'Princess Cupcake'

I signed up to attend the upcoming 'Society of Children's Book Writer & Illustrators' Utah conference next month. It will be my first time to go and I've heard good things.
My Professor, Will Terry lectured there last year and I was sad to miss it due to prior commitments.

This year Martha Rago, Executive Art Director and HarperCollins Childrens Books will be doing a workshop. We were asked to do some sketches for a suggested story, "Princess Cupcake" and email our images to her for feedback. Whatever feedback we get, we'll then make changes and present the final pieces at the workshop for a critique. These are the rough sketches I sent:

Character Design

 

Story Scene

 

Cover

(Look familiar? I used the same idea in a previous illustration)

 

I'm still waiting to to get feedback, but I will make sure to post the final pieces when they are done.

 

Toned paper

I never really got into drawing on toned paper until this semester. A lot of my art friends love it and I can see why. I thought it would be fun to share a quick sketch I did.

Making muffins

I love Clarence Coles Phillips and his fadeaway girls.
I first learned about him in my 'History of Illustration' class and I fell in love with his beautifully designed compositions.
The muffins are of course inspired by memories of baking with my mum.
The 'Great American Cookbook' she has is not only falling apart, but covered in smudges of flour and batter from all the baking we did as kids.
 

Happy New Year!

I cannot believe it's already 2013.
I had to do a post to commemorate the new year, but unfortunately I haven't had a ton of free time to do anything finished, so here's a quick sketch I did earlier today.

I have high hopes for 2013 and let's hope it's a good one for all of us!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!