Christopher Denise

Attention Providence Area Folks!

2011-12-14T11:14:00.007-05:00

This will be so much fun!

We are signing at the famous Frog and Toad on Thursday evening. If you are in the area drop by for a glass of wine, check out the amazing stuff in the store and pick up a few signed books. I will try to bring a few original works -probably from my book Knitty Kitty.

One of a kind Redwall Christmas art!

2011-12-14T10:02:00.008-05:00

This original artwork was commissioned by my late friend Brian Jacques for an exclusive, members only Redwall Readers Club Christmas Greeting card. This illustration is one of a kind and only a small number of reproductions exist. A rare piece for the avid Redwall collector! The artwork was created with Charcoal pencil on acid free paper and measures approximately 7 inches by 4 1/2 inches.

See a detail here.

Available today at Christopher Denise Original Art!

New website!

2011-12-06T16:38:00.002-05:00

www.christopherdenise.com

Off to Burbank!

2011-11-17T10:28:00.003-05:00

http://www.ctnanimationexpo.com/

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T10:49:00.003-04:00

CTNEXPO 2010

2011-10-28T21:44:00.005-04:00

Its official! I will be in Burbank again this year for the CTNEXPO conference.

I have been asked to be part of a panel.

Animation Designers Who Illustrate and Vice Versa

Are you an illustrator and have been wondering if you should take your skill set into the world of animation design. Or maybe you are an animator or animation artist and have been wondering if you should take your skill set into the world of Children’s Book Illustration or art. What are the similarities and differences that these top artists who work both in animation and book illustration go through to create and stories visually.

Pretty cool. The panel will be moderated by the incredibly talented Carol Kieffer Police. Sitting on the panel are; Brain Ajar, Chris Appelhans, and myself. These folks are amazing so click on their names to check out their work or read about the discussion by clicking on this link;

http://www.CTNANIMATIONEXPO.com/animation-designers-who-illustrate-and-vice-versa/

If you are in the area....

2011-10-27T10:16:00.003-04:00

Barrington Books’ Annual Children’s Books Authors & Illustrators Event is on Saturday, October 29th!

It’s a great tradition. Right before Halloween each year, Barrington Books gathers regional picture book, middle grade and young adult authors & illustrators for a festive day of book signings, crafts, costumes, treats and stories.

Event Schedule

10 am-12pm

Jamie Michalak – Joe and Sparky, Superstars! Joe and Sparky Get New Wheels
Alison Paul – The Crow; Sunday Love

12-2 pm

Anika & Christopher Denise – Bella and Stella Come Home; Pigs Love Potatoes
RW & Zoë Alley – There’s A Princess In The Palace; There’s A Wolf At The Door
Willa Perlman – Goodnight, World; Pocket Kisses

* Spooky Story Hour will begin at 1 pm – costumes encouraged!

2-4 pm

Pamela Lowell – Returnable Girl; Spotting for Nellie
Liz McGrath – The Ghouls Come Haunting One by One
Sarah L. Thomson – Mercy: The Last New England Vampire; Dragon’s Egg; The Dragon’s Son; Pirates, Ho! Three Cups of Tea (Young Reader’s Edition)

Wildwood (the book) inspired sketch

2011-10-19T11:42:00.005-04:00

A quick sketch made this rainy morning while waiting for a phone meeting to start. If you, or your kid (reading level 8 years or older is my guess) has not yet read Wildwood by Colin Meloy and illustrated by Carson Ellis, you should.

Fall artwork at ETSY!

2011-10-17T14:06:00.005-04:00

Finally unpacked this piece from Oliver Finds His Way. Available at ETSY!

Bella and Stella Go (went) to Washington

2011-10-06T14:31:00.005-04:00

Clearly a past due update but still good news! I stole the post from my wife's (Anika Denise-author of many fine books for children) news section and may have added a comment or two.

Bella and Stella Come Home was chosen by the Rhode Island Center for the Book as the Rhode Island submission in the Pavilion of the States at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. (that took place) on September 24, 2011.

The book will be (was) on display in the Pavilion and included in the publication that will be (was) distributed by the Library of Congress. Recent Rhode Island authors that have had their books honored include Natalie Babbitt, Chris Van Allsburg, Kelly Eaton, Janet Taylor Lisle, Kim Newton Fusco and Mark Peter Hughes.

Chris and I are honored (still are) to be in such good company and delighted our book was chosen!

A glimpse of the process...

2011-10-05T23:06:00.004-04:00

My publisher asked if we could put together some footage of the Tugg and Teeny work in progress. In the end, there just was not enough time but I did grab this quick photo of my workspace on that particular morning.

2011-10-05T22:36:00.007-04:00

Thanks to all that have remained followers of the blog even without any updates in so many months. Lots happening, some good, some bad, and through it all the work and the books continue.

Lots of exciting news.

-It looks like I may be back at the CTN EXPO in Burbank this year and I may be more than an audience member. More about that when the details are confirmed.

-Tugg and Teeny #3 " That's What Friends Are For" by J. Patrick Lewis is done and I will post some images when I get the greenlight from the publisher.

-Tugg and Teeny #2 "Jungle Surprises"

published at the end of May and is doing great.

-I can also mention that I will be collaborating with Rosemary Wells on a project.

I will post the followups to earlier posts that were listed as part one as soon as I can!

Cheers,

Chris

New posts coming soon.....but first BEA

2011-05-23T14:06:00.007-04:00

Part two of the Redwall cover post (and many other updates) will come soon.... but first I need to head down to NY to attend BEA. I will be there signing books on Tuesday, May 24th. If you are the conference, be sure to drop by The Sleeping Bear Press Booth. I will be joined by the author of the Tugg and Teeny series and recently named Children's Poet Laureate, J. Patrick Lewis. Stop in to say Hi, get your copy of Tugg and Teeny signed, and hopefully, grab a sneak preview of the second in the series, Tugg and Teeny, Jungle Surprises. It looks fantastic!

Pastels, Redwall, and the pre-digital age, part 1.

2011-03-10T11:38:00.016-05:00

I am on the middle of a huge project and crazy deadline right now so I can't share any of the current images but I have received a number of emails in the last few months regarding my pastel technique. As chance would have it, I stumbled across a few process photos taken while I was creating my cover for A Redwall Winters Tale by Brian Jacques. This is all pre-digital so please excuse any blurriness!

The image on the left is the finish line. But where did I start?

In a quiet studio...then in many meetings.

Everything that you read about the value of a strong showing at your point of purchase is true. The cover a picture book is incredibly important in the life and

success of the project. It is also one of the most difficult and sometimes frustrating parts of the process. When the time comes for an illustrator to do his or her job, the publishers, designers, authors, and editors have already invested a great deal of time and money in this thing. Naturally, when it comes time to decide what our first impression of the book will look like, everyone, including the folks from marketing, want a seat at the table. There are allot of people trying to steer this ship. To do your job as an illustrator, you need to understand the book so that you can be flexible in your solution, address as many of the needs expressed by all parties involved (wants are optional) AND stay true to the material.

Step 1. Understanding the material.

I am a strong advocate of designing the entire book and starting the finished art before exploring the cover image. Why?

Picture books become these strange little animals that come to life and run around in your studio. They often start to move in directions that you did not anticipate. It is akin to how many authors describe the phenomenon of their characters taking on a life of their own and telling the author where they need to go and what they should say. Unfortunately, in my experience, picture books don't speak English and you need to be attentive to them to see where these creatures need to go. Redwall picture books are not small creatures either,......more like....., pet sitting for your friend that owns an buffalo.

So I read, sketch, design re-read, sketch and begin painting the images keeping a watchful eye on where this thing is heading.

Next week, less pre-amble and more images. Here is a preview.

New book, hot off the press!

2011-03-06T23:03:00.002-05:00

Working on the sequel right now.

Birds!

2011-02-19T16:54:00.003-05:00

Came across this sketch from a recent project and thought I might share it.

My mentor and always my friend Brian Jacques.

2011-02-07T16:34:00.005-05:00

I have just learned of the passing of my dear old friend Brian Jacques. I will try to put together a post in the coming days with some my memories of Brian so that you might know a bit more of the Brian that I knew.

He will be missed by so many.

Are you a fan of Redwall and collect original art?

2011-02-05T10:38:00.009-05:00

Is this the piece you were looking for? If you collect original art and are a fan of my Redwall picturebooks, leave me a comment and let me know which piece you are looking for! If it is still available, I will put it on the list to post at ETSY.

Redwall Abbey Detail

2011-02-02T13:35:00.002-05:00

Finally starting to unpack a few boxes. A detail from some Redwall original art featured at ETSY.

New art at ETSY!

2011-02-01T22:22:00.003-05:00

Detail from a piece now available at Christopher Denise Original Art!

Big snow storm rolling in tonight.

2011-01-11T22:18:00.002-05:00

Sketch from a recent project.

2011-01-04T23:43:00.001-05:00

Less IS in fact MORE. A Portfolio makeover.

2010-12-10T14:21:00.003-05:00

Three weeks ago I was lucky enough to find myself at the CTN Expo taking in the forum discussions, catching up with friends, and toting my wares around to the studios. I was not able to show the recent film work because the movies have not yet been made or released but I had enough new stuff that it was time to freshen up my book. Thus began the task of designing a new portfolio. There are plenty of places on the web with great advice about putting together your book, most notably Escape from Illustration Island, and most are well worth the time it takes to read them even for someone that has been showing work for more than twenty years. Much of the advice is standard so I will not go into the details but will share a few observations that I had in this most recent go-round.

First off it was far more difficult than I remembered so your first stop should be to check your calendar. The day that you read about a conference like CTN or Siggraph that you may want to attend, you need to build time into your production schedule. Treat it like a job because your next one may depend upon it. Build in time for going through your images, designing the thing, editing, feedback, more editing, and finally printing and shipping. I used Blurb and was very happy once again with the results though I would recommend spending the extra money for the paper upgrade.

OK, so you have picked some recent images of work that you like. These are pieces that you enjoyed making and show the type work that you would like to get more of. I put together a contact sheet like this:

The portfolio that preceded this version, and there have been many, looked wonderful but as a friend of mine pointed out it was a bit of an embarrassment of riches. It was well received but clocked in at a hefty 34 pages. Even people that loved my work were stuffed by page 20.

I was a prime candidate for a radical intervention on Portfolios Biggest Losers. If you have a copy, I am sure that it looks very nice on your coffee table but my goal this time around was to make something a bit more user friendly. How? Simple. Edit until it hurts. I am good at critiquing, in fact I used to get paid to crit and edit while teaching at RISD but when it comes to your own book, we all need a fresh eye. So I sent it off to my friend Buck Lewis. I received something like this back.

Ouch! Thought this guy was my friend?-well he is. Buck was able to cut through the redundancy and the fluff and get me to show a range of work that highlighted my strengths in character design and visual development. Trust the process and make the cuts. You want to treat your art director, recruiter, or production designer to a nice cappuccino and fresh croissant not the open buffet at the Radisson. Don't get stuck in the trap of thinking that "if they only saw this piece then they would realize I am perfect for their project". You want to show them potential not every single decent piece that you have created in the past year. Give them a taste, let your work shine, save some trees, and get a gig. Trust me-it works. I am lean after shedding over 20 pages of portfolio fat and my friends, family and most importantly, my clients are amazed!

Another glimpse behind the scenes...

2010-12-09T11:54:00.009-05:00

It is always a huge compliment when people take the time out of their busy schedules to attend a book event with the kids in tow. Many thanks to all that have come out in the cold and told us how much they enjoy our new book, Bella and Stella Come Home! Thanks to the efforts of my wife, Anika (author of Bella and Pigs Love Potatoes) we have been able to share some of the behind the scenes material that usually never seen. We have printed out a few of the character sheets (seen on this blog) and have begun to display some of the book map and sketch material.

So stop in our next signing, get your book personalized with a drawing of Stella, have your photo taken with "big Stella", and take a quick look behind the scenes! We always try to make the time to answer questions about our books and process. So if your are in New England, come and see us this Saturday at Where the Sidewalk Ends in Chatham Mass.

Many thanks to Barrington Books for hosting the launch party for Bella & Stella Come Home!

2010-12-01T13:52:00.008-05:00

Thanks to everyone at Barrington Books for a great day! If you missed us, we will be signing at Books of Wonder in NYC this Sunday, December 5th.

CTN EXPO 2010

2010-11-12T10:46:00.005-05:00

Next week I am off to see the future! Hope to see some of you there.

http://www.ctnanimationexpo.com/

Another review for Bella & Stella Come Home!

2010-10-22T13:16:00.005-04:00

This just in from Publishers Weekly!

10/25/2010 Children's

Bella and Stella Come Home

Anika Denise, illus. by Christopher Denise, Philomel, $16.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-399-24243-4

In this clever and reassuring offering from the husband-and-wife creators of Pigs Love Potatoes, Bella finds solace in her stuffed elephant, Stella--and in her expansive imagination--on moving day. "Stella says she will miss our house. I hug her and say, ‘It will be okay,' " says Bella. Vibrant digital and pencil art soon reveals a transformation as Stella springs to life as an enormous yellow elephant. Faces share skepticism and apprehension as Bella transfers her emotions to Stella. The new kitchen is yellow ("Stella thinks kitchens should be blue. I do too"), and the two continue to concur that old beats new: the garden should have an oak tree, and their bedroom should have polka-dot curtains and stars on the ceiling. The arrival of Bella's possessions helps ease the transition, as does meeting a neighbor who also has an oversize animal companion. The fact that Bella comes to terms with the move on her own (her parents are always offstage) adds to the appeal of this story, whose subtle narrative is neatly balanced by larger-than-life graphics. Ages 3–8. (Nov.)

Review time can leave you a bit nervous....

2010-10-22T12:42:00.005-04:00

The early reviews for Bella & Stella Come Home are starting to some out. So far, its all good!

Here's what critics at Kirkus Reviews have to say about our new book:

ISBN:978-0399242434(Philomel) November 24, 2010

When Bella moves to a new home, she finds it greatly comforting to have her best friend Stella always at her side. Everything is so different. There are ten steps to the front door instead of three, the kitchen is yellow instead of blue and the bathtub has feet. Bella and Stella take turns encouraging and reassuring each other as they explore their new home. Even when her room is set up with her familiar things, it takes all the lights on, a new morning and a new neighbor with his own best friend to make her feel as if she’s home. Anika Denise conveys tender understanding as Bella speaks directly to the reader, expressing her apprehension and confusion in appropriately childlike terms. Christopher Denise’s glowing, softly colored pencil-and-digital illustrations add further dimension as readers see that Stella is Bella’s beloved yellow stuffed elephant, who morphs into an imaginary life-sized companion and supporter. Text and illustrations are interdependent and seamless, a splendid marriage of words and pictures. Cozy and comfortable. (Picture book. 3-8)

Bella and Stella Come Home, more character development.

2010-09-17T09:23:00.008-04:00

and a detail from the interior of the book...

Anika Denise, the author of Bella & Stella Come Home, and my wife, has also posted a more detailed account of Bella's early stages on her blog, http://anikadenise.blogspot.com/,

Check it out!

Some early character work from my next book, Bella and Stella Come Home.

2010-08-31T09:35:00.006-04:00

and a detail from the interior...

Think ideas are all original? Think again!Its all in the air ....

2010-08-16T11:36:00.032-04:00

This is not one of those posts that accuse the big evil corporate entity of ripping off the little guy. This is a post about amazing coincidences where inspired artists working independently are pulling ideas from the ether.

I had the great pleasure of finally seeing Toy Story 3 last night. I think we were the last to catch it, but if we were not, you really need to see this film. You will not be disappointed!

Last summer I was working around the clock creating the final images for my next book, Bella & Stella Come Home, by Anika Denise.

Publication was delayed for marketing reasons until this November. All of the final artwork was completed and sent to the publisher in September and October 0f 2009.If you like my work, don't forget, you can always pre-order the book at your favorite independent bookstore or Amazon.

Large pre-orders send a really strong positive message to my publisher!

I will preface the following with a few facts;

1. I have never been to Pixar....yet

2. No full time employee of Pixar has ever been to my studio.

3. I have not worked with or for Pixar.....yet.

4. I have exchanged emails and pleasantries with a few of the amazing artists that have worked on the Pixar films that I ad

mire, including Toy Story 3. No images were ever shared. Pixar runs a tight ship and at the cost of not showing my most recent work, I try to keep unpublished art under wraps.

5. Full disclaimer: I do have the good fortune to

count Carter Goodrich and Buck Lewis amongst my friends. Both are amazing artists who have contributed to Pixar films in the past.

6. I am a fan of Pixar films. The work that has come from that amazing group of artists, writers and filmmakers has been the driving inspiration for me to begin to venture out of the dusty but pleasant cocoon of books and into the world of animation.

As I watched the film last night, I was swept along with the mastery of story telling and film making. I was in that wonderful place of being completely in the film...until the last scene.

The last scene was not a disappointment in anyway shape or form! It was perfect but it was also strangely familiar. I was in awe. What I was watching was a more masterful rendition of a scene that I had created in my book just twelve months ago!

Remember: This is not one of those posts that accuse the big evil corporate entity of ripping off the little guy.

I have a healthy respect for copyright law so I will not post any pirated images from the final sequence of the film. However, the last scene is viewable at the sites where you would expect to find these things. I can post a few of my images from Bella & Stella Come Home and I would welcome any commentary from readers of this blog.

Please bear two things in mind:

1. I do not feel that I have been ripped off in any way shape or form.

2. Any similarity is purely coincidence. I could not have seen anything from the film nor could anyone making the film (which was already in the final stages of production) have seen my work.

I see that whole thing as an amazing coincidence and perhaps a message that my head is in the right place and my inspirational receiver is tuned into a very good station.

As I said.....I have not worked with or for Pixar..........yet.

This is our Bella..and Stella

Here she is meeting the neighbor.

I tried for the hand on the hip but it changed the body language expression of the mom too much.

There are other areas of similarity that just come with

the subject matter (tutus and stuff). But there was just something about seeing that kid in that environment that blew me away. See the film and look at the book and see what you think. No imitation on either end-it would have been impossible. I think the ideas are just out there floating around and sometimes we grab the same ones!

(detail from a larger scene)

New website for my most excellent agent!

2010-07-29T10:52:00.003-04:00

http://www.pippinproperties.com/

The Pippin Blog is also up and running! Be sure to add it to your bookmarks!

Summer is the time for Pirates and stories!

2010-07-12T15:51:00.003-04:00

Afternoon session

2010-07-01T19:02:00.003-04:00

How to operate in the present.

2010-07-01T18:54:00.002-04:00

Stolen time from a recent getaway.

Where have you been????

2010-06-03T15:53:00.002-04:00

......working on the new studio!! But today I am painting away on the next book.

Official release date for new book is in November!

2010-04-12T18:08:00.003-04:00

Don't forget, Mother's Day is on the way!

2010-04-09T12:02:00.002-04:00

Now at ETSY!

Pappa Raccoon

2010-04-08T16:02:00.003-04:00

ETSY

New art at ETSY!

2010-03-30T10:33:00.006-04:00

From The Great Redwall Feast by Brian Jacques.

Another from the recent work...

2010-03-25T16:19:00.003-04:00

This guy didn't make the cut but I still think he is cool..

Something from my desk.

2010-03-25T15:39:00.006-04:00

An example of some character designs that I have been working on recently.

A Blog you should follow! This post "Dreaming of Bologna" borrowed from Anika Denise.

2010-03-23T09:59:00.007-04:00

Read more and follow this blog!
I'll admit, I'm wishing I was there and not here, in chilly drizzly Rhode Island. (Though come to think of it, I believe it's chilly and drizzly there too, but hey, it's Italy, so who cares?) My husband and I have always wanted to attend, but in these past few years when our daughters were still so little, we couldn't quite swing it. Now, with our youngest heading to first grade in the fall—we find ourselves dreaming of Bologna. Billed as "the most important international event dedicated to the children’s publishing industry," it's a venue where international authors, illustrators, literary agents, TV & Film producers, licensors and licensees, packagers, distributors, printers, booksellers, librarians and journalists meet to network and see what's new and exciting in the world of children's publishing and media. A visit to the website (particularly the one in Italian) conjures up all sorts of exotic images for me. The "Agenti letterari" sound like something out of a Stephanie Meyer novel, don't they? I picture a group of serious but stunningly beautiful book agents, in robes and bright red scarves, gliding across the exhibition floor towards a feast of new talent and gorgeously designed books. Sigh. Ok, so perhaps I'm over-romanticizing it just a touch, but to have all that creative energy in one city, for one fabulous fair is surely exhilarating. When I'm in need of a little inspiration, I often go the the places where talent converges—be it a museum or gallery, coffee house or conference—being around creative, productive people who share a passion is good for the work, and good for the soul. So, next year, when Bologna comes around... Andiamó! I'll be ready.

From the archives....

2010-03-19T18:09:00.004-04:00

I always had fun with these smaller projects. The only text read "Rabbit stopped for a snack"

The bear definitely deserves his own story!

At Etsy!

PIGS!

2010-03-18T17:41:00.003-04:00

from Pigs Love Potatoes

Now at ETSY!

Also from Biddy Malone....

2010-03-17T10:29:00.001-04:00

Irish landscape

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Now available at ETSY.

Original artwork from the children's book, The Wishing of Biddy Malone published by Philomel Books 2004.

Finished art area measures approximately 4 3/4 inches x 3 3/4 inches.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T09:37:00.004-04:00

Another happy collector...one step closer to the new studio!

2010-03-16T10:42:00.000-04:00

(detail from If I Could, now enjoying a place on someone's wall)

I have been asked recently why I am selling original art from my books? Simple answer. I am trying to put together a studio closer to home so my kids can see more of what I do. They visit the studio often and art time is a regular part of our week, but I am looking to close the gap between "work life" and "home life". My family is one of my greatest sources of inspiration so the move seems logical. I had the opportunity to work from a small space a stones throw from the back door last summer and loved it!

So if you ever wanted some original art from one of my books check my store for regular updates and become a follower of the blog or join the fan page to receive announcements of new postings.

Many thanks from myself and the family to all that have appreciated my work enough to purchase a piece and get us one step closer!

Cheers,

Chris

Another little sketch...

2010-03-11T14:38:00.000-05:00

Face Book Page

2010-03-11T13:02:00.001-05:00

Doggie doodles

2010-03-10T11:18:00.001-05:00

Digging deep in the archives

2010-03-05T14:08:00.000-05:00

One of a kind, original art from The Great Redwall Feast @ my Etsy shop!

Original Redwall Art now at Etsy!

2010-03-03T17:02:00.000-05:00

Visit my original art gallery at Etsy to see if your favorite pieces are available!

All works are one of a kind originals.

Original Art for sale!

2010-03-01T15:45:00.001-05:00

I have a new gadget on my sidebar that will take you directly to my Etsy shop. I will be opening the flat files and posting new items over the course of the next few weeks!

Brown bagging it....

2010-02-09T17:23:00.000-05:00

Sketch and finish from The Great Redwall Feast.

Snow on the way but Spring will come again....

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This one is from a brief outing last spring.

A Redwall Winters Tale

2010-02-02T09:43:00.001-05:00

Detail from A Redwall Winters Tale

Quicktime of the progression....

Beginning a picture book?

2010-01-15T13:36:00.001-05:00

http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Pictures-Write-Illustrate-Childrens/dp/0823059359/ref=sr_1_1/187-3836095-3105143?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263581166&sr=1-1

Look again at the master. I just found this link to some of the information from "Writing with Pictures" by Uri Shulevitz.

http://www.mightyartdemos.com/mightyartdemos-shulevitz.html

An incredible resource for your first, or your next, picture book.

A sketch...

2010-01-14T14:12:00.000-05:00

While I wait for books to get published and films made that I have worked on I will post some older sketches that no-one has seen. This one was from a sketchbook created in the production of A Redwall Winters Tale.

Beginners mind

2010-01-08T11:01:00.000-05:00

And we begin again......

Deadline approaches-early December

2009-11-16T10:14:00.001-05:00

Our next book is nearly complete...just a few more weeks.

Back to school!

2009-09-16T08:41:00.002-04:00

Work with occasional breaks for sunshine, beach and painting.

2009-07-21T10:39:00.000-04:00

I am in my summer studio and deep into the production of our next book. Having a blast!

What I have for breakfast, my itunes shuffle, my process, and lots of sketches and art!

2009-05-15T13:12:00.000-04:00

I had the pleasure of being interviewd by Jules at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. If you are not familiar with her blog you should be. Jules has archived interviews with some of the most amazing authors and illustrators working in the children's book industry. How about knowing more about Mo Willems, Jane Yolen, Ed Young, Harry Bliss, Giselle Potter, or Dave McKlean?

The interviews are just long enough that you get a real sense of the artists but not so long that you feel like you are reading every entry on their face book page. The insights shared through a very thoughtful q/a are enlightening and often hilarious.

The posts are choc full of nicely sized images in a very clean, well organized format. So if you want to know more about the people that created the books that you love, or discover a new favorite, a visit to her blog is time well spent. http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/

New Book due out in May!

2009-04-27T14:20:00.000-04:00

International Bear!

2009-03-31T13:18:00.000-04:00

"Oliver Finds His Way" is a book that I illustrated for Candlewick Press. When I read the manuscript, written by Phyllis Root, I knew that I had to take the project. Now it seems that Oliver has found his way into the hearts of readers around the world!

Drawing from a former life.

2009-03-11T14:06:00.000-04:00

Quoting my own work and the way I draw certain subjects is trap that I try to be mindful of when I approach new projects. Often, in warmer weather, I will go landscape painting just to "restart" my ability to really look at things and draw or paint without defaulting to my mental cache of imagery. This past winter in New England has been crushing and continues to keep all but the most die-hards couped up in their studios. But a restart was needed and I dutifully headed down to the open drawing session at RISD for a solid 3 hour life drawing session. After about 30 minutes, we realized that the models were not going to show up and I found myself in a strangely familiar predicament.

I taught at RISD in the illustration department on and off for a few years and was always nagging my students to go to these life drawing sessions and often they would come back with the "excuse" that the model was a no show. At which point I would tell them they should have gone to the Nature Lab, a sort of miniature museum of natural history, full of skeletons, taxidermy and fish.

So it was time to follow my own advice. After the first 45 minutes I realized that my former students must have cursed me. This was neither fun nor exciting. Then those self sabotaging thoughts came..."I should be in my studio"....."This is a waste of time"...."I should be working on my clients projects"...etc. But I continued to push through my own resistance.

Then, without warning, all resistance fell away and there I was, just drawing. Completely present and very happy. I had reoccupied that space I knew not as a RISD teacher but as a RISD student. Before I knew it they were closing the lab for the night and it was time to pack up.

When I arrived at home it was time for a beer and to look at the work. Had I jumped out of my well worn ruts of drawing for the night? I think so....Will I do it again? You bet. There is another open drawing session next week and model or not, I will be there.

And if you are one of my former students, put down the stylus, dig out your charcoal and get your ass in class.

Bookmaps and Storyboards

2009-02-10T10:53:00.000-05:00

The two borrow from the same discipline of understanding visual pacing, lighting, perspective, drama, comedic timing, continuity, etc. Gifted storybook artists and gifted storyboard artists are above all, excellent visual communicators. They innately understand and can compellingly communicate the story beats of a manuscript or screenplay. I have attached some development work from my book "Pigs Love Potatoes"

Photoshop work for the forthcoming book!

2009-01-14T12:57:00.000-05:00

In search of Festivus

2009-01-07T10:40:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

2009-01-07T10:35:00.000-05:00

Some recent digital work.

2008-10-31T14:38:00.000-04:00

Sketchbook page

2008-10-16T13:55:00.000-04:00

Someone was asking me about posting a sketchbook page-no clean ups or making it look pretty.

This one was called Wednesday

2008-10-15T22:53:00.000-04:00

This one is one of the larger scapes on canvas

It's official, summer is just about over.

2008-09-18T22:13:00.000-04:00

I couldn't let the summer go without posting something about my summer book this year. I loved making this book. Publishers Weekly review below.

SIGGRAPH 08

2008-08-22T14:38:00.001-04:00

Siggraph 08 was a blast. Whirlwind of activity. Met with the folks from DreamWorks, Sony Imageworks, Disney, Blue Sky Studios, Laika, ILM, Lucasfilm animation, and many more.

Spent some real quality time with my old friend Buck Lewis and finally had a chance to meet my friend Sam Michlap in person. Caught a few lectures hosted by the incredible Kung Fu Panda team, attended a very cool DreamWorks party at the Edison and successfully braved the freeways!

Summer painting

2008-07-24T14:36:00.000-04:00

I have not yet been able to get out and create any new panels but I thought I would post a few of the more recent oil sketches.

Nothing like it.....

2008-07-16T00:52:00.000-04:00

The beach at night is just the best. A few friends came by tonight and we walked down to the sand and watched the clouds.

Throwing my hat in the ring.

2008-07-11T14:58:00.000-04:00

A few years ago my wife and I decided that a nice date night would be to catch a film. At the time she was very pregnant with our first daughter so we decided it might be time to start familiarizing ourselves with "children's" entertainment. I had already been making books with Penguin and several other children's book publishers but the world of CG was, for the most part, unknown territory.

We purchased our tickets to Monsters Inc. and little did I know that my life was going to begin to change in every way!It was by far the best film we had seen in a long time but more importantly, it lit a small fire in the back of my mind....."they are doing what I do....could I do that?"

These ideas can be all to easy to ignore in the swirl of publishing deadlines, family, teaching at RISD and the pursuit of my personal studio work until the recent releases of films like Surfs Up and Ratatouille. That small flame had just been doused with gasoline and I found myself on an incredible team of artists working on visual development and character design for a future Blue Sky feature. So here I am, giving my career, my portfolio, my website a face lift and heading to Siggraph in August. Amazing! Here is a quick first post of many posts to come!