad Tidings, Sonburn, Thomas Nelson Publishers, C. R. Gibson - Creative Papers,Taylor Wallcoverings, Ideal Publishers, Dominee Press, Rainbow Press and more. Nancy illustrated “The Tiny Ant”, for Edupress, which won the Teacher’s Choice Award. Nancy currently resides in Dallas, Texas.
Visit Nancy at
http://nancyheard.blogspot.com
Hi All! It's been ages since I've posted on this blog. I wanted to share some works-in-progress that I'm working on now. In October, a group of SCBWI illustrators will be having a gallery and online show, "A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words" SCBWI North Texas is happy to announce 14 artists will participate in the chapter's first gallery exhibit! Starting this September there will be a website displaying a sampling of each of the 14 participants' art on www.NorthTexasIllustrators.com. As we get closer to the date, I'll put all of the particulars online about the exhibit. Here's a sketch I'm working on for a new painting.
Quickie little sketch for Day 5.. a little house with Christmas lights and a snowman. We're having ice here in Texas tonight and tomorrow.. so lots of drawing tomorrow.. staying in and staying warm.
There's nothing quite like a girly girl doing her Christmas shopping.. hee hee!
Here's my Day 3.. yesterday's doodle..
My sweet little Elf boy... getting ready for Christmas!
Well.. SkaDaMo went really well and it was great to get into the habit of sketching so much. Sooo... crazy or not I decided to give The Holiday Doodle A Day a try. It's a great way to work with a lot of holiday themed sketches. Here goes.. some snowmen I've been working on.
Wow! I did it -- A sketch a day for the month of November.(even though many were quite late and my last several were ALL catch-up sketches) Many thanks to Linda Silvestri for creating this awesome challenge!!
A real quickie.. playing around in Photoshop. I figure this is a great place to experiment..
Ellie is reading a book about engineering.. she wants to grow up to be a civil engineer. She already has plans on how she can improve her city.
Libby and her friends are on a hayride. Gabby talks and talks.. blah, blah, blah. No one can get a word in the conversation.
Tim and Robbie Snake visited with Ms. Bosworth and her dog, Pansie. Tim and Robbie were in quite a mess and needed her help.
Trying, Trying to catch up!!
One more sketch to go to catch up!
Trying to catch up.. busy weekend out of town and just now able to get back to my sketching!
Quickie sketch! I was super swamped with grading papers today.. still grading even tonight.
Myrtle and Mr. Orr are out for a Sunday drive in his new car. The thing is... he doesn't know how to drive!!
Day 11 - Yay! I am really proud of myself for doing this.. even if I have been late on some days. It's a challenge with a couple of jobs and family and all to keep at it. Today's sketch has one of my characters, Griffin, from my own pb which I hope to publish one day. I really want to use this month to try out some new kinds of sketches even if they are quickies.. I have so much in my head I want to get down on paper! A super big thank you to
Linda Silvestri for setting up this challenge!
Quickie sketch today.. Who's bugging Patches?
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