Throwback Thursday: Take Me Back to Paris!

A year ago today I was gallivanting around Paris and Versailles.  I desperately wish I was back there instead of stuck in my room in Chicago :(

 

Around the World

I’ve mentioned previously about the children’s book I was hired to illustrate, called World in a Tub, but a brother and sister who travel the greatest monuments along the water with nothing about a tub, their ducky, and lots of imagination.

The author, Steven Brown, residing in Britain, is currently sending out rough copies to publishers around the UK as we finish up the project, and i guess possibly other places too.  He made this little youtube video featuring some of the pages from the book, so If you are interested to see what I’ve been working on the past few months, here’s a clip!

 

 

Eiffel tower, Paris, France

 

Machu Picchu, Peru

THE CHILDREN’S BOOK

I’m getting a lot of questions about the Children’s Book i was hired to illustrate, which is amazing – i am so thankful for the support guys!   So here’s a little update on my process so you can see what I’m working on.  I can’t post everything because it’s not my book to announce, but you’ll get the gist.  The story itself is about a boy and girl (and their trusted rubber ducky!) who travel the world in a bathtub and see all the great monuments on bodies of water.  The book is geographically accurate so kids can learn facts about the world and traveling, and is filled with songs and poetry.

Here’s a clip!!!:

I use Strathmore heavy weight bristol board and usually sketch out the drawing with a blue  Kimberly pencil, but this time used a regular No. 2.

 

Then I use my microns (prisma india ink) and draw the outlines of the smaller or thinner designs for a sleek and straight look

 

I used my brush pen on the trees and some of the water, and go back through with micron pens to fill out the details.  When it’s time for scanning, i pop it into photoshop and adjust the levels…

 

et voila!  FIN!

 

This project has been a lot of fun to work on, and I am incredibly grateful for the experience.

Even though the author hasn’t given me any specific deadlines, I am a little more behind than I would like to be because…

well let’s be honest – ya’ll know i’m a huge nerd…

i’ve been drawing pictures of myself as characters from awesome things that I love – FOR EXAMPLE – here’s one i’m working on of me as a Hogwarts student

 

Yep – i AM that nerdy.

but more on that later…