September 18, 2011
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Conference
In case you’re wondering why there are no recent posts… I’ve been hired to write a book! And since I’m essentially working as a ghost writer, I really can’t disclose too much because that wouldn’t be very ghost-like of me. Needless to say, it’s an amazing opportunity and adventure and I’m really excited to be part of the creation team for this project. Hopefully I’ll be able to tell you more about it later. (Stay tuned.)
Anyhow… The Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (http://www.rmcscbwi.org/) conference was this weekend, and it was so much fun! I was unable to attend last year because I was going into labor with Max, but this year I was able to meet our speakers and help run the event as a co-illustrator coordinator. I was also lucky enough to win the illustration contest, so my image was on the brochure and merchandise.
Our keynote speaker was Adam Rex (http://www.adamrex.com/) – an incredible artist and writer. 
We had a Friday Illustrator Intensive with Adam, and had a great time learning from one of the most talented guys in the business.
I was also lucky enough to attend some writer sessions and learned about making a memorable book character from Barbara Steiner (http://www.barbarasteiner.com/) and also had the first page of the novel I’m working on read by Kendra Levin of Viking Press (http://www.shewrites.com/profile/KendraLevin) and Kristin Nelson of Nelson Literary Agency (http://www.nelsonagency.com/). Kendra’s review was especially positive and there was a great response from the attendees as well. Kristin’s session gave me some good feedback about what was unclear in the first manuscript page and I see now where a couple tweaks could improve the book’s introduction.
We also had a very fun (and informational) Sunday workshop with Paul Yalowitz (http://paulyalowitzillustration.com/), and I was reminded of how important it is to observe details. For example, you can learn a whole lot about a person just by the shoes they wear!
I LOVE being a part of this community and am so grateful to be on the volunteer team to help make events like this happen! I’m already excited for what the next year brings.
July 19, 2011
Wickedly Color Corrected, Monstrously Better… I hope.
I enjoy color correcting about as much as I enjoy hitting myself in the face with claw side of a hammer, but unfortunately it has to be done from time to time. (The color correcting, not the facial mutilation, I mean.)
This image looked pretty nice on screen, but when I decided I better have a copy for my portfolio, I realized it looked terrible in print. I’m so embarrassed to think of how many people this image has been e-mailed to (with the brochure and otherwise), and how many of those people may have hit “print”!
(hyperventilating a bit. give me a moment to put my head between my knees… phew. ok.)
In art school, my computer illustration training hit a pretty frustrating bump in the form of an instructor who was an amazing artist, but felt like the best way to teach us how to prepare a digital illustration file for print was to show a slide show of his daughter on the teacups at Disney World. (I SO wish I was kidding about this one.)
So my method of color correcting looks something like this:
-Create about 60 different hue and saturation layers. Cry a little. Try levels. Try levels again. Cry some more. Implement that mosaic filter to see if it makes things look any better. Hit head against the keyboard. Rinse and repeat. Then I just give up and essentially recreate the illustration from scratch, printing a copy between every step to make sure it’s looking ok.
Long story short, here’s the new illustration. I like it better both on screen and in print (green sky, baby!), but do me a favor and don’t hit “print”. I would hate to hear that your HP disagrees with my Epson and thinks this image looked better before I color corrected it.
June 26, 2011
Monster Step-Dad
Mama Married a Monster
by Karen Windness
Mama married a monster. Mama calls him Mike.
She says that he’s my step-dad and a man I’ll learn to like.
Mama lets him in our house. She feeds Mike every day.
He’s allowed up on the furniture and now won’t go away!
I’ve asked Mike when he’s leaving. He says, “I’m here to stay!”
I guess there’s nothing I can do except to move away.
My bag is packed, my tires are pumped, it’s time to say “adieu”.
Mama says she’ll miss me. Mike says he’ll miss me, too!
Mike says I could get hungry. He’ll make a monster snack.
Mama offers me some cocoa as she puts away my pack.
I suppose Mike isn’t so bad. I like the way he cooks.
And I think I could get used to his funny monster looks.
Sometimes he takes us to the park. We’ve made a silly kite.
And when I’m on his shoulders I know everything’s alright.
I know my mama loves him, and that they both love me.
Perhaps there’s room for monsters in a happy family tree.
“Mama, can we keep him?” Mike’s really not so bad.
It might just be an okay thing to have a monster dad.
Harry Potter illustration
I went hunting for old art files and came across a disk of my graduation portfolio illustrations (circa 1999-2002). This image is my take on Harry Potter’s first visit to Gringots with Hagrid. The movies hadn’t came out yet, so all the elements are influenced by the books alone. This was created in pastel on gray paper.
Ahhh, memories.
May 27, 2011
Contest Entry Won 1st Prize
Winning Contest Entry
Here is my entry for the Rocky Mountain Chapter Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Fall Conference Illustration Contest. (Wow, that’s a mouthful!) To my surprise (and joy), it won and will be featured on the conference advertising.
April 30, 2010
Scooter Monkey
Scooter Monkey in Purple
Scooter Monkey in Green and Red
I haven’t yet come up with a rhyme for Scooter Monkey, but I liked the drawing too much not to finish it.
Color opinions? Suggestions?
Go go Monkey-O!
April 21, 2010
Blue Monkey Rocket
Blue Monkey in Rocket
Well, I like this one (blue monkey, red rocket).
I’ll be doing some investigation on fabric prints today so I’ll know how to format these images.
April 20, 2010
Rocket Monkey Color Play
Rocket Monkey Blue
Rocket Monkey Color Changes
Just playing with colors! Helps to have a sample background in there. I’ll need to consider that for both fabric and the board book. The blue rocket would definitely get lost on a blue background.
I like the green monkey – but you don’t suppose he’s getting sick on his way to the moon? Do they make Dramamine for monkeys?
Great, now I’m having a visual of getting sick in one’s space helmet. NOT pretty! I’ll save that idea for a different book! 
April 19, 2010
Rocket Monkey
Rocket Monkey
I totally blew off laundry to do this illustration, so we’ll all be naked tomorrow. Good thing the weather’s warming up!
“Monkey count, Monkey zoom. Monkey rocket to the moon!”
Not a 100% on the colors here. Fun, but maybe not “rockety” enough? Might have something to do with those polka-dots. I’m open to suggestions. Also, I should probably standardize the monkey colors if I’m going to get the images on fabric and/or apparel. Fabric and apparel that I’ll blow off washing, of course.
April 13, 2010
Go Go Monkey Car
Monkey Car
Vroom vroom!
Ultimately this will be part of an illustration spread, including background and probably a couple of the cars he’s racing.
My son said “car!” about a million times while I was fleshing out this illustration. He also said “doggy” a lot, but he’s going through a phase where most everything is a doggy (that is, if it’s not a car). Monkey, doggy… close enough!
