Monday, May 29, 2017

Designing Book Cover for Middle Grade Readers - trolls


I have been commissioned to design and create a book cover. A book for middle-grade readers, a  book with no illustrations inside. The book is filled with short stories about the supernatural. The author wanted the cover to illustrate the story titled: TROLLS IN THE ATTIC.

The author wanted to show the scene of a young girl in the attic looking in a box she had found. The box is magical and when she opened it, trolls were released. I conceptualized it by adding the trees which showed up later in the story. 

In the designing of this cover, or any cover, I must remember to leave room for the title, authors name, the ISBN code, and possibly a blurb on the back.  I added the graytones so she could see the dark and menacing atmosphere in the attic.

I created two versions to give the author an idea of what the cover could look like. It is just a starting point - an avenue for communication between the artist and the author. 







Friday, May 26, 2017

Jeremy Duck - Acrylic


Jeremy Duck 
Love this super bright and fun painting. 
I think the Library kids will love it too. 
Who doesn't like rubber ducks!

You can see more of Jeremy in my book, The New Adventures of Jeremy Duck. It is available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle. 


Monday, May 22, 2017

Jeremy Duck and Rubber ducks - Acrylic

Another kid's painting for the Hufnagle Library 
exhibit in Glen Rock, PA. this summer.


You might recognize the duck, it's Jeremy from my book, 
The New Adventures of Jeremy Duck


Just a quick peek at my messy studio!!


Thursday, May 18, 2017

Baby Goats in Pajamas

The kids at the Library should enjoy this painting.

I did use layers of glazes in the sky and the clouds. I don't usually use glazes in my children's art, but it worked well up there in the sky.

Don't you wish you were a baby goat!

Monday, May 15, 2017

Friday, May 12, 2017

Baby Goats in Pajamas


Nothing cuter than baby goats - unless it's baby goats in pajamas!

I was invited to exhibit at the Hufnagle Glen Rock Library this summer. The kids at the Library need something fun and whimsical to look at - baby goats it is!



I found pictures of baby goats and created a composition I thought was fun - the goats would be jumping in the air. I used gesso to paint in the bodies and acrylic markers to draw the outlines.

Monday, May 8, 2017

Trees in Acrylic and Collage


JUST TREES

Painted Paper saved this painting. Lots more collaged paper filled in the foliage of these trees. More definition and more color. Some of the leaves even fell onto the shadows. 

BEFORE . . .

Saturday, May 6, 2017

Trees in Acrylic and Collage



JUST TREES


More Painted Paper.
The foliage needs more collage. I got out my stash of painted paper and cut little squares of matching colors.

The foliage before . . .


The foliage after . . .
 

Thursday, May 4, 2017

Trees in acrylic and collage

JUST TREES

This large painting is a year old. Over the months as I looked at this painting, I felt it was unfinished. There is some collage - the mountains on the horizon - the tree trunks - and some paper in the leaves of the trees. It was the paper collaged in the leaves that spoke to me. These strips of paper were distracting and separate from the foliage. So - back to the easel.

Monday, May 1, 2017

Spring Flowers in Acrylic

The paintings are simple and stark. I like the drama of the dark background against the bright flower colors.

I don't usually paint realistic floral paintings. It's a nice change.





2022

   Merry Christmas