SCIENCE GIRLS--A Quick Kidlit Sketch on Procreate

 Watch this 30 second sketch and quick explanation of my kidlit drawing SCIENCE GIRLS. I used Procreate on a 2018 iPadPro and an Apple Pencil. Let me know if you'd like to see the whole process.

 

Watch video 

A Colored Pic from PENELOPE'S GARDEN

Here is an imaged from my book PENELOPE'S GARDEN that was colored by Ronda Francis. I just love it.

CLICK HERE and purchase before price increase!

Looking forward to more images colored by YOU.

xo

Drawn by me, colored by Ronda--LOVE. xo

Buy PENELOPE'S GARDEN HERE

Happy Squirrel Appreciation Day! (With a Visit from Willow)

I was excited to find out that today is Squirrel Appreciation Day because I love the zesty little guys. 

I have been feeding a squirrel I named Sandy (after the squirrel on Spongebob Squarepants) every day on my back deck for years. She comes to visit several times a week, and if I leave my screen opened long enough she comes right in. I started giving her food down by the trees now because I don't want her to go into someone's house who is not as happy to see her as I am.

Another reason I like today is because I am godmother to a very wonderful squirrel named Willow.

Willow happy at home munching a branch.

Willow fell from a tree when he was only a few weeks old and was lucky enough to be brought to a licensed animal rehabber named Brooklyn. 

Almost four years later he is an adult fox squirrel who weighs almost four pounds, and lives cage free in Brooklyn's home. He is completely potty trained and eats everything from tree branches from the yard to sweet potatoes, and the occasional Oreo. He is an unbelievable handful and also almost unbelievably smart. Willow has his own Facebook group--you can visit HERE.

This drawing of Willow was featured at Galleria West in New Jersey. He's quite a beautiful creature--very symmetrical and lovely to behold--kind of the Brad Pitt of squirrels according to his mama.

There is never a dull moment with Willow, and I am happy there is a special day to celebrate squirrels. 

Although I think Brooklyn would say every day is Squirrel Appreciation Day at her house.

xo

I hope you share today's video, How to Draw Willow the Squirrel with a young person who is interested in art--and maybe squirrels.

Don't forget to enter to win the JETPENS brush sampler HERE!!

Win all five! Contest ends January 31.

Music by Harrison.
Happy Boy - Harrison
https://soundcloud.com/harrison_music...


Drawn with Pentel pocket brush pen.

Working on a Book

My version of Old Barney in LBI--haunted.

The shivery Halloween season is upon us, my favorite time of year.

Although it won't be ready this year, I am working on another book for kids.

I used to love spooky books as a girl, and now I am just as thrilled to write them today.

So here's the thing: like many authors, I'm sure, the ideas for books come to me rapid-fire. I write them in notebooks, dictate them to Notes in my iPhone, or scribble them where ever I can--napkins included.

At home I quickly type the first draft into Word before I forget the feel of the story.

Then comes the hard part.

For me, the illustrations grind the creative process to almost a halt. It's not that I don't have the pictures in my head that go with the story, but the pictures seem to take a loooong time. Even compared to edit after edit of the writing, the drawings drive me nuts.

Penelope the Witch from a soon to be book.

To make it even more weird, I love to draw. If one of my books was being illustrated by someone else I am sure I'd feel odd about it. (If someone's style fit my story I would consider it--but I'm sure I'd still prefer to do it myself...I think...)

Anyway--I think the writing occupies my mind in a certain way that allows the time to seamlessly go by. When I draw I can think too much--the wash, dishes, MORE STORIES.

I just decided I am either going to start listening to music while I draw, or maybe digital books.

Sometimes this blog is better than therapy.

xo