cRod artblog

Book Launch Party for ¡A Bailar! Was A Success!

2011-11-30T10:47:00.001-08:00

I am so pleased with the turnout of my first book launch party. So many children came as well as many adults shopping for gifts for the holidays. Children had a great time getting their book signed, running over to get their faces painted and get a balloon animal. They were also able to make their own maraca at a craft table and then learn some salsa moves! It was a very exciting day and I don't think it could have been any better!

Finished Pet Portrait

2011-11-29T14:07:00.000-08:00

Just finished this portrait for a private client.....I had a lot of fun with the bubbles! Place your portrait orders in now to get them for the holidays! Also I had my first book signing this weekend which turned out very well. Many people showed up and it turned out to be an amazing day. I'll be posting some pictures up soon.

I was featured in this week's Asbury Park Press!

2011-11-25T16:22:00.000-08:00

There was an article printed this week in the Asbury Park Press for myself and the release of my book! Check it out here!

A Bailar Book Launch Party!! OPen to the Public and for All Ages!!

2011-11-25T16:20:00.000-08:00

My Wonderful Friend Nicki!

2011-11-06T07:18:00.001-08:00

I was so pleasantly surprised last night to find my dear friend Nicki dedicated a post to me on her blog. Nicki Fazio is a talented children's book illustrator herself. Nicki and I roomed in college together. There we would spend late nights in our senior studio motivating one another to push ourselves for just another hour while taking turns playing our favorite jams on our ipods. Nicki's work is full of life and joy through her beautiful pen and ink and watercolors. If you look closely at some of her work you can see that she does her gradient shading by a technique called stippling. This is where you create your shading using a small, very tiny, and quite meticulous I might add pattern of dots. This was not one of my favorite illustration lessons learned at the University of Hartford, although talented pen and ink artists like Nicki took this lesson and let it stride through her artwork. Ms. Fazio already has two published books under her belt and is now working on her third! Nicki is a Maine artist and her books include My Maine and Down East in the Ocean: A Maine Counting Book.

How is Maine special to you? Children and adults alike will be

delighted by a young girl’s answer to this question at "show and

tell." Join in on a real Maine adventure that follows her (and her stuffed moose!) in this beautifully illustrated book. Little Beach Books Publishing

This clever counting book from the award-winning authors of Keep the

Lights Burning, Abbie, combines rhyme with a fun exploration of Maine sea life. Each rhyming verse ingenio

usly portrays one of Maine's iconic sea creatures, from one seal and two whales to nine seagulls and ten lobsters. Children will be singing it to themselves and asking for it to be read to them again and again. DownEast Publishing.

In interesting tid bit about Nicki is that she is also a very skilled graphic designer. She has doen work in magazines and also even designed a label in a health food vending machine. You can view Nicki's portfolio and learn more about her through her website www.nicolefazioillustration.com. You can buy her books through amazon.com, and if you do be sure to leave a review since this helps us illustrators increase our book sales, or you can buy it directly through her website which I recommend because she offers an autographed copy and gives you the option of a personalized message.

Book Launch Party for ¡A Bailar!/ Let's Dance!

2011-11-02T17:10:00.000-07:00

Buy a copy here

I also revamped my website!!

See everyone at the book release party November 26th!

A Bailar is Listed on Amazon!!

2011-06-07T13:52:00.000-07:00

I just came across my book listing on Amazon, how exciting! You can currently preorder the book for the October 31st release date of this year!

Click here

New Painting!

2011-06-06T21:12:00.000-07:00

This is a new painting I just completed for Arte Publico Press. It was a character concept for an upcoming picture book they will be releasing in 2012. Unfortunately I did not get this project but at least I did get a new portfolio piece out of it. It will be interesting to see what art they did choose for the book but I will have to wait until the book comes out.

Below is another concept I did for them right before my fire. This was one of the paintings I lost in the fire, but luckily saved my hard drive and with it a copy of the lost piece.

Here's to New Beginnings

2011-05-04T16:17:00.000-07:00

Well just when i was getting into the full swing of things with illustration such as finishing and awaiting the release of my first book and working on a speculation for a possible second book, the unthinkable happened, the worst nightmare imaginable. Our whole apartment building burnt down. All of 16 units lost their homes and personal belongings. I stood in horror with my sister and our frightened cat as we watched across the street a fire spread throughout the whole building until it finally reached our apartment and ate everything we owned and loved, including my art. Luckily no one was injured in this fire, and to think it had started from one cigarette butt just two doors down. It was hard to cope the next few days thinking about all my paintings, supplies, and computer with any trace of artwork saved to my hard drive was now nothing but ash, or so I at least thought. With the help of my amazing friends and family to help my sister and I get through this mess we were able to revisit what was left of our apartment a few days later to try and salvage anything we possibly could. I was just hoping to save my artwork, after all everything else could be replaced with time, but the sketches my college work, my recent published pieces, they were in the building. Even the firework scratchboard piece I had made in second grade, the one I won third place in a huge regional competition, the reason I wanted to be an artist, was standing in it's frame with it's ribbon last seen on my nightstand next to my bed.

I entered our old beat up apartment with the help of the firemen. I saw that the roof had collapsed onto most of our belongings. The fire destroyed most of my clothes, and all of my shoes. But I had just crossed my fingers when I made way to the closets where my art was kept. My eyes teared when the fireman pulled out the Jerry's Artorama bags I had my stacks of paintings in. I had discovered that some of my recent pieces on top were warped and the edges were dirty with soot and debris, but they were still there in my hands existing. When the fireman asked if there was anything in specific I wanted him to search for I knew there may be a chance I could save my second grade masterpiece. He climbed over what was left of my bed and pieces of roof, broken glass, and ash and there it was delicate and in a broken frame: my first piece of artwork that ever meant something to me. I was ecstatic because now I had my artwork it wasn't all lost I still had something with me to call myself an artist.

Months went by and my very dear friends threw a fundraiser for my sister and I which helped fund our furniture and new clothes. My amazing college friends formed a collection to help me get a new laptop so I can finally write about all of this to you. Art school friends sent me loose art supplies in the mail to help me get started. Even people I have never met saw me on the news and sent me gift cards to help us get through this and to start all over. My heart goes out to these amazing people, it is through times like these that we see the good in people and I can't thank them all enough.

Finally in an all new even nicer apartment my sister and I have started picking up the pieces. Yes our apartment lacks some decor and wall ornaments but we will get there. I still need just about every art supply I have ever owned, but I have the computer and purchased a new printer to get started on some new promotional postcards. My hands ache to hold a paintbrush again, but I hope soon I will because that is finally next on the list now that the living necessities have been attended to. So here's to new beginnings, new art work, and yes finally a long awaited new postcard.

Pet Portrait Pricing

2011-02-05T10:00:00.001-08:00

I have been getting a few calls lately about the pricing of my pet portraits so I figured it was a good idea to post my price list to my blog:

Here is my pricing for a pet portrait for one pet with a background of your choice (such as this one):

8”x 10” - $300.00 9”x 12” - $350.00

11”x 14” - $400.00 14”x 18” - 450.00

16”x 20” - $500.00 18”x 24” - $600.00

For each additional pet it would be an extra $65 so an 8" X 10" would be $365, a 9"x 12" would be $415, and so forth. I require a 50% deposit up front and the client can pay the rest upon delivery of the painting.

Long awaited update!!!

2011-02-05T09:48:00.001-08:00

Sorry I have been so busy the past few months I have neglected my blog!!! I have been working on my first picture book ¡A Bailar! and handed in the final paintings at the end of November. It is written by Judith Ortiz Cofer and will be published by Arte Público Press's children's division, Piñata Books and is scheduled to release October 30th of this year!! The very first thing I did when I painted that last stroke, put down the paint brush, and rubbed my sleepy eyes was scatter all my paintings on a table and take this picture. "Whoa I did it," I said with a big sigh of relief, "my first book, all finished."

I have also been working on a few paintings recently for a possible new project I will hopefully have some details on that in the near future.

Spider Magazine, the May issue is out!!

2010-06-02T12:20:00.000-07:00

I was so happy to come home today and find this in the mailbox!!! You can pick up your copy of Spider Magazine at Border's Book Stores or get a subscription here.

© 2010 by Carus Publishing Company Christina Ann Rodriguez, first published in Spider Magazine

Just mailed out the final art to Spider Magazine!!

2010-01-30T14:27:00.000-08:00

I am really excited to have finished my paintings for Spider Magazine. They were shipped off yesterday afternoon. Here are a couple of the preliminary sketches you can expect to see in color in the May issue of this year. :)

A pup named Rosie

2010-01-13T00:02:00.001-08:00

I just sent off this pet portrait to a customer. This was his dog named Rosie and it made him very happy to have something to remember her by. He emailed me, "I just opened up the painting and I can't even begin to tell you how happy I am with it!! It truley means the world for me to have this, it's simply perfect. Thank you". It feels great to make people happy with something you created :)

Spider Magazine!

2010-01-03T20:35:00.000-08:00

I am currently working on some sketches for a story with Spider MagaZine (yay!). My illustrations will be in the May/June issue so make sure to check it out! I am really happy to be working with them, I remember when my younger sisters would get Ladybug and the other Bug magazines in the mail. :o)

SCBWI and More!!

2009-11-23T22:19:00.001-08:00

I went to the SCBWI Conference and had a blast!! I was able to work hands on in a small group with the amazing and award winning illustrator EB Lewis. He gave much insight to the career of illustrating children's books. He showed us much inspiration and how creativity can be viewed in the every day life. One thing he did say that was interesting was that you are not considered to be an expert in your craft until you have put forth 10,000 hours practicing it. That would take about 10 years if you never once put down your brush. He was so knowledgeable and motivating I couldn't wait to go home and paint again!

I also met with Christine Tugeau who is an agent at her own agency. She gave me some helpful tips with my portfolio and some advice for my new forth coming picture book. I also met with Donna Mark, the art director of Bloomsbury Press who was very helpful in showing me my strengths and what I should focus working more on in future paintings.

I can also officially say that I will be illustrating a bilingual picture book written by Judith Ortiz Cofer. Our book will be out Spring 2011 and is being published with Arte Público Press! Yay!! I am super excited and will definitely have my work cut out for me since this is my first book. This was the preliminary concept I sent into them in order to get the contract. I will have to make a few changes to the characters. Stay tuned!!

Lots of Good News!!

2009-10-30T13:02:00.000-07:00

My Zoey portrait will make it's next tour stop at the Holy Family School of Lakewood, NJ for their Tricky Tray Gift Auction on November 8th. I will be donating a custom portrait of the winner's pet. Tickets are being sold now. If you would like a chance to win one of my hand painted pet portraits please stop by the school. The address is Holy Family School 1141 East County Line Road
Lakewood, New Jersey 08701 or visit the website for more information.

On a side note I am pleased to say I will be signing my first picture book contract next week!! Woo Hoo!! I can finally say I am officially a children's book illustrator!! Can I get a WOOT WOOT!! ;o) More info on that to come!

I also very excited about an upcoming SCBWI illustrator's conference in November in which I will be working with award winning illustrator E.B. Lewis in a critique. I will also get a chance to have a private portfolio review with Donna Mark, art director for Bloomsbury Children's Books. I will be bringing with me the finished version of this sketch that goes along with a manuscript given to me by E.B. in which I was assigned to choose a double page spread for the story to illustrate for a critique. I am very happy to be taking out the scary little boy looking through the magnifying glass as a suggestion from E.B. so I can focus more on these fun frogs.

Vote for me to be the next WRAT Rock Girl!!!

2009-10-08T00:31:00.000-07:00

So I tried out to be the next wrat rock girl.....I made it to the final 32 contestants now I need you to vote for me!!! This will be great exposure for me since I will get a chance to talk on the air, be interviewed in magazines and meet bands. What could be a better way to get my name out there to tell people about my art and represent my home turf on the radio?? So Please vote for me!!

http://www.wrat.com/Default.aspx?tabid=993

Color Me: Bathing Elephant

2009-10-06T20:36:00.000-07:00

Print and color in this coloring page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Happy Coloring!! For more Coloring pages click here.

New Postcard!..and Color Me: Pelicans Fishing

2009-09-09T13:12:00.001-07:00

Finally a new postcard! I just ordered it today. I tried out a new company 48HourPrint so I hope they come out nice!!! I was able to get rounded corners which I am also excited about!! If you noticed I also reversed the painting for the front of the postcard. It helped the over all flow and design so I think it was a clever choice to have the car headed towards the right corner.
Here it is:
Front:

Back:

Print and color in this coloring page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Want to learn more about Pelicans?? Just click here. Happy Coloring!! For more Coloring pages click here.

Alice In Wonderland Trailer!!!

2009-09-09T10:49:00.000-07:00

Watch it here!!! http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=60963677

Elder Magic Book Cover Finished!!... and some other stuff

2009-08-26T11:56:00.001-07:00

The third and final painting for Cindy Davis and John Richters' Elder Magic, Book three of the Desert Magic Trilogy is now finished! The second book just came out to purchase, so this one will be out sometime this Winter. You can read more about the trilogy at the Desert Magic website here. You can read the first two books Healing Magic and Stolen Magic by purchasing them at Amazon!

Some of the fun of being an illustrator is the anticipation and waiting for certain books to hit the shelves and finally get a chance to peek at the beautiful cover art that was selected by the publishers. A while ago I blogged about doing some speculation work for Raven Tree Press for a picture book. They asked a number of other illustrators as well as myself to send in cover art and a sketch for one of the spreads after sending us a manuscript. After finding out I wasn't selected I had to wait almost a year to see the cover art and artist that was finally chosen for the picture book. Here it is! Seed Was Planted will be out this September and was beautifully illustrated by Pamela Barcita. Congratulations!!

Color Me: Hungry Puffin

2009-08-26T11:51:00.000-07:00

Do you know where Puffins live or what they like to eat? Learn more about the Puffin at National Geographic Kids Creature Feature, just click here. Print and color in this coloring page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Happy Coloring!! For more Coloring pages click here.

Stolen Magic now Available on Amazon!!

2009-08-20T15:19:00.000-07:00

Buy it here !

A young mage and his healer friend must recover a stolen Node of magical power. Obsessed with becoming the most powerful magician in the world, the insufferable Eklet returns to Worlton to steal the town's Node of power. In the process, he discovers a hidden storehouse of ancient spells. Determined to possess everything, including the bracelet of Dorea, he hires marauders to do his dirty work. Only the young mage Narle and his healer friend Laan have the means to stop Eklet. But they are distracted by the arrival of the beauteous Josella, a mage in training. She manages to dazzle Narle and alienate Laan, before finally joining forces with Eklet. Can Narle and Laan put aside their differences to foil Eklet's plot and save Worlton?

Color Me: Hedgehog

2009-08-19T13:51:00.001-07:00

Did you know you can have a hedgehog as a pet? Want to learn more about these funny prickly animals? Click here. Print and color in this coloring page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Happy Coloring!! For more Coloring pages click here.

Color Me: Leopard

2009-08-12T16:51:00.001-07:00

Print and color in this coloring page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Happy Coloring!! For more Coloring pages click here.

Color Me: Hungry Grizzly

2009-08-05T17:30:00.000-07:00

Print and color in this coloring page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Happy Coloring!! For more Coloring pages click here.

Color Me: Panda

2009-07-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

Print and color in this coloring page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Happy Coloring!! For more Coloring pages click here.

Color Me: Snorkeling

2009-07-22T09:32:00.000-07:00

Print and color in this coloring page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Happy Coloring!! For more Coloring pages click here.

Color Me: Dog Tricks

2009-07-15T10:07:00.000-07:00

Our little puppy Brody is getting big fast and we are trying to teach him some new tricks! He hasn't been quite able to balance a doggy bone on his nose, but I think he will get the hang of it! Color in this coloring page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Happy Coloring!! For more Coloring pages click here.

Color Me: 4th of July!

2009-07-09T12:15:00.001-07:00

Did everyone have a wonderful Fourth of July?? I hope you had as much fun watching the fireworks as I did! Color in this coloring page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Happy Coloring!! For more Coloring pages click here.

Color Me: Sunbathing Frog

2009-06-24T10:46:00.000-07:00

I know I can't wait for this! Color in this coloring page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Happy Coloring!! For more Coloring pages click here.

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland: Can't Wait!!!

2009-06-23T13:49:00.000-07:00

http://blog.redbox.com/redblog/2009/06/were-all-mad-here.html

Read the article about it here.

Color Me: Father's Day!!

2009-06-17T17:47:00.001-07:00

What is everyone getting their dad for Father's Day? Color in this coloring page for Dad and then send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Happy Coloring!! For more Coloring pages click here.

Piggy Wiglet Edited

2009-06-12T10:26:00.001-07:00

Here is Piggy Wiglet fixed up a little bit. I added more back to mama cow which I do think helps lead your eye right to Piggy. I put a hill at the bottom of the barn so that the perspective looks like your looking up at the hill. Piggy's back leg has a little bit more curve, and I also lightened up the grass. I think it looks better. What does everyone else think?

Color Me: Bunny's Ribbon!

2009-06-10T20:57:00.000-07:00

Color in this coloring page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Happy Coloring!! For more Coloring pages click here.

NJ SCBWI Conference: Day 2

2009-06-09T19:13:00.000-07:00

Day 2 of the Conference was such a great and informative packed day! I ate breakfast with some familiar faces and talked to some fellow illustrators. We shared portfolios and traded postcards. We listened to a panel discussion Q and A while we sipped our coffees.

I then continued my day and went to an agent panel discussion workshop and listened to what some of the agents had to say about querying and telling a good story. A lot of it dealt more with the writer's end which was interesting since that is a whole other item of exploration. The agents all agreed they were looking for stories with a good combination of narrative and conversation. I learned that a whole scene to a story will have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Go to the library and look at books to know your market, talk to librarians, and tell a story in your postcard!

I also attended Leeza Hernandez's Inspiration workshop. She said dress creative, it makes you feel better about yourself and enables you to work better. She also led us through some fun activities to get creative and brainstorm new illustration ideas. One key element is to take yourself back to a specific time in your childhood and remember the smells, the way things looked, the people you were with, and how you felt in a particular situation. This will help you to draw the inner child within and spark some great illustration ideas!

I attended another workshop that led us to develop ideas for successful school visits and how this can play a key role on the income of an author or an illustrator. Sudipta Bardhan as always gave a wonderful lecture on rhythm and rhyme shared some guidelines she follows to create a successful picture book manuscript. She said with picture book texts becoming shorter and shorter, one should aim at a 650 max word count and to include no more than one stanza per page.

I also had a portfolio critique with Scott Piehl of Disney Book Group. He offered me a lot of advice to improve my work and gave me some pointers when diving into future illustrations. The day closed off with some raffle giveaways and I am pleased to say I won two prizes!!! One was a pack of 5 autographed picture books and another was an early reader chapter book with an original piece of artwork from the book! Phew what a day! I am also happy to say I made some important contacts and had some important people show interest in my work that will hopefully lead to some future good news.........so yay!! (stay tuned!!)

I highly recommend going to any SCBWI event, especially NJ. The staff of fellow authors and illustrators went above and beyond to provide valuable information and priceless connections for people in or pursuing the children's book industry.

NJ SCBWI Conference: Day 1: Illustrator's Intensive Workshop with Tim Gillner

2009-06-05T21:13:00.000-07:00

Today was a very fun filled day as I arrived on the Princeton Theological Seminary Campus this rainy morning for our illustrator's intensive workshop. I finally was able to officially meet two members from my critique group, wonderful ladies Penny Weber and Deb Cuneo. We split off into 2 groups of 10 for our critique. I was in Tim Gillner's group of Boyds Mill Press. Everyone brought with them a preassigned illustration in which we were given the opportunity to submit a sketch to the art director and have him make comments before bringing in the final art to the conference. I chose the story Piggy Wiglet, a manuscript about a little piggy who decides he is going to leave his pen, go out the barn, and into the city in an attempt to catch the sun. This is my first sketch for submission.
Afterwards I received these comments from Tim:
" Hi Christina,
Nice sketch,
I love the expressions on the cows. I am having a problem with the goose. It seems to be lost up there and it seems to be too far away from the text. I am not sure what to do here. Here are a couple thoughts which may or may not work.
1. Move the barn to the left into the valley to isolate the goose and move the piggy a little to the right.
Or
2. See attached PDF. I just moved these around. you may have to change position and direction. This is just to give you an idea. ------------->

3. Leave as is.
You can do another sketch and send it to me or just make the correction when you do the final. It is up to you.

Best,
Tim

After reviewing these comments I then went along to the final deciding to take his advice from the PDF he had played around with.

It was finally my turn for a critique as I waited with anticipation second from last. Tim said "that it actually turned out a lot better than I thought it was going to be from the sketch" in which I responded "Thanks......I think". I smiled though because I knew this was a good thing for my finished piece! The grass may be too dark Tim said but can easily be fixed in photoshop. A few fellow illustrators also commented that perhaps I can add in a grass hill at the bottom of the barn to give it more of a rolling hills feel. Also a nice suggestion was that perhaps if the cows back is continued to the edge than it would take away that negative space in the upper left corner and, in turn drag your eye closer to the pig. (You can cover the upper left corner with your thumb and squint one eye to understand what I mean.)

I also learned some very valuable information such as it is always a good question to ask a publisher if your book will be using "perfect binding" in which they glue the spine of your book and you actually lose 3/16 " so it is wise in this case to add more illustration room to the gutter. Additionally, interactive websites are not always a good idea since the art director wants to just get to your work as soon as possible since their time is precious. This also includes seperating your portfolio into educational, picture book, and advertising categories so they can use their time more efficiently to see the types of portfolio pieces they would be interested in. Also the Highlights Foundation offers two workshops for illustrators in which you can apply for a scholarship to attend!

I then had a lovely lunch and was able to sit with a number of illustrators from critique group and was also able to have a little group chat with Scott Piehl of Disney's Group for Young Readers. I was also able to see my good college friend and fellow illustrator Olga Levitskiy.

The rest of the day was packed with wonderful presentations and inspirational speeches by Newbury Award Winner Richard Peck and award winning illustrator of 48 picture books E.B. Lewis. He explained when an artist struggles to find their voice and said "the artist is never supposed to be aware of their style- someone else comes in and recognizes the work. We are just producing." He also explained the difference between an illustrator and a fine artist. He said, " the illustrator is solving someone else's problem and a fine artist is solving a philosophical question for themself." I also admired his remark that "artists are the critical thinkers of society."

Overall is an informative, fun filled day and I can't wait to go back and see what's in store for tomorrow!

New Painting!!

2009-06-04T18:07:00.001-07:00

The Chase

I just finished this piece and hope to use it for a self promotional post card. Tomorrow is the NJ Scbwi Conference in Princeton and hopefully get some feedback from art directors Tim Gillner of Boyds Mills Press and Scott Piehl of Disney's Group for young readers. I also have another painting I just finished as an assignment for tomorrow but will post more on that later after my critique!

Color Me: Alligator and Squirrel Painting

2009-06-03T17:02:00.000-07:00

Color in this coloring page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Happy Coloring!! For more Coloring pages click here.

Color Me: Orangutan

2009-05-27T09:18:00.000-07:00

Color in this Orangutan coloring page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Happy Coloring!! For more Coloring pages click here.

Color Me: Kangaroo Reading

2009-05-20T11:03:00.000-07:00

Color in this Kangaroo Reading coloring page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Happy Coloring!! For more Coloring pages click here.

Pet Portraits at Paws and Pose

2009-05-13T12:14:00.000-07:00

I just finished another pet portrait, this time of my shih tzu Zoey. It will be hanging in the pet boutique Paws and Pose located in Pier Village in Long Branch, NJ. The store is kind enough to let me hang my painting in order to refer customers wishing to have a personalized painted pet portrait. The store does a great deal of work in photography but occasionally someone will come by and wish to have a memento of a deceased loved one. To see this painting in person please visit the shop.

If you wish to have a pet portrait of your own, you need not live in NJ! All I need you to do is email a nice selection of photos to me of your pet. A good photo would be where your pet is taking up most of the picture plane. (See photos I took of Zoey below.) If you don't have a photo of the exact pose or setting you wish to have your pet portrait in, no need to worry I have creative versatility and can work around these things to make a painting you'll be pleased to hang on your wall! The pricing varies from sizing, number of pets in a painting, what you wish to have in the background, etc. Email me at mail@crodillustration to get an estimate. Each painting would take at least two weeks if not longer depending on scheduling and how busy I am with any other projects at the time. I also do children!

You would be very lucky to get one perfect picture of your pet, so sometimes it is easiest to combine 2 or more images to get the perfect reference. For the painting of Zoey I used the body from the photo on the left and the head from the photo on the right.

Color Me: Rhino

2009-05-13T10:23:00.001-07:00

Color in this Rhino coloring page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Happy Coloring!! For more Coloring pages click here.

My New lil Pup Brody!

2009-05-06T12:30:00.000-07:00

He's just so cute I had to post this...

Color Me: Cinco De Mayo Mariachi Band

2009-05-06T10:37:00.000-07:00

Did everyone have a great Cinco De Mayo? I hope you had your fill of burritos, tacos, and quesadillas! Ever wonder the true meaning of the Mexican holiday? Find out here .
Can you find 3 things wrong with this picture? Color in this silly Mariachi Band coloring page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Happy Coloring!! For more Coloring pages click here.

VSS: Interview with Joe Weatherly

2009-04-30T21:37:00.000-07:00

The VSS is proud to announce an Sam Kirkman's illustrator interview with Joe Weatherly http://vsschat.blogspot.com

Joe's recent publications include the Weatherly Guide to Drawing Animals and some of his clients include Dreamworks Feature Animation, Universal Studios, Laguna College of Art and Design, and The Academy of Art in San Francisco.

We hope you enjoy the interview and you can learn some interesting things about this amazing and talented illustrator
Take a moment to look through all of the great children’s art at The Visual Storytellers Studio

What are you waiting for...check it out!!

Color Me: Walrus

2009-04-29T08:43:00.001-07:00

Color in this Walrus coloring page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Happy Coloring!! For more Coloring pages click here.

Color Me: Lollipop Elephant

2009-04-22T09:06:00.000-07:00

Color in this Lollipop Elephant coloring page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Happy Coloring!! For more Coloring pages click here.

Color Me: Duck in Puddle

2009-04-14T22:11:00.000-07:00

While some of us are singing "rain rain go away..." others are opening up their umbrellas to splash in the puddles! Color in this Duck in Puddle coloring page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Happy Coloring!! For more Coloring pages click here.

Stolen Magic Book Cover

2009-04-14T22:05:00.000-07:00

Recently I finished Stolen Magic's book cover. This will be the second book of the Desert Magic Trilogy by Cindy Davis and John Richters. Need to catch up on your reading? Hurry and buy the first book, Healing Magic so you can be ready when Stolen Magic hits stores!!

Bonus Color Me: Easter Egg Hunt Activity!!!

2009-04-09T18:56:00.000-07:00

Can you find the Easter Bunny's 12 hidden Eggs?Color and find the hidden Easter eggs on this Activity Page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Happy Coloring!! For more Coloring pages click here. Happy Easter!!

Color Me: Red Panda

2009-04-08T13:33:00.001-07:00

Color in this Red Panda Coloring Page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Happy Coloring!! For more Color Me Wednesday's click here. Stay tuned this week for a bonus Easter Coloring Page!!

Guess what inspired this Coloring Page Wednesday? It was this cute little guy that I spotted at the Bronx Zoo!!

Where the Wild Things Are!!

2009-04-01T22:46:00.000-07:00

I can't wait until this comes out! I heard about it a while ago and now the trailer is here...October 16th!!! Trailer

Color Me: Kitten

2009-04-01T10:32:00.001-07:00

Color in this Kitten Coloring Page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Happy Coloring!! For more Color Me Wednesday's click here.

Color Me: Yak's Haircut!

2009-03-25T08:48:00.001-07:00

Have you ever been over due for a haircut? Well this Yak has! Color in this Yak's Haircut Coloring Page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Happy Coloring!! For more Color Me Wednesday's click here.

Color Me: Leprechaun

2009-03-18T09:59:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone had a Happy St. Patty's Day!! Color in this Leprechaun Coloring Page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Happy Coloring!!

Color Me: Ostrich!

2009-03-05T14:11:00.001-08:00

Today's coloring page is an Ostrich! Color in this Coloring Page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Happy Coloring!!

Color Me: Zoo Express!

2009-03-04T09:18:00.000-08:00

Today's Coloring Page is a Zoo Express..Choo Choo!!! Color in this Coloring Page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Remember to print this page landscape style!

VSS First Interview: Patrick Loehr

2009-03-01T18:34:00.000-08:00

The VSS is proud to announce an interview with Patrick Loehr. http://vsschat.blogspot.com

Patrick is the author and illustrator of Mucumber McGee and the Half-Eaten Hot Dog and
Mucumber McGee and the Lunch Lady’s Liver.

We hope you enjoy the interview and you can learn some interesting things about Mucumber and Patrick.

Take a moment to look through all of the great children’s art at The Visual Storytellers Studio

Illustration Friday: Breezy

2009-02-27T10:16:00.000-08:00

You have to hope for a nice breeze at the beach!!! This was a spot I did for New York Spirit Magazine.

Color Me: Mardi Gras Teddy Bears!!

2009-02-24T20:02:00.000-08:00

Happy Mardi Gras!! I hope everyone had a good Fat Tuesday and ate many delicious treats! Color in this Mardi Gras Coloring Page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Remember to print this page landscape style!

Color Me: President's Day!

2009-02-18T10:11:00.000-08:00

Color in this President's Day Coloring Page and send it to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog! Hope everyone had a happy President's Day!

Healing Magic Now Available, Buy Your Copy Now!

2009-02-15T16:01:00.000-08:00

Healing Magic is now available to buy through Amazon and select book stores. Buy your copy here!
Book Description:
A magical boy's coming of age journey evolved into a dangerous quest to defeat an evil mage. Blessed with the gift of magic, when Narle turned fifteen he followed tradition and for one turn of the moon ventured into the desert on his own to learn, grow, and explore his magical talent. His simple journey took a dangerous turn when Narle and his horse Storm stumbled onto a horrible scene-the burning remnants of a caravan, with one lone survivor under attack by a flock of hungry Doomflyers. Narle joined the bloody battle and together they defeated the creatures, though he was injured in the process. He discovered the other teen also possessed a natural gift when Laan healed his wounds. He also discovered the reason for the marauder's attack-a small piece of cargo that Laan's parents had kept hidden. The two teens set out to rescue Laan's parents and the other caravan members, but the prospect of facing the Misty Mauraders wasn't their only obstacle. Constantly pursued by a strange, destructive force, their greatest challenge lay ahead. Could the pair harness enough of their own magic to defeat a powerful, evil mage?

Specultation Cover

2009-02-12T12:24:00.000-08:00

Here is a sample sketch I did for a possible book assignment. The publisher decided to go with someone else but I am thinking of finishing it anyway since I am still happy with the way it turned out. It's a bummer, maybe next time...

Color Me: Froggy Valentine!

2009-02-11T09:52:00.000-08:00

A special Valentine's Day Coloring Page. Color in this ribbit romance and send it to your valentine or to me at mail@crodillustration.com as a jpeg or pdf and I'll post it on my blog!
Happy Valentine's Day........ribbit!!

Color Me: Love Song!

2009-02-04T06:36:00.000-08:00

This week's coloring page is in heart of Valentine's Day. Click on the image and select print. Send me your colored version of these love birds and send it to me as a jpeg or pdf to mail@crodillustration.com and I will post it to my blog! Happy Coloring!

Desert Magic: Book One Available February 14th!!

2009-02-01T22:35:00.000-08:00

It's finally here, the release date of the first book of the Desert Magic Trilogy! I created the cover art for Healing Magic and it is written by Cindy Davis and John Richters. and will be available for purchase at Amazon.com and select book stores February 14th! Visit the Desert Magic website to learn more about the the trilogy, it's authors, and even a sneak peek at an excerpt from the book! Check for special events and book signings in your area!

Color Me! Sleepytime Coloring Page!!

2009-01-28T19:28:00.000-08:00

Just for fun a coloring page. Who are the models for this Sleepytime Coloring Page you may ask? Well this is Hanzel (the kitty) and Zoey (the shih tzu). Zoey got a new bed from Santa this year and Hanzel can not seem to resist the coziness of her present. Maybe next year Santa will bring them a bigger bed!

Click the image and select print! Send me your colored version and I'll post it on my blog, Happy Coloring!

AHH I haven't posted in so Long!

2009-01-26T11:04:00.001-08:00

I am over due for an update! I am happy to say I joined a fantastic critique group. It has a lot of energy and constant motivation flow. Everyone is so helpful and there is such a unique and diverse style to everyone's work as well as their experiences. Through this critique group we are in the process of starting up a Showcase of all of our work as well as some other fabulous illustrators that would like to post. Hopefully every week we will be posting new illustrations and once we officially go live will be sending the link to editors, art directors, schools, and other organizations. Just a little tool to help with exposure. Lately I have found myself in a bit of a creative funk and really need to get the ball rolling with new ideas. I have a sketch due soon for the second cover of the Desert Magic Series written by Cindy Davis and John Richters and would like to "bust out" a new portfolio piece, possible postcard before that. I am also waiting to hear back on a publisher about a possible book contract, more on that later. I will also be sending out a newsletter sometime in the near future so if you are not already signed up feel free to do so by submitting your email address on the right of this page!

Happy New Year!!

2008-12-31T12:48:00.000-08:00

Well 2008 just flew by!!! 2009 should be a good year if I stick to some of my resolutions which includes getting a gig that I can be happy to boast about (like a book cough cough). I have been keeping myself pretty busy through Christmas, mostly painting and making presents for clients, family, and friends. Most of them were dog portraits, which I hope to add a link to on my website. I also created a wall plaque for my sister who is a hair stylist which was a lot of fun and something different. I definitely would not say that sculpting is one of my strongest points by any means so I rarely take an opportunity to "play" with sculpey and acrylics. I molded hair dresser supplies to spell out her name....can you see what it says???? Well everyone have a Happy New Year, and here's to sticking to resolutions in 2009!!!

Don't forget if anyone is interested in having a personal painted portrait of their favorite pet or child that I am open for business!!! I will be soon to post these examples and hopefully others on my website along with rates!

Online Interview

2008-12-08T21:47:00.000-08:00

I am this month's member spotlight on the website for the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles!! View it here.

New Shop!

2008-12-02T09:35:00.000-08:00

I just opened up a shop at Cafe Press. I included a link on my website so now everyone may buy little trinkets, coffee mugs, and T-Shirts with my art work on them! I'll be working on it for the next few weeks and adding more art work to the site so people can shop for more goodies!

New Postcard!

2008-11-12T10:07:00.000-08:00

I decided to use my latest paintings for my new postcard. I was having trouble fitting the spider illustration on the back so that I would have room for the address labels, a stamp, and the post office bar codes, so I decided to do what I wanted anyway and then just have to use an envelope.

NJ SCBWI Illustrator's Day

2008-11-10T10:31:00.000-08:00

I was able to go to an Illustrator's Day in Princeton yesterday. My favorite part was having my most recent piece critiqued by other members in the field and by Patrick Collins, art director for Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. I am pretty happy with the results and the reaction Patrick had to my piece. I was also given the opportunity to have Laurent Linn give me a in depth portfolio critique. He was so helpful and pointed out what was good and bad about almost every piece I had. I really know what I have to work on now and have a clear vision of what I need to do when I create new pieces so I can slowly work on weeding out the weaker pieces. I also loved that I was able to browse through other members portfolios. I recognized some work through childrensillustrators.com and am so happy I was able to meet their maker! I saw many familiar faces from previous conferences and love how everyone is just so friendly! Overall a wonderful day and I can not wait until the next one. I give major props to Leeza Hernandez for making this all happen! Here is my finished assignment. I also brought the preliminary sketches I had posted a few posts ago.

Happy Halloweeeenn!!!

2008-10-31T13:41:00.000-07:00

Trick or Treat!
One of my favorite Holidays!!

I love seeing all the fun and creative costumes at my front door!

This is my little Zoey, she has a few costumes. She has been a witch in the past which I took here with my cell phone, but this year she is a pirate.

SCBWI Conference Assignment

2008-10-24T13:54:00.001-07:00

So I was going to wait until I was finished with these paintings to post anything but I am really excited about it and can not wait. I am going to the NJ SCBWI Illustrator's Conference next month and everyone had a choice of manuscripts to pick a double paged spread to do. I sent in my original ideas to Patrick Collins, the art director for Henry Holt Books for Young Readers and with his comments I revised my sketches, almost completely and am so happy with the result. I am currently working on both paintings now and bring in the finished pieces for a critique at the conference. Here is my original sketch and then beneath it the revised version which will be translated into paint. Yay can't wait for the conference!!!

I just finished a painting for a YA book cover!

2008-10-15T17:53:00.001-07:00

Here is my finished painting for the YA fantasy Desert Magic. Cindy Davis and John Richters team up to create a young adult fantasy trilogy starring a 15 year old boy named Narle, his mysterious friend Laan and his favorite companion, a black horse called Storm. Adventure, magic, and beasts fill this desert air and Narle uses the power of his jade bracelet for protection.

This book will be published by LL Dreamspell and will be available online and in some bookstores. Hopefully I will be able to have some pull to have it carried in some of my own local bookstores as well.

On a side note talented illustrator Holli Conger is holding a Pumpkin Junkin' Contest. Use some of your favorite household "junk" to decorate your pumpkin. Prizes include original illustrations and signed prints by the illustrator herself!!

Some things are cookin'

2008-09-24T09:15:00.000-07:00

I have a few prospects cookin' up, although it is too soon to speak of just yet. I also have a conference coming up soonish which I am excited about for the New Jersey Chapter of SCBWI. This is the first time that I will go to a conference and have to bring a preassigned illustration! I miss those critiques in college. It was so exciting to see that when given the same assignment, endless solutions may arise and in so many colors and styles! So stay tuned!! :)

P.S. Wonderful author/ illustrator Elizabeth Dulemba posted a very entertaining blog contest yesterday. She gave four spots from her various books illustrating her dog Bernie's many appearances in her stories and asked bloggers to figure out which spot came from what book. Well I won and I am going to get a signed copy of Paco and the Giant Chile Plant!!!

Specultation Cover

2008-09-10T11:57:00.001-07:00

I painted this illustration as a speculation for a publisher. They asked for the cover in color and a sketch for one of the spreads. Well, they decided to go with a different artist....bummer:( Hopefully my day will come soon, I am just so antsy to get my first children's book with all the promos I send out and all. I just get so frustrated sometimes because everyone has different tastes, which I suppose is a good thing, except when one publisher says I am too cartoony and then another one says I should rely less on reference because they look too much like photos. And so continues the never ending battle of finding some happy medium between cartoon world and realism to please all.....

....I changed the title and also added a cute caterpillar for fun.

Character's Contest Winner's Issue Cover

2008-08-29T11:17:00.000-07:00

I just completed the cover to what will be the contest's winners issue of Character's Magazine. I am excited to see it all printed up and I hope the kids will get a kick out of it!

Grape Border Mural

2008-08-03T17:01:00.000-07:00

My mom has been asking me to paint her grapes in the kitchen, so I finally did it last week for her birthday. She liked it so much she wants me to paint more around the whole kitchen!

New Postcard

2008-07-18T08:33:00.001-07:00

Mini Golf Sculpts

2008-07-10T18:23:00.000-07:00

Many times I am asked what it is I do for compensation while I am waiting for the next illustration assignment. I also freelance at a shop where I work with other artists to make mini golf course props. I mostly paint sculpts and murals, but sometimes I get to sculpt and paint my own creation. All our sculpts are made out of foam and then hardcoated to plastic for painting. I sculpted and painted this little penguin for a golf course in Paramus,NJ. He is hitchhiking. The turkeys I only painted. The punk rockers are entering a haunted ride about Thanksgiving and are suspicious of the fat turkey who has had quite a fright!

I just joined Children's Illustrators!

2008-06-20T09:12:00.001-07:00

View it here:
http://www.childrensillustrators.com/illustrator.cgi/crodillustration

NJ SCBWI Conference

2008-06-08T17:35:00.000-07:00

I had such a great time at the conference. When I first walked in I registered and then went into the room where everyone was gathering for coffee and waiting for the faculty panel to start speaking. I sit at a table and see this woman flipping through a Sprouts magazine (the NJ Chapter issues out a magazine a few times a year) with my owl painting on the cover!!!! I later found out it was supposed to be a surprise and they announced my name during the intros and I stood and had everyone clap. I was just thinking to myself, what a great way to start your day! All day I felt like a celebrity with people congratulating me and asking about my art. It felt nice, I never had something like this happen to me, almost like winning a contest.

The rest of the conference went quite well. Author Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen gave such a great workshop on how to pace your picture book and how to figure out where you need to cut down on text. She gave her "10 Commandments to a Picture Book Manuscript". That was just great. There were other workshops I attended on promotional pieces for illustrators, behind the scenes of making a book at the publishing house, making a book dummy, and picture book basics. All the information was so helpful. At lunch I sat at a table with 2 agents, 2 authors, and a self publisher. I learned quite a bit about self publishing where I previously was not fond of it and now I think it is just good for certain people, just not everyone. This woman says she published 12 books on her own and makes more money selling them in schools and book signings than she would have if she went through a publishing house. The most memorable thing she said was "Why are we putting our hearts and souls into perfecting a manuscript just to have some 28 year old yuppie with no kids tell us how it needs to be fixed. I finish a book and ask what the children and parents think, they are my advisers."

I had my portfolio critiqued by Patrick Collins, who I already knew was not fond of my work from doing a drop off last summer. Since I had not met him the first time he reviewed my portfolio it was interesting to see where he was coming from especially after I had added some new pieces the second time. He seemed to like my "Ice Cold Trouble" painting the best with the eskimo which interestingly I did after he critiqued me the first time. I also did something called speed pitching where I was put in a line and each of us had 2 minutes to talk to each of 3 editors/agents about our books and get their input. I pitched my "Finding Farah" story but I'm not so sure they were in love with my main character because he is a ferret. I bought some books, one by Sudipta and another by Eileen Spinelli. It was a great and eventful day and Princeton was the best and most beautiful place to hold this conference.

Fundraiser for my Cousin

2008-06-05T20:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I attended a fundraiser for my cousin. My aunt and uncle want to try a new oxygen treatment that they thought may help "wake up" parts of the brain to help with his cerebral palsy. I donated 2 prints ("Koala's Uggs" and "Boo Boo Bear") that were auctioned off as well as a personalized painting of your favorite pet which was raffled off. The woman who won the pet portrait was very excited and said she wanted me to do her son's dog. Overall it was a great turn out, many gift baskets were donated that were also raffled off. I am not sure how much was made in the end, but I hope my cousin made enough to forgo the treatment. I hope it will help him.

2008-06-02T18:35:00.000-07:00

Newest painting to be published in the June/July 2008 issue 150 of New York Spirit Magazine...I still feel like it needs some touch ups before I add it to my portfolio...comments??