Thursday, September 4, 2008

More pictures


Here are a couple of illo's I've done recently. The top is for a story in this month's issue of Stories For Children Magazine (The Monstrous Mile; my illo didn't get anti-aliased and looks really grainy, however) and the bottom illo is for last week's Watercolor Wednesday (the prompt was a tribute to Beatrix Potter).

I feel like I am progressing as an illustrator. Besides the fact that I feel like I'm spending so much time and energy being a mom (to two amazing children), I'm amazed that I've been able to progress at all. I attribute a lot of my success to the fact that we frequently visit the zoo, the aquarium, and museums, that I'm constantly around children, and that my oldest son and I read a lot of books. All of these things give me an opportunity to examine real life things and to scrutinize what works and what doesn't in children's book illustrations. Although I feel like I'm improving, I also recognize that I have a LONG way to go. I feel like I'm truly ready and good enough to do magazine illo's (and a book if an editor thinks so too) . . . but I still want to be better. There are days when I feel like I'll never be as good as I want to be, but I am mostly optimistic. 

Enough blabbering. It's time for me to go do what I've been dreaming about all day while playing with my kids.

3 comments:

Vanessa Brantley Newton said...

This illo reminds me of when I was in grade school trying to do the 100 yard dash. I'm the little girl way in the back. You have such a way with color and line. I think that WW has some of the most talented illustrators like yourself. You inspire me with every post. I look to see what you will come up with. Thanks so much for your kind words again. You give me much encouragement! I wish you much also much creativity and rich blessings always!

Michelle Henninger said...

I really like your illos! These two are awesome. I especially like the little boy reading his book. You have wonderful line work!

Anonymous said...

I think it makes all the difference if you have children around you from day to day when you're trying to illustrate how they move, how they act etc. Your knowlege shines through!