Forward-ing Work

Hey there everyone,

It's been a fun-filled, exciting sort of weekend. I hope that all of you on the East Coast are well-equipped with extra batteries for flashlights, candles, and water. Stay safe! As for me, I'm actually in Massachusetts right now... and for the next few days. I came up for the weekend, and as of yesterday, all trains and buses were cancelled due to Sandy-related weather. I'll be here for a bit longer, but that's fine by me. I have excellent company and plenty of sketchbook pages to fill.

In the meantime, if you need some extra reading, the latest article in the Forward's InsideOut series is live!

Check it out.

If you're looking for older articles, you can find the full list here.

This week's illustration involved populating a city block with a variety of characters. I really enjoy working with a wide variety of materials. Most of the time I use pencil and paint for my children's illustration, so it's nice to switch things up and play with ink for these pieces.

Thanks to Kurt and Naomi for their art direction.

Guess what! Guess what!

Blog readers!

Guess what, guess what!

I have exciting news... my first ever real life interview as an illustrator is live today!

Kathy Temean, the former Regional Advisor of New Jersey's SCBWI chapter writes an amazing blog on children's writing and illustration. Each Saturday she does a spotlight feature on an illustrator, and yours truly is October 27th.

That's today!

Check it out!

It's here!

The post includes all kinds of art work including a bunch of process work for this recent warm-up painting. Meet Hurricane Zelda. I'm sure you'll be seeing more of her.

Many thanks to Kathy for the amazing opportunity. For anyone out there also interested in this field, her blog has a wealth of information. If not just for the interview, definitely head on over.

Penguin Parade

Hey there blog readers,

The crazy jobs are just about quieting down... juuuust about. As far as I can tell, there actually is a light at the end of the tunnel. Huzzah! Because I'm starting to find a handful of minutes between jobs, I'm finally, finally starting to get back to half-finished projects (and, I swear, the dear, patient folks in my critique groups... I'll have things for you soon!).

One of my recent projects, a silly sort of make-me-giggle-over-my-drawing-table painting features a few of my fave characters - a passel of penguins and one goofy, pink fellow.

As always I started with a whole bunch of sketches,

 that I composited into one ginormous sketch parade. (Click to get a closer view.)

And finally, with a bunch of stolen minutes over a handful of weeks, paint! 

 

Warm up sketch

Tease...

Halloo Internet friends,

Every now and then I get busy. I know, I know... everyone gets busy. But when I get busy, I seem to get extraordinarily-crazy-burning-both-candles-free-time?-what-free-time? sort of busy. It's like that old expression, "if you need something done, ask Lisa to do it".

It's true.

And I'm terrible at saying no to people.

In this case, much of the busy is (or has been) for jobs or volunteering or planning very exciting weekends with dear friends. Which is to say, none of it's bad... just plain, old no-time-to-update-the-blog style busy.

So here are some of the greatest hits...

The last weekend in September, I helped organize a Mountain Day weekend and reun-ed with nine of my dear college friends. (We made t-shirts, so I feel like this is a relevant to mention.)

The fourth article (and illustration) in the InsideOut series for the Forward came out last week, and I'm currently working on illustration number five. They're all good, but number four is a particularly excellent read.

I have eight - yes, I said eight - illustrations due for another job next week, and yet I believe I'm volunteering for the election this weekend. (I shouldn't even have to remind you to register to vote, but if you haven't, go do so.) I've also started volunteering for another stellar organization that I mention on here now and again.

I'm working on a project that requires lots of lovely doodley character sketches.

I visited my sister and helped her winter-proof her windows and hang curtains. (Again, project involved, so completely relevant...)

While we were busy hanging curtains, we ran into a couple of friends.

And took just a couple of photos...

And meanwhile, I've been ever-so-slowly working on a new piece just for me... it features this little fellow.

He's pretty cute, not to mention a bit of a tease... there's actually an entire ten-character extravaganza that you're missing out on.

But, alas, I seem to be a wee bit busy. I'm going to need more time before you get to see the rest of that one.

Sometimes...

I draw lizards...

And, every now and then, those lizards play the accordian.