Bird Hunt!

Some of you may remember the an online video game I did the graphics for a while back, "Bird Hunt". This was my first really big job using Adobe illustrator exclusively. I've used Illustrator a lot since then, and am much more comfortable with it, and their tools are a lot easier to use now. The game app is available on the Windows Phone 7, so if you've got one, please buy it for a mere $.99 in the market.

Windows Phone 7 game

Jesse Liberty wrote up a review/tutorial of the Bird Hunt game that Jeff Paries wrote. The graphics for the game were done by yours truly. Quack-quack.

Doodle

Yesterday I was sitting at the back of the church listening to the girls choir and sketching. My buddy Riley came in, and wanted to see what I was working on. So I showed him the drawings I'd done yesterday for the new book project. He asked me about shading, and so I was showing him how to do it. I drew this little guy as an example and he took on a life of his own. Not content to stay on the 2D page, Doodle Man is trying to lift himself off the page. I realized it had been ages since I just drew something for the fun of it, not to meet a deadline. I wasn't really bummed out about it though, because I love what I do, and I am thankful for that every day.

Sketchbooks

The search continues for a new sketchbook. I've used the Canson sketch journal for almost 10 years, it was perfect, 80 lbs. paper with a slightly creamy tone, which kept the glare down when working out of doors, hard bound for durability and comfort of use (I detest spiral bound). Unfortunately the good folks at Canson decided to stop making them.


I'm currently using a Travelogue made by Hand Book. It's hard bound and durable, and has heavy paper, but it's too small for the work I do, and the paper isn't of the best quality. I'm also trying an oversized Canson spiral bound Mixed Media pad with 90lbs. paper. My idea was to remove the sheets as I finish them, scan them for color work, then pile the pages up and have them bound eventually. We'll see how or if that works.



I took this snapshot of the sunrise this morning. It was a very misty-foggy morning here in Yacolt, which made for some interesting lighting. This is the least foggy of the pictures I took, but I really liked that sunburst. Enjoy, I hope you all have a great day.

I got mine!

I've been meaning to post this all week. I got my copy of "The Little Leaf" on Monday. I can't tell you how great it feels to be published, FINALLY!! I've really been blessed this year, and I'm truly thankful.

The next book (a sequel to The Searcher) is halfway done now, and looks to be my best work yet, if I do say so myself.

The Little Leaf

Hey everyone. It's been a while since I had time to blog, and here is the reason why: "The Little Leaf" is now availabe for purchase at Barnes & Noble. Written by Jairo Penaranda, and illustrated by Ryan Loghry, "The Little Leaf" is the story of one leaf's quest to stay on the tree to see Christmas! Click here to go to "The Little Leaf" page at Barnes & Noble.

A special day for an Author/Illustrator

Today I had the wonderful opportunity to give a couple of presentations at Our Lady of Lourdes here in Vancouver. One hour for the pre-school to third grade, and then another hour for the fourth to eighth grade. I talked about what it's like to be an illustrator, and showed them the children's books I've finished, The Searcher; and The Little Leaf by Jairo Penaranda; and the interactive website I built.

Then we did "How to Draw" to wind things up. It was sort of like career day, before a much larger group. They have a great school there, from what I saw. The faculty were warm and friendly, and the kids were very well behaved. I had a lot of fun, and enjoyed talking with the students. I was amazed at how many very good artists they have there.

A special thank you from me to my friends Kim Wellman who thought the whole thing up and suggested it; to Beth Anderson the librarian at Our Lady of Lourdes for setting everthing up; and to Iris Wellman and my wife Angela for encouraging me to do it.


Here are some very cute kids drawing away.


They were really having fun here, drawing an elephant.


I really liked this young man's drawing of Chip.



At the end I walked down to the door, and as they filed out the kids showed me what they had drawn. It was so cool, to see their creativity on the page. I'm very glad I did this. Several kids asked me to autograph their drawings for them, that was kind of nifty. I also signed many copies of The Searcher which the kids had purchased and brought in.


Some were too shy to show me their work, while one girl was so excited she could hardly stand it. She wants to be an illustrator when she grows up, and gave me a drawing of a unicorn, which is now proudly on display in my office.