By: Roberta Baird,
on 11/4/2014
Preparing to go to school was like getting ready for extended deep sea diving….
Come on mom, we’re going to be late!
My kid brother looked like a tick about to pop!
What’s wrong?
I can’t put my arms down!
Put your arms down when you get to school!
By: Roberta Baird,
on 10/1/2014
He smells.
– What’s his name? – Guess.
Fifi?
That ain’t a name for this mutt.
Rover.
She’s coming. She’s coming.
Hide him.
I love you, Miss Hannigan.
And you will love the paddle closet.
And this…
…will love the sausage factory.
– No, Miss… – What?
We love you, Miss Hannigan.
By: JOANNA MARPLE,
on 9/3/2014
I’m back with another Wednesday series of interviews with published and unpublished illustrators whose work I admire. So prepare to be wowed by the skill and fascinated by their process and passions as we get a glimpse into their lives … Continue reading
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By: Erik Brooks,
on 8/15/2014
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By: Sean Ashby,
on 7/28/2014
For some reason, I've been really interested in user interface design (probably because I'm a graphic designer and I'm practically inseparable from my iPad). And when I run across an especially bad design in a app, I really get an itch to "fix" it. Problem is, the vast majority of them are poorly designed.
Chess games being no exception. Additionally, though, I thought the subject matter would lend itself to some pretty fun visuals and illustrations.
By: melanie977,
on 7/26/2014
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By: Roberta Baird,
on 7/25/2014
How strange that Nature does not knock, and yet does not intrude! ~ Emily Dickinson
I’ve been working on a Halloween book for Pelican Publishing so I’ve been a little absent from the blog. I just popped in to say hello! Hello!
By: Heather Ryerson,
on 6/13/2014
Isabelle Arsenault’s illustrated children’s books Migrant, Spork, and Virginia Wolf have been much praised and received numerous awards, including two Governor General’s Awards. Her children’s graphic novel Jane, the Fox, & Me was published in 2013. She lives and works in Montreal.
See more of her work: Portfolio | Blog
In our Early Theme Adopters series, we focus on bloggers creating great-looking sites with the most recent additions to our Theme Showcase. Today, let’s visit some of the sites that are already using Illustratr, a stunning, modern theme perfect for portfolio sites and blogs alike.
By: Roberta Baird,
on 4/22/2014
Whose ready to paint the town red?
See you there!
By: Roberta Baird,
on 3/24/2014
For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver. ~Martin Luther
By: Roberta Baird,
on 1/10/2014
The Great Gitana… in color.
I’m learning to live with the lines and imperfections in an illustration, and trying some new techniques. There’s always something to learn.
By: Roberta Baird,
on 9/12/2013
He knew that when he kissed this girl, and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God. So he waited, listening for a moment longer to the tuning-fork that had been struck upon a star. Then he kissed her. At his lips’ touch she blossomed for him like a flower and the incarnation was complete. ~ The Great Gatsby
By: Roberta Baird,
on 5/29/2013
Speaking of books, nice segue huh?
It’s going to be beautiful when it’s done. I’m really proud of what it’s shaping up to be, but sometimes you just have to take a break and sketch a bunny.
A bunny with a floral head dress. Because…. well she’s what popped out of my pencil!
By: Roberta Baird,
on 5/1/2013
Oh, how I would love to work in YA novels. I hope one day to get the chance.
But until then, I’ll keep practicing. Here’s a sketch, I started while waiting in the car for my daughter. Such fun inspiration to draw… and those tween kids are rich in expression!
By: Roberta Baird,
on 3/13/2013
Call me, don’t be afraid you can call me,
Maybe it’s late but just, call me.
Tell me and I’ll be around.
By: Carmela Martino and 5 other authors,
on 12/12/2012
Most of the adults who sign up for my writing classes have the same goal: to get a book published by a traditional publisher. They're usually shocked to learn what a long, slow process book publication typically is, whether they're working on a picture book or a novel. To help cope with the wait, I recommend they work on building a portfolio of writing credits they can mention in their cover/query letters. On Monday, Esther shared links to information on how to get published in Highlights magazine. Highlights is a well-respected magazine that's been around for years, and an impressive credit to include in your writing portfolio. Unfortunately, that means they receive a huge volume of submissions, making them a tough market to break into. I like to remind my students that there are other children's magazines, many of them more open to material than Highlights or the Cricket Magazine Group, which publishes high-quality magazines for toddlers to teens.
"Each issue is built around a specific theme with material that can be used by children in a variety of ways. Submissions should support the purpose of the magazine to help children grow in their faith, though all submissions do not need to be overtly religious."The magazine's monthly themes are listed on their website, along with a submission deadline for each issue. To paraphrase something I heard Richard Peck say years ago, "A deadline is a writer's friend." When I first learned of Pockets and their theme/deadline list, I submitted some theme-related puzzles. To my delight, they were accepted! That success led me to try my hand at writing a short story specifically for an issue focusing on "prejudice." They accepted that piece, and "The Cupcake Man" became my first published children's story. Pockets also published my first children's poem. (Is it any wonder why I'm so fond of this magazine?)
By: Sean Ashby,
on 12/6/2012
Hey, remember that super-awesome Snow White book cover I did a while ago? Of course you do. But I'm sure you want to see it again here.
Well, I also had this other Snow White illustration started a loooooong time ago, even before the aforementioned super-awesome book cover, just lying around waiting to be finished. Sooooo I finished it! I had to tweak Snow White's look to match the cover, and add a corresponding border, and ta-daaaa!
By: Sean Ashby,
on 11/30/2012
I'm in the process of revamping my website (not a real re-design, mind you, just rebuilding it to give it a bit more functionality on my end) and a big part of that is rifling through all my portfolio pieces.
Isn't that the worst, though? I hate trying to decide what I want to be "out there", representing me to the rest of the world.
Along the way, I came across a simple illo I did for Illustration Friday a while back, and thought it might be fun to update it a bit: add some type, textures, etc. Then I ended up doing another companion piece to it.
By: Jason Boog,
on 9/25/2012
Do you need a better way to share your published articles, stories and excerpts online? Contently has a free tool t0 upgrade your online writing portfolio.
On today’s edition of the Morning Media Menu, Social Times editor Devon Glenn discussed Contently’s new Portfolio+ network. Glenn also shared advice for making your portfolio look its best online. Follow this link to sign up for the new service.
Press play below to listen to the podcast. Here’s more from SocialTimes: “Writers, like designers, are asked to show samples of what they can do before they are hired … Contently’s design gives freelancers who might be overlooked on other sites a chance to show, not tell, what they can do. (It’s a phrase that writers hear a lot!) Writers can search for their stories online or enter them manually into the system. A flexible interface displays the images, text excerpts, and share counts for Web articles on one page that writers can adjust to suit their needs. Old-school journalists can also upload copies of their print work.”
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
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By: Roberta Baird,
on 9/7/2012
My imagination doesn’t requires anything more of the book than to provide a framework within which it can wander. ~Alphonse Daudet
By: Roberta Baird,
on 8/7/2012
It was said that Golvar came from gypsy stock, although no one knew for sure.
What was known about Golvar was that this was a mouse with a taste for gold.
By: Roberta Baird,
on 7/13/2012
Not all who wander are lost.
~J.R.R.Tolkien
Scholastic News, October 2011
By: Roberta Baird,
on 7/6/2012
Ardour, the snow maiden. Based on a character from the retelling of a fairytale written by Jonathan Keats.
By: Roberta Baird,
on 6/29/2012
Soft moss a downy pillow makes, and green leaves spread a tent,
Where Faerie fold may rest and sleep until their night is spent.
The bluebird sings a lullaby, the firefly gives a light,
The twinkling stars are candles bright, Sleep, Faeries all, Good Night.
~Elizabeth T. Dillingham, “A Faery Song”
A faery has to refresh himself somewhere…. wouldn’t it be fun to stumble upon one of these!
Hm, every time I read these posts, I drool for a beautiful minimalist theme! But I chose my themes partly because navigation and interaction for visitors was transparent. I haven’t chosen many swoon-worthy themes because I feel that in the balance, visitors, especially from outside WP, won’t be able to navigate the site on account of the ‘hidden’ menus, though I realise they’re hidden to showcase the work. Am I completely wrong about this?
With Illustratr, your primary menu can actually still be visible near the header if you want it that way (that’s how the featured bloggers here use it). As for ‘tucked’ / hidden menus on other themes, it’s really a personal call — some visitors might find those less intuitive to find and use, though it’s also true they’ve become quite common of late.
Illustratr keeps popping up everywhere I look lately. Love the different looks you can get.
Would love to see a theme specifically geared for flip books.