17 Wednesday Feb 2016
Posted in Illustrator's Perspective
When award-winning illustrator Carolyn Le discovered she was allergic to her medium of choice, oils, she had to explore other options. Read on to learn more about her journey into watercolor, embracing mistakes, and the technique she’s developed along the way.
23 Wednesday Dec 2015
Posted in Illustrator's Gallery
![MARTA_jckt_1p[2]](https://scbwikitetales.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/marta_jckt_1p2.jpg)
Writing about my busiest day now as an illustrator and author is a little tricky. In the past, it would have included teaching. For almost six years, I have taught at the Academy of Art University while pursuing my publishing career. Teaching is incredible. I’ve learned so much about the process of creating a book by explaining it to eager, enthusiastic students. However, working two full time careers at the same time, like I’m sure many of you know, is both physically and mentally draining.
09 Wednesday Dec 2015
Posted in Illustrator's Perspective
Daniel Howarth
Heidi, my wife and the author of How to Catch a Falling Star, will no doubt argue about the origin of this story and the ‘superstition’ it is based on. But what I do know, is that we have been catching leaves, usually whilst walking the dogs … or kids, since we first met back in 1991. And for those who aren’t familiar with the notion, if you catch a falling leaf before it hits the ground then you are granted a wish. Not as easy as it sounds, even on a blustery day when it appears to be snowing leaves. The last leaf that falls from the tree being the most magical.
12 Wednesday Aug 2015
Posted in Illustrator's Gallery
Drawing is Therapy and Dirty Dishes are Annoying
I’m not entirely sure how strange a concept this is to other creative folks, but I’ve discovered that while I’m working on illustrations for a book, I’m thinking about everything. I mean, really…all the things. My mind jumps back and forth from the decorations in my childhood bedroom, to my friend’s desire to own a corgi, to my failed attempt at making beef stew the night before, to wondering if I remembered to take the garbage out. I try to block out that last type of thought because those are the distractions that have the ability to make me get up and lose focus. For instance, all of a sudden desperately needing to do the dishes; that stuff can wait. Or can it? Gah!
05 Wednesday Aug 2015
Posted in Illustrator's Perspective
WILL HILLENBRAND is a celebrated author and illustrator whose published works include over sixty books for young readers. In addition to his own self-illustrated titles, he has illustrated the works of writers and retellers including Verna Aardema, Judy Sierra, Margery Cuyler, Judith St. George, Phyllis Root, Jane Yolen, Karma Wilson, Maureen Wright, Daniel Pinkwater and Jane Hillenbrand. Will has lived almost all of his life in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he grew up as the youngest of four boys. He now lives in Terrace Park.
24 Wednesday Jun 2015
Posted in Illustrator's Gallery
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What have I done?! Two decades into my art career and I go and completely change my style! Have I gone crazy?! Well, yes and no. Being an artist means constantly learning and growing at your craft so you don’t stagnate or burn out. Change is a necessary part of being an artist.
20 Wednesday May 2015
Posted in Illustrator's Perspective
Inspiration
One of the things that really inspired me to become a children’s book illustrator was the work of Richard Scarry. My favorite books of his include What Do People Do All Day? and Busy, Busy Town. His characters were mostly anthropomorphic animals, which I’ve always enjoyed more than human characters. Anthropomorphic animal worlds provide an escape from reality; an illustrator can use them to create atmospheres that seem safer and more innocent than any human world. Moreover, there are lots of opportunities to add funny details to animal characters and the scenes involving them. I love adding little touches like carrot themed prints for a bunny character or fish bone prints for a cat.
25 Wednesday Feb 2015
Posted in Illustrator's Gallery
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Like most illustrators, my work reflects my personality and taste: colorful and contemporary with notes of nostalgia. Sweet (so they tell me) with a hint of edge.
18 Wednesday Feb 2015
Posted in Illustrator's Perspective
In art school I was trained in both traditional and digital painting; however, I was primarily a sculptor. When I decided in 2007 to pursue children’s book illustration, I was drawn to digital painting for some of the same reasons I enjoyed sculpting, mainly the freedom to edit for extended periods of time. In the past I was an edit addict with significant commitment issues (self-diagnosed, of course). The ability to edit and tweak a sculpture for days and sometimes weeks before committing to completion was greatly appealing to me, as was the seemingly endless edits of digital painting. The problem was, I could never fully commit to finishing a painting. I always felt the need to go back and alter some minute detail because I could. The clay never dried. After about three years working in digital painting, I had illustrated a couple of books and had received a lot of positive recognition, but I didn’t really enjoy the creative process anymore. So many of my fellow illustrators who work digitally have been able to achieve this beautiful easiness, flow, and character to their work that has always eluded me in that medium. My illustrations felt tortured. I felt tortured. Clearly, Photoshop and I needed to break up.
Kite Tales 