This month’s drawing sheet was very slightly inspired by the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. You can’t explain how a creative brain works. So how did a sheet of mice come from a reality show?
I thought it would be fun to mix it up and give you a different format for drawing this week. Kids can name their mice, dress them up, trace them, and make their own. Years ago I used to draw chickens as my default doodle. In the past few years, it seems to be mice. I even have a mouse as the newsletter mascot.
I’m about halfway through painting the final art for my next picture book, The King of Books. I’m sharing my messy digital color palette and a few close-up corners of the art. So far I’ve drawn a lot of books and palm trees - sort of lovely when it’s cold and brown outside!
Next week I’ll be meeting with kids in an after-school program to talk about being an illustrator and lead a drawing workshop. I found these awesome mini sketchbooks in bulk and will them out at the end of the program. I’m also excited to bring out the King-Size Sharpie for this and a 3-day program at the end of the month. It’s very healthy for me to balance out the long process of final book art by myself with these in-person visits.
Watching: Season 2 of Extraordinary on Hulu. It is such a creative take on ‘everyone has super powers’ with fantastic music choices. Be warned: it’s not a family show. Oh, and Siobhán McSweeney (best known as Sr. Michael from Derry Girls) plays the main character’s mom if you need another reason to check it out.
Listening to: Behind the Bastards podcast on Steve Jobs. I truly had never paid much attention to anything about Steve Jobs, despite handing over too much money in Apple products starting with my first PowerMac in art school. Short version: he’s terrible. But it’s been a great listen while working and driving.
Reading: Oh, I hate to say it but I haven’t been reading much lately. I’ve started and stopped a few audiobooks. Usually, when this happens I read a Louise Penny Inspector Gamache story so maybe that’s the next thing to try.
So cute! xx
The King of Books sneak peeks look so great!! 🧡🐯👑📚