Happy New Year!

I think David speaks for all of us with his illustration

Happy New Year!

Link to Davids artwork and books:

David Ezra Stein

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Exhibit at Society of Illustrators

Yesterday I was at the

 Society of Illustrators enjoying their exhibit
“The Original Art”.

The exhibit showed the artwork of Children’s book illustrators, it was wonderful to view so many talented artists. Part of the exhibit was the picture books were available to read. One of the books I read was “Harry & Hopper” illustrated by is Freya Blackwood; it is about a boy and his dog the story and the pictures brought tears to my eyes.

There was so many artist that I will not attempt to mention them all. However, I have pulled some artwork off the Internet from some of the artwork/books I enjoyed looking at.

you can see the whole list on the Society of Illustrators web site.

"LINK"

Kevin Henkes

Helen Oxenbury

Lauren Castillo

Will Hillenbrand

Paul Schmid

The Many Faces of Santa by Michael Sporn

I just had to share this Christmas card

The Nutcracker

Who could forget Mikhail Baryshnikov performing the Nutcracker?
When I was growing up it seemed to be on PBS every year around this time.

Who could forget my cousin Diana Ferrante performing at Lincoln Center as a Sugarplum or as one of the rats? (Depending on the year ) I hold those memories close to my heart; it is exciting to be able to pick out someone you know and love who is wearing a rat costume.

Diana (left) not from The Nutcracker

In addition, keeping with my fondness for Maurice Sendak his illustrations from "The Nutcracker" are just wonderful to look at and study.
I do not scan my own books because I do not want to break the spine so I have surf the web to share some of the better images I could find from this book.

(They are not in any particular order)

SANTABEAR'S FIRST CHRISTMAS

Last weekend I was at a Christmas Fair and I came across this book

Yes I bought the book 

This made me think of the special we did when I was working for

Micheal Sporns Animation studio.  

original cell from "Santabear's High Flying Adventure"

So keeping up with my Holiday posts this is

 "Santabear's High Flying Adventure"

created in 1987

this was my very first job working in animation  

it is most likely the only scene I ever animated it is part of the opening sequence.

It was a true treasure to find it on YouTube 

part 1

part 2

I won!

A package showed up on my door step the other day,

 Back in December of 2010

 I entered a contest to color a squirrel. I found out at the end of  December 2010

that I won three tote bags and three picture books, so it took a year to get my winnings

“If This Old Tree Could Talk To Me!”

by Jancy Morgan & Tom Dunn

 It is a beautifully illustrated story about what a tree sees in its lifetime.The book is all done by hand even the font is drawn by hand I do not think they used a computer for any of it.

what I was giving to work with

My coloring of the drawing

Picture book cover

               

                             

Also check out:

"Happy Tales to You"

for more information

During the Holidays

I have been spending a lot of time trying to get my computer up and running this last month and I think I have narrowed down the problem. So I am hoping this will end very soon, it has been a month since I started to have problems so I think I am done.

However, since I have spent too much time on this, I have spent very little time on my artwork. Therefore, I thought to share more Norman Rockwell illustrations keeping with the holiday theme.As much as I can appreciate Mr. Rockwell sense of humor, composition, and his use of color. It does not hold the same passion for me unlike Maurice Sendak, so I never spent much time learning more about him or his work. However, in the last year I came across a link and enjoyed reading about him.

       Links about Mr. Rockwell's work called "Behind the Camera” posted in the New York Times or Brooklyn Museum "Behind the Camera” it shows how he created his work something I did not know myself until I read the article.

Norman Rockwell

Cool Review & 99%

The first review I found on Amazon about "Ferdinand Frog's Flight";

Ferdinand Takes a Big Leap, November 26, 2011 This review is from: Ferdinand Frog's Flight (Paperback)
Ferdinand is a sad frog. He doesn't like having to stay on the ground but has always wanted to fly. He is jealous of birds, who can soar above the trees. Although the birds try to convince Ferdinand that frogs belong on the ground and that things are not always fun for them, he remains unconvinced. When Ferdinand meets a helpful eagle, it appears his wish will come true. He is in for a surprise when he takes the big leap. The flowing rhythm, catchy rhymes and expressive illustrations are added attractions to this delightful tale that soars with anticipation and suspense. Children can relate to Ferdinand with his dream and learn along with him on his adventure.

Paperback: 32
 pages Publisher: 4RV Publishing LLC
(June 28, 2011)
  Language: English
ISBN-10: 0983274002
ISBN-13: 978-0983274001
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.5 x 0.1 inches

Amazon is selling Ferdinand for $7.62 the list price is $15.55 you save $7.93

 &&&

Moreover, who is going to pay for their vandalism?

I am not against the protest down at Wall Street. But! I am no fan of spray painting on the side of a bridge that my
 "It is taken me way to long to earn tax $$$"

will have to pay to clean this up. 

Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol

The Christmas season has arrived,

well it really came along on October 31 when I started to see holiday

gift wrap and ornaments going on sale.

But

"Mr. Magoo's

Christmas Carol"

can be considered one of the very first animated holiday special made for TV

according to "Wikipedia" December 1962, yes even before Rudolf.

I love the design and text used to create this animation UPS did some wonderful work that will most likley never to be seen again.

I have not yelled

I have had this machine for 5 months (HP pavilion), stared out great! I loved it; it did everything I wanted to do. Now it is garbage, my screen started flashing or blanking out on me a while back. For three days I was on the phone with tech support a total of eight hours and seven technicians all to figure out that it needed to be sent back to get fixed. Now I have it backed and still does not work, in fact it is worse. Of course, it is a holiday weakened and No one is around to talk too. HP was nice to give their employee’s the holiday weekend to rest and enjoy there families.

 I have not yelled this load or for this long in, I do not know how many years. This is when the fun starts, FedEx calls me and said by 3:00PM on Tuesday November 22 my package is going too delivered; my GF is home to sign for the package. However, they show up very late 7:39PM well after the time scheduled so no one was there to sign for the package. Okay next day second attempt was for Wednesday November 23 by 3:00PM, never shown up and when she called to find out what had happened they claim they did show up and we were not here “Funny!” This did not go well since she was home all day long and made it very clear to Fed Ex that the driver did not do their job. Because of Thanksgiving the next attempt is for Friday November 25 by 3:00PM, I am home tracking the package with my smart phone. I see it been put into the truck and in “Transit” showing that it has been documented that it should show up by 3:00PM. I do not trust that this driver is doing his job and repeatedly check the tracking code for any updates. At 1:40PM “Boom!” Third failed attempt I was not home. Not at all funny, I am on the phone with FedEx so fast and spitting nails. I demand to speak to a hire up and start cussing like there is no tomorrow and demand that I get my package ASAP. I received the package by a third party currier who pulled up in a Nissan and took it out of his back seat of the car.

Added on 11/27/2011 BTW: I have been told that there are 14
Security cameras in my building not one shown a FedEx driver attempting to deliver my package.

 I was hoping this would be the end but HP does not know how to fix computers so the drama continues

Happy Thanksgiving early

Happy Thanksgiving early,

  Just a quick rundown I will be more or less offline for two weeks due to a “NVIDIA GeForce 530” Graphic Card problem . I have to send it back to HP for repairs as I type this my screen is flashing or blanking out on me kind of a strobe affect not easy on the eyes at all. I spent 3days, 8hrs and 7 HP support technician to come to the reality I could not fix it from my end.

Therefore, I am waiting for my shipping info and box to come and off it goes. I have to say there support is better than Dells when I had my computer with them and needed to contact them by phone I spent about an 1/2hr just on hold HP does not put you on hold they pickup and work with you for hours.

I wish all who celebrate Thanksgiving a very happy and safe one and I will be back in a few weeks (Cross Fingers)

Atumn in Queens

Fall finally arrived last week to Queens.

 A few pictures I took of my neighborhood to celebrate

"G" blends in during the this time of year

The first time they display a very nice wreath it is usually cheep plastic

     Amazon
 is nuts!

 Nevertheless, take advantage of this great price only

$5.79

 this is truly one of my favorite books I have ever done and it shows in the 30 odd illustrations I did.

I do not know how long the deal will last

Review by Katherine Boyer: Midwest Book Review

Review

 of

 The Giving Meadow

 The Midwest Book Review

Review by Katherine Boyer:
The Giving Meadow
Stephanie Burkhart
4RV Publishing LLC
PO Box 6482, Edmond OK
73083 9780982588697
$17.99

The life cycle of any aspect of nature written for children can be and usually is a great learning experience for them. Stephanie Burkhart's book, The Giving Meadow is no exception.

When an egg lands in a meadow, the creature that emerges goes through the life cycle of a caterpillar until he wraps himself in a cocoon.

When he was a growing caterpillar, he met and was helped by several very diverse residents of the meadow, a frog, a ladybug, a bee, and a snake.

The lessons depicted in this lovely, brightly illustrated book include, but are not limited to, sharing, friendship, acceptance, understanding and generosity. The friends that the caterpillar makes on his journey to adulthood generously share their bounty with him that he accepts graciously because he knows they understand that he needs their help as he travels on his journey to complete his life cycle.

"The snake told the bee.
The bee told the ladybug.
The ladybug told the frog.
All the caterpillar's friends waited."
The wait was not in vain.
 The sight that greeted them was a beautiful creature. You must read this book to learn about this amazing metamorphosis.

Children from 4-8, and even some a little younger and a little older, will want to read this book over and over. Younger non-readers will soon begin to anticipate the story and help tell it. You will enjoy reading it to them and watch in excitement as they discover something new in the story or in the illustrations. Older readers will want to re-read and pour over the pictures as they discover more exciting things.

Stephanie Burkhart, originally from New Hampshire, now lives in California with her husband, Brent and her two sons, Andrew and Joseph. She began writing homemade comic books at five years old and hasn't looked back, as she now writes short stories and novels. This is her first children's book.

Katherine Boyer Reviewer          

The Giving Meadow is now on sale for the holidays at the 4RV Bookstore.

You can find "The Giving Meadow" and other titles I have illustrated at 4RV publishing Bookstore at 10% off the cover price till December 5th