Illustration Friday: Hollow

I needed to illustrate a can drive for work, so what better way to combine business with another business?

I drew this in Adobe Illustrator CS3. I had fun on this one using the pen tool instead of the pencil or brush tool. I am finding it gives a smoother line and the paths can be edited in much the same way as you can edit a brush stroke. Sorry I'm getting all technical. I just feel geeky today.

This will be part of a clip art series. If you are interested in purchasing this image, contact Warner Press at wporders@warnerpress.org.

Illustration Friday: Unfold

These boys are enjoying a couple of marshmallows around a campfire. Will there be scary stories? Will a coyote or owl disrupt their outing? Who knows what will unfold next.

This is part of my clip art assignment for Warner Press. They own the copyright. If you would like to use it, you must contact them at wporders@warnerpress.org.

I drew this in Adobe Illustrator CS3.

Crime Scene-Boy takes pencil

Crime Scene-Boy takes pencil, originally uploaded by speartoons.

This is an illustration I did last year for a children's curiculum. It was talking about whether stealing was ever okay and if there were different levels of stealing.

This illustration is copyrighted by Church of God Ministries. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

I drew this in Adobe Illustrator

E4674 page 07 hidden picture

E4674 page 07 hidden picture, originally uploaded by speartoons.

I illustrated this activity for this page. This is in pen and ink with a crow quill pen. There are six items hidden in the picture; an oil lamp, rope, donkey, Bible and ladybug.

This page is the property of Warner Press. All rights reserved

Hunter Brown is Here!

Today is the release date for "Hunter Brown and the Secret of the Shadow." We are excited here at Warner Press. This is a book I had a small part in laying out and sending to the printer. The Miller Brothers have done a fantastic job with this book and they have a great web site to go with it at http://www.codebearers.com/. They also have a blog at http://themillerbrothers.blogspot.com/.

Photoshop Happy Accident pattern

Photoshop Happy Accident Funky Pattern

Here is a little surprise I thought was so cool I needed to share it (and therefore, file it away for future reference).

I was designing and illustrating a children's place mat. There was an area I wanted to knockout with soft white. I took this art from Illustrator to Photoshop because I needed to apply some random texture to the blue. I wanted the white edge to be extremely soft, but I was getting a strange pattern.

While the pattern looked fun, it wasn't what I wanted for this instance. I wanted it to be soft. I used the smudge tool, but the pattern kept moving with the cursor instead of softening like I expected.

Finally, I looked at the layer. I discovered I must have put the layer blending mode on "Vivid Light."

When I set the blending mode to normal, voila! i got the soft borders back.

I'd encourage you to try all sorts of combinations with blending modes in Photoshop. You just never know what effect it will produce.

By the way, here is what the place mat looks at this point. This is a project for Warner Press and they own the copyright.

Kids Birthday cards

Here are the finished illustrations I did for Warner Press' line of kids birthday cards.

Most everything was done in Adobe Illustrator. I then exported it into Adobe Photoshop for the finishing touches and the type.

Roughs-Kids Birthday Cards

I am working on some birthday cards for Warner Press. Here are the pencil roughs.

We are planning on making this for ages 5-8.

Disciples go Fishing

I'm working on the "My Very Own Bulletin Book," for Warner Press.

In this activity, the student is to look for and color seven fish.

Retirement Card Final

This is how the illustration looked after I exported it from Adobe Illustrator to PhotoShop.

I was able to add the shadow and highlight details in there. In addition, I was able to add some stars and add some bush and grass details.

A few months ago, I did all my art in Illustrator. But now I'm finding Illustrator and PhotoShop work together and give me a richer illustration.

I printed the finished file at 14" x 22". I used an 18" x 22" poster board and folded it like a greeting card. Everyone at work will sign the inside of the card.

Retirement Card Color

This is how the illustration looks today. I am applying the color in Adobe Illustrator.

The pencil rough is still on top of the finished file. I make the pencil rough transparent and trace my work like I am drawing on a light table.

I eliminated outlines in the background. Tomorrow, I'll work on the face details and possibly export it to PhotoShop for the details.

Retirement Card

A beloved lady at work is retiring next month. I've been asked to make an oversize retirement card.
Here is my pencil rough. I plan to block out the color in Adobe Illustrator.

An Angel visits Zechariah

This is part of the Christmas story. An angel visits Zechariah and tells him he will be a father.

Zechariah says, "How can this be true? My wife Elizabeth and I are too old to have a baby."

There are five items to find in the picture: a teddy bear, baby bottle, rattle, spoon and Bible.

This is part of "My Very Own Bulletin," and is available through Warner Press.

Last Supper Activity

Here's an illustration for "The Last Supper." You are looking for five things that are different in the two pictures.

The is from "My Very Own Bulletin," and is available from Warner Press.

Nehemiah Builds a Wall

I am working on children's bulletins right now. This is an activity I just finished for the story of Nehemiah.

This part talks about the people rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. The activity asks you to count the number of spears and bricks in the picture.

Counting "Kevin Spear" as one of the spears doesn't count!

You can get the "My Very Own Bulletin" from Warner Press.

Matching Names

This is part of an activity I just illustrated. The activity is to match a name with what each child is doing. For example, who would have the name, Rose? Hunter?

Kids Prayer Request Card

Here's an illustration I've done this morning for Warner Press. It's for a prayer card. In July, you can have a prayer card for the kids in your pew.

This artwork is property of Warner Press. Do not reproduce in any way without their permission.

David Liverett publishes a line of cards

One of the illustrators we work with at Warner Press has a feature in our local paper. The article is "Local Illustrator Published Second Series of Greeting Cards."

David Liverett is a neat guy. I've known him since college and gave me some good advice back then on how to tackle the illustration market.

My work is nowhere detailed as my stuff. He is into realism and does a spectacular job rendering old barns and lighthouses. He also has a few books on the market featuring his work.

Illustration Friday: Red

The Red Sea counts as "red," right? Well here is good, old Moses parting the Red Sea. Charlton Heston is nowhere to be seen.

This is a cover illustration I did. It is a coloring book called "My Bible Heroes," and it's available through Warner Press.

The book has a profile on different heroes in the Bible.

Kevin

Jacob Hidden Picture

I did this illustration for Warner Press the other day. It's a hidden picture illustration on Genesis 28, Jacob's ladder. I do these illustrations for a children's bulletin book. It's available through WP's bulletin subscription service. So, can you find the five things different in the pictures?