Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Today's Inspiration

Today's Inspiration Here's a blog about illustration from the 1940's and '50's.

Inspiring art blog and some other inspiration

I just had a long post with various links about illustrators...and lost it on blogger.....arggggggh....I hope this works. I'll try to add the info back in here. I've blogged about Lines and Colors before, but it's worth another visit. It's a blog about sketching, drawing, painting, etc. I just received my Illustration Magazine the other day. It's full of info about The Cooper Studio, James Bama and other artists like Charles Showalter.

ARTOONATOR

ARTOONATOR Another talented illustrator from the Netherlands. (I found this on JellePelle's blog, who is also from the Netherlands) Take a look at Arne's terrific illos. He's got a great sense of humor as well.

An Illustration blog called JellePelle Illustration

Take a look at Jelle's colorful, fresh illustrations. Lots of talent mixed with a fun sense of humor and imagination.

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Beauty and Chaos-An Online Interactive Whiteboard

Wait 'til you see THIS! It's an interactive whiteboard where you can scribble, leave your mark and see what others are drawing online.

Sunday, May 28, 2006

More Picture Books From the Library

For days now we've been searching our house for a lost book from library...ironically...we were looking for Where's Waldo. We didn't find it and I paid the bill. (I cannot bear to lose library books, but it's a surefire way to find the book once it's paid for). Sure enough....yesterday I found Where's Waldo in my older son's bookcase. While I was there, bringing back the newly found Where's Waldo...I found some other terrific picture books. The Paper Dragon by Marguerite W. Davol, illustrated by Robert Sabuda in wonderful painted cut paper illustrations.(pages fold out to reveal gorgeous 3 page extended illustrations) Each picture has been cut from painted tissue paper created by Sabuda and adhered to Japanese handmade Sugikawashi paper)
Another book I found was The Adventures of Sparrowboy by Brian Pinkney, whose work is always fantastic.

Friday, May 26, 2006

Take a Look at Christopher Wormell's Illustrations

Christopher Wormell creates wonderful woodcut illustrations as well as images in other media. Take a look at some of his work.

Thursday, May 25, 2006

I love Bagram Ibatoulline's Illustrations

Bagram Ibatoulline's illustrations are spectacular. I wish I could find more links to show his work up close. I only found this one link so far that shows his work in depth at all. I borrowed Kate DiCamillo's book The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane from the library and had a chance to view his illustrations again.

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Lane Smith has a website/blog

I found out that illustrator Lane Smith has a website/blog. I saw it listed on Melanie Ford Wilson's blog, Wee and the Wolf. Check out her blog, it's got wonderful links, posts and Melanie's gorgeous photographs. Her website showcases her wonderful children's illustrations.

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Entreprenurial site

I recently found a terrific site for entrepreneurs that highlights new ideas from around the world. It's called Springwise.com. You can sign up for updates and an online newsletter.

Sunday, May 21, 2006

Entertainment Art Academy

Here's an fascinating looking Academy . They even have classes for kids. I wish they weren't so far from me!

ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive Project Blog

ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive Project Blog
Here's an interesting blog with animation info from the pros. Look at this link to a storyboard exhibit.

Thursday, May 18, 2006

Register to Watch an Interview with Peter Sis

The School Library Journal has an opportunity for people to view an interview with world famous author/illustrator Peter Sis. It premiers TODAY!

A blog about Design, Art, and Net Culture

Here's a link to Khoi Vinh's blog, Subtraction. His posts about art, design and net culture are fascinating. The links and archives are a good read.

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

See. Be. Draw.

See. Be. Draw. Read Anna's book reviews on several books about drawing and sketching.

Tutors Online

This is a cachibachi....it's an online service to find tutors online, and be tutored by computer. It's called Study Loft. There was an article about it in the Washington Post this past Monday. It sounds like an incredible option, and is less expensive than many of the stateside tutoring options.

A Place Called The Illustration Cupboard

There's a website called The Illustration Cupboard that exhibits contemporary picture book illustrations from around the world and offers them for sale. I found the link from this link, The Toppest Illustration News and Illustration Website Directory (scroll down to the bottom of the page......this one is guaranteed to snag any illustrators and keep you busy with the treasure trove of info and websites!)

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Ipod Toors

Here's a fantastic idea for tours around the world. It's called ITOORS, and offers downloadable IPOD tour info for tours in many places around the world. I was thinking that it would be worth downloading even for info, for the sheer value of learning about different locations. I'm going to look into it more in depth later on today. It's a great way to do research for articles about the locations, for extra info in stories, plots, etc.

An Illustration Blog called Sugar Frosted Goodness

I found this blog called Sugar Frosted Goodness full of illustrations and posts by illustrators (I found it on Courtney's blog, which is always a sure place to find fun, funky illustrations and posts)

Sunday, May 14, 2006

Happy Mother's Day


To all of the women who have nurtured children in any way, given of your time, love, prayers, care, energy, bandaids, washed loads of clothes, cleaned mountains of messes, tried your best to give advice in situations that have no clear answer, played games with a child, read books, taught them, helped with homework, taxied kids to events until you were numb, worried late at night with sick children, wiped throw-up off of your shirt, or other surfaces, visited doctor's offices, dentist offices, ortho offices, emergency rooms, been a "thermometer queen" keeping an eye on temperatures that soared, cheered a child for good grades, steered them through not so good grades, taught a child to tie a shoe, ride a bike, catch a ball, taught them to win a game with grace, and lose with grace, steered them through situations with bullies, and enjoyed good friendships, cooked infinite meals, cleaned crumbs, messes, gone shopping, listened graciously, and sometimes not as graciously as you would have wanted to....watched them go off to kindergarten, college, or homeschooled them....helped them learn to drive, worried for them as they grew and went into the world on their own...cried with them, laughed with them, or just kept quiet...
whether you birthed them, or adopted them, or took them into your heart with love.... whether they were your child, grandchild, or unrelated.....
May God bless you in a special way today for the love and care, and for the difference you have made in the lives of these children, young and old.

Friday, May 12, 2006

The Inspiration Grab-Bag: Jim Tyer Animation "A Cat's Tale" Terrytoons (1951)

The Inspiration Grab-Bag: Jim Tyer Animation "A Cat's Tale" Terrytoons (1951) Another inspiring animation blog I just discovered. I love seeing these old cartoons.

all kinds of stuff: Animation School Lesson 2 -Squash and Stretch on heads

all kinds of stuff: Animation School Lesson 2 -Squash and Stretch on heads Here's a blog about animation with some tutorials on how to create cartoons and facial expressions.

Creative Chaos with Anna J. Boll

Creative Chaos with Anna J. Boll Here's Anna Boll's blog. She is an author/illustrator for children.

Just Some Things


I'm just catching up on some things here at home...and decided to place an image here that I did awhile ago. She's a Bolivian girl I did from my mind. I'm also in the middle of doing a painting of a house for a client. It's a beautiful brick home...when it's done I'll post a copy.

Edward Crosby Design

Edward Crosby Design take a look at Eddie's blog. He's an illustrator/animator from Australia.

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Step-by-Step process by Kazu Kibuishi

Here's a wonderful inside view of Kazu Kibuishi working on the comic Copper.

Sunday, May 07, 2006

Blind Contour Friday

I've heard of Blind Contour Friday before, but hadn't found the time to see more about it. You can find out more at Inkfinger. May's Blind Contour challenge is up there now.

HildaRose's Sketchbook

HildaRose's Sketchbook I just found HildaRose's blog. Her illustrations and sense of humor are terrific.

Saturday, May 06, 2006

...in my spare time

...in my spare time Jan's sketches and other artwork are wonderful. Look at the lovely linework in her sketchbooks.....

Soccer from a cell phone

I'm at a soccer game blogging. we're winning. :-P

I blogged this from my daughter's soccer game. I tried to send a photo to the blog, but it didn't go through. They won, 3-0 which was nice. It was a perfect day for soccer games...gorgeous sunny weather, yet not too hot. I wanted to get some sketching done, but didn't get a chance. I plan to sketch during practices at least. I'll try to post some if any come out recognizable as humans...It's great gesture drawing practice at least.

Friday, May 05, 2006

Two Picture Books with Great Art

I've been wanting to blog about some picture books for awhile now..and finally pulled the books out to mention them. The first one is Whaling Days by Carol Carrick, illustrated by David Frampton. Frampton's rich woodcuts are incredible. I got the book out mainly to look at his work. The book details the ancient whaling days, showing the process and work involved in a whaler's life. Frampton's illustrations are gorgeous, with an age-old feel to them, capturing the essence of life on a whaler's boat in the 1800's. The book is dedicated to the preservation of the Greenpeace Whale Campain.
The other book which I've borrowed from the library several times due to the illustrations, is Grandma's Latkes by Malka Drucker illustrated by Eve Chwast. Eve Chwast's illustrations in this book are woodcuts printed on Japanese rice paper. The effect is outstanding. This book is her first book. I noticed at least one more out with her illos in it, and I imagine she's keeping plenty busy with such talent.

Julian Rachlin and the National Symphony Orchestra

A few weeks ago I had the incredible chance to hear Julian Rachlin play at the Kennedy Center. (The tickets were a surprise birthday gift from my husband) We were happy to make it there after a major flash flood in the area..having to batten down the hatches, put sand bags around one area of our home...add extra drainage pipes..and hope the sitter arrived through flooded streets... We did arrive...a bit late to the concert..still shaken from the whole ordeal..but it was safe to go by then or we would have stayed home with the kids....anyway.... It was absolutely incredible to hear Rachlin play. He debuted with the National Symphony Orchestra that week.

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Draw Daily

Draw Daily Here's a blog about an illustrated journal.

Every Day Matters Online Drawing Prompts

I absolutely LOVE the online artist group, Every Day Matters. Each week there is a drawing challenge with a specific topic, similar to the idea of Illustration Friday, only in EDM it's organized differently, and I believe people can go back and do former topics and not have to draw them in order..whatever the case, it's a terrific motivation. I haven't buckled down to begin the challenges, but just hanging around the online group and visiting the artist's blogs and seeing their work is inspiring. I just joined yesterday.

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Wee and the Wolf-a blog

Wee World...a wonderful blog with a delightful combination of beautiful photos and wonderful illustrations.

Ale Carloni's art blog

Wow. Ale's art is fantastic.

ninajohansson.se

ninajohansson.se Wow. This blog showing Nina's art and sketchbooks is well worth taking some time to view.

The Drawing Club

The Drawing Club This blog shows art from various artists. Michael Nobb is the owner of this blog. Artists from around the world post their art here...intriguing.

Sketches

Sketches Manuela has a wonderful blog with her sketches and whimsical illustrations. Her work is wonderful...go and see!

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

A New Way to Post on a blog

I just found out about another way to post to my blog by email. I'm trying it out now. I'm also trying to figure out about blogging by cell phone. Have any of you tried it?

Monday, May 01, 2006

Views From The Easel

Views From The Easel Here is Linda's blog regarding her art as well as art happenings in the DC area. Lots to check out here as always.

Sketchbook Pages

Sketchbook Pages Here's Linda's blog showcasing her illustrations. She also has a wonderful blog with art happenings around Washington DC. I'll reblog that in a minute. I've blogged it before..and am blogging it again since she has quite a few current events listed that are worth noting.