a couple more images from 100 Futons

Here are a couple more images from my story 100 Futons, 1 Grain of Rice. There are, in the first image, 100 futons. I counted and made sure there were. Some kid is going to count them...you just know it. It took a while to do...each one has a different print. But the end result is worth it, I think. I still have clouds to add to these first two images. I may remove the transparency off the clouds on the second image. I think they look better solid after all. Decisions!

new drawings done on my new tablet using manga studio.

"silly goose" 

this one above is for both one of my stories and a licensing line I am developing.

So, I am looking forward to seeing what you think of this new work and slightly different style. I am fairly pleased, but it will take getting used to this new look.

began redrawing of Liz & Pip

I began the 3-4th redraw of this book last night. First page is more-or-less done in line art now.  I was able to save the vast majority of the work that I have already done on it. I think it will look much better than before so I am not feeling so bad about the work ahead. I get to revisit with the characters that I have come to love so much. Now, this is page 1 - so you might have to check back when I am on page 28 to see how I feel.

It might be fun to show you the history of it all - so stay tuned - I will gather the evidence.

3rd time's the charm for Liz & Pip?

Well, I have been avoiding submitting one of my stories (Liz & Pip), though it is a personal favorite, as I have not been able to figure out a suitable layout for creating a dummy. What does this mean? Well, I have finally admitted to myself that the whole illustrative concept will have to change.  To get a sense of what I have gone through on this project, this has been my journey:

1. Story idea comes to me! I write the whole thing in 5 minutes. Made a couple of small edits a few years later.

2. Begin illustrating. Complete about half of the book as a combination of collage and watercolour. The pages look pretty dull as there isn't much 'action' in the story, and I feared for rights management in the images I had appropriated.  I put it away for awhile.

3. The whole batch vanishes from my parents home. (Likely thrown out.)

4. Decide to begin developing layout - and start with little illustrated drop caps. Love them so much and it brings the necessary 'action' to the pages - begin illustrating the whole thing in giant illuminated letters. Have completed the book mostly with about 46 pages of ridiculously detailed drawings.

here is a sample

5. Very happy with most of the letters - however can't get a book layout to work. Put it away again for awhile. Did some submissions - but I wasn't quite happy with it yet.

6. Realized I must redo the whole thing. But I think I can salvage some of the letters and still use a few of them. I also think that the process of creating the last set gave me a way to make the book work. In other words, I won't lose all my work, I have a ton of my own reference material now - however, I will need to redraw it completely differently. I am actually looking forward to that now.  

All in all, 10 years of work...but this time, I will get it right. 

On writing - and my latest works in the works.

I have not been blogging and so haven't filled you in lately with my new projects that I have been working on. Interestingly enough (at least to me), one is a picture book that has no words, and the other is a chapter book  with lots of words! (currently thinking for the late MG or early YA market.) The contrast is interesting.

The picture book takes place in Paris, and stars a girl, her dog, and some pigeons. It is all about love. I have no idea if this will interest anyone - but I love it. As I am working on it, I am taken right back to my time studying and living in Paris. I am thinking of doing it in mostly line art with a hint of colour. Maybe a reduced palette.

The chapter book is Arthurian, and surprisingly more commercial than anything I have done before. It takes place in modern era - but has timely twists. I am loving my characters who are interesting, quirky, complex. Currently I have about 8000 words in about 4-5 chapters or roughly 1/4 of the book written. There is so much more to say though! I had played with a couple of ideas which had been rolling around in my head for a few years. I had thought them distinct books, but never got my head around them enough to turn them into anything. It was mostly just names and geneologies for one of them, and the other seemed to gather interesting stories. What happened recently was somehow I found a missing piece that just pulled it all together. I don't even know what that piece was, only that once it was in place - all the other stories just fit right in.

I have been on a roll and writing like crazy. I have been very much inspired by all the writers I now know and follow and have learned much from them in the last year about the writing process. They keep me going. Even if it is not good writing - I am finding my characters; the process reveals them and their story. The trick to writing a chapter book is to not stop writing - even if you don't like it yet. It is a commitment you must make. So I am trying.

I will post a couple of sketches from the Paris book soon. I am vacillating between titles for both books. I don't know which one is better. For each I have a title that is more appropriate, perfect even, but less commercial that the alternative titles I have - which work - just not as well.

Maybe by the time my work is done I'll have figured it out.

Progress - Northwest Coast native art

Here are some more sketches from my moleskin. I am making some progress. Still working out ideas for how to illustrate the story - but the more I do - the closer I am getting.

 

 

sketch blog / moleskin - A Feathered Tale

My next children's book I am about to obsess about is called "A Feathered Tale" and has a Trickster Raven as the protagonist/antagonist. It is about loving one's home and native land. And being where you are. Each time I start a book, I create at least one sketch book with notes, design ideas, and so on. I have started this weekend with my new moleskin. this is very preliminary and likely only a smidgen of what I sketch here will end up in the final book - however it is all part of my development process and I enjoy every bit of this part.

 

Update on 12:09 PM by little jo

and another:

 

My home and native land.

well, I am gently moving away from my Japan research and obsession and moving towards reseaching and developing work inspired by Northwest Coast Native Art. I was looking for some books to inspire me and found this which was good and I am still reading it. http://www.washington.edu/uwpress/search/books/HOLNWC.html

but what really was wonderful was Learning by Designing - Northwest Coast Native Indian Art. http://www.ravenpublishing.com/designvol1.htm

I also fell in complete love with this Haida Manga artist/founder Michael Yahgulanaas. His work reminds me of Georgia O'keeffe another favorite artist of mine/meets Hokusai/meets Haida. Incredible. Check out his work called War of the Blink and Red here. Incredible work. His website is www.haidamanga.com and his blog (with more incredible images of his shows etc.) Here are a couple of sample images from his work.