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?

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!

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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.

smilingotis.com

http://smilingotis.blogspot.com/

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.

 

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Hazel

http://hazelmitchell.com

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!!

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Happy Holidays!

Here's a quick holiday sketch! Merry Christmas from Fred!

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.

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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!

hazelmitchell.com

hazelmitchell.blogspot.com

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.

http://smilingotis.blogspot.com/

http://smilingotis.com/