It's still Christmas over here...

I refuse to take down my fake mini tree until I finish this book! Nearing the end of final art for a project with Simon and Schuster, now titled CHRISTMAS IS HERE. In three weeks all the art will be complete, and on its way to China to print in time for publication this Fall. Fastest turnaround on a book I've ever experienced. I'm used to waiting a good 1.5 years to see a final product, so it's pretty fun that I'll be holding a bound copy of this sucker in just a few short months (well, maybe 6 or 8, but still FAST). I'll share more about the project later on this year, as publication time approaches...For now, back to the drawing board. Got a deadline to make!

Happy 2010!

A new year, a new studio! Well, very soon! And while the new studio is being renovated, I am temporarily set up in my living room, in the back of the apartment. I'm loving it because my desk faces the windows, where I can watch the neighborhood cats and squirrels walk wires and fences between backyards all day long. And each evening as the sun says goodbye, the buildings become one beautiful silhouette against the darkening sky. This evening I was inspired to make a little ink and watercolor because it was just that pretty :)

Wishing you all a very happy 2010, filled with much beauty & wonder~

Feature on 7-imp

Today, Jules over at the fabulous Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast blog has featured my two books that came out this year~Thank you, Jules! Please drop on by and take a look at some of the art from That's Papa's Way, and Big Cat Pepper. Jules also highlighted some of the beautiful art from Leslie Evans newest title, Faces of the Moon. Maybe you are still in search of that last minute Christmas gift for a child you know...books are always a wonderful present :)

Happy Holidays everyone!

Come out to the Brooklyn Museum!

This Saturday I'll be signing books, along with many lovely and talented authors & illustrators, at the Brooklyn Museum's 3rd annual Children's Book Fair. Come say HI, and grab some early Christmas gifts for your friends and family!

It's beginning to look a lot like

Christmas?? Yup, that's right. Well, in my studio that is. I've just started final art for a really awesome Christmas book project that will come out next year (Fall 2010). Lots of sheep and shepherd drawing! Will share more later on this year~

trick-or-treat

Society of Illustrators Opening

In front of my piece (from That's Papa's Way). It was fun that Peter's piece was below mine, and Julia's piece was to the left of mine~ Goooo Team Rodeen!
A small part of the crowd, right before Chris Van Allsburg came up to accept his Lifetime Achievement Award. It was so wonderful to hear him speak, especially because his incredible books were part of what inspired me to work toward a career in this field!
SVA MFA unite! Taeeun Yoo, You Byun, me, Paul Hoppe, and Chris Butzer. Congrats to Tae and Chris, and to all my other friends who had their work on display (AND to all my other incredibly talented and hardworking friends who did not, and should have!). It was a great exhibit, and an event that I look forward to every year. The show is up through November 25th, so go check it out if you can!

S.I. Original Art Show

If you live in or around NYC, and have interest in the book arts, then The Society of Illustrators is the place you need to be next Thursday evening October 22nd! It is the opening reception of the 29th annual Original Art Show, and I promise the exhibit never disappoints. I feel honored to be part of the show this year, and look forward to celebrating the work of this lovely industry~

And P.S. A big CONGRATULATIONS goes out to Brian who won a Silver medal for Moonshot, his absolutely gorgeous book!

A few sketches from the trip~

Back in the U.S.A.

Aaand, I'm back! Paul and I had a wonderful two weeks touring around France and Germany~All I can say is, to thoroughly cover 4 cities in 15 days is H-A-R-D! I managed to take over 1000 photos, yet a pathetic amount of drawing was done--we were on the move way too much for that (still, I will post the few that I have later on this week)! I successfully gathered more than enough reference for my upcoming book, CITY CAT (by Kate Banks). YAY for travel books!!!

Here's a little overview of our journey (click to enlarge):