Babies!

© copyright Alicia Padrón

I think all artists have their own favorite subjects to sketch. For me it had always been first animals and then kids.

© copyright Alicia Padrón

Until one day an art director asked me if I had some babies to show him.

Babies? No, I didn't have any, not even one in my portfolio!

So I decided to sketch some and boom!.. I immediately fell in love with them.

© copyright Alicia Padrón

I honestly don't know why I never sketched them before or why I didn't have any in my portfolio. I am a children's illustrator after all, LOL. Just one of those things I guess.

But I truly feel they are one of the best subjects to work on. I love the mixture of cuteness, warmth and innocence that a baby inspires. I just can't stop smiling when I am sketching them. :o)

Maybe I love them so much because my real babies are 12 and 9..

..years old that is! Man, they grow too fast I tell you.

So how about you, do you have a favorite subject to work on?

Favorite Assignment

I've most enjoyed working on my Ghost books, and it's not just because they're the first books I've written AND illustrated. It's because of the wonderful working relationship I had with the LBKids folks at Little Brown.

They made me a part of their team for these books, and it was wonderful. I loved being able to trade ideas on the layout and design, and they gave me lots of freedom.

With Ghost Gets Dressed, they even let me put undies on the cover. Who could ask for more?!

Favorite assignment

This last winter I completed my first picture book. Actually it was a little series of four picture books for QED Publishing. It was a pleasure! I loved the tender stories and the QED staff was a treat work with. The aggressive schedule was a bit tough though. Very tight deadlines! But on the bright side, I didn't have time to worry or second guess myself and absolutely no time to overwork anything. I just painted away and let it go. Sometimes that can be a good thing!

Favorite Assignment

My favorite assignment wasn't for a client, but for a class. But not just any class, a master class with Tomie DePaola. So it may have some sentimental value, I mean Tomie DePaola! I also love it because it was the first piece I printed in brown ink which soften my work and opened up some possibilities.

Laura and I both must come from a lost long family of country bunnies. : )

Favorite Assignment

I don't think the PBJ's will be surprised that this is my favorite assignment so far.

Not only was this a fun illustration to create, it was also very validating for me as an illustrator.

=o)

Weekly Theme: "Favorite Assignment"

My favorite assignment so far was an early reader I illustrated for Harcourt last year. It was about a character named "Bun" who needed to find a hat. It most closely resembled something I would've painted on my own. Rabbits, cozy house, countryside...all things I love.