This weekend was the almighty Society of Children’s Books Writers & Illustrators Annual East Coast Conference in NYC (SCBWIAECCNYC).  There was a whole lot of talent crammed into a tiny space, and it was pretty hard to not get excited about making stuff.  The big assignment for the illustration program on Friday was to do an illustration of Snow White’s birthday party.  So what would a bunch of dwarfs give a lovely lady?  A dwarf.  Obviously.

Here's where I started - with a sketch of a crazy old coot and a dwarf.

After that came a couple of stick figures thumbnail sketches, and then came the full sized drawing. The dwarf who volunteered to be wrapped is Fatty.

The finished painting.

Good speakers, valuable information about potatoes, and I was allowed to bring in a $10 BLT I bought outside.

I just wrapped up a portrait of a new dog.  His name is Skyy and he’s a Collie.  He likes beach.

Here is a recent illustration I did for a children’s study guide to a play being performed in New York City.

The theater decided that they wanted to turn the illustration into an activity page, putting the same picture side by side with a few differences for the kids to find. Can you find all four differences between this and the other picture?

Answer:

1. The boy has a funny hat.

2. The girl’s name is changed to Bonnie.

3. The seal and boat are missing.

4. The boy has lower self esteem.