Hello again

Wow, long time no post! Sorry to neglect this blog. Sometimes life, and the summer sunshine gets in my way. I think this is a main reason why I work traditionally. I have issues with staying focused while working on the computer when the sun and garden beckons outside my window.

I've just returned from a trip to NYC where Tyrone and I had a booth at the MOCCA comic convention. This is one of my favorite comicons to do. It caters to the independent artists and their fans, a far cry from the costumed superhero-focused conventions. Thank you to everyone who stopped by and purchased my prints.

As for illustration work one of my exciting projects as of late was a wine label for a small BC winery. It's not in print yet, so I can't post the image. However, I hope they won't mind me posting the sketches that I delivered.

The design was to be based off of vintage fruit box labels. I did a lot of research and then sketched out a pile of thumbnails. I always find doing a lot of thumbnails really helps in creating a stronger composition. The art director picked number 3 of the sketches - I was really glad because it was my favorite. I also ended up doing a small spot of the crowned blackberry for the back of the bottle. Can't wait to see it on the shelves. I'll post the final when I can.

Robowatermelon

Another robot for the monthly giveaway. This little guy loooves watermelon. Too bad about the rust!

Turn Up The Heat

I just received a copy of the hardcover release of Turn Up the Heat - written by Mother/daughter team Jessica Conant-Park and Susan Conant. Jessica was gracious enough to send me a signed copy when I wasn't able to get one from the publisher. I actually finished this cover a year ago, but it was only released this March. Having the imagery that early allows the publisher to promote the book properly.

This is the third cover I've done for the series. The stipulations were pretty strict. I had to make sure I showed the main character, Chloe, from the back, to leave the reader room to imagine her features. The murder had to be shown, but nothing too graphic, which usually means only a hand or foot and some blood. I also had to read the manuscript, paying close attention to the details surrounding the murder.

I still feel kinda bad about pairing up a red wine with her salmon dinner. The series focuses on a gourmet restaurant, and even gives you recipes for the dishes featured in the story. I know you're supposed to have white wine with fish.. but red just showed better, and bloodier, on the white tablecloth. I think Jessica forgave me ;)

Here are the paintings without graphics.

Robotic disco inferno

Here's another robot who comes equipped with his own dance party. These robot paintings are fun little exercises inspired by my nephew Owen. He goes crazy over them! I'm curious to see what's going to happen when Pixar's Wall-E is released. I'm sure his room will be overflowing with merch.

Robot and kitten

Not even big angry robots can resist the cuddly love of a cute widdle kitty!

This mini-painting was created for my March 31st facebook group giveaway. There's still time to get your name in the draw - visit Alana McCarthy Illustration Group for more details.

I love doing these paintings. They give me an excuse to create some work for myself. They also help to expose and promote my work to a brand new audience.. and sell some prints in the meantime. Speaking of prints, if you loved some of the past paintings, but weren't the lucky winner I will be making them available as prints and selling them at the conventions this summer.

2008 See me at the...

June 7 - 8 MoCCA Art Festival 2008 - Puck building, lower Manhattan, NYC

July 12 - 13 Paradise Comic Convention - Holiday Inn on King, Toronto

Aug 22 - 24 FanExpo - Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto

Sept 28 Word on the Street - Queen's Park, Toronto

Box Lunch Promotion

My rep, Three in a Box, has an editorial and book publishing promotion coming out called The Box Lunch. The theme of the promo is "duality." For my spread I decided to focus on parallel universes, and put it in the context of a children's book.

I would love to do more children's books. The last one I did was in 2006 for Scholastic. It was about the carousel in North Bay and how the whole town came together to create this gorgeous hand-carved carousel. It was really labor intensive, but so much fun.

I frequently drop by the children's book section of Chapters. There are so many inspiring books there. My favorite at the moment is a wordless picture book called Flotsam byDavid Wiesner. The imagination and creativity that went into the creation of the illustrations and story is just mind blowing.

Observational drawing - Deadwood style

I miss observational drawing. I haven't done any for so long. So I took a bit of a break from my assignments and picked up my pencils.

Tyrone and I just finished watching the first season of Deadwood. I love the costumes, characters and palettes. I've never been one to get into westerns, or period pieces, period. But I'm really digging this show.

I did a bit of re-watching and decided to draw Seth Bullock, played by Timothy Olyphant. Not only is he VERY easy on the eyes, but Seth also hails from my 'hood - Etobicoke, Ontario! (I wonder what Etobicoke was like back in the 1870's)

In the background is Alma Garrett the widow and the orphan Sophia. She's a bit of a homewrecker but I was totally rooting for them to hook up. Can't wait to see what the next season has in store.. especially when Seth's wife arrives to the camp.

February's giveaway painting

Lately I've had a lot of assignments with choppy water or stormy skies. I've really enjoyed them so I decided to repeat these themes in my Facebook group giveaway painting. Poor little mouse.

The princess and the peacock

Here's a new promotional piece. I had a bunch of peacock reference from a trip to the zoo that I had been itching to use.

Yoga for the freelancer

Being a freelancer is sometimes hard. The long days at home with your paint, hunched over your desk, or in front of a screen. Only having conversations with the cats. I took up a part time job to get a break in the repetition of my lifestyle. Now I've found another wonderful activity to switch things up - yoga. Best of all, yoga for FREE in the comfort of my own living room!

If you've seen me in person recently, I'm sure you're tired of hearing about this. I feel like an evangelist who needs to spread the good word! But seriously, this website has changed my life.

http://www.yogatoday.com/

I had been thinking of joining the yoga studio up the street, but at $17 for a 1hr class the cost proved a little daunting. Also, I know myself. I can make up a billion excuses not to leave the house. This site allows me to get up from my desk, makeup less with my hair a mess, in my comfy clothes and get some exercise. I have no excuse.

They switch up the teachers and the intensity of the classes so that you get a great mix. You can peruse the last seven days of classes, as well as some extra beginner and advanced ones. The spoken instruction is so good that most times you don't even have to look up at the screen.

I went from doing a class every other day, to doing it daily. I even started to crave it. I find myself calmer, happier, more flexible, building some great abs and standing straighter.. who wouldn't want to share that with the world?