Illustration Friday: Phoenix

Here is my brand new Phoenix. He's just getting a new start. Way to go little buddy. Happy New Year everybody!

From the Sketchbook 5

Another couple pages from the old sketchbook. Just doodling with a pen, then I added a little ink wash later. A guy that was sitting next to me, who is the head honcho for our city's water department, said that he thought I could draw okay, but that it probably wasn't as much fun as drawing a sludge pump. Boy, did I show him. I can draw sludge pumps and I had fun doing it. He thought he would be even more impressive if I built it and it actually worked. I guess you just can't please everybody.

Illustration Friday: Mask

This is a little spot from my book "Mary Had a Little Ham". It is a story about a pig that leaves the farm to become an actor. It seemed to fit the topic this week. Here he is at his first cattle call.

From the Sketchbook 4

Everyone loves the Christmas squid. Just a quick church sketch with some color slapped on. Happy squiddy holidays.

Oh, here are a couple great art blogs to check out:
Avalanche Software

Imagine Learning

Illustration Friday: Might (Color)

Thanks for all of the nice comments on the sketch. Here it is with color.

New Book!

Hyperion just sent me some copies of "Dance by the Light of the Moon", my newest picture book, and they look great. It is always cool to hold the actual book in your hands after spending months and months seeing it in different stages. It is available to pre-order (click on the link at the right) on and will be released on Jan 1. Watch for it in bookstores near you. Bummer that you couldn't get it before Christmas. It could have solved so many gift giving problems.

Illustration Friday: Might

Mighty Mite! Just a quick doodle while I was waiting for a phone call. If I can find time I might need to add color.

From the Sketchbook 3

I've been slacking on the posts so I thought I'd throw up something.