FREAKS and GEEKS... and why this show is so great and it applies to anything published

It has a great cast of characters who are real and relatable. And I empathize with them. (and great actors!)

But it also has new and under done yet everyday story lines. I have not seen them before. They are not cliched or hokey or boring. They don't fade into the vast pool of true but unnoticed stuff.

I know I posted this image on this blog years ago but I saw it again on Facebook recently.... and it is still funny (if not gross).

Getting all excited. Making lots and lots of new art to put on my website. Out with the old and in with the new!

Stay tuned...........

If you love Tom and Jerry as much as I love Tom and Jerry you'll love this.

Too funny!  Take a listen.

Courtesy of the Proms 2013 at the Royal Albert Hall:


http://www.cartoonbrew.com/cartoon-culture/tom-and-jerry-music-performed-like-youve-never-heard-before-88757.html

SCBWI NY Metro Illustrator Boot Camp on Character Creation

The NY Metro Illustrator Boot Camp on Character Creation was fabulous. This is the first one I attended for this chapter but I felt at home as soon as I walked in.

My sketches were critiqued by an art director and she asked that I continue to develop more expressions and stated that my poses were good. Also, I began some color studies in class and will finish them
soon. I really learned about the Schwartz and Wade book line. They are definitely aimed at the bookstore and library market. Perhaps I will submit my pb biography to them down the road when it is ready.

My portfolio crit with Harper AD went well. She seemed to like the pieces that everyone likes. She also pointed out a few that need tweaking. She loved a new one I did that belongs in my fractured food project. Perhaps that will be my next postcard?

Lastly, we all were blessed to hear Peter McCarty's speech on how he comes up with characters. He is so funny and real and so are his characters. He really identifies with them on both a child and grown up level. And they are so true to life.

He said he often takes a year to finish the art. And it shows. Exquisite.

I love these workshops because you always come away with new ideas, ways of looking at things and of course, improvement.

Looking forward to the next one.

Two more sketches

And two more. Can't wait to see what the Art Director says. I'm sure she will suggest a lot of changes.

I decided to do an urban/contemporary version of Hansel and Gretl, and to make the witch a funny baker and the mother a bad cook.

Yay!!  I finished six sketches for the Illustrating Characters Bootcamp which takes place in NYC in mid July. Here are four of them and the other two I will post once I scan them:

Why is it that on the most beautiful days of the year I am up in my studio working? And why is that when there is next to no humidity and no need for an air conditioner I work more quickly and effectively. I just knocked out three sketches and character studies. And am pleased.
And because I am on a tight deadline that suits me just fine. Now I've got the modern witch to create and a few more sketches of the children. Happy... but wish I were outside.

Got my assignment last night for my next illustrator day project. Looks super fun and challenging. The cool thing is that I am picking Hansel and Gretel characters to reinvent. What is really funny tho, is that yesterday I listened to the opera on the radio and got all sentimental. Having lived in Munich as a child this story was a staple in my library.

I actually had the record album as a very young child and the cover terrified me... but the music enthralled me. The story actually terrified me until I became 6/7.

Then I accompanied my family for a day in Central Park (my young stomping ground) and the Upper West Side humming Humperdinck all the way.

Anyhoo... back to character creation...sketching, sketching, sketching.  Perhaps I'll lighten the story up a bit.  And make it funny? Watch out witch!!!

Back to the Blog

It is June. It is almost summer and life has calmed down. My goodness I've neglected this blog too long.

Looking forward to more news to share. More artwork to display. More stories to tell. More Conference and Illustrator Day news to share. And hopefully some good news around the corner.