I know, it's no secret—I love making trailers. Here's my latest for LIGHT WAVES, the next science picture by David A. Adler and me, to be published by Holiday House July 17th. If you know a kid scientist, or if you'd like a copy of your own, you can pre-order it here. And if you'd like a sneak peek at some of the art, click here. Thanks for watching!
Behind the Scenes: Time-Lapsed Process
For the past several months, I've been experimenting on the iPad with the Apple Pencil. While it has sped up my sketch process considerably, I'm still trying to figure out how and if I'll use it for final art. That decision is far down the road, but in the meantime, I'm having a great time exploring applications like Adobe Photoshop Sketch and Procreate as I consider ways to recreate the look of my analog illustration digitally. One of the really fun features I recently discovered was the Timelapse function. The iPad actually "records" your entire drawing session of a document.
This is most entertaining to me—seeing my illustration choices sped up in video form. For instance, in the image called, Flying Machines, you'll see my first thought was to draw an ice cream cone on wheels. I guess I didn't like that, so I switched to helicopter-like contraptions, flown by animals.
Flying Machines Timelapse Drawing
Here's one called Roller Skates where I was trying to make choices about the background. Yes? No? I settle for mostly no.
Roller Skates Timelapse Drawing
I'm also wondering about the story-telling possibilities with Timelapse. While it would be complicated to incorporate, I think with a little planning, there are possibilities. As quick examples, here's a drawing I made called Cat in the Woods. It takes on a short narrative as you see the footprints appear and the cat's eye direction change at the very end. (I know, you have to squint to see it.)
Cat in the Woods Timelapse Drawing
With my Teacher Appreciation Day illustration, I must've I wanted to draw a dog exercising at first, but quickly changed my mind to an image related to the final piece. But because I'm using the same dog character, it seems at the beginning like we've gotten a peek into her personal life—first with an exercise coach, maybe before she goes to her job at school where she is then greeted by the cat student with the fork. It sure did take me a few tries to get that fork right!
Teacher Appreciation Day Timelapse Drawing
At any rate, it's interesting to see the decisions I was making in process: things I test out, then eliminate, and also elements that I obviously have to draw over and over, until I get the look I want. So there you have it—the ugly underbelly of my current iPad drawing process.
A few of these images are available for purchase as prints in my shop. Just click here to see the whole assortment, and a slew of other products featuring my art. Thanks for reading!
Proofs of Life in the Universe!
I can't show much at this stage, but this week I received a special package in the mail: first proofs for THE DAY THE UNIVERSE EXPLODED MY HEAD. This is that space poetry picture book I've been talking about forever. Written by Allan Wolf, and published by Candlewick Press, it will be out in early March 2019.
At fifty-six pages, it seemed like I was painting it forever too, but I'm really pleased with the results. It's so rewarding to finally see the illustrations on the page.
Here are some very sneaky peeks—stay tuned for more. And if you haven't subscribed to my newsletter, you can find that link here.
MAGNETS is a Bank Street Best Book of 2018!
Each year, the Bank Street College of Education assembles a list of the Best Children's Books. I'm thrilled that MAGNETS PUSH, MAGNETS PULL by David A. Adler and me is among this great list of titles.
"In choosing books for the annual list, reviewers consider literary quality and excellence of presentation as well as the potential emotional impact of the books on young readers. Other criteria include credibility of characterization and plot, authenticity of time and place, age suitability, positive treatment of ethnic and religious differences, and the absence of stereotypes."
This is great news since just few weeks ago, I turned in sketches for the 5th science picture book collaboration between David and myself called SOLIDS, LIQUIDS, GASES, AND PLASMA—due out in 2019. And our 4th book, LIGHT WAVES, releases early this summer. Kirkus called it, "a good beginning look at light and all the ways it's important to life on Earth."
On a personal note, I always learn A LOT illustrating these books. I was not interested much in science as a kid, and find it fascinating to digest and interpret David's texts visually. It's great to see these books get consistent props. And I have to add that much admiration and congratulations goes to our very supportive publisher Holiday House!
To see the complete Bank Street list, organized by age group, click here.
World Read Aloud Day 2018
Thursday was my second time participating in World Read Aloud Day. As usual, it was a whirlwind day of Skype sessions with classrooms across the USA and Canada. I read a few of my books (THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED, YOU ARE NOT A CAT!, and A BIG SURPRISE FOR LITTLE CARD), shared some of my illustration process, and even snuck in a sneak peek at my next project.
A little peak behind the scenes.
South Windsor, CT
Talmo, GA
There's nothing like sharing books with kids. Even over the internet, their enthusiasm is contagious. I'm thrilled to share a couple of highlights of the day, especially the video above from the kindergartners (and their awesome teacher, Marci Johnstone) at the Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii. I almost cried! Special thanks to all the teachers and librarians who organized our day!
Honolulu, Hawaii
Derby, NY