I met Jonathan Case and his daughter Dorothy in Artists’ Alley at the American Library Association Annual Conference, Wash D.C. The conference was back in-person. Masks and vaccinations were required, so it it was a different Artists’ Alley. Odd, but felt safe and far better than a virtual conference. Artists can apply for a free Artist’s AlleyContinue reading “Little Monarchs @ Artists’ Alley”
Category Archives: illustration
Omair Ali Makes His Marks
Omair, You landed a job as an illustrator. Congrats! Q: What exactly is is your job description? I’m an illustrator/designer with the in-house publishing department at American Reading Company. We create literacy curriculums for K-12 readers. I design and illustrate books about various subjects ranging from non-fiction (science and history) to fiction (fairytales and fantasy).Continue reading “Omair Ali Makes His Marks”
Creative Royale at K.U.
Kutztown Univiverity got a $750 federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The SAMSA grant was meant to create a “town hall” for students on the subject of substance abuse. Let’s be honest. –How many students would actually show up for a Substance Abuse Town Hall? Fran Cortez Funk is theContinue reading “Creative Royale at K.U.”
John Steven Gurney at Work
“Is it true you have illustrated 100 books?” “150!,” replied John Steven Gurney. He quickly explained these were series chapter books which entailed a color cover and a handful of interior black and white illustrations. Even so, that’s a lot of books! The A to Z Mysteries, Bailey School Kids, and The Calendar Mysteries seriesContinue reading “John Steven Gurney at Work”
EXPLODING ANTS – A Lesson from Francie at Takoma Park Library…
Last year my Snails are Just My Speed! book tour took me to Takoma Park Library in Maryland. Someone asked what my next TOON book would be. This happened… Francie was right. I was wrong. So I dedicated “Ants Don’t Wear Pants!” to “The children who teach me things, like Francie at the Takoma ParkContinue reading “EXPLODING ANTS – A Lesson from Francie at Takoma Park Library…”
ALPHA: Abidjan to Paris, -a graphic novel
The landscape of graphic novels is as vast as the Sahara. ALPHA follows an African refugee on a tortuous journey across that very desert. The story is by Bessora, a French author of African and European ancestry. French illustrator Barroux’s lush ink wash drawings bring an immediacy to the journey. Alpha, a carpenter, is compelled toContinue reading “ALPHA: Abidjan to Paris, -a graphic novel”
Illustration Summer.
Illustration student? Want to advance you career? If I was a young illustration student in college or high school here’s what I’d do this summer. Make business cards. This cost very little. Identify yourself as an illustrator or illustrator/designer. Don’t think of yourself as a student of illustration, but as a beginning illustrator. Postcards don’t cost much moreContinue reading “Illustration Summer.”
Great Illustrators coming to Kutztown
Exceptional illustrators are coming to the Kutztown University campus this week. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Kutztown University Children’s Literature Conference. I’ve been on the conference committee from the beginning and met some stellar writers and illustrators. This year’s line-up is amazing. Peter Sís came to the U.S. as a political refugeeContinue reading “Great Illustrators coming to Kutztown”
Q & A with Jennifer Hansen Rolli
Jennifer Hansen Rolli, author, illustrator, and Kutztown University grad will return to campus for the Kutztown University’s Children’s Literature Conference. The conference, 4/21/18, celebrates its 20th year with keynote speakers: Peter Sís, Raúl Colón, Lee Harper and Sharon Draper. Kutztown University students can attend the conference for $10. Jennifer will take part in our “Author Chat”Continue reading “Q & A with Jennifer Hansen Rolli”
Angels & Demons in Red and Blue
Searching the web I came across this archive of mugshots taken by Australian police in the 1920’s. Love this dude’s rockabilly haircut.. I used his likeness for painting demos in my sophomore illustration class. I drew his likeness twice on gessoed masonite. Then I painted monochromatic studies using blue, black, and white and red, black,Continue reading “Angels & Demons in Red and Blue”
Illustration Concentration 