Thursday, December 30, 2010

Ladder to the Moon V2 from Fred

These are concept illustrations for a story called "The Elephant Truce." The objective of this exercise was to take the same illustration concept and compare it side by side with a classic execution and a more experimental execution. Above is the experimental version that I've just completed. Below is a side by side with both. Do you have a preference?


Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Winter! by Sheralyn Barnes

I've been working on my computer skills. While unpacking, I ran across some Prisma-color pencil winter images that I had done years ago and thought I would play with them a bit in the computer. Here's one of them. Lots of fun!

Thanks for checking in!!!!

Friday, December 24, 2010

Merry Christmas!


© 2010 Russ Cox/Smiling Otis Studio

I did this illustration a few years ago for a Pennsylvania magazine. The article was about the turmoil Santa's have to deal with during the holidays.

Merry Christmas from the Pixel Shavings crew.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Heidi and the Goats by Hazel Mitchell

I am attending SCBWI Winter Conference in January and this is my piece for the Tomie dePaolo award. The brief was to illustrate the opening of the classic novel Heidi.

Here is a the finished piece, the ink work is dipping pen and then painted in Photoshop.




Thanks for stopping by Pixel Shavings
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Hazel

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Heidi..... by Sheralyn Barnes

I decided to do an entry for the Tommy dePaola Award for the SCBWI's Winter conference. The challenge was the opening scene of "Heidi". I went into the project with many lofty ideas incorporating the influences of Japanese prints and mid-20th century travel posters. I came out with a lot yet to learn!!




Thanks for checking in!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Friday, December 10, 2010

Back in the day


© 2010 Russ Cox/Smiling Otis Studio


For this posting, I wanted to show a traditional illustration I did years ago. I know it is not in the children's market, but I thought I would show something different from my usual digital style. It has me thinking about trying some new pieces using Dr. Martins, gouache and pencil.





Monday, December 6, 2010

The Empty House

from Hazel Mitchell

This is a sketch from the picture book layout I am working on at present. It's a first rough draft and I am working with a very simple, but I hope evocative, composition.


Thanks for dropping by!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Pool Party

© 2010 Russ Cox

While waiting for something to print, I quickly sketched out this idea of a father rhino sunning in the kid's pool. Not sure if I will work it into final art or not. It might be good to have some animal related pieces to show in New York.