Picture Book Month, coming up!!

This is the first year I've been aware that November is Picture Book Month!!! Every day during November, on the Picture Book Month site, a different picture book creator will share their insights on picture books! The calendar of authors is above, illustrated by the amazingly prolific Elizabeth Dulemba.
In conjunction with this, children's book author Tara Lazar has started Picture Book Idea Month, where you are challenged to come up with 30 book ideas in 30 days! Registration begins in late October, I am going to do it this year :)

Illustrator Bob Daly

Have been looking at the illustrations of Bob Daly, after seeing his work today in the Boston Globe. His sweet, simple characters have great design, and show a lot of emotion and life. His child characters seem to always convey creativity and ingenuity and a sense of self-directedness, while his animal characters are delightful as companions or on their own.
His work made me instantly think of the work of classic Disney artist Mary Blair.

Shelby and Morgan....in color!

This is a mostly finished first spread for the children's book I am working on. It's been strange not posting Illustration Fridays for the past several weeks while I am working on the book, but rewarding to spend a little extra time developing the images and working towards something I can send out to publishers and use for my portfolio. Next week: black and white image for spread #2!