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this is so interesting...it could be a book all in black, white, grays, with just a touch of color.

Yes, this color scheme is intriguing. I really do like your style, Michelle. It's very original.

he he he he he! girl don't you know I feel their pain!!! Those poor babies and I love the color palette you used for this. Really reminds me of one of those old vintage children's books that I push people down at books sales for he he he! Honestly I don't push I just wedge myself in there some how to get what I want. Love the illustration.

Your upside-down painting is cute. I love the unhappy look in kittys face ;0)

Oh girl there is nothing wrong with self promotion!!! LOL! Please be my guest. This picture is wonderful and so active and this is what we all want to do. There has to be movement within the picture and there is lots going on in here which is wonderful! Straight eye candy I call it. Thanks so much for your support to my friend. Words can't even begin to express! Thanks so much.

I love how everyone is upside down, except the girl and the kitty. You have to do self promo for the ABC competition for sure. Don't forget to remind us after the voting starts :)

by the way, i hope you win!!! hee he he! i've got everything crossed! good luck!

This going to be so much fun Michelle!

Girl be on the look out for Percy's brother Herman!!! He's out there trust me hee he hee heee! This was hilarious and fresh and filled with such adventure. This my dear has the makings of one of those fabulous stories that keep both and adult and child rolling and giggle all afternoon!!! I love it it. I truly love it. I hope that you are considering doing this as a whole story cause this would be a total HOOT!!!! Hands down. By the way I saw your newest illustration in our SCBWI quarterly! Fabulous work Girl. You are surely on a roll and this chic is so very proud of you! Congrats and I'll be the first in line for this wonderful book. YOU ROCK GIRLY!

Very, very cute & funny! Love the story along with the illustration. Congrats also on the several illustrations in SCBWI quarterly magazine!

Thanks so much ladies! You sure do know how to keep a girl plugging away! I really appreciate the support!

xxxooo

I hope you have a great vacation, Michelle! And I have to say, Percy is one handsome bear. I love how you made him such a gentle bear, delicately and politely getting a bit of the candy. No need to be afraid of sweet Percy! :-)

They are both so lovely, as sketches and in colour.
But this is my favaourite one.
I think it´s perfect.

This is a lot of fun, Michelle! I love the characterization. Your choice of colors is also great. My only suggestion regarding paint (which may not be what you're looking for) is trying to give a higher saturation to the paints you use for the characters to help them stand out. But this really is fun to look at!

Thanks Angela, that's a great suggestion! I'll always take advice on paint!

And Janine thanks for the kind words.

The colors are great--clean & fresh looking. Very nice images with lots of activity & interaction. Good job!

This is so funny and cute. it makes me want to giggle and I just did. What a moment captured. This is what I call character study and it's very important when doing this kind of illustration. There is a wonderful interaction going on between the characters in both pieces and this is why they work. I do agree with Angelic. Yes go ahead and great crazy with the colors and make those hilarious characters stand out! Great job.

Convert the image to black and white. You'll see where the points of saturation are a lot easier then.

I was taught that the center of interest should have the lightest lights and the darkest darks right next to each other to really pull the eye in.

I think your color palette works well, it just needs more layers of density. It's all about the same saturation at the moment.

Great job. You have an eye for story telling.

perfect colors!!!! I feel all girly. I'm just sitting here wondering what the two are talking about! It's so filled with chatter. This is great.

I had to giggle at this one...the expressions are priceless. I may not be able to paint/draw, etc., but I sure appreciate it. My medium is photography. Drop by some time.

Oh don't I know this well. hee he hee! this is stellar and brilliant!! I can't help giggling. It just takes me back to when I had bee strings for breast and now I have well lets just say, I can provide shade for a small boy.

very cute--both of them! Exploring is a great topic.

hee hee he hee!! How cute and so real hee he hee!! this is what they do don't they???? I love it! Great bone for a great illustration.

the baby is adorable!

These kids are adorable w/unique personalities. You motivate me to get drawing!

so cute! this will be great image when in color!

This is going to be wonderful I can see what's happening here and it's great! I really like the composition. It's Vanessa and I'm using another computer so it might come up with another name or no name. I really love the how it's coming together.
V

Very cute. A visual from my past. I kind of miss those days. *sigh*

Oh this is going to wonderful I can tell already from your great sketch. I can't wait to see it all colored in!! This is going to be great!!

great drawing of kids--very nice image!

Great style, perfect for book illustrations.

he he he he he!!! This is stellar!!! We all know that fairies have a naughty side to them as well. This is wonderful!!!! It's a great story in there too. Would love to see you explore that part of it too. I love the colors you used. They are very lively and fun!

Your little fairy has such a cute mischievous expression!

I don't think I have ever painted a wet cat before... but I think you got the feel right, the heavy fur hanging down, it feels wet to me! :-)

What a great illo, Michelle! I love your choice of colors and, like you, I really like what you did with your fairy. Like Monica, I thought the cat looked wet enough, but if you want it to look wetter, an idea I had is to show variance in the fur colors (darker being the wetter part) and have some of the water dripping down. Otherwise, you've done very well (especially considering the fact that you've taken some time off).

It's a very cute little scene...
What a michievious fairy.
The cat looks wet to me, if anything maybe if he was a bit skinnier... That's how my dog looks after a bath...clingy wet hair...

Michelle, this made me laugh! Great take on the subject! When I do cats, I often wet the paper slightly so that adding pigment creates soft, blurred, fur-like edges. Love the boy fairy & his prank!

I like your tomboy fairy! Your wet cat works the way he is now, especially if he just shook some of the water out of his fur (with the water drops flying off him). Plus he looks unhappy, which is perfect.

If you want him to look more drenched, you've gotten some good advice already. I would only add that his fur could be much closer to his body and hanging down/weighted down with the water (think t-shirt vs. wet t-shirt on a person).

Michelle--I think the characters look very consistent. I'm not sure about the second frame in the 3-part drawing. The characters are going backwards (away from turning the page in a picture book), so it might be confusing. I think the idea overall is great with two great characters & they work nicely together!

These are so much fun, Michelle! My favorite is the third of the sequences. The characters look so cute and like they're having tons of fun! Good work!

Michelle it's colorful, cute, girly and funny! It's a page right out of a storybook! Great composition and the color really makes it pop! I want her dress really he he he!!!

It's a great illustration and funny. I'm not sure if the yellow is the problem but it is all warm colors (even the purple tea pot is on the warm side of purple.) And I think the mood could be better set with some contrasting cool colors. Making the uniform blue would help with that. And maybe cooling down the dog. But I completely understand being tired. Maybe you'll work more on this one or maybe you'll just apply what you've learned later. Thanks for sharing it.

Cute! And I don't feel like the yellow ruined it. Her expression is so much fun.

cute, cute, cute!

Very good line, I like it :)
Best Wishes,
Issi

The line work is so great and this has such wonderful interest in there. Very well done and I am waiting for the colored illustration as well. Very well done!

Oh this is fabulous! I just adore the look on her face. She is having such a wonderful time. I love to see children play by themselves. There is such expression. Great job girly!

That dog is so cute! And there's tons going on there. Your book about Block Building also adds a great touch.

I love the look of concentration on her face... she's so focused on her blocks she doesn't even notice that cute bouncing dog barging in! Great job, Michelle!

great action to this piece... just love that little tongue sticking out in concentration. thanks for sharing.

What a wonderfully determined look on that face! Very cute illustration--great!

haha! In our house, my son knocks down his own tower of blocks-with enthusiasm!

The purple of the sister's shirt helps to pull her forward in the composition. The big sister's expression is great as well! Lots of great little details.

What a way to start off the year!!!! CONGRATS to you my friend. Way to go!!!! You have done such hard and wonderful work. Your hard work has paid off with the Spotted Bunny Award! I can't wait to see what you are going to do for the banner???? I know it's going to be something fun and fabulous! Now, as I have said to everyone that wins the Spotted Bunny," make sure you do the happy dance, of course while no ones looking, he he he, make sure you make a speech, this helps to prepare you for your children's book illustrator awards in the future, and of course you must do the princess wave!!! Have fun!

Congratulations, Michelle! As Vanessa said, you certainly deserved it for all your hard and wonderful work!

Congratulations Michelle, you deserved it!

V (I don't know why, but I love calling you "V" I hope you don't mind), Monica, and Matalonga, thanks so much! You all are so sweet! I can't wait to see what you all have in store for this months prompts!! (V, I hope the banner didn't disappoint ... oh, the pressure... :) )

I was smiling from ear to ear when I saw it!!!! It's just fabulous! Looks like an adventure is about to take off!!! I love it! Great Job and V is what everyone calls me he he he he!

Hooray, Michelle! You have really been working hard, and it shows. I especially liked the picture you did for Stories for Children this February. It was AWESOME.

Congrats, Michelle! Your fun and quirky work is definitely a winner. I like your prompts for this month, definitely different!

Michelle,

I am sooo proud of you!!
Congratulation!!

This came out GREAT!!!! So much action and each character is just lovely! Great work!

This final version came out great!
I love all the movement of the kids.

I especially love the spot--so cute! Lots of action & reaction!

Great class picture. I love all the action. Congratulations on winning for the month. (I got as far a sketching out about 4 kids for my class and never even managed to get those posted...)

I love the colors. Her dress is straight out of the Ascot Races from My Fair Lady. Wonderful.

I love all the candy colors here. Very exciting and full of energy!!! She is such the lady. Great feeling and fun! Wonderful illustration.

love your colors & the look on both of their faces is great! Think they'll share a cup--hope so!

The bright colors and lines really lend themselves to a fun piece. The pooch looks just snooty enough to be funny. :) Good job.

Great expression and colors. The composition is also nice.

wonderful colors in this piece - there is a great energy to it as well. Love the matching expressions on your characters. Thanks for sharing.