Illustration friday and the need to perfect

Well, it's about time I joined the fun. So this week is my first attempt with 'Illustration friday'. This weeks word in 'Contagious'. I think the illustration friday thing could be contagious. I also think it will be a good discipline for me, as I am trying to draw and sketch more. And by that, I mean I am trying to casually draw and sketch more, without turning whatever I do into an overworked finished piece, as, lets just say - I can be a bit of a perfectionist (ok - I'm downright anal)

So - forcing mayself to sketch, and post, without messing with it too much should be liberating. Also, I can just use the drawing practice, so I'm trying to sketch when I have a spare moment - especially the dogs, as they are there and tend to move, which means one has to capture them quickly and not be too precious about it. So sometime randomly, I'll post those too.

I'll shut up now :)

Walking with Nana

After a nice rest under a shady tree with a sleepy dog, it's time to start my journey again. Dolly jumps back into the magic bag, and out jumps Nana!

'Walking with Nana' is a (as yet - unpublished) book written by my good friend Robin Hanahan.

She asked me if I would be interested in doing some illustrations for the text, and I was very happy to do so. The story is about a little girl spending time with her Grandma, and they take a journey to the local store.

I loved drawing for this, as the images the text evokes, feels warm and loving. They are watercolor paint on watercolor paper, indented marks, and colored pencil. These are the completed drawings, and the rest of the drawings are - at this point - just a storyboard, until hopefully a publisher takes interest.

I couldn't resist adding a little dog to the illustrations, even though there wasn't one in the story! But I don't think it looks out of place. It's kind of a cross between Cookie and Dolly (my dogs!)

Dolly was the sleepy one, and I'll have to post a picture of Cookie (known as 'The Crazy One')