A Sneak Peek at New Art

Its been a busy Spring here at Meant for a Moment... and I could not be more grateful. 

Here is a peek at some of the illustrations I am working on for a new book by 

Phil Sharper called, Santa was a Kid Once too. 

Illustration Inspiration: Carin Bramsen

I like being able to see the behind-the-scenes action of what it takes to make an 

illustration wonderful. In Carin Bramsen's interview with Seven Impossible Things, 

she gives us a back stage pass and presents her preliminary sketches along side her 

beautiful finished product. Her first book, "The Yello Tutu" is filled with a bright 

sunny character who decides she and her yellow tutu are the sun. {and I melt} The 

illustrations alone are enough to brighten your day. I love Carin's unique use of 

perspective and fun compositions. And color color color!

PROJECT PROGRESS: Ada Chewed Some Gum

My favorite part of my Job is when I am commissioned to illustrate a children's book.

 So when Thomas Knight approached me with his adorable book, 'Ada Chewed Some 

Gum' I was thrilled to par-take. This is just a snippet of what I have created for the

 book, to get everyone amped up for its release.

My Process is simple but it happens in a three stages. First I illustrate/sketch the 

characters and scene (sometimes together, sometimes separate). Than I ink the sketch 

over and scan the inked image. After its scanned, I touch up the inked lines and 

color it all in photoshop. It is a lengthy process but I have found this works best for me.

I can't wait to see it completed and formatted. How about you?

Ada Chewed Some Gum will be available soon here.

And don't forget about My Dad is My Hero Illustrated by me 

and written by Lauren Wade

Illustration Inspiration Featuring: Erin Stead

Yes! Its Wednesday again and here we are back at our Illustration Inspiration feature! 

I have been looking forward to spending my morning diving deep into the illustrative 

world of another illustrator since last Wednesday's post about Matt Phelan. 

Today I am featuring Caldecott Medal winner, Erin Stead. In order to tell you a bit 

about her, I hopped over to Seven Impossible Things and read their interview. I got 

totally swept up in reading about her unique process. (Its a long one with really great

 pictures so check it out for details.) Basically she adds all of her color using wood block

 carvings. And it is only after all of the color has been blocked in that she draws on 

top of that with pencil. I am actually a really big fan of that Pencil Decision. I feel that the 

gray tone of her drawings gives them all a familiar vintage look. 

Can you feel that too?

May I also add that her husband Philip Stead is also an illustrator. {SO much fun!} 

And they created this book together. This was her first illustrated book and was 

named the New York Times Best Illustrated book in 2010 {Wowsers, Go Erin!)

Illustration Inspiration: Olivier Dunrea

Its Wednesday again and I am back with a New Featured Illustrator for 

Illustration Inspiration, Olivier Dunrea. 

I was drawn to his style because it is whimsical and playful, but it also has a 

rustic touch to it. After peering at his Studio I see where he gets his rustic inspiration 

from. Moel Eyris Studio at Henwoodie is where he creates his work and it is a 

beautifully set against the back drop of the Catskills Mountains in NY (wowsers). His 

works include, Old Bear and His Cub, Gossie and Friends (lots of Gossie books) 

A Tree for Pyn, and many more. 

I really love the way Olivier uses his watercolors to soften the look of his illustrations. 

Each illustration looks like a cozy world I could just jump right into. And he is very 

good at illustrating animals as if they had human emotions and thoughts. 

Which is oh so hard to do!