When it Rains it Pours

Hello Dear Readers!
First off, thank you for all the lovely comments about "An Unexpected Visitor". I really, really appreciate it. Unfortunately I have some bad news for you....no final Sabriel piece this month. I'm bummed about it, but I've been extra-super-busy with work this month and just didn't have the time to spare (I woke up this morning with my fingers aching from all the non-stop drawing!!)

However, I'm PUMPED to get back into Sabriel's world again, and I think the next piece will be sweet. :) In the meantime, I've got some sketches for different illustration/spot ideas I was thinking about.
Both the top ideas are Sabriel at Cloven Crest, which will probably be my next illo for the Picture Book Report, but I also had an idea for Sabriel passing through the wall to the Old Kingdom (showing the seasonal discrepancies on either side) and the Abhorsen, from the beginning of the book, when he saved newborn Sabriel in the waters of death.


And here to try and make up for this delay is a kitten that wants to sell you eyedrops:


It'd be fun to do a series of these with different animals as unlikely product spokesmen.
Have a good weekend everybody!

Spring Awakening

This was an entertaining assignment for VEGAS magazine, highlighting the March horoscope for Aries. I've been enjoying my small foray into more fantasy-type artworks lately!
The illustration's concept was pretty open, it just had to pertain to Aries in some way. I found a lot of the imagery in the article very appealing and descriptive:
"With a Ram at your side, diamond in your sword and warrior in your blood, you charge forward."
I thought it would be interesting to translate this sentence into my illustration (trusty ram companion, flaming diamond sword, etc.), and allude to the springtime with the decorative flower border. My AD was totally on board with turning this into a fantasy illustration and I loved the opportunity to geek out. I definitely hearkened back to my high school days of doodling badass warrior chicks in my notebooks. Fitting the illustration into an unconventional shape was a secondary bonus--it was a fun puzzle, and something I hope I get to do more of.

Here's what the whole thing looks like uncropped:

And an initial sketch & alternate color idea:

Surprise!

A comic about a cupcake.

In other news, California was a blast! It's one of those states that just looks and FEELS big, like Colorado. I might post some photos from it later, I've got great reference if I ever need to draw a redwood forest scene!

Heads for Haiti

Hey everyone!
Thanks for all the warm comments about my Sabriel work, you make it all worth it. :)

I've got something a little different here now, I was asked to be a part of the 100 Heads for Haiti charity exhibition being held by Spur Design here in Baltimore.
There's some BIG names in the show that I'll be able to share when the website for it is up! The exhibition is being held on April 10th, and each of the heads (all about 7x9 in) are selling for $100 each, to benefit Doctors Without Borders.

I'm a little sheepish, it's been a long time since I've worked traditionally, so this was a bit of an experiment for me. I hope someone will give her a good home, for a good cause.

I'm going to California for a while this week, and I'll have some fun illos to show you when I get back!