The grind

Just finished painting page 25 of the new book. I might take a break tomorrow to focus on some of the less-creative aspects of this artist/author/illustrator life (taxes, shipping orders out, website stuff, taxes, TAXES).

I ain't even mad tho: motivation is still high, and there's plenty of chocolate milk in the fridge. Here's a glimpse of the last few days.

WIP + love for my corporate sponsors (not actually)  

A quick word about gear, if I may: I've definitely fallen out-of-love with my stockpile of Pigma Microns. I've amassed a rather impressive arsenal since my "Woodcutter" days, but I think the time has come to transition towards pens that...how can I say...don't start inexplicably leaking all over the work? So, let me introduce you to my lusty new partner: Copic Multiliner.

What I like:

• Refillable (less plastic waste - BAM)
• Replaceable tips 
• Aluminum barrel
• Water-based pigment ink - archival, waterproof, lightfast
• and lastly...LEAK-PROOf

So, as my dear Microns rupture, one by one, I will replace them with various sizes of Multiliners. 

New record!!!1

I don't...how even does this...

lol

New book - illustration samples

Here are a few snique-piques from my current project. I'll not go into too much detail about the illustration, except to say that the style is a bit more "realistic" than The Woodcutter. Each page (currently on 24 of 40) has had unique challenges, and these have encouraged me to grow and develop my craft in ways I'd not anticipated.

Japanese Cranes

A gift for a friend

Symbols of luck, longevity, and fidelity. I'll be painting more of these, I think. The red squares were made using a stamp, called a hanko, which has a reading of my name in kanji. It was a gift from a co-worker in Japan; using it brings back many fond memories of my time spent there.

BIG DUTCH - update

There she is!

...now I'm all thirsty.

Tell me what you REALLY think

I was looking through some old dummies I'd submitted when I was trying to get "The Woodcutter" published, and found something pretty hilarious:

You can vaguely make out some text on the first page. Someone must have scribbled a note on a piece of paper, which left an impression on the plastic cover of the front portfolio sleeve.  I'm not sure which publishing house/agency this particular portfolio went to, but here's what someone over there thought of my book, as it was making the rounds:

Pass - the art doesn't wow me enough + PB w/out child protag is hard sell -RS 

Kinda neat to get that little glimpse of a true, honest reaction from within the industry.

Beer label - BIG DUTCH

A few weeks ago, my cousin floated the idea of me designing a beer label. A colleague was turning 60, and to mark the occasion, he was going to brew a batch of beer, to be named "Big Dutch."  I'd never designed a beer label before, but the project intrigued me and it seemed like a good challenge (not to mention a nice element to have in my portfolio).  He gave me full latitude in designing the label, which was much appreciated.  I used an iPad app called ProCreate to whip-up a first draft:

Having gotten the composition worked-out, I got the paper and watercolors out, and ended-up moving away from the enormous naked guy:

A beer brewed with Steenstra's windmill cookies.  Mmmmmmm 

 I love the way the tulips and brickwork turned-out.  This was a really fun illustration project, and I would definitely not shy away from doing more beer labels in the future.  With the incredible popularity of craft brewing in Michigan, I'm sure the opportunities are out there.