Happy New Year's everyone!

Christmas is upon us!

A time to reflect, hope and be thankful. Don't let the little, unimportant, and anything you can't do anything about take your time away from the truly valuable and important things and especially people in your life.

Merry Christmas everyone!

 

 

© 2013 MarkBraught Studios All rights reserved

Just some fun critters
©2013 MarkBraughtStudios All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited

 

Poe Revisited

This is something done a bit ago, but decided to revisit it. Originally, this was done digitally. Wanted to try it conventionally with pastel. Was never quite satisfied with the background so some digital magic was applied.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

This is something from Dear Baby, I'm Watching Over You that seemed very appropriate for today.
Much of the research & reference for the art in this book came with a lot of help from the wonderful folks at Fort Benning. The experience gave me an even deeper respect for these people and their families, and just how much they do for us. This holiday wouldn't be, if it wasn't for what they do.

Ink Stuff!

Spring is in the air!

This is just a little ink ditty that was done for the wonderful folks at Beehive Illustration.

Folk to Fine Art Fest

This weekend in historic downtown Commerce Georgia

"Dog House" 6" x 10" wall hanging

Really looking forward to joining Abner Cope, Don Byram and a host of others at the Folk to Fine Art Fest starting Friday evening at 5:00pm.

Laura & I did this last year, and it was wonderful! The biggest difference from most art festivals is that it is INDOORS! Not to mention they help you set-up via freight elevator, pallets & forklifts. The concessions are kept to one area (convenient, tasty & comfy area ). Did I mention, it was wi-fi'd? There is an admission fee, but it's well worth it ($15 for all 3 days, or $7  for the weekend days).

I'll be there with books, prints and a few surprise items. Laura won't be able to be there this year, but some of her original art and prints will be.

Bed bugs build bunk beds with blue blocks.

This is from something I finished up last year with for some folks in the Netherlands.
Aside from dimensions and some tech specs, a line of copy was the limit of the parameters. Love those! They give the opportunity to try some new things and have even more fun. The bed bug character was probably the most challenging aspect  . . .
they ain't cute. Seeing the audience was to be children, a "somewhat cute" had to be worked in. The top image was the character I finally decided on . . . cute with a touch of creepy.

The bunk beds were handled simply as graphic shapes and seeing as the clients were Dutch it only made sense to throw in a VanGogh starry night.

The majority was painted with acrylic conventionally, but there were a few digital touches tossed in.



 

Big fun in Atlanta

SpringMingle!

Spent Friday with the SpringMingle folks for Illustrator's Day. As always, what a treat! They always do such a wonderful job & have great guest speakers. This year they had illustrator Will Terry, creative director Chad Beckerman from Abrams, and Diane Hess, executive editor at Scholastic & Blue Sky Press. They were all great! All the participants in the Mentor Program did a wonderful job, and hopefully, they felt as good about the results as I did. I want to thank them all for their efforts.
Carmen Agra Deedy was the keynote speaker that evening, and as always, did not disappoint. There was not a dry eye in the place at the end of her wonderful story.

Those of you out there with ambitions of getting into the children's publishing industry (either as a writer or illustrator) the SCBWI is a wonderful resource and great place to start your quest. If you're in the southeastern part of the US you can contact their regional chapter Southern Breeze and see what's available close to you.

I have found the promised land!

Paper, pens, brushes and paint put aside temporarily to touch base with the rest of the world and see what's going on out there.