ILLUSTRATION INSPIRATION: Gabby Zapata

Just had to share the adorable Character Sketches of the talented, Gabby Zapata.

#perfection. 

ILLUSTRATION INSPIRATION: Wouter Bruneel

There is no possible way I could adore Wouter Bruneel's work any more.

The composition is absolutely inspired and the colors pull me in right away. 

Thanks for the inspiration Wouter! xo

ILLUSTRATION INSPIRATION: Woulter Tulp

This week's ILLUSTRATION INSPIRATION post features the charismatic work 

of Woulter Tulp. He is a character artist extraordinare! As you can clearly see 

with those cute little lambs. He has a book entitled "Character Sketches" that 

showcases his beautiful creativity and all the stories he has to tell thru the eyes 

of his sweet and sassy characters. 

Thank you for the inspiration Woulter!

ILLUSTRATION INSPIRATION: Katherine Black

A root canal left me out of commission yesterday, so I am posting this week's 

Illustration Inspiration a day late. But Katherine Black is sure to impress! Katherine

 has worked for Disney and American Greetings. She is one of eleven siblings! And

 I absolutely love her sister series shown here in the last two images. 

Thanks for the Inspiration Katherine!

ILLUSTRATION INSPIRATION: Molly Idle

This week's illustration inspiration features the incredibly inspiring work of illustrator, 

Molly Idle. Molly uses exclusively colored pencils in her brilliant work and look at the 

beautiful, creamy outcome. There is a subtle texture in her work, which I think adds a 

nice amount of 'jitter' {I think it is nice to have a little jitter in children's books, it 

compliments a child's mind - anything too smooth and formal feels out of place} 

The composition on the T-Rex illustration is fantastic. The tail frames the situation 

wonderfully. And aren't you all ready in love with that adoring little ballerina? 

So many things to love about the art of Molly Idle. 

Thanks for the inspiration Molly! {xo}

Illustration Inspiration: Ciaran Duffy

Its Wednesday again! {My Favorite day of the week - because it's Illustration 

Inspiration Day!} Today's Illustration Inspiration Feature is the talented Ciaran 

Duffy.  Ireland based Artist, Ciaran, has illustrated books for Harper Collins and 

Lady Bird. And I have fallen head over heels for her Bear sketches. Doesn't 

that bear look so cuddly and dopey. 

Thanks for the Inpiration Ciaran!

ILLUSTRATION INSPIRATION: Erwin Madrid

Its ILLUSTRATION INSPIRATION Day! My favorite day of the week!

This week's feature is are amazing beautiful and skillfully composed illustrations 

of Erwin Madrid. He has worked with Dreamworks studio on Shrek 2 and has 

done continued work in the Shrek and Madagascar franchise. His work stands out 

for obvious reasons. But, I am personally drawn to it for its beautiful perspective. 

He sets the viewer up for an adventure every time they partake in one of his peices. 

The Red Riding Hood sequence is particularly intriguing. The perspective auto-

matically makes you feel like you are stalking prey. And innocent little red riding 

hood is isolated and unsuspecting. I totally love it!

 His work is well thought out and brilliantly captured. 

Thanks for the Inspiration Erwin! xo

ILLUSTRATION INSPIRATION: Charles Santoso

This week's Illustration Inspiration comes from Australian concept artist and 

Illustrator, Charles Santoso. I was originally drawn to his 'Into the Wonderland 

of Books' Series. His whimsical style and great color play was an immediate 

sell for me. Than upon deeper investigation, Charles's sketches were my favorite 

among his vast and beautiful works. I really adored the fishing boy and all 

of the "Spunk" in the drawings. Thanks for the Inspiration Charles. 

ILLUSTRATION INSPIRATION: Rebecca Mock

This week's illustration inspiration features the colorful illustrations of Rebecca 

Mock. Her realistic and stylized pieces exhibit expert compositions that I 

L-O-V-E.  Please Enjoy. Thank you Rebecca for the Inspiration.

ILLUSTRATION INSPIRATION: Priscilla Wong

This week's Illustration Inspiration comes from the talented Priscilla Wong. And oh 

how talented she is. I really adore her work because of the interest she creates with 

her perspective and use of composition. I am actually emotionally moved looking 

at some of these sequences. She presents such beautiful isolation and solitude in her 

compositions that I feel it instantly. And the light in those trees is just perfection. 

Thanks for the Inspiration Priscilla. xox

ILLUSTRATION INSPIRATION: Christophe Lourdelet

Character Design and Story Boarding are a specialty of this weeks illustration inspiration

 feature artist, Christophe Lourdelet. I love the playful soft lines of his characters and how

 each has their own personal touch *the albino pirate = so funny. And that dudes hair 

in the middle make him stand out much stronger than any old skinny guy. Christophe's

 attention to detail is clear as he develops his characters, its like you love them before you

 ever meet them.

ILLUSTRATION INSPIRATION: Denis Zilber

This week's illustration inspiration features Denis Zilber. Why do we love Denis's 

work? Attitude. Each of his characters just eep attitude. He uses, perspective and color 

to define the mood of each illustration creating an incredibly interesting eye catching 

piece of art. Thanks for the inspiration Denis. xox

ILLUSTRATION INSPIRATION: Tara J. Hannon

This week's Illustration Inspiration features... Me. I have been so inspired by all of the 

amazing artists I have been discovering in my quest for the illustration inspiration post, 

that I got LOST in illustration yesterday. I sat down to create a 'master piece' with all 

of the inspiration that was swirling around in my head and hand.  And I allowed 

myself to try something new, 'Digital Painting. Its not a new concept to me but it is 

new to my work. And honestly, I loved it. It was so much fun, I didn't want to stop. 

Usually, I select the area I want color and fill it. Than dodge and burn that selection 

until it looks properly lit. Occasionally adding color with the paintbrush tool. But the

 new technique was so much more engaging. I painted every selection with transparent 

colors layering them until I was happy. I really like it and will be utilizing this 

method more and more. 

ILLUSTRATION INSPIRATION: Emma San Cartier

This week's illustration inspiration features snazzy artist, Emma San Cartier. I love the 

free and loose style that she has. Its nice to see how the bleed of her paint accentuates the 

color in each peice. And her use of white space and composition is lovely. If you have 

the time, pop over to her portfolio site, its really something to see. 

ILLUSTRATION INSPIRATION: Philip Barlow

This week's Illustration Inspiration comes from Philip Barlow. It was the luminosity 

in these paintings that drew me to them. Actually, I originally thought they were 

photographs artfully taken out of focus. But Philip Barlow captured the figures in 

a perfect moment when the light is falling on them just right and creates a 

sparkling art piece. 

Something about these paintings 'remind me of a time'... Not a specific time, 

but I do get that feeling that I have been there, and seen that exact moment, 

and with that feeling comes the sounds and the feel and smell of it all. Do you get the 

feeling that each painting surrounds you? Like you are standing in that scene watching 

it happen. I am kind of feeling the ocean breeze right now. And that, my friends, 

is why I love Philip Barlow's amazing works of art. 

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!

Illustration Inspiration: Isabelle Arsenault

This week's illustration inspiration comes from Isabelle Arsenault. Here unique color 

palette and use of soft color and earth tones makes her a very on-trend artist. I love the 

detail in that top illustration from, "Mr Gauguin's Heart" Look out the porthole - cute 

detail and great color use for contrast. I am also becoming a huge fan of illustrators 

who don't always follow the perspective rules. It creates a very stylized and loose 

image that I really enjoy. 

Illustration Inspiration: Christa Palazzolo

This week's illustration inspiration comes from Painter, Christa Palazzolo. I ran across 

her Anne Sullivan, painting on Pintrest and adored the color use. I really enjoy seeing a 

painting that focuses on detail in one area and than loosens up everywhere else. 

Christa Palazzolo is a perfect example. Her portraits are incredible, the detail and

dimension are spectacular. And than around the portrait is gets real fun. The splashes 

of neon are very 'in' right now and my eyes are loving it! Fantastic way to 

stylize a portrait. 

ILLUSTRATION INSPIRATION; Genevieve Santos

OK~ I am getting my sketch book out right now! These character sketches by 

Genevieve Santos are so inspiring. There is so much personality in these sketches. 

Even just looking at the Old Man sketch, he doesn't have to be doing anything and 

you can just assume what he would say if he popped off the page. I have always 

adored sketches more than a finished product. There is something about the soft 

and hard lines and being able to see the underlying frame work that really 

steals my heart. 

ILLUSTRATION INSPIRATION: Annette Feinieg

This week's Illustration Inspiration features Annette Feinieg's lovable watercolors. 

Her work reminds me of my grandmother's cartooning. {xox} There is so much 

expression using so little detail. And I really appreciate the use of lighting on the 

elephant. See how she left the top outline white - perfect.