Picture Book Studio

Autumn in the Air

When I created the above illustration, I was inspired by the feeling of Autumn. While I like it, it becomes limited in appeal due to its seasonal feel , especially with the addition of a pumpkin.

When I was a greeting card designer, I had to redesign seasonal art for everday occassions as well as everyday art to look more seasonal.  With minor changes, this could be accomplished.

From the Garden

So you can see in the revised illustration, the pumpkin is gone and replaced with a bowl and bird. 

The idea of the bird comes from greeting card design as well. It was always a suggestion by more than one art director to add "live interest" to warm up a design. 

After 39 years as a greeting card designer, some habits die hard. 

I have been behind in posting my upcoming shows.

Here is a list of shows that I am participating in this Summer.

Cain Park Arts Festival

Cleveland Hts., OH

July 8-9

Arts in the Park

Medina, OH

July 16

Lakewood Arts Festival

Lakewood, OH

August 5

Made in Ohio

Hale Farm and Village

Bath, OH

September 2-3

Berea Arts Fest

Berea, OH

September 10

Rocky River Fall Arts Festival

Rocky River, OH

September 16

L is for Lemur and Lark

While illustrating letters for fun in a collection I call Alphabet Soup, I will sooner or later come back to a letter, in this case the Letter L and have fun creating a new design.

Here are some of the other illustrations of the Letter L that I have created in the past.

L is for Lily of the Valley 

L is for Lion

L is for Lighthouse

It is always a challenge to come up with a new image for the letter L as with any other letter.  However, L is far easier that lets say the letter I.  In the case of the newest one, inspiration came frome watching Madigascar with my grandson.  

You never know where the next inspiration for a design witll come from!

Wishing you all a very happy new year!

Being a digital artists means that I have to print my art. I have chosen to print on canvas using a standard size of 8" X 8" which helps when I buy my stretcher bars in bulk. 

W is for Wolves

C is for Cat, Cockatoo, and Coo Coo Clock

Sunflower Surprise

Always Do Your Homework

By ordering and designing for 1 1/2" thick stretcher bars, I can design a pattern for the sides eliminating the cost of the frame. An added benefit of the thick stretcher bars is that the art can stand on a shelf or table as well as be hung on the wall. This is great for those who have limited room and are thinking of ways to display art.

Started today bright and early with a TV interview with Kenny Crumpton on Fox 8's Kicking it with Kenny for the upcoming Art in the Village at Legacy Village in Lyndhurst, OH this weekend.

Doing this interview was a nice surprise and a wonderful chance to promote my work as well as the art show this weekend. Thanks to Howard Alan Events!

Click on TV interview below and watch the second video for my interview.

TV INTERVIEW

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For those of you that live close to Legacy Village, in Beachwood OH, Picture Book Studio will be participating in Art in the Village.

Hope to see you there!

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Coffee Pot Quotes

A while back, I did this piece while playing with different fonts and layout. I loved the coffee pot shape that I designed, but the illustration was met with warm indifference. So I thought to revisit it and see what else I would be inspired to do with it.

Coffee Pot Surprise

Fighing back against this depressing cold spring, I decided to take a more whimsical approach to my coffee pot shape. Hopefully it will resonate better during the spring and summer shows that I have signed up for.

Sometimes even cold and depressingly unseasonable weather can be an inspiration!