A Pig and a Cat

Two little (big) reasons . . .

*1.

  

*2.

. . . I haven't been around much lately (not to mention all the relatives visiting from out of town this summer):

*1. I just finished my next picture book, PEDDLES. As of last Thursday, all the final art is in the hands of my capable art director at Simon and Schuster. Stay tuned for updates through the following year. He's due out January 2016.

*2. My posterior has been in the chair every available moment working on Peddles and concurrently providing, since the second week in July, a lap for BEATRIX!  Bea is my new Scottish Fold kitten.

It was a herculean feat keeping my concentration going, as you might imagine.
My Facebook posts of her were so popular, she now has her own page. So if you want to see more, pop on and give her a "like."  https://www.facebook.com/BeaTheFold

Hope you all have had a great summer and, as ever, thanks for stopping by!
Oink and meow,
-ERS

Piggies

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

I kept thinking I should be painting turkeys or cornucopias or something Thanksgiving-like, but this is what popped out today.  I am working on the manuscript for another book, so I thought I'd make a few character studies.  So far, so good, I think :-)

Character Development

Some people expressed an interest in my picture book...so here is the development of the main character--cleverly, and oh-so-originally (for now) named, "The Thing."  He's basically a big, sleepy, bunny-like, well... Thing.  My vision of him from the beginning hasn't changed much--(maybe longer legs and slightly different proportions).  It seems I draw them pretty much the way they end up right out of the chute, so to speak.
(click to enlarge)

pen & ink, wax pencil

Illustration Friday - "Toy"

It's always good to have a friend...

"Little Bobby" pen & ink, wax pencil on paper