Here’s a second peek at the illustrations I’m working on for Diane Cantrell’s children’s book, tentatively titled Riley’s Tooth. This is a really enjoyable stage as it’s where I make a lot of the decisions about what colours everything will be. I generally have a good idea when I start out, but finding just that right shade of colour happens when I mix the paint in the palette… for instance, I knew I wanted the fairy to have blue hair, but it wasn’t until I started mixing colours that I came up with the idea to paint her hair with aqua streaks to mimmick a swirl of toothpaste.

I like to try new things with each new children’s book, and with these illustrations I am emphasizing textures with watercolour techniques such as salting (to give clothing/fabrics interesting textures) and dropping clear water to create flowers in the colour (for magical sparkles around the tooth fairy.) These photos I took over a week ago, and since then the paintings are much more detailed. Will try to post another peek soon!

p.s. You may have noticed the big pink dog… I like to bring sub-stories (secondary visual stories within the illustrations that aren’t in the original manuscript) into illustrations as they are fun for kids to spot, things such as having bugs doing silly things in the background. This sub-story is that one of the dogs really doesn’t like the tooth fairy, and tries to swat it with a fly swatter… only to get magically turned into a fluffy, pink puff-dog for the rest of the book!

You can see some of the finished sketches for Riley’s Tooth in this previous post.

Wowsers, I just got an email from oDesk letting me know my blog made it onto their Top 100 Freelance Blogs list! The list includes the blogs of freelance designers, animators, developers, writers, and heaps more. I took a browse around oDesk, which is a place for freelancers and clients to hook up (and later arrange pay-up.) Looks promising… have you tried it out, oh mysterious blog readers? Let me know if it’s any good eh ;)

Here’s another sneak peak at the illustrations I’m working on for Diane Cantrell’s new story, Riley’s Tooth. I’m working with watercolours on Arches medium watercolour paper which I’ve taped down onto masonite board. I’ve just finished painting the first layer, and am moving onto building up the layers of colour and detail. I always enjoy the loose first wash of colour… the crazier it looks initially the better once you go over and tighten up the details.

You can see some of the finished sketches for Riley’s Tooth in this previous post.

Thought I’d share the love, here is a link to the entry form for any illustrators interested in entering to win a free page of advertising in the Directory of Illustration 26.

I got a kick out of this… Charline & Lauren mailed a copy of our children’s book, Tartan Meets the Queen, to “THE” Queen of England. And what’s better, they received a letter back from The Queen’s Lady-In-Waiting!

Tartan Meets the Queen is available online at Trafford.com

I have the pleasure of working for a second time with Diane Cantrell, author of Mom’s Choice Award winning picture book, Good-bye Baby Max. The title of our latest picture book is yet to be set, but I can tell you the story is about three pups who don’t quite grasp the concept of the Tooth Fairy and try in earnest to find their owner’s first lost tooth. I’ve just finished up the sketches… here are a handful to have a sneak peek at! The finals will be in watercolour & pencil on Arches paper. I transferred the sketches with an Artograph a couple nights ago, so once I’ve taped the paper down to masonite boards I will start painting, yippee!

One of the best things about summer for babies is you can dress them in just a top with their diapers… this green top was one of my favourites to do that with as it looked adorable with her fuzzy yellow diaper and yellow button clip. Scribbled as part of my illustrated diary of Hera’s outfits. (Illustrated with pen on bond paper, colour applied afterwards in Photoshop.)

Here is another illustration I doodled as part of my illustrated diary of Hera’s stuff, a distressed pinstripe country style dress & bloomers. (Illustrated with pen on bond paper, colour applied afterwards in Photoshop.)

Grandma Castles bought Hera this pretty rose patterned dress when she was born. This sketch is part of my illustrated diary of Hera’s outfits from birth to whenever I’m tired of drawing them!. (Illustrated with pen on bond paper, colour applied afterwards in Photoshop.)

Charline Crous excitedly dropped me a note this week to say our children’s book, Tartan Meets the Queen, won first place in Trafford Publishing’s First Annual Golden Scribe Award competition! Tartan Meets the Queen is available online at Trafford.com