A New Picture Book by Randy Cecil

Randy Cecil has a new picture book out. It's call Horsefly and Honeybee. A very simple but clever premise about a horsefly and a honeybee who decide to take a nap in the same flower. They don't want to share the flower and trouble ensues. They have a fight.....and it's not pretty. Each one loses a wing in the quarrel and they run away in opposite directions. But they meet again when both are captured by a hungry bullfrog and have to figure out how to escape by working together.

I love the simplicity of his design and the vibrant color pallette. I never pull a book off the shelf to read the  story if I don't like the art, so I was glad that the art just popped off the page for me. The story is a great
lesson in life.

A couple of years ago I blogged about Randy Cecil and his book Brontorina, written by James Howe. You can read it here. You can also find out more about Randy on his website.

Book Review: Chicks Run Wild

 I picked up Chicks Run Wild as a gift for my son while I was at the NESCBWI conference last weekend. I had taken a workshop with author Sudipta Bardhan Quallen a few years ago when this book was waiting for publication - and I knew I'd want it for my libary. Add in the colorful and humorous illustrations by Ward Jenkins and it's a double win.

The rhyming text is so fun to read aloud - I enjoy that Sudipta slides the occassional 'big' word in - young, fun rhyme doesn't always need to be so simple. My son and I have read this several times a day all week - a sure sign of a winner. There are so many little details that Ward Jenkins slipped into each page - making repeat readings fun for all. A drooling chick? Family portraits? Chicken toys? Not to be missed: the Facebook page for the book or Ward's blog.

Oliver Jeffers

From Stuck by Oliver Jeffers

© Oliver Jeffers

I thought I would share with you

 this wonderful interview with Oliver Jeffers I came across on The Telegraph today.

I love Oliver. :o)

Photoshop CS6 Beta -Top 5 features

I'm still working in CS4 Photoshop but these new features are really intriguing.
 

Need a Little Inspiration?

Where do our creative ideas come from? Here's a lesson from John Cleese on how to become more creative in your work and allow your subconscious to do some problem solving for you. The only criteria is that you create in your life an "oasis" that is separate from your regular life where you can allow your creativity to come out and play. That means, structuring a period of time that you can set aside where you are absolutely free from interruption. No phone, email, Facebook, Twitter, kids, dogs, TV, to-do lists, meetings, etc. Sound horrifying? Even if it is for only one hour a day and you have to sit in the park, it might be worth it.

Funny Faces: Jannie Ho

Look what the postal carrier delivered today! Special thanks to Jannie Ho who sent along some Welsh copies of her Funny Face pop-up board books. These are too cute for my little ones - and so well designed.
The structure is perfect - big handles and eye holes for kids and grown-ups, fun pop-ups to keep everyone moving, and lovely illustrations - they have the effect of really making you look like the animals, superhero, pirate, etc. Well done, Jannie! You can read more about them on Jannie's blog.

Illustration Friday: Puzzled

© Copyright Alicia Padrón

It's been ages since I participated in Illustration Friday.

I thought I would post one just for fun. :o)

Blob tool and coloring

Hi all!

This week I'm relearning how to work in Adobe Illustrator. I so rarely use this program that I forget the platform easily. After some suggestions from illustrator friends, I found these tutorials to be very helpful and thought I would pass it on. This shows how to do basic line and color fast and easy using the blob tool and live paint bucket.



The embedding of the link was disabled so you can check out the tutorials here and here.

These are through, "the virtual instructor" where you will find other free art lessons as well.

What I'm Working On

My portfolio is currently disassembled and chaotic. Pages are getting yanked. Art is getting printed. After doing this process for many years, it gets easier to pull art out. Less is more when you know first-hand how fast pages get flipped.
I went bonkers yesterday looking for those black pages to slip in with the new art - I ordered some online, but found a decent (albeit not 'archival') substitute at Staples in their 'stationary' section for just $2.95. I'd rather use those than wait any longer to get this book ready.
I'm waiting for art to be photographed. My postcards are lined up. My website is getting a quick freshening-up. My wardrobe got a nice boost from a mad-dash shopping trip this morning.
I'm feeling a little frazzled about the NESCBWI conference next week - can you tell?
Not the least of which is due to leaving my children behind for 2 days and nights. I've never physically gone this far from them, and never left my 11 month old daughter overnight at all. They are in good hands with Daddy. But it's a lot to absorb. I wish everyone who is attending luck in getting their last minute projects assembled, homework finished, and households in order. I hope to see you there. And hope to be less frazzled once it all gets underway.

A Book Trailer

Hello there!

Truth is I'm working like mad on a deadline so this will be a flash post.

I thought I would share with you a video trailer I put together for ABC, Baby Me! (Random House). I think it turned out really cute, well.. how could it not with those adorable babies!?

Thanks SO much to my sweet gals Gina and Deb for helping me with this. What would I do without my PBJ's? :o)

Better get back to work. Hope you all enjoy it!

Frederick

Do you remember Frederick? I was in the library the other day and when I pulled this book off the shelf, I was flooded with childhood memories and feelings! I was mesmerized by this book as a child, even before I could read, I think. The story can absolutely be enjoyed without the benefit of words.  Of course, the finer points of the plot might be lost in translation, but look at how much story and personality and narrative the below image conveys, all without a single word.

Wow! I think this was my favorite image in the book as a child. It is so beautiful!

Frederick was originally released in 1967, (won a Caldecott), and today is back in print. He's a super-hip mouse at 44 years old and counting. I'm happy to learn that today, Frederick even has his own Facebook page.



Watch the frederick story on YouTube (approx 6-7 minutes).

Keep on collecting the colors, Frederick, and we will keep closing our eyes and listening!

Frederick is available on Amazon here.

Books in the Easter basket!

Shhh. The Easter Bunny will be putting this book in my son's basket this weekend. I love how the simple narrative is elevated by the dramatic environment and sense of big adventure for a small boy.
And my little girl will hopefully enjoy this little Llama board book. We've read a few of these picture books, but board books are just her size for now. She's become excellent at flipping those chunky pages. The rhyming text is so much fun in all of the Llama Llama books.

Happy Easter to all!