Ed Emberly Illustrator

In a effort to branch out a bit I'm going to deviate from my usual postings of a project or doodle that I've done and introduce some things (images, text, video etc) of other illustrators who I think are cool.I came across this Lynda.com video that they have made available featuring illustrator/author Ed Emberly. I've been aware of his work for years but never knew much about him.  Well that has now been rectified! Take a look. (Be sure to hang in for the Paul Bunyan "promotional" poster. Totally worth it!)

Getting to know Ed

Ed Emberley, Children's Book Illustrator | by Ed Emberley

View this entire course and more in the lynda.com Online Training Library®.

Portrait: Helen Acker

Portrait: John Lock

I titled this John Lock because I'm pretty sure that's who served as the reference for the original sketch (or rather Terry O'Quinn the actor who played him in Lost). Of course a day later as I did the watercolor I "lost" (see what I did there?) my reference so a lot of this is just plain 'ol made up.

Portrait: Evil Accountant?

This gentleman is from a site of old Australian criminal mug shots. Who knows exactly what this guy did -- but he doesn't seem all that sorry about it.

Portrait: Steel Worker

Some faces are just begging to be painted. Today I was playing around with a gouache technique.

Travel Sketch: Maui

New Book Cover: Tuesdays at the Castle

I just found out that a book I did the cover for is now available at your favorite bookstore!
Written by Jessica Day George, it got a great review blurb from Kirkus:

“This enjoyable romp turns mischief into political action and a stone palace into a cunning character. These kids are clever, as is George’s lively adventure. May pique castle envy.” —Kirkus Reviews

This is a splendid YA fantasy and I had a great time coming up with all kinds of cover concepts.
And what the heck, since you're here at my blog what better place to show some behind-the-scenes stuff:

In hindsight it would have been awesome if I had waited until Tuesday to post this -- ah well, enjoy!

Travel Sketch: Maui

Went on a vacation to Maui recently and did some snorkeling and sketching at a place called Black Rock. The name just appealed to the Pirates of the Caribbean fan in me. But it was the visiting sea turtles that really made my day!

Portland Sketch: Oldtown

A sketch from a while back of Old Town in Portland. Not long after this sketch was finished I was accused by a random (and fairly disturbing) guy of "mentally harassing" him. All in all, a memorable sketching afternoon.

Location Drawing: Japanese Gardens

More from the Japanese Gardens. These are great to play around with limited color palettes.

Location Drawing: Japanese Gardens

Another sketch from the Japanese Gardens

Location Drawing: Japanese Gardens

If you are going to be a substitute instructor then it's pretty great to take on a class you'd be doing any way. I filled in for a "Drawing on Location" class at AiPD this week and had the pleasure of spending the afternoon at the Japanese Gardens here in Portland. Truly beautiful. Definitely worth a visit if you've never been.

Travel Sketch: Santa Cruz

Headed down to Santa Cruz for the weekend to hang out with some very cool folks and did some sketching in my free time. I'll be posting these for the next couple days as I get them scanned in.

Portland Food Carts: Salt and Straw

My new favorite unhealthy indulgence. This uber-cool ice cream cart carries all the traditional Portland flavors you'd expect: Stumptown Coffee Cold Brewed with Cocoa Nibs, Brown Ale and Bacon, Blue Cheese and Pear, etc. But my favorite is Honey Balsamic Strawberry With Black Pepper. If you are in Portland it's located on NE Alberta. Totally worth the trip.

Brushes Painting App

Here's a little something that was done using the iPhone "Brushes" app.
Fairly cool application (and great for killing time while waiting for an appointment) but really hard to export out of the application and into the wider world.

Portrait: Mug Shots

Came across a great website of1940's mug shots. Great hairstyles, and really honest expressions.

Concept Sketch: Guy with huge sword

Projects of all stripes have been keeping me busy these last few weeks, but I thought I'd post a concept development test that I did this morning.

Blog Interview: Blu Penny Sketchbook Stories

Illustrator Cindy Ann Ganaden recently asked me to participate on her uber-cool "Sketchbook Stories" blog feature. I wrote a bit about the process that goes into creating a chapter book cover.

Head on over and check it out and stay to read about all the other illustrators she's already featured. Just click on the button below

Watercolor Test: Landscape

Playing with compositional theories (rule of thirds) and watercolor techniques (laying pigment down heavy and pulling out to model form). More of a formal test, but still fun just the same.

Sidewalk Stroller

The inaugural drawing of my brand-spankin' new set of mid-toned sketchbooks. (Very excited to be drawing in these again!) This stroller was just sitting on the sidewalk today, and while I admire the engineering that has gone into modern "baby-jogger strollers" there's just something evocative about this design.

New Books: The Imagination Station Series

For the last year I have been working on a series of books "The Imagination Station" with Focus on the Family and Tyndale House Publishers. I've recently received my advance copies of the first two books in the series and wanted to show off the covers. Click the horizontal images for all the wraparound cover art goodness.

 

Turkey Transport

Portrait: Einstein

Start of a new term at AiPD -- and as usual I gave my students a "however you want" inclass project of drawing Einstein. This is my take. Kinda' fun to look back at all the versions.

Portrait: Depression Era Dude

Came across a selection of historical photos from the Great Depression. Wonderful expressions in those (and some impressive hairstyles too!)

Still Life: Onion Study

Left this on my kitchen windowsill until it started to sprout.  I loved the curves that formed as the stalks reached toward the sun.

Character Sketches

Having some fun with characters, watercolor and the new natural media brushes in CS5.

Costume Drawing

Headed down to do some costume drawing at AiPD last night . . .

It all started off pretty realistically

Then I went for a stronger sense of rhythm and movement

Then I moved away from realistic proportion

And finally ended up doing these sorts of things to the model.

All in all a pretty good time.

Recent Sketch: Harry Potter Fan Art

Like so many out there I freakin' loved the Harry Potter series. The version I enjoy most are the audio books read by Jim Dale. So I'm listening to the whole set again and thought for today's sketch I'd have a go at my version of the characters.  Snape's character arc was one of the most compelling of the series.

Sketch In Progress

Currently working on some pretty tight deadlines, so not a lot of time for sketching.
Here is about 15 min worth. I thought I'd have a go at this for a few minutes a day over the next few days.

Recent Sketch: Animals

A zoo sketch -- taken a little further.

Speed Painting Exercise

A little photoshop speed painting. Roughly 10 min.

Recent Sketch

I've never been great at sketching directly in Photoshop (always just faster with pencil and paper).
But this is a little digital study done in about 20 min. -- I could get used to this.

Jim: Part 4

This is the most recent in the six part ongoing series of "Jim: Who ran away from his nurse and was eaten by a lion". You can check out my website for parts 1 to 3.

Recent Sketch

These are some sketches done with my left hand (I've always been envious of those who are ambidextrous -- just seems like you'd get twice as much done) Anyway, it was weird and cool at the same time; the way I wasn't quite sure what mark my hand was about to make.

Recent Sketch

One of the things I require of my illustration students is that they be able to draw a cube accurately from observation. Figured I should take my own advice.

Recent Sketch

Welcome to a new year everybody! This amazing skeleton is on display at the Natural History museum in London. Possibly one of the coolest places I visited on my last trip there.