Day 2 of Artist Challenge – My PASSION for Book Illustration

Illustration from “The Odd Ones”

My interest in drawing grew alongside my passion for writing. When I was in Elementary School, I filled up as many journals as I could with science fiction stories based on my favorite movies: Gremlins, E.T., and Close Encounters. I filled them with writing and illustration. I was an addict. I loved writing stories. It was definitely a big childhood dream of mine to someday publish my own books, sharing them with the world.

It’s only recently that I’m finally making my dream happen to publish my own books – I’m so happy about this, and have started my own little publishing website, Create-A-Way Books, where I’ve also illustrated works written by a couple of my friends as well, and helped them to self-publish.

And very proud of my first illustrated chapter book series, Wearing My Weird – about my early adolescent life growing up in Canada and moving to the States.

Looking forward to getting some books out this year, and hoping to participate in the 12×12 challenge this year to make it happen.

Here are a few more illustrations from books I’ve published this past year:

Illustration from “Pretty Betty Butterfly” – written by Sally Deems Mogyordy

Illustration from my “Wearing My Weird” book series

Illustration from Book 3 – “Wearing My Weird” series

Illustration from Book 1 – “Wearing My Weird” series

Making a HAPPY Little Children’s Picture Book – “Pretty Betty Butterfly”

I am thrilled to have experienced my first collaborated and published picture book, Pretty Betty Butterfly. I was approached by Sally Deems-Mogyordy through a mutual friend and the two of us hit it off – true kindred spirits! Sally envisioned a series of illustrated children’s books, starting with Betty Butterfly.

The project was very appealing to me in many ways. One of them was the challenge I accepted to illustrate a book in a quick style that would also be very visually stimulating. I wanted to “Create a Way” to give Sally an attractively illustrated book without breaking her budget by using quick and simple techniques using Photoshop with layered textures and special brushes to give the book a bit of an art journal feel.

Sally and I were thrilled with the outcome!

Betty went through some character development first, of course:

And then the final doodle made Betty come to life!

Betty final sketch/doodle!

I loved this initial doodle so much, I practically traced over it for the book, wanting to capture the same loose, spontaneous feel that my doodle had.

I really enjoyed playing with the layered textures and textures brushes, and I believe the joy of working on the spreads shows through in the illustrations.

Screen grab of my Photoshop work-in-progress.

Sally’s told me that everyone she’s shown the book to has commented that it actually makes them HAPPY to flip through it. It’s as if merely looking at the bright-colored images and cute characters literally releases endorphins. What a JOY!

So here are a few peeks into the book’s images to give you a taste of what we’re talking about:

Hopefully I’ve added a touch of HAPPY to your day by sharing Betty with you! Check out the book on my Etsy page to order a copy for yourself, or a child you know and love!