Category Archives: Uncategorized

One of the first things I do when illustrating a book is to draw up or print out a storyboard. This is an outstanding tool for planning out illustrations! Here I make chicken-scratch thumbnail sketches and map out the emotional arc of the manuscript. Once I establish the emotion I want each illustration to portrayContinue reading “Illustration process: First steps”

During my short time in the Children’s book industry, I’ve noticed there are some good eggs, and a few bad ones too. But mostly there are just Eggs, that have good days and sometimes bad days.  So be a good egg! And if you see an egg having a bad day, give them a break…butContinue reading “Be A Good Egg”

I illustrate all my children’s books with traditional materials: mostly watercolor, pencil, colored pencil, and ink. But I also enjoy painting fine art every once in a while. When I paint a watercolor piece, like this still life, I use the same steps I would use in an illustration. I thought I’d share my processContinue reading “A Pear Post”

We can get pretty extreme temperatures where I live in the Inland Northwest. I’ve seen -10 with windchill in the winter and 107 in the summer. I’ve also seen snow in June here, but that’s only happened once in my 32 years in this little town. Despite our extreme temperatures, my neighbor two doors downContinue reading “Magnolia”

Being in a writing critique group for the first time can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be if you’re prepared. Here are a few tips on giving and receiving feedback from other authors. Receiving feedback: When someone offers you feedback, you should think “bring it on!” every time. Because either the criticism willContinue reading “Writing Critique groups— Receiving (and giving) feedback”

Artists make a thousand little decisions every moment they are creating.  My first draft of this illustration was too huge. It was, in fact, enormous. My decision to get close up was okay, but the magnification was gratuitous (the paper was 18×24). At the suggestion of a skilled colleague, I pulled back a bit. MyContinue reading “Tiny, Little Decisions”

You know that book you love? Remember that evil character in it that you really despise? Do they think they are the bad character? No. They do not see themselves as the heartless tyrant, the slinking coward, the greedy manipulator, the guilt-ridden critic, or even the plucky sidekick. Everyone is the HERO of their ownContinue reading “Deep Thoughts: The Hero of Your own Story”

I set out to paint a boy at the beach that just noticed an unfortunate change in the weather. Here is the sketch I started with. Sketches are rendered loosely and I often like them better than the finished product. There is just more life and movement in the line. This one is no exception.Continue reading “Sketch to Finish”

Books & Brews Event—Palouse Writers FestivalJune 27 at 4 PM · 1912 Center · Moscow, Idaho I’ll be signing copies of Penguin Sets Sail, and other books I’ve illustrated, at the 1912 Center Books & Brews event during the Palouse Writers Festival Saturday, June 27.

“I’ve always loved penguins, and sea voyages, and I loved this book! A delightfully illustrated wordless story that says a lot with a little: the value of curiosity over complacency, the joy of travel and the friendships we forge along the way; how new experiences enrich and change us, so that when we finally returnContinue reading “What Eric Fan thinks of Penguin Set’s Sail”