Picture This

Since I last posted. I've finished my book illustrations and started a pro bono job for a friend. The pro bono job is for a program that goes into public schools and helps them start their own organic garden. I'm doing an illustration for their website. It's nice to be back to a manageable pace. I'm looking forward to getting back to working on the computer illustration style. Rock-a-bye Baby Jesus will be out Fall 2011.

I'm taking some time away from my marketing efforts to finish a picture book project 2 months early. I keep thinking like the Little Engine that Could...I think I can I think I can...

New book title that I've illustrated will be out May 2011. Click to preorder on Amazon .

The more I  use painter I feel more at ease. Here's a screen shot of a thank you card I'm working on for clients. A bit of a self portrait. Liked using the real bristle brushes for the hair. Mainly I like working with the pastels.

I'm a day early. Decided with the holiday to take advantage of some spare time. I'm over 50 on my mailing list. I'm half way to 100. Yeah! I've been viewing other illustrator sites/blogs to find publishers. I'm still on a tight budget. But I think you get a bit more creative when you are on a tight budget. I'm hoping to eventually get time to make a presentation of my work on Prezi . This is a nice way to make a presentation that isn't so slide based. It take some getting used to working on the canvas. I wanted to repeatedly use my quick key commands. It's browser based. So you don't have to worry about mac/pc or if they have the software. I think it has promise.

I've been researching online for various publishers. I tried googling for "Illustration Submissions". That had mixed results there's a lot of things you have to weed through if you are looking children's book publishers. After about 5 pages of this I decided to see how current my info was in my 2008 Children's Market Book. I'm working on a budget. It helps to google the publisher to double check them on JacketFlap . That helps. Now I'm up to 30 for my mailing. I try not to get discouraged at my slow progress. I'm still working on illustrating a fourth book title the talented author Heather Tietz . This is my 3rd illustration job with the same author. It's been a wonderful experience. I love her work.