"Warm-Up" Sketch 5.28.15

Blueberry & Carrot add a new meaning to phrase "warm up sketch".

New Year, New Traditions, Plans & Work

Happy (Belated) New Year! The beginning of the year is always so crazy with new client budgets more work and a lot of planning ahead. I have been learning a lot lately with books and online classes. The most recent lesson that I watched was Tom Bancroft's class through Taught by a Pro. The Class is called Intro to Character Design. It was wonderful!

I am also getting ready to purchase a couple of great classes on The School of Visual Story Telling. I really appreciate all of the resources out there, and have a few channels marked on youtube. Sycra, Will Terry, Open College of the Arts and Lynn Chapman. With the wonderful technology of apple TV and apps like Vimeo and Youtube already built in, I can now draw in the sketchbook or computer and watch or listen to lesson on the big screen. Sure beats the little 2x2 square in the top corner while you are trying to draw :)

In addition to learning I have been trying to grow more as an artist and incorporate more family time as well. We purchased a couple of the Art Lab books and with 52 labs in each book we have activities to play with every week of the year! The kids love it and even my husband can get involved as well!

Hope everyone has a wonderful 2014!
Dream Big & Follow Through... Kelli

SkADaMo & PiBoIdMo Day #28

I feel like a kid at Christmas with anticipation of the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, coffee by the fire and waiting to see how much snow has fallen. (Hoping for at least 6" but it's probably around 3-4" right now).

It's 1am now and since I can't sleep, this character came to mind when I started sketching and thinking about the 20 lb. bird that will feed all 12 of us tomorrow. A story began to evolve, even before the beginning lines of this character.

Hope everyone has a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Kelli



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

SkADaMo an PiBoIdMo Day 3

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

SkADaMo and PiBoIdMo Day 2

Spent the afternoon sketching more new characters and a Picture Book idea that my kids have been helping me develop. Decided to play around with watercolors and salt for cool effects. This is part of what I came up with...




- sent from iPhone

#SkADaMo and #PiBoIdMo: Day 1

I am excited that November is finally here! Without giving too much away, here is a sneak peek of a new character development that was created during my Sketch a Day and Picture Book idea. He is full of personality and suspense...




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Illustrator Interview by Joanna Marple

I forgot to post this a few weeks ago, but as I was cleaning up my studio I thought that my blog would be a good place to share the interview. I'm very honored that Joanna asked to interview me & I LOVE stopping by her site each week to learn more about great books, Authors & Illustrators.

* * CLICK HERE FOR INTERVIEW * *



Make sure you visit Joanna's Blog often to see more great interviews and helpful articles!

#NY13SCBWI in less than 12 hours!

Haven't blogged in a while. Have been so busy preparing my portfolio and working on a picture book dummy.

Now everything is complete, except the packing... and we're off to NY tomorrow! I will try to post any highlight throughout the weekend. Cheers to a wonderful experience with old friends and new. Hope anyone else attending has safe travels and please make sure to say hello if you are going to be there as well! -Kelli

HoHoDooDa #16/ Illustration Friday "Snow"

Weeeeeeeee!

© Kelli Thrasher-Brooks

HoHoDooDa #15

© Kelli Thrasher-Brooks

Spent hours stuffing kindergarten envelopes with signed cards, erasers and candy. Glad there is some left over... Been craving candy canes for a while now!

HoHoDooDa #10

Playing catch up after finishing up the Tomie dePaola entry on Monday. The last 14 straight hours burned me out for a couple of days, but now I'm finishing up a few sketches that I started on Monday night. #10 is a group of jolly carolers.

HoHoDooDa #9

Quick little doodle for the night. "Tacky Dancing Candy Canes" :)

HoHoDooDa #8 / IF Explore

We were supposed to have a wonderful Raclette Dinner party and game night, but the entire house was blessed with the stomach bug. My husband and I were feeling a little better this evening so we enjoyed a nice Swiss meal. This doodle was inspired by Christmas in Switzerland.

HoHoDooDa Day #6

Not much time to doodle tonight. Had to help the oldest child's school assemble over 200 gingerbread houses for the classes to decorate tomorrow. But here's my moose who has finished Christmas shopping, decorated the tree and has time to relax and take a break. I envy that moose :)

HoHoDooDa Doodle #5

This little image popped into my head today. Pinecones have always reminded me of Hedgehogs. We have a few on the mantel & I keep thinking they are little hedgehog figurines. It's funny where inspiration can come from!

HoHoDooDa Day #4

More holidays on the brain after finishing the tree a couple of days ago. Our 2 year old is fascinated with the ornaments that play music. Most are fragile, and he has broken three already. Wish there was a Christmas ball that was tough enough for a toddler but still looked nice on a tree...

HoHoDooDa Day #3

Day three I still have Christmas on the brain. This doodle came to mind.Kind of reflection on how a child feels after building a beautiful snowman... like a super hero!

HohoDooDa #1 & #2

Have been a little busy this weekend with Birthday celebrating, but had a few minutes to doodle a little. Day one was my birthday and every year my Grandmother calls and sings Happy Birthday. I starting thinking about what a simple woman she is and how a cup of tea & some toast is all she needs in life! The first doodle is a memory of how simple her purse was too. She still carries with her: pink lipstick, wet ones, a little comb, some square shaped gum (that has juice inside) and sometimes she has a bottle of water. These images will forever be etched in my brain! Love her so much.



Today I was practicing creating characters from random lines or squiggles. Since its almost Christmas and Easter products should start showing up on store shelves soon, it seemed appropriate to pick this doodle of the bunch to share.


- sent from iPhone

IF- "Stretch"

SkADaMo #30

This has been a fun month thanks to Linda Silvestri's SkADaMo idea! I still have a few loose sketches in my sketchbook that I have not had time to scan and add to the blog. (Maybe this weekend I'll get them up here)

You can view all of the other SkADaMoers by CLICKING HERE

Thank you again Linda!