Children’s Book Illustration
I was recently commissioned to create some illustrations for a picture book.
Portraits <3
I love making portraits.
Here are some sweet ones I’ve made recently.
Restoration Codex Art: Marden
I’ve written a middle grade fantasy novel called The Restoration Codex, and now I’m doing illustrations to go along with it!
This is a character named Marden. He’s a cocky, humorous curl-crested aracari.
Flash Fiction 2
I was challenged to write some super short flash fiction stories. Here’s one of them:
I was known for stealing from my friends.
They thanked me for it. Stars above, how they thanked me.
On Wednesday, Tobias called me up and begged me to come over and steal from him again. He did that every few months. Some people are more rich with things they don’t want than others. Tobias, especially.
When I walked into his house, he was huddled on the couch, tears on his cheeks. He probably would have been embarrassed if I hadn’t seen him like this so many times before.
I knelt beside him and he immediately clasped my hand. “Take it,” he said, voice choked with a desperation and self-loathing I was all too familiar with. “Take it, please.”
So I stole from him.
I reached into his mind and immediately saw the thing he was trying to eject. It was sharp and hot and very, very obvious. These things always were. All teeth and claws. Many of them were loud, but Tobias’s was quiet. Quiet, but full of a self-destructive acidity. If I left it with him, its voice would slowly rip him apart. It was just words. Thoughts. But thoughts had power.
As soon as it trickled out of his mind and into my own, he slumped onto the couch with a moan of relief.
The quiet thing settled into my own mind and began to whisper to me softly, joining the murmuring chorus of all the other things I’d taken. It was the newest voice in my head, a new constant companion.
These companions were the only ones I couldn’t steal from.
Someday, they would rip me apart because of it.
Restoration Codex Art: Rengi
I’ve written a middle grade fantasy novel called The Restoration Codex, and now I’m doing illustrations to go along with it!
This is a character named Rengi. She’s a sassy, grey fox, and I love her.
I plan on illustrating many of the other characters from the book, especially the animal ones.
Amethyst Dragon
I drew a dragon. Rawr.
Kickstarter Campaign for the Faces of Friendship
I recently launched my very first Kickstarter project! I’m working on funding the printing of greeting cards featuring some of my Faces of Friendship. Please jump in and help us reach the finish line!
Flash Fiction Narration
My flash fiction was chosen to be narrated by a professional voice actor! It’s so cool hearing it!
Check it out!
Guard Against the Beast
I’ve always been very focused on characters. I love drawing people and creatures. But it also means that I rarely draw backgrounds.
I made a goal to create an image with a very detailed background in order to stretch myself, and then to win a local art contest with that illustration.
Check, and check.
Here it is.
I’ve come to realize the obvious lately. If I only do the same thing I’ve always done (the things I’m good at and comfortable with), then I’ll never grow any better. I’ll just get good at doing the same thing. And I really do want to improve.
So my challenge for myself is to seek tons of opportunities to do new things, especially the things I’m afraid of. I want to make new kinds of illustrations, lead presentations on art and writing, run a Kickstarter, have my own booth at a convention, and beyond. And ever since making these goals for myself, I’ve been much more excited and invigorated about life.
So what are some goals you can make that will bring you through discomfort, but land you exactly where you’ve always dreamed of being?