Highlights Illustrators' Party 2011

I am trying to get back to studio work after a wonderful weekend in Honesdale, PA.

Every year the Highlights organization honors their illustrators royally with a grand party and conference.  I was fortunate to be able to attend this year and meet some of my cyberspace illustrator pals in person. What an extraordinary time!

Fall Artwork Digitally Colored

I'm getting more and more familiar with the Wacom and the new Mac, and enjoying the process.

And... here's the result of my first illustration done with these machines... the digitally colored progression of the previous post.

Getting to know the new stuff

Currently, there's way too much new information for me to process.... computer, software and wacom tablet! None the less, here's what I'm working on for my fall mailer.

The original sketch.......                              

and the pencil in progress.....

I'm hoping to loosen up my line work, after I learn some new tricks!

Retired Mac vs. Replacement

This is my 10 year old Mac which I gave a forced retirement last week. It served me very well, until it needed two new hard drives in the last 2 years. So... here is the replacement..... 

Of course there are differences but they are improvements and the touch pad is really cool!

My Studio Pal

Here is my studio pal and constant companion, MacDoodle the Poodle, resting his head under my drawing board.  He would like to be in my lap, but this is about as close to me as he can get.  It's a very good place to be during thunderstorms.

As for me, I am currently working on some educational illustrations and have put the digital experimenting on hold for now.  Stay tuned!

View from my studio door

Since this blog is "studio notes", here is a view from my studio door on a hot summer morning.

The Indian River, which is really a lagoon, can be seen in the background and a flowering plumeria tree, commonly known as frangipani, is in the foreground.  The delicately sweet flowers of the frangipani are customarily used for leis in Hawaii.

...and the dish ran away with the spoon - Preliminary Sketches

This week, while waiting on approval for some magazine illustrations, I was able to get started on another digital painting for my "Hey, Diddle, Diddle" series.

I'm starting with a simple line drawing and adding color and a background to a value study.  It's magical to be constantly changing the painting!

I have appreciated so many other illustrators sharing their process, I am glad to be able to offer my sketches to view here.... even though I'm still experimenting,