Brendan Wenzel
Posted by Amy on Wednesday March 10, 2010
How adorable are these animals? Love the work of Brendan Wenzel — his sketches are amazing, and his lines are fabulously fluid.
{via Sam Caldwell}
Comments [3]
Sponsor giveaway: Benconservato
Posted by Amy on Tuesday March 9, 2010
Everyone should have a monster to call their own. Mine would be one that’s a little rough around the edges, scruffy looking with a gruff voice, but a big heart (and one with a smile goes a long way too.)
If there ever was a lady who could translate my perfect monster onto paper, that would be Emma Kidd of Benconservato. She’s based in Australia, and is an artist, illustrator, printmaker, and photographer who’s always busy dreaming up and drawing monsters!
She’s giving away a set of Monsters Behaving Badly Colouring Book and a 6-pack of Colour Me Happy Gocco Party Invites to ONE lucky reader if you’ll share with us your favorite monsters (real or imaginary!)
Giveaway ends on 16th March 2010 and the winner will be announced via email!
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Joana Rosa Bragança
Posted by Amy on Tuesday March 9, 2010
Joana Rosa Bragança is an illustrator based in Portugal and can I just say how lovely her work is? Everything is so pretty and beautifully detailed – she has mad watercolor skills! I’m so in love with how she draws people too: soft, rounded and fluid. Check out the lack of elbows. SWOON.
Check out her flickr and here’s her blog about her little pet!
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Vintage Children's Book Illustrations
Posted by Jamie Shelman on Friday March 5, 2010
Some time ago I happened to stumble across this incredible collection of vintage children’s book illustrations posted by Tiny Tin aka Christine Copland on flickr and haven’t been able to forget about them ever since! The bright colors, shapes and textures are an inspiration and joy to behold!
The first two images are from The Circus by Brian Wildsmith.
The third image from The Lion and the Bird’s Nest by Eriko Kishida.
Grab a cup of tea and curl up with your computer to spend sometime with this truly unique and interesting take on children’s illustration.
See the full set here.
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Christine Pym
Posted by Amy on Wednesday March 3, 2010
Beautiful watercolour illustrations from Christine Pym who studied Illustration for Children’s Publishing at the North East Wales Institute in the UK. She’s illustrated one book entitled The Tail of the Whale which will be out soon! I love how she talks about achieving a balance between your own vision and what the market wants in this blog post of hers on her experience after she graduated from university.
Comments [4]
Happy Doodle Land
Posted by Amy on Tuesday January 5, 2010
The ever lovely Flora from Happy Doodle Land has finally opened up shop! The Taiwan-born designer has a MFA from Academy of Art University in San Francisco, and currently designs products for kids during the day (and draws aplenty the rest of the time!) Her artworks are simply a joy to have around the house, and has a nice retro feel to them. Here’s something interesting that I’ve noticed as well: her work has plenty of curves… a feature that I am particularly drawn to.
For now, she’s having a promotion in her new shop – buy one of her prints and the second one is USD$5 off!
{Congrats Flora!}
Comments [2]
Okido Magazine
Posted by Amy on Tuesday December 15, 2009
Okido is an art & science magazine targeted at readers aged 2 to 7 years old, and sets out to make learning fun. Based in the UK, the magazine has a host of characters such as Messy Monster, Squirrel Boy, Yoga Monkey and Zim Zam Zoom that kids will love, as well as an array of games and cooking ideas which all help to explain the fun of science and art. Their latest issue (#10) deals with feelings and emotions. (WHOA!)
Okido is the brainchild of multimedia designer and scientist, Sophie Dauvois and illustrator Rachel Ortas, and is beautifully illustrated by contemporary artists and designers. They’re always on the lookout for illustrators, so if you’d like to add your touch to the magazine, email alex{AT}okido.co.uk.
Other things to note: Okido magazine is a non profit organization and contains no corporate adverts. Best of all, the magazine is printed with biodegradable links on 100% post consumer recycled paper and is not harmful to children or the environment. The magazine looks promising, and if I had a kid, I’d get them a copy. Better yet, a subscription, even!
Comments [3]
kelly murphy
Posted by Racheal Anilyse on Thursday December 3, 2009
Since graduating art school three years ago, I’ve been following the artwork of children’s book illustrator Kelly Murphy. I really would like to illustrate children’s books but I have problems drawing people. Her work has taught me to let go of the confining concepts of how human anatomy “should” look. Murphy’s work has inspired me to let the natural way I create people and the emotion/mood involved come through my artwork.
So, thanks for that Kelly [and to the internet for making it all possible]!
What artist(s) have you been following that has influenced your artwork?
Comments [10]
Get your hand out of the cookie jar
Posted by Amy on Friday November 27, 2009
Because you don’t want to end up like Santa at the end of the video, that’s why.
Great thinking from Jessica Gonacha Swift — print these babies out and stick them all about!
Comments [6]
Fay Ryu
Posted by Amy on Friday November 20, 2009
So THIS is how snowflakes came to be.
I’m loving the wonderfully offbeat style of Fay Ryu, an artist based in Brooklyn, NY. She’s also a cat person (which also means she’s drawing them obsessively!) See more of her portfolio and hit up her blog for kitty cuties.