Inktober 2017: Long

Inktober 2017: Underwater

Inktober 2017: Poison

Inktober 2017: Divided

Inktober 2017: Swift

Inktober 2017: This is Ink.

This is Ink. I'm not very good at drawing cats, and I was wanting to add one to my next picture book, so here's the additional challenge for this Inktober. I'll be drawing Ink doing the official daily prompt. Follow along to see how it goes!

Inktober 2017!

Here's the official prompt list for this year's Inktober. Can't wait to do this!

Happy Book Birthday, Jerry!

Today is the day! I've been dreaming of becoming a picture book illustrator since I was a little kid, and my first picture book is officially out into the world. Pick up Not So Scary Jerry by Shelley Kinder, illustrated by me, at Clear Fork Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or ask your local bookstore and library to carry it. I can't wait for everyone to get to know Jerry, his boy, and pug!

Not So Scary Jerry coming in 19 days!

It's September! My favorite month of all and it is made even better as my first illustrated picture book comes out September 19! I can't wait for you to meet Jerry! Not So Scary Jerry is written by Shelley Kinder, illustrated by me, and published by Clear Fork Publishing. Keep your eyes out for it. Ask your bookstores to carry it! Tell your friends about it! And preorder at Clear Fork's site, Amazon or Barnes & Noble!

it all started with a rose petal…

warm-up sketch: chickens

Daily warm-up sketch yesterday. Don't ask why chickens were on the brain. I still have no idea.

Dick Bruna tribute

Another illustration hero gone. Dick Bruna passed away yesterday at 89. What a long, successful career he had. His simple, striking, emotive illustrations have influenced me so much. You will be missed Mr. Bruna, but your illustrated legacy lives on in your characters, books, book covers, merchandise, and more. Thanks for all you gave literature.

Not So Scary Jerry cover reveal!

Here it is! The big cover reveal for my upcoming picture book this September, Not So Scary Jerry, written by Shelley Kinder. Can't wait to show more as I go along!

p.s. you can pre-order it if you are so inclined.

Big News!

Pardon the post interruption—I have some big news. I have recently signed to illustrate my first picture book! 

I am so thrilled and honored to get this project! It is written by Shelley Kinder and due to arrive September of 2017 with Clear Fork Publishing. I've got a lot of work set out before me, so bear with me as posts will likely be even more intermittent than usual. Thanks for your support and encouragement as I work towards this goal!

I had a December daily ink drawing planned, but currently I'm not sure if I'll be able to do it. My deadlines are set and tight, not to mention I've had a respiratory infection all week which has knocked every thing out of whack. Check back for updates on whatever I'm working on and able to share!

November Alphabet 2016: Z is for Zipper

November Alphabet 2016: Y is for Yawn

November Alphabet 2016: X is for Xylophone

November Alphabet 2016: W is for Wait

November Alphabet 2016: V is for Vase

November Alphabet 2016: U is for Up

November Alphabet 2016: T is for Tape

November Alphabet 2016: S is for Sail

November Alphabet 2016: R is for Rag

(Sometimes life elements just have to sneak into my illustrations. Genevieve's duck is rarely not by her side, or mouth. Ha!)

November Alphabet 2016: Q is for Quilt

November Alphabet 2016: P is for People

November Alphabet 2016: O is for Oval

November Alphabet 2016: N is for Nose

November Alphabet 2016: M is for Mail

Drawing from real life. Probably not as successful as my other ones, but I can't help but love it!

November Alphabet 2016: L is for Light

November Alphabet 2016: K is for Kite

November Alphabet 2016: J is for Jump

November Alphabet 2016: I is for Ice

November Alphabet 2016: H is for Hat

November Alphabet 2016: G is for Gumball

(I'm behind a day now than my original schedule. I redid the F is for Fort one, as I greatly disliked my first one which I never posted. Instead of trying to catch up, since I've still done one every day, I'm going to keep going with one a day.)

November Alphabet 2016: F is for Fort

November Alphabet 2016: E is for Eggs

November Alphabet 2016: D is for Drapes

November Alphabet 2016: C is for Color

November Alphabet 2016: B is for button

(resposting this since it fits into the daily alphabet plan and it gave me time to do the title image for this challenge. Not to mention I absolutely adore it.)

November Alphabet 2016: A is for animals

November Alphabet Challenge 2016: Let's begin!

Inktober 2016 was such a huge inspiration, encouragement, and confidence booster for me. I exercised my creative muscles for 31 days straight and came out realizing that I not only had the desire – but that I could find time every day! In an effort to not lose this momentum and find an outlet for the buzz of creative ideas I've accumulated while working through Inktober, I'm making my own challenge. Inspired by one of my Inktober creations, I'm doing an alphabet letter a day through November. I've made a word prompt list for myself as that was a major inspiration booster and much-needed guideline for me through Inktober. I'm going to be incorporating a lot of lettering too as I have been longing to practice and master hand-lettering. My self-created parameters are:

• a letter a day
• square(ish) format
• mainly black ink
• must include drawn lettering

I plan on drawing (literally and figuratively) on my daughters as inspiration as the first letter I did during Inktober came heavily from an image during the day. Hopefully this is something I can fine-tune for them in the future. So, here is my word list. Check back every couple days as I will post them as I can, knowing that I am doing one each day.

Inktober 2016: "Friend"

Inktober 2016: "Wreck"

Inktober 2016: "Surprise"