how rhythm makes everything good again...

In the beginning was noise.

And noise begat rhythm.

And rhythm begat everything else.

- Mickey Hart

I went for a nice walk this morning in the crisp fall air.

Sometimes, i lose my own rhythm

and before i know it,

a week has passed without morning walks

and i feel totally out of synch with everything.

Life takes over sometimes

and then it's up to each one of us

to find our own happy place again.

Nature is one of my happy places.

 Art in my blue room is another... :-)

I'm working on illustrations for a little book about Valentines.

A very young and creative relative of mine wrote a cute little story

and I'm putting together a little book for her.

(If any of my relatives are reading this,

PLEASE don't say a word. It's a surprise for her...)

I had fun doing these...
good and bad cupid. 
I'll post the little book once it's done.

forgive me if i've posted this before,
but i just love these illustrations by David Shannon.
From this book...
(its original title is probably "No David!")

i love how the illustrations tell the story.

you just know by seeing this

that it's about a little boy who gets into mischief...

this one always cracks me up...
When i grow up,
i wanna do these kinds of illustrations.
 

or this kind...

is this not the cutest thing you've ever seen?

Check out the slippers...and the mouse pillow!

Such imagination.

and just by looking at this,
can't you tell she might be bossy?!
The best part of doing illustrations for a book (to me)
is reading the story the first time
and sketching out the images
that first come to mind.
Of course, rendering the illustrations is fun too...

So while i'm busy doing things for others,

and living my life,

I'm also trying to carve little bits of time

for my own book.

It's overwhelming - but exciting.

Nigel had great advice for me on one of his comments...

"stop thinking about it and just do it".

Yes Nigel. Thank you.

I can think things to death.

(have you noticed?)

I'm comforted when i see things like this.

I hardly ever feel in complete control.

(it's a good thing, right?)

Wishing you all a great weekend.

And to those who celebrate...

Happy Thanksgiving!

xox

the process of illustrating a children's book

Most of you already know I'm a graphic designer by profession and for the past few years, I've had the privilege of illustrating children's books. It's always so much fun for me to read through the stories & sketch my ideas as i let my imagination run wild. Well - depending on how wild the story is, of course.

I thought it may interest some of you to see the process from initial pencil sketch to final illustration (on the Mac). Most clients expect you to stick to the sketch - especially after they've approved it. :-) The first sketch here was changed after a discussion with the client about making it more fun. 

Maringo is a little mosquito & in this story, he's travelling with his parents to visit his cousin in Italy.

The book is called "Maringo chez Pépinoche".

The illustration I had proposed - travelling first class of course, in an airplane...

...and the final illustration - new & improved - by hot air balloon.

Much more fun, especially for a mosquito.

The illustration proposed when Maringo falls in a river...

and the final...

And a section in the end to help the little children learn to count. i had fun doing this one. For some reason, the client thought the teeth on the frog were scary. I thought they were hilarious, but she was afraid we may scare some children, so it was decided the frogs had to be toothless. Poor frogs... 

a little teaser in the spirt of halloween...

Someday soon, I'll be illustrating & writing my own books.

Hang on to your hats, cowboys & cowgirls. Could be a bumpy ride.