My Desk

Not too long ago I was asked "How do I come up with the images for the books I illustrate?"

Good question, but I'm never sure how to answer it.

Of course, it all starts with the text.

I read through the story that I'm assigned many times before I start sketching it out. I'm not really trying to get into the authors head and figure out what they want (that could give me a headache), but I do need to get a feel for the story. As I read, I start to see images and from there I start sketching them out, trying to get the characters to come to life by developing what I see in my brain. I think this is my favorite part of the process. As I pile paper on top of paper, working and reworking, it is definitely a love hate relationship between my brain, hands, and eyes. Sooner or later, they come to a compromise and wait for the smile on my face to say, "this is it". Sometimes the process is short and other times I'll have to try and try and try again until I get what I want. That was the way it was with The Marshmallow Man by Rena Jones, I had to re due the drawings over and over until I got it. You don't realize how hard it is to make a marshmallow man until you have to try"What could be so hard about illustrating a Marshmallow Man?" Grrrr!

The photo above is the end result, what you are looking at is almost the entire book laid out (almost ! never give it all away). "The Marshmallow Man" should be out by December 2009 published by 4RV Publishing.

But until then You can find all the other titles I have worked on. "Angeline Jellybean" by Crystalee Calderwood, "Colors" by Dana Warren, "Would a Kangaraffe Make You Laffe?" by Rich Aaron, and "The Art of Science" by Ransom Noble. You can also find "A New Job for Dilly" by Rena Jones & illustrated by Lisa Oakman Plus many more wonderful titles.

I have been given permission to post up to three images from the each books I have illustrated and will start next week with "Colors" (I think)

Also Barnes & Noble & Amazon carry all the above titles as well.

Sunday with Lisa

On Sunday the September 20Th I found my self at the Queens Museum of Art spending the afternoon with Lisa Zilker a Fine artist and a friend of mine. Lisa was part of a group of artist who was showing there artwork at the 2ND Annual Multicultural Art & Crafts Festival.

I loved the way the shadows played off her art work it just made them even more special. Lisa calls them "Tombstones or Monuments" they are part of a series that she has done. The ones in the picture stand about twelve inches tall , but I have seen some of them at her studio the stands about five feet or so. Also they show up in her paintings as well . They are very special and have a real depth to them that needs to be experienced by touching them and speaking to this very talented artist.

Thank you for the invite I look forward to your next show

My Body Belongs to Me

Launch of Essential Children’s Book“My Body Belongs to Me”Turns an Awkward Subject Into a Natural DiscussionGroundbreaking Title Teaches Very Young ChildrenTheir Bodies Are Their Own

NEW YORK, NY--(September 1, 2009) - Safety Star Media announced today thenationwide release of

My Body Belongs to Me, a story about a child who is inappropriately touched by an uncle’s friend.

Using her decade of experience asa New York City prosecutor of child abuse and sex crimes, Author Jill Starishevskytriumphantly fills a void to help parents and teachers educate children about asensitive subject in a perfectly natural way. With a rhyming verse and beautifulillustrations by Sara Muller, My Body Belongs to Me offers a compelling anduplifting message without shame. A mother of two young children, Ms. Starishevsky crafted a bookthat speaks to children from ages three to eight, making them aware there areboundaries when it comes to their own bodies. My Body Belongs to Me encourages themto tell a parent or teacher if someone touches their “private parts.”Starishevsky was inspired to write the book after working on a case involving ayoung victim who endured years of abuse and then bravely sought help after watchingan episode of Oprah about sexual abuse.The clear message of My Body Belongs to Me is that if someoneinappropriately touches you, tell. Studies show that 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 6 boyswill be molested. Without educating children as to the importance of disclosing, theabuse can continue and escalate. “Just as we carefully teach youngsters what to doin case of fire, we must teach them what to do if someone touches them,” urgedStarishevsky. “Through my work as a prosecutor, I realized there was a great needfor a way for parents and teachers to facilitate this dialogue in a straightforwardyet sensitive manner. Unfortunately, out of fear of embarrassing their children,parents often avoid this conversation until it is too late. By saying nothing to ourchildren, we are sending them out there defenseless.” Parents and educators need to start taking measures to protectchildren before something happens, and this book helps make that task so mucheasier. Pattie Fitzgerald, founder of Safely Ever After, a safety program forparents and kids, noted, “I have been teaching child safety classes for nearly tenyears, and this is the first children’s book I’ve seen that really addresses theissues in a way that kids can understand and that doesn’t seem scary orheavy-handed.”As licensed family and child therapist Kimberley Clayton Blainenoted, “Prevention is key when it comes to children’s personal safety. Kudos toMs. Starishevsky for taking on this project.”Jill Starishevsky has dedicated her career to seeking justice forvictims of child abuse and sex crimes. Outside the courtroom, her fondness forwriting led her to create www.thepoemlady.com, where she pens customized poems forspecial celebrations. She is also the founder of HowsMyNanny.com, a service thatenables parents to purchase a license plate for their child’s stroller so thepublic can report positive or negative nanny observations. Starishevsky has appearedon Good Morning America, CNN International, Today in New York, Donny Deutsch’s TheBig Idea and Fox News National among other news programs. By utilizing the sameplatform and by visiting schools, Ms. Starishevsky hopes to globally spreadawareness about child sexual abuse prevention to ultimately stop the silence.My Body Belongs to Me is available for online purchase throughwww.MyBodyBelongstoMe.com (Hardcover 32 pages, $14.95 U.S., ISBN 9780982121603).Note to Editors: If you would like a free review copy of My Body Belongs to Me,please contact Jill Starishevsky, Safety Star Media, info@MyBodyBelongstoMe.com withyour complete shipping details. High-resolution cover artwork and author headshotcan be found at http://mybodybelongstome.com/news/

Just sharing my latest illustration done for

"Stories for Children Magazine"

"Rufus on the Loose"

(Click on title to see & read full story)