Banjo Pig 16

A tiny pen doodle and a big thanks to everyone who has joined in on the Banjo Pig fun. It's crazy.

See more at the Banjo Pig Blog

Banjo Pig 15

The One Pig Banjo Band.

See more at the Banjo Pigs Blog

Banjo Pig 14

Another day, another pig. I think I should point out that these pigs are usually my quick and dirty warm-up sketches to start the day. I'm normally working on a deadline for one real job or another and these things just act to get me in the creative mood. They don't normally take a ton of time to do, they are just for fun. I'm really glad so many others have been joining in on the fun too. Just don't let it distract you from your real jobs.

As always, check out the new Banjo Pigs on the Banjo Pig Blog. And, if you get the itch, do one of your own.

Banjo Pig 13

Big news in the Banjo Pig world. There have been lots of banjo-playing pigs created (and counting!) and it has become difficult to keep track of them all.
So, we created a blog for people to go and see all the wonderful work in one place.

We're still tinkering with it, but here's the link:
http://banjopigs.blogspot.com/

And to add to it, here is my contribution for today.

Banjo Pig 11,12

I've spent a few days out of the studio while attending a writing and illustrating conference so, I took my Banjo Pigs on the road. I only found time to do a couple sketches though. I did, however, draw a bunch of ideas for more. Now I just need some spare time to draw them up right. Keep pickin' and drawin'


Stacy Curtis(22 pigs)1 NEW Looks like I have some catching up to do.

Jack Foster (3 pigs)
Bob Nelson (3 pigs)
Greg Wallace (3 pigs)
Jeff Overturf (3 pigs)
Sam Reed (1 pig)
Mark Harmon (1 pig)
Greg Newbold (3 pigs)
Doug Jones(2 pig)
Sean Ashby (1 pig)
Eric Barclay (1 pig)
Shane Lewis (1 pig)
Paula J Becker (2 pigs.)
Tom Lichtenheld (1 pig)
Jannie Ho (1 pig)
Korey Scott (2 pig)
Elvia Montemayor (2 pig)
Melinda Stanley (1 pig)
Renee Kurilla NEW
Jed (my big bro.)Francis NEW

I hope I'm not forgetting anybody. Let me know if I am.

banjo Pig 10

I have been out of town for a few days. I went camping with a youth group in Utah's High Unita's at a beautiful little place called Moon Lake. I was there as their cook. Mmmmm, good food and camping, nothing better. I even took my sketchbook and some watercolors, but I never even took them out. Did that stop me from doing a Banjo Pig? Heck no. This was the best I could do in the current circumstances.

A lot of great new pigs were done while I was gone. Here is the newest list:

Stacy Curtis(21 pigs)3 NEW Looks like I have some catching up to do.

Jack Foster (3 pigs)
Bob Nelson (3 pigs) NEW
Greg Wallace (3 pigs)NEW
Jeff Overturf (3 pigs)
Sam Reed (1 pig)
Mark Harmon (1 pig)
Greg Newbold (3 pigs)
Doug Jones(2 pig)
Sean Ashby (1 pig)
Eric Barclay (1 pig)
Shane Lewis (1 pig)
Paula J Becker (2 pigs.)
Tom Lichtenheld (1 pig) NEW
Jannie Ho (1 pig) NEW
Korey Scott (2 pig) NEW
Elvia Montemayor (2 pig) NEW
Melinda Stanley (1 pig) NEW

I hope I'm not forgetting anybody. Let me know if I am.

Banjo Pig 9

Here is a quick Banjo Pig from my sketchbook. I took a clue from Eric Barclay and combined my pig with this weeks Illustration Friday topic.


My daughter and her cousin wanted to do their own Banjo Pigs. They are both twelve. Not too shabby!



This whole Dueling Banjo Pig thing has kinda taken on a life of it's own. It's awesome. It may slow down for me a bit because of some work deadlines and some conferences I have to go to, but that doesn't mean you can't stop doing your own.

Check out these other illustrator's duelin' pigs!

Stacy Curtis(18 pigs)NEW But, he cheats. 12 banjo pigs in one post? What? Too scared to fight pig vs pig? You have to bring in a whole gang? Well, you don't scare me Stacy! Okay... just a little bit.

Jack Foster (3 pigs)
Bob Nelson (2 pigs)
Greg Wallace (2 pigs)
Jeff Overturf (3 pigs)
Sam Reed (1 pig)
Mark Harmon (1 pig)
Greg Newbold (3 pigs) NEW
Doug Jones(2 pig)
Sean Ashby (1 pig)
Eric Barclay (1 pig)
Shane Lewis (1 pig. But, browse through is blog. He has tons of critters playin' banjos) NEW
Paula J Becker (2 pigs.) NEW


Let me know if I'm missing anyone and keep em coming!

Banjo Pig 8

Here is today's offering. Duel on piggies!


Check out these other illustrator's duelin' pigs!
Stacy Curtis(6 pigs) The guy who helped start this mess.

Jack Foster (3 pigs)
Bob Nelson (2 pigs)
Greg Wallace (2 pigs)
Jeff Overturf (3 pigs)
Sam Reed (1 pig)
Mark Harmon (1 pig)
Greg Newbold (2 pigs)
Doug Jones(2 pig*)
Sean Ashby (1 pig*)
Eric Barclay (1 pig*)

*=new pig

Keep em coming!

Banjo Pig 7

The duel continues. This pig looked better painted with real paint rather than digital, but the waterproof pen I used wasn't very waterproof. Fiddlesticks!

And they just keep coming. Check out these other illustrator's pigs!
Stacy Curtis(6 pigs*)
Jack Foster (3 pigs*)
Bob Nelson (2 pigs*)
Greg Wallace (2 pigs*)
Jeff Overturf (3 pigs*)
Sam Reed (1 pig)
Mark Harmon (1 pig)
Greg Newbold (2 pigs)
Doug Jones(1 pig*)

*=new pig

If you've done a Banjo Pig (and you know you want to), send us the link and we'll add it to the list.

Banjo Pig 6

A quick and messy one. Maybe an homage to the late Mr. Frazetta.

This little pig went wee wee wee all the way home. He added a new one today.
Stacy Curtis Pig count: 5

And they just keep coming. Check out these other illustrator's pigs!
Jack Foster (2)
Bob Nelson (1)
Greg Wallace (1)
Jeff Overturf (1)

The newest additions
Sam Reed (1)
Mark Harmon (1)
Greg Newbold (with 2 pigs right out of the gate...well, one isn't really a pig, but it fits)

Excellent work fellas.

If you've drawn one too, let me know and I'll add it to the list.

Banjo Pig 5

Ah, the fun never stops. I gotta say, Stacy is putting up a good fight. Well, keep em coming Banjo Boy.


Check out my main pig nemesis:
Stacy Curtis Pig count: 4

There are a bunch of other folks who joined the dueling too. Check them out. Great stuff!
Jack Foster (2)
Bob Nelson
Greg Wallace
Jeff Overturf

If you've drawn one too, let me know and I'll add it to the list.

Banjo Pig 4

Just sit right back in that chair right there and let me show you how it's done.


Stacy posted three very fine Banjo Pigs on his blog.

and Jack Foster did a version of his own.

Keep em coming.

Cheerioooooos

Here is an illustration I can talk about now because it finally hit the shelves. I still haven't seen it yet, but I had heard a rumor on facebook that it was out there in the wild. Then yesterday I was sent a photo from Stacy Curtis (an awesome illustrator who you should all follow because he is awesome), so it's official. Thanks Stacy. Ever since I was a kid I thought i'd be cool to draw the picture on a cereal box. Whodda thought I would actually do one? Weird. It was fun to do. I wish I had a bit more time to work on it--tight deadline, but what can you do? Now go and enjoy a tasty box of Apple Cinnamin Cheerios.

Banjo Pig 3

The gauntlet has been thrown. This is officially a dueling banjo pig thing. Come on Stacy, where's yours? Heck, anybody else wanna duel too?

Banjo Pig 2

I feel a theme.

Banjo

I bought a banjo the other day. I can't play it... yet, but it is something I've alway wanted to try. Besides, my friend Stacy Curtis has one, and I can't think of a more appropriate way to duel him. I painted this during a video chat with Stacy. To show him my freaky painting skillz and my new banjo. The duel is on! ...or it will be as soon as I learn to play something.

Useless Super heros: The Human Siphon

I never get tired of drawing super heros and giving them stupid powers. I was doodling tonight and another one came out of the pencil. Enjoy.

NY State Fair

This is a recent little job I did. It was cool. I got to do the poster for the New York State Fair. Actually, it was quite big. I think it may be one of the largest illustration I've ever worked on. At least, it didn't fit on my scanner. I painted it in two parts, the logo and the background. You can see a bit of the process below. Enjoy.

Provo Children’s Book Festival

This Saturday I'll be hanging out with a bunch of incredible writers and illustrators at the PROVO LIBRARY CHILDREN'S BOOK FESTIVAL! Everybody come. You know you want to. It'll be fun.

Saturday, May 15, 2010, 12 Noon - 5:00 pm at the Provo City Library
Featuring Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm, dynamic sister-and-brother superduo, author and illustrator of Babymouse.


Also including a host of activities for children and their families, with children's crafts, games, giveaways and prizes; visits from favorite characters like Clifford, Wild Thing, and Curious George; author presentations and signings, puppet shows, and a visit from the world-famous Infernal Twister, balloon-tying extraordinaire!

Food, beverages, and candy will be available for purchase.

EVERY child that attends gets a FREE book!

Also featuring local favorite authors and illustrators: Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, Brandon Sanderson, Mette Ivie Harrison, Clint Johnson, Dene Low, Randall Wright, Carla Morris, Kristyn Crow, Sharlee Glenn, Wendy Toliver, Kristin Chandler, Sara Zarr, Emily Wing Smith, Mike Knudson, Ann Dee Ellis, Maryn Roos, Guy Francis, Nathan Hale, Sherry Meidell, Julie Olson, J. Scott Savage, and Ann Bowen!

Coming Soon

I never know when it is okay to share what jobs I've been working on, but earlier today, Anne Marie Pace, the author of my new picture book, posted the cover of NEVER EVER TALK TO STRANGERS, so that means it's okay for me to talk about it too. It's cool to see it with the text in place. It was a fun little book to work on. It will be published by Scholastic Book Clubs in September, 2010. Watch for it.