Version Three

Trying to find my happy place with this duck who is fondly referred to as "Drake". This is the third draft (actually the 4th if you count the pastel inspiration piece). It is done in marker/colored pencils. I did this one through the flu so it's not perfect, but I am happy with the direction. (Click on image to enlarge)

The Next Phase...

After struggling with time elements as well as the sometimes unpredictability of the pastel or the wax bloom of the colored pencils, I decided that I would try a combination of Markers and colored pencils. My hope was that it would go a little faster so I took an old illustration originally done quickly in cp's and re-did it using the new technique,
It went twice as fast and gave a much crisper finished image.
The results are below (old one underneath). (click on all images to enlarge)

This was my second try at the marker/colored pencil technique. I did another "re-do" this time of the dragon Duck. He has since gotten a lot of attention and I was encouraged by an agent last year, to write a story based on him . I have never envisioned myself as a writer but I never shy away from teaching myself anything new.

This piece is marker/colored pencils and was done as an assignment for an illustrator conference I went to in October 2008. I am enjoying this new technique.

Below is a study done for the book "Drake".This book will be for the most part, told illustratively. I learned two very valuable lessons from doing this. Number one, if it is "working" don't try to fix it. Meaning, the original color palette was better, bolder. I am not sure what I was thinking doing it this way. Second lesson...trust my instincts. In the first one without the background, I LOVED it! It had power and punch. Once I put in the background (because I thought I was supposed to) it seemed to lose all it's impact. In the future, I will trust my first impression.

The revised story board for Drake is forthcoming as well as a re-do of Drake himself. Always learning.....

A Brief History...

These first two are graphite sketches. I plan on exploring this medium further. (Click on all images to enlarge)




The color is done in strictly colored pencils. It was difficult to get this saturation without a wax bloom. I outlined it in ink.


This piece was also done in colored pencils about 3 yrs ago. It was my first book cover. The book is Elliot Stone and the Mystery of the Alien Mom by LP Chase. My work has evolved since then


This illustration was my promotional piece two yrs ago. I decided to give pastel another try. The little character on the book was originally named Dragon Duck . I am presently working on a book dummy inspired by this character. The name of the book is tentatively titled "Drake".