Sketches For the Stuffers Project

 

Spider Cover Illustration: Feb. 2013

Digitally Colored Drawing, 2013

(the full image without cropping)

     I couldn't be happier about my cover for the February issue of Spider magazine.  The color and contrast quality along with that wonderful glossy luster had me beaming for a week.  They did a fabulous job with this illustration and matched my colors as well as (if not better than) anything I've had printed before.

 Spider Magazine, February 2013

Here are some of the layers that go into creating the final image.

  

 Shadow Layer

Local Colors

 

Optical Layer 

(glowing flowers, sparkles, etc.)

 

Highlights Layer

The Latest Three Little Worms for High Five Magazine

I'm a little late in posting this but here is the Latest story about the Three Little Worms by David L. Roper.  Enjoy.

 

 

 

 

The Old Man of Dumbree, Ladybug Magazine

     Well Carus publishing did it again.  They blew me out of the water with the handling of a recent illustration.  The Old Man of Dumbree looks great and I hope the photos that I took give you all a sense of how well the printing looks.

The Old Man of Dumbree, Digitally Colored Drawing

     I had a lot of fun interpreting the text of this poem.  I thought the tension between the mischievous mice and the owls sense of propriety would make for a humorous scene.

     Good luck to those mice should the Old Man of Dumbree ever have to excuse himself to the bathroom.

The Old Man of Dumbree

by Edward Lear

There was an old man of Dumbree,

Who taught little owls to drink tea;

For he said, "To eat mice, is not proper or nice,"

That amiable man of Dumbree

My First Hidden Pictures: The Patient Turtle

 I love getting hidden pictures assignments.  Especially when I'm given the freedom to interpret the text.  You can see The Patient Turtle, in the August issue of High Five Magazine.
Enjoy!

The Patient Turtle
A big turtle sat
On the end of a log,
Watching a tadpole
Turn into a frog.

Published Version:


















My Portfolio Version (includes two scruffy flies):


















 Original Sketch:

 

My First Assignment With Spider Magazine

I received a fantastic job from Spider, The Magazine for Children and here it is.  You can find it on the shelves now in the May/June issue of Spider.  I'm very happy with the image.  Illustrating a poem like this was very satisfying.  I hope to do many more.  

     This was hands down the best quality print that I have ever received from any publication.  Usually there is something that is off such as flat shadows, blown out highlights, saturation issues with magenta, or contrast issues.  Not this time, they nailed it.  I am so happy with this.  Great job Spider and thank you Sue. 

  

My Third Highlights Cover, Feb. Issue!

Highlights Magazine Cover, Issue: February 2012, Digitally Colored Drawing