What IS in a Face?

Wendy Wahman interviews THE WHATSITS about how kidlit illustrators do self-portraits!
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What's a WHATSIT?

Greetings Blogfriends!

There are some new kids on the blogck, and I’m happy to say I’m one of them!

We are a little band of published picture book author/illustrators from the Seattle area called, THE WHATSITS!

Whatsit you say. . . another blog?? Fear not! You won't regret it. We will post about the world of children's literature about every two weeks and we promise we'll be short on words and long on pictures (just like our books)! 

So if you follow me here, pop on over and follow us there.

Thanks, friends!! 

—ERS

Procrasticoodling

Greetings, All!
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving-- where applicable :)
Earlier this month, I was asked to be a guest blogger on Tara Lazar's blog for 
Picture Book Idea Month,which is quite an honor (to see the illustrious company I shared,
check out the list below)!
Guest bloggers were tasked with  inspiring  people who signed up for PiBoIdMo. PiBoIdMo is a month long (November) challenge for participants to come up with 30 picture book ideas--ideally, one for every day of the month.  It's been a fun month reading the blog posts, and all the comments.  Looks like the "pep talks" worked!
So scroll on down (the list is alphabetical, and most have links) and give a click.  They are all wonderfully inspiring and I hope, at the very least, you will read mine :)
Be sure and leave a comment--both here and there :) :)  Thanks!



Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen
Steve Barr
Artie Bennett
Marcie Colleen
Katie Davis
Drew Daywalt
Dianne de Las Casas
Betsy Devany
Ame Dyckman
Julie Falatko
Michael Garland
Maria Gianferrari
Dorina Lazo Gilmore
Melissa Guion
Julie Hedlund
Leeza Hernandez
Lenore & Daniel Jennewein
Laurie Keller
Bitsy Kemper
Kami Kinard
Renee Kurilla
Adam Lehrhaupt
Kelly Light
Wendy Martin
Stacy McAnulty
Todd McQueen
Pat Miller
Pat Zietlow Miller
Zachariah Ohora
Anne Marie Pace
Greg Pizzoli
Tammi Sauer
Paul Schmid
Corey Rosen Schwartz
Ryan Sias
Annette Simon
Elizabeth Rose Stanton   
Joanna Sussman
Kristi Valiant
Kayleen West
Jane Yolen

4 Robots and a Pig

Did up these little sketches today while thinking about this this week's Illustration Friday topic -- "Robots."
I realized that almost everything I am drawn to draw leans more toward the "organic," so taking on some mechanically-inclined things was fun challenge.  I may just depart from birds, pigs, and monsters for a bit and pursue some more of these little robotic beings.  My interest is piqued!
Oh-- and the pig?  He's just there to keep me grounded ;)

pencil on watercolor paper

Farewell

Quick sketch for Illustration Friday...topic:  "Farewell"

In the Works

These are a couple of studies I did for an assignment for our upcoming Western Washington SCBWI conference. I've got a busy rest-of-the-week, so stay tuned and I will pop back on next week and explain the back story.  It's turned out to be a very fun exercise! Gotta run!
I give you...
Mr.Tiger and Mr. Rhino:

Whisper

Illustration Friday...
...a little sketch for "Whisper"

watercolor & pencil sketch

These little guys have a cameo in the new book I'm working on  :)

"Storm"

The Illustration Friday topic this week is STORM.   Hmmmm... I wonder why they picked that?  ;)
These critters are picking up on an impending something...

Best wishes to all my snowed-in east coast friends. Stay warm!
 

A Little Crooked

Illustration Friday topic: "crooked"
Had to pull this one out of the archives, so to speak. It's the best I could do given the looming deadline for the final artwork for Henny :)  Exciting times, but no time for much else.
So here are a couple of "crooked" proboscises for your consideration--a bit of a stretch for the topic, but I'm sure you will forgive ;)
All that being said, I hope to regularly re-surface soon.  Meanwhile...it's back to work!

copyright 2011, Elizabeth Rose Stanton

Tall

For those of you who saw my post about Julia and her hat, here she is again, slightly more refined. Since the Illustration Friday topic this week is "Tall," I thought this new little rendering of her fit the bill quite nicely.
Julia is finding that the world goes all soft and quiet when she puts the hat on.
It also it makes her feel a bit taller.  She finds this combination most satisfying.
She is, however, still oblivious to her hitchhiker  ;)
I'm kind of partial to this new version of her.  What do you think?

Bounce. Not.

Illustration Friday topic:  "Bounce"

Bouncy puppy and the very recalcitrant Mr. Ball:

Lonely

IF this week = Lonely

Quick sketch of what popped into my head...

Carry

Got a busy week ahead, so I'm stretching the Illustration Friday topic, "Carry," just a bit.
This is a doodle I did a few weeks ago.  Her name is Clara. She's a chick-carrying-chick.

Lost

The Illustration Friday topic this week is "Lost"
Guess I still have balloons on the brain...

Illustration Friday- "Suspend"

The Illustration Friday topic this week is "suspend."
I seem to be into balloons this week (he borrowed them from Henny)   ;)

Refresh-ing

Henny, having heard about all the hot weather her friends are having to endure, decided to put her bikini back on and try for a little dip.  She also likes this idea because the Illustration Friday theme for the week is "refresh."  Should she decide to jump in here in the still chilly NW, I think she will find herself more than refreshed...
Hmmm...do chickens get goosebumps?

  

Night Critters

A little night sketching:

Spaced Out

IF topic this week:  "Space"

Awaiting the Final Frontier

A Secret Life

Mr. Tweety -- the Walter Mitty of the orinthological world ;)

copyright 2012 Elizabeth Rose Stanton

Z is for Hilarious

Hi All,
Please be sure and check out this trailer for the picture book, "Z is for Moose."  It is written by Kelly Bingham, and illustrated by the uber-talented Caldecott winner, Paul O. Zelinksy.
Most alphabet books are a dime a dozen, but I think you'll  find this one a fresh take on getting from A to Z in a laff-riot kind of way--and I guarantee you--it will delight and amuse anyone of any age!  I think the trailer is really well done (besides, I'm proud to report that yours truly had an infinitesimally small part in it--see the credits at the very end).
Sooo...
1.  Go get the book for your kid, grandkid, neighbor kid, nieces and nephews, yourself, etc.
2.  Be sure to watch the entire trailer (it's hilarious)...and be sure and check out the credits.
I expect a report  ;)
Your muttering* blog friend,
-ERS
*this will make sense when you watch the trailer all the way through the credits :)
                          click here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP52OtZxPdg

Cover of "Z is for Moose" by Kelly Bingham, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky