Illustration Friday: Primitive

Here's an example of a primitive business card from my early days. Check out the AOL email address and (once critical) fax number - this even pre-dates my website!

This illustration was done (if I remember correctly) with a rapidograph (technical) pen. These pens clogged incessantly and and drove me ape. Eventually I evolved to using a brush for inking. A brush delivers a more varied and interesting line and won't seize up.

Taking Flight

This past weekend I attended the New England SCBWI conference in Nashua, NH (SCBWI is the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators).

This illustration was my entry for the weekend's poster showcase. The theme of the showcase was "Take Flight" and I walked away with the honorable mention in the published category!

This annual conference features dozens of workshops presented by professionals in the children's publishing market (including writers, illustrators, art directors, and editors). My friend Teri Weidner gave a great workshop entitled Giving Visual Punch to Your Picture Book. The weekend was educational, fun and exhausting!

Taking Flight

I'll be attending the SCBWI conference in Nashua, New Hampshire, the weekend of April 11 -13. The weekend's festivities include a poster showcase. Here's a sketch of my poster - a boy and his pterodactyl terrorizing Boston Common.

I apologize to police everywhere for resorting to the clichéd "cop eating food on the job". I did manage to resist drawing him with a donut.