New sketch, updated to fit

Here's that jack-o-lantern sketch updated to fit the format of the book. I'm not telling what the title of the illustration is because that's also the gag line.

And we all need to do our gagging on cue.

Rediscovered an old sketch

I had originally drawn this sketch with the intention of turning it into a greeting card, but instead it's spent the last few years collecting dust on my hard drive.

"But," thought I, "if things were rearranged around a bit to fit the format of the book..."

I'll post the new sketch as soon as it happens.

Writer's critique kicked my butt

Fresh from (my part) of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators' pre-conference writer's critique, and my little brain is whipped. These guys are good, and it was enough to make me want to take a long step back from the book.

Maybe into the next state.

I read three of the short stories from the book, and the reaction was mixed. I would have liked a funner, maybe more excited response, but there you go. I got some helpful feedback and ideas on how to make things work, but I guess I was hoping I was further along in the writing process than maybe I actually am. Like some of that stuff I had written was already working.

Bummer.

But their ideas were good.

No. They were great.

Which makes me feel just a wee bit more inadequate as a writer than I had felt even before I sat down at their table.

Ugh!

I ate a lot when I got back to my room is all I'm saying. And to make myself feel even more inadequate, I think I'll read a little Neil Gaiman Smoke and Mirrors to put myself to sleep.

Drawing desk in-progress report

Here's the latest illustration for the book in progress, as seen from its birthing table.

Hairy Eyeballs Merchandise Online

I've hand-picked some of my favorite illustrations from the book for posters, and they're available through my Rots' Zazzle store. Here's a preview of "Dom" from Cleaver Overachiever.

As an aside: I received an encouraging comment this week from a friend who said that Dom

"lingers in my mind..."

-Cara Armstrong

(Please correct me if that wasn't the direct quote.) My first review! You're slaying me here.

And here's the link to the posters: http://www.zazzle.com/the_rots/gifts?cg=196181131910347446

Posters will be joined at a later date by stickers, magnets and buttons, and I'll post here when those designs are uploaded. You can still check back at the above link anytime to see all the Hairy Eyeballs stuff that's available.

Another graphic short illustration up

Finished another page for the graphic short, "The T Rex and the Hare." Posted on the Hairy Eyeballs site for your amusement.

http://www.hairyeyeballs.com/extrasIllos.html

Doc Chocolate

Here's another illustration that I redrew in graphite for the book. Originally, he was created specifically for greeting cards back in 2006, and these two images are the before and after shots. He looks very different (I've learned a lot) and, I think, very improved.