here is a rough and a final from big kicks. I do all my early sketch work digitally. I seem to think in color and shape more than line and the computer lets me do it quickly.

for Gina

All of the presidents are shown along with an interesting White House related fact. Nixon wanted to add a little more pomp to the White House security staff and had new uniforms made. They were too silly and were soon given to a marching band in Iowa.

some more white house stuff

Here are a few more glimpses at the White House project I worked on. Candlewick, the very cool publisher of the book, has decided to use my spread as a poster promoting the book.

character sketches

Here are some early sketches of Biggie. In the early drafts he was a small appliance repairperson.

baseball or soccer?

Originally Biggie was about baseball. Baseball was more a part of my childhood, but soccer works better for the way the story plays out. After watching my kids play soccer for years I've come to really love the sport and wish I could have played it when I was a kid. Although I know that I'd be just about as good at soccer as I was at baseball. I'm a somewhat bigger guy. I was always picked early the first time we played a sport. The second time we played, I was always picked last.

Our White House

Another book out this fall which I had a little part in. Our White House is a big group project for the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance. The cover says it was created renowned authors and illustrators. There are a lot of big time creators who contributed to the book. I think they let me in because I was the only one foolish enough to try and draw a portrait of every president.

Big Kicks

This fall a new book called 'Big Kicks" will be coming out. It's a somewhat autobiographical tale about a big bear who has trouble living up to expectations.

beastie #21

I'm back, been stupid busy lately. I've got so much coming up. A new book will be out this fall, another in the spring. (more about those later) Racerdogs is in production. The day job is busy. Blogging kept falling to the bottom of the priority list.