Looking forward to illustrating that next book project!

Some of the fun things for me about illustrating books for the Children's Market is the wide variety of subject matter, working with the different editor/art directors and their various publishers, bringing fun/humor to, sometimes, not so humorous topics, illustrating the words of some great writers and the feedback from children, teachers and others who have read any of these books! __I always look forward to, and welcome, that next book assignment!

Child-like joy of pen to paper!

My favorite form of drawing, what comes most natural and is the most pleasurable for me...has always been the looseness of drawing off the cuff. Laying down NO pencil sketches, no tracing over preexisting lines....just going right at the paper with pen in hand and working through the improv of what goes from my hand through the marker to paper!
Many artists/cartoonists will tell you their pencil sketches are the favorite part of their work because the inked over lines never retain the loose, action-filled expressive line that comes from throwing down those first unhibit lines of a rough sketch. I can tell you that my own illustrations that are finalized by going back and inking over my pencil sketch aren't near as loose, fun or spontaneous, in my opinion, as my off the cuff work. __So, when I have the chance to sit down and just let pen go straight to paper, I'm as tickled as anyone to see what turns out from the spontaneous flow.
The illustration below is an example of pen (marker) directly to paper. I created this, this afternoon when I got home from my part-time gig and just needed some creative time to unwind. It started with no particular idea in mind, I just drew the nose (which turned into the bear) and improvised from there. The illustration created itself pretty quickly, and that's the magic of drawing that I enjoyed as a child. Pretty cool to still be able to experience that child-like joy...at my age :-)

Part-time job allows for making a Cartoon Connection with Children

Monday through Friday of this summer I work at a part-time job helping out with a childcare type of program. Specifically, I am around prospective kindergarteners and 1st graders. This job is rewarding and challenging at the same time...but I have to say, one of my favorite parts of the job is when I get the chance to sit with and draw for some of these children. It allows me to share my gift with the kids, to encourage them and most importantly to get to know them. Art is a wonderful tool for making this kind of connection, and I'm fortunate that my employer values what I do and encourages it and utilizes it.
Typically I'll ask the student what they'd like me to draw (keeping it simple, within reason...I do a lot of dolphins, mermaids, unicorns, rainbows, horses, flowers and their name done in bubble letters), then I doodle it out for them and then they'll sit at the same table with me and color the drawing in! And sometimes I'll doodle out some goofiness (see sample images attached below) and color it in, myself, along with the children while they color their sketches! They, the kids, keep me hopping and cranking out the cartoons. __While this is truly a way for me to give back, to inspire and to connect...most of the time it just feels like fun :-)