Illustration Friday: Contained

On this frosty winter day Nathan was happy to see that the mugs Malcolm brought contained his mom's delicious hot cocoa.

I've been working on this as one side of my promotional postcard for the NY conference's portfolio drop off. I plan on sending them to the printer tomorrow so they'll be ready in time. I'm thinking of putting one of my traditionally painted pieces on the other side. Any critiques or suggestions are welcome as I'm still trying to figure out what images would best represent my work.

I just stumbled upon the blog of the amazing illustrator, Poly Bernatene. His work has inspired my love for children's books all over again. Check out his many amazing books here.

Illustration Friday: Resolve

This year I resolve to appreciate each day of 2009 filled with hope for positive changes as I recognize all the possibilities, and to remember that life is a series of choices. I don't believe so much in resolutions, but I do think of each year in terms of what themes I'd like to focus on. My 2009 goals include becoming more pro-active in all things, to focus on promoting myself for the children's illustration market, and to not forget to enjoy the small stuff like a nice walk along the river.

I was watching the New Year's celebrations around the world, and realized that this is the last year that the funny spectacles people will be able to use the 2 zeros in the middle of the year for the eyeglass lenses. I wonder if this makes the manufacturers of novelty specs a bit sad? Oh well, they had a good run.

Illustration Friday: Voices

I had been wanting to draw some geese for the holidays, but I didn't know what they would be doing, and then the topic, 'voices' was chosen, and it all came together. I've been quite a blog bum with the not posting in so long. I hit a big creative fall/winter funk, and lost my mojo for a while, and also had some other priorities that I had to focus on.

But, now it feels great to draw something new again, and get back to Illustration Friday especially since tomorrow will be my 3rd year blog anniversary! Thanks so much to everyone who has visited, and been so encouraging. It means a lot, and fuels future posts. This blog and IF have helped me build up a portfolio, and with the help of my dad I was able to launch my website this year. I still have planned to build a shoppe, and to start selling some greeting cards and prints through Imagekind. And I'm very excited that I'm all registered, and I'll be attending the NY SCBWI conference in January 2009. Is anyone else planning to go?

I want to wish everyone a very Happy Winter Solstice! Yay!, longer days are soon to come in the northern hemisphere. Also, have a happy, jolly, fa la la la la-filled fun and safe holiday season! I'll be traveling the roads to go home for the holidays later today, and they're calling for tons of snow, so I'm hoping for a safe trip.

Illustration Friday: Packed

Sorry for the big copyright © over the image, but the congress has been trying to sneak through the Orphan Works Bill which would weaken current copyright law, and make it a lot easier for our artwork and even photos of our families to be stolen out from under us. The thief would merely need to claim that the original owner could not be found. We would most likely see more companies stealing from our image galleries such as how Virgin Mobile already stole a photo from Flickr last year to use in their ad campaign without the owner's permission. The Senate already passed the bill by hotlining it, and Wired was told just today that the House would not look at the bill until after the election, but a few hours ago the Illustrator's Partnership sent out an email saying the bill is in the House now. If we wish to keep the strength of our copyrights they urge us to call Congress now. More information is available on their blog.

Illustration Friday: Island

When we were kids my little brother and I used to lay out the sofa cushions and pillows all over the floor, and pretend they were islands, and that the carpet was the ocean with shark-infested waters. Too bad our carpet wasn't blue like this to help add to the illusion. On a side note, the only color of shag carpet that ever made any sense to me was green, so you could pretend it was freshly mowed grass. :)

Illustration Friday: Clutter

Sorry for the ugly copyright notice, but I've found this image stolen & used on several blogs without my permission. I know it is old art, and I shouldn't care, but it irritates me when people don't respect an artist's work. Just because it's on the internet doesn't mean it is free to steal.

Baking cupcakes with mom is a lot of fun, but it does cause quite a bit of clutter all over the kitchen countertop. :)

I'm not yet sure where I want to go with the colors, so I'm posting a work in progress sketch somewhat colored in photoshop to squeak in before the IF deadline. I need to work more on a final technique, but I've also been working on making progress with my drawing skills. I've been feeling the need to step it up to make my children's illustration portfolio stronger.

Illustration Friday: Memories

Summer watermelon memories
hand drawn sketch digitally colored in photoshop with multiple texture layers

When I first read the topic this week my shoulder was hurting, and I was remembering that it was caused by stubbornly needing to carry every bag of groceries in at the same time the night before. I have a thing about not doing multiple trips, and now with the cloth shopping bags that fit a ton of stuff, and have big strong handles I can really pile it on. So, all in one haul I managed to carry 3 liters of 7-up, 2 quarts of Tropicana OJ, 1 gallon of milk, 1 very large head of cauliflower, (I literally gasped with delight when I saw how big and beautiful it was), other various veggies, several 6 oz. Yoplait yogurts, 2 bags of Tollhouse chocolate chips, 2 64oz glass bottles of cranberry juice, some frozen cod, 1 32oz bottle of Strawberry Kefir, and one large seedless watermelon. Needlesstosay, I won't have to go to the store again for a good while. I was going to illustrate this feat, but I lost interest in that idea, and decided to focus on the watermelon which I've been enjoying all week. I've been downright addicted. I've been seasoning it up similar to how my good friend from Mexico introduced me to years ago. I think she sprinkled on Lucas chili seasoning, but since they were found to contain lead a few years ago I haven't bought them, so I made my own recipe.

I just sprinkle on:
a dash of chili powder
a dash of cayenne pepper
a dash of salt
a dash of sugar
a sprinkle of lemon juice

The lemon juice starts to macerate the watermelon, so it needs to be eaten quickly or you'll have more water than melon. It sounds crazy, but it's mmm, mmm good, and really great for my sinuses! I wanted to make sure I enjoyed the goodness of watermelon before summer in this hemisphere is all but a memory.

Illustration Friday: Routine

One of the most important parts of any proper hippopotamus's routine
is brushing their impressive teeth.

Illustration Friday: Detach

Hubert always felt detached from the rest of the school.

Illustration Friday: Sail

Although I'm not very happy with China's policy on Tibet, or their smog situation I put that aside for a night, and immensely enjoyed the opening ceremony. One of the highlights for me was a lovely and graceful dancer who made her green ribbon sail through the air.

I was so inspired that I jumped up, and took a couple photos of my television screen.

I missed quite a few IF topics lately, and haven't been blog visiting as much because as I mentioned in my last post I was working on my new website. I'd love to hear your comments and opinions.

My New Website!!

I've been a bit absent from this blog because I've been hard at work trying to organize myself into website form. It was a project that became so much more involved then one anticipates, but I'm so glad I finally put the time in to figure it out. I was just the designer of the site, the credit for all the heavy lifting with the coding goes to my dad. It was our first time working together on a project of this magnitude, and I'm happy with the results.

I've never shared work from my day job, or my freelance work on this blog, so if you'd like to see the other sides of me that pay the bills please head on over and check it out. We see it as a work in progress that will continue to evolve, so I'd be interested in opinions and critiques.

My new website: www.angelamatteson.com

San Diego Comic-Con 2008!

I've been back from Comic-Con for a few days, and I still don't know how to sum up the experience other than to say that it was mind-blowing and spectacular! For a tv-aholic like myself it was so much fun to see some of my favorite stars talking about the shows I love. My first panel was for Stargate, and I have to admit, I'm not a huge fan, but I couldn't pass up seeing Richard Dean Anderson and Ben Browder. The whole cast was wonderful. I then tried to see a bit of the exhibit hall, and found Gris Grimly's booth, and came back to buy 'Little Jordan Ray's Muddy Spud', and have it signed by the man himself. After a very long line I made it into the 'Dr. Horrible Sing-a-long Blog' panel with Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion, and the one and only Buffy creator, Joss Whedon, and it may have been the most entertaining panel I attended. All 3 acts of the musical, Dr. Horrible, are temporarily available on Hulu.

Also on Friday I attended panels for Family Guy with Seth MacFarlane, and Seth Green, and Prison Break, which was missing Wentworth Miller. :( On Saturday my friends and I walked to the end of the longest line I have ever seen for the Heroes panel. It was literally over a mile long, and went way past the convention center, and then when hope appeared to be lost it actually started moving, and we made it into the hall amongst cheers of 'You made it!' The 6000 of us were treated to an airing of the entire first episode of the next season, and a very brief chat with the entire cast. Later, on the exhibit floor I saw Adam Baldwin with his son, and proceeded to stalk him for a few paces for a few pics. He was then at the Chuck panel where he stole the show in front of a crowd that contained more than a few Firefly fans sporting Jayne knitted caps. I somehow ended up at a Battlestar Gallactica panel, a show I don't watch. It was still fun because Kevin Smith, who I enjoy, moderated, and the cast members attending were hot! :) The last panel I made it to was for Fringe with J.J. Abrams and star Joshua Jackson. Walking around the Gaslamp District we saw a herd of cows penned up in a parking lot presumably as viral marketing for Fringe. It's still too soon to tell if this show will be any good.

It was then back down to check out more booths, and take more photos of people in costume. I was impressed how everyone came prepared with their perfect pose for photos, but I still found it sometimes more fun to catch those candid moments.

I ended up picking up anything they were giving away. I figured with the popularity of reusable shopping bags, we'd see the studios take advantage of this form of advertising, and it definitely was the year of the bag. The poster size Pushing Daisies bag was my must have Con accessory.

It wasn't all just tv and movie booths, although they were the loudest presence, and attracted the most wall to wall people. The Ugly Doll booth was bright and cheery, and I got a few pics of the life size dolls roaming the halls. Sights like this meant standing in line was never dull.

Seeing so many of my favorite illustrators was a real treat. Chatting with the great Stephen Silver was a special highlight.

I ended up with a bag full of cards and postcards of inspirational artist's work that caught my eye that I'll be looking into more online. I didn't bring big enough luggage for all the books I wanted to buy.

One of the best parts of this trip was reuniting with my most awesome college chums, Bob, Trevor, Sean, and Eric. After all the chaos of the Con it was nice to kick back, and enjoy the beautifully perfect weather of San Diego.

We had some great fish tacos at Tin Fish near the convention hall, and the taste of Shanghai at the Red Pearl Kitchen another night, and a nice relaxing day of sightseeing along the beaches of La Jolla. I was excited to see the seals swimming in the ocean, and while strolling along the shoppes we stopped for some most delicious gelato! I had a scoop of blood orange with raspberry fudge swirl on top. So good! :)

We also took the trolley to Old Town, which had photo opportunities a plenty. We had some great Mexican food, and went ghost hunting at the Whaley House.

I took around 900 photos and videos, so this post could go on forever, but I'll end it here so I can get back to doing some illustrations. :)