Some Collages of my rough sketches for "Skink on the Brink"

I know it has been rather quite on my blog lately, but believe me there's lots going on behind the scenes. As many of you know, I am in the process of illustrating my first picture, Skink on the Brink (Fitzhenry & Whiteside) written by Lisa Dalrymple, and it's due out in Spring 2013. It has been a very amazing experience so far! I am loving every second of it.
I have been wanting to share with you some of the sketches I have been working on during the rough sketch revision process thus far. So with the thumbs-up from my wonderful editor, Christie Harkin, I have created some collages from tidbits of my sketches, to give you a sneak peek of Stewie the skink, some of his adorable friends and other interesting characters. Keep in mind these are rough sketches, so there will be changes/tweaks during the revision process. ;)

Here we have a  collage of  some close-ups of the our little skink, Stewie. Isn't he a character? He is a fun loving, toe-tapping charmer, with loads of energy and perseverance.

And here we have a collage of some of the animals that Stewie encounters in the story. Some are friendly, and some most definitely are not...

I hope to be able to share more as I go:) Especially once I get going with the final plasticine art....I can't wait!! I'd love  to do some process posts, to show some of the illustrations from concept sketch to final art. What fun! Heeheee ;)



May 2012 Desktop Calendar is here!

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Happy May Everyone!,
I couldn't resist using one of the fun mice from a recent illustration I created for my children's nursery school annual fundraising gala. There have been quite a few "mice in boots" desktop calendars lately...hmmm, maybe I should change it up a bit for next month? This little guy was begging for a close-up. Their fun, exuberant personalities do bring a smile to my face, and I hope they do to you as well :)
To download please click on the required scene resolution above, then right click on"set as background". Easy peasy!
Lots going on behind the scenes, I hope to share some of it really soon.
Bye for now

What I have been up to...

I taught a plasticine workshop in late February for the Nursery School CO-OP  organization in my area. My children had attended one of these schools, and I still keep in touch with the lovely ladies that teach and run the school. I had gone into their classroom to do a workshop with the JK kiddos, and they were kind enough to welcome me back to give a workshop to all the teachers in the organization. Turns out I am WAY more nervous talking to a group of adults then a bunch of kids-ekk!

Anyway, while I was there, I was asked if I might be interested in designing and donating a plasticine illustration to their annual fundraising Gala. Well, I was honoured and excited to get started. This nursery school is simply outstanding. Not only are the  teachers phenomenal, they're so patient, caring and nurturing.  I was continually amazed at the imaginative and interactive ways they would introduce new curriculum to the students- BRAVO!!!

 

So my illustration idea began when I saw this adorable photo posted on Facebook by Alma Fullerton, a CANSCAIP and SCBWI CanEast friend. Oh my gosh, how scrumptious is this little mousy?!! Well lots of us thought so, by the comments left on her page. But my editor, Christie Harkin, tagged me and said she thought this would look great in plasticine. " Ooooh yes, it most certainly would!! I love a challenge" I said to myself- yes I do talk to myself aloud quite often ;)

So I got sketching, and I  tried not to copy, but rather be inspired by this gleeful expression:

And of course, my little mousy has boots! Surprise, surprise, I love boots ;)

I composed a scene around this little fella, and once I was satisfied, after playing around with the composition, I got to work on rendering the sketch in plasticine. The really fun part. Here are some WIP pics with my iphone:



Did I tell you I love making boots?! LOL I even put some tread on the boot! Hee hee, too fun. I also decided to add a mouse pilot flying a hummingbird:



And here is the final illustration. I think it just might be a new favorite! I an just loving the expressions of the mice, and their little cricket friends too.

I delivered it to the school yesterday, and they loved it! YAY!!! I can't wait to see it once it is matted and framed. I sure hope it gets lots of bids- fingers crossed. It would look great in some "little one's" bedroom, don't ya think?

 I feel honoured to have been asked to create this illustration. It feels pretty nice to be able to give a little something back after having had such a wonderful experience with their school. My kiddos learned so much and it helped shape them into the kids that they are today!  

April Desktop Calendar

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Here is my April desktop calendar.  Isn't Miss Mousy a fun character to sum up all things Spring- rubber boots and all? It will be a very short post today, as I have little ones very "under the weather"...stomach bug :( and unfortunately, that isn't an April Fool's joke).  I hope Miss Mousy brings a smile to your day and finds a lovely home as your desktop calendar.

Keep well my friends!

March Break

We had a relaxing March Break, which considering our usual hectic schedule, was a very nice change. My oldest had a hockey tourny the first two days with Daddy, but apart from that it was wonderful to just stay close to home, bike ride, and spend time together enjoying the unseasonably warm weather.   We also took our annual March Break day trip to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. My boys(hubby included) love, LOVE anything to do with aviation, or military history etc. If you have never been to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, I highly recommend it! The kids can sit inside some of the planes and they also have simulators-very cool! We hope to go back in June to watch their annual air-show, we'd love to see the old Lancaster in action.

I also got a little work done too. Here is a little peek at my table top, I like to spread out all of my many reference photos when I sketch. Then I can quickly glance back and forth between them to get a better feel for the animal, yet continue to sketch organically. These are some rough thumbnail sketches for the book I am currently illustrating, "Skink on the Brink" by Lisa Dalrymple. I hope to share snippets from time to time, to share the process with you.

It is a balmy 19 C today so I think I will get a fresh mug of tea and take everything outside to the deck, to enjoy this warm weather...it won't last, I think we are due for frost in 2 days?? Crazy Canadian weather, eh? LOL ;)

March Desktop Calendar

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Happy Leap Day!

Here is my desktop calendar for March 2012. My Leap Day gift from me to you :)

I couldn't resist using my Stewie the skink illustration for a calendar. He is the main character of the first picture book  I will be illustrating!Lalalalaaaaaa, I love the sound of that! It's called "Skink on the Brink" written by Lisa Dalrymple, published by Fitzhenry & Whiteside, it is due out in Spring 2013.  I am so excited!

To download this desktop calender just click on your screen resolution above, then right click and select "save to desktop". Easy peesy.

Look at my cute, custom iphone case!

Yes, I got an iphone! I have been using a Blackberry for a few years, and loved it. Hubby and I decided to make the switch to an iphone after our BB contract was up after researching/ learning about all the cool stuff(holy cow there is an app for EVERYTHING!) that the new iphone had to offer. The picture quality is pretty amazing too!
I thought I'd jazz mine up with a cool, custom case. I ordered this one from Case-mate, it is a "Barely there" iphone 4 case. It was super easy to upload my design and order.
I decided to use my adventurous mice illustration, as I do love their infectious energy.
Don't you just love it?
I think I might have to order a special one of Stewie the adorable skink in "Skink on the Brink", the first picture book I am delighted to be illustrating, written by the fabulous Lisa Dalrymple, due to be launched in the Spring of 2013 by Fitzhenry and Whiteside. Maybe I can bulk order a few? I hope Lisa and Christie my editor, have iphones by then?? LOL. I am getting way ahead of myself with excitement...