What I'm working on...

Finally finishing up the illustrations for "The Christmas Mouse", to be published by WinePress for a self-publisher. Here's one of them...

Merry Christmas to all!

What I'm Working On

Another Younger Hidden Picture submission for Highlights...

New Book!

"ParaPup Reports for Duty" has just been released by Pleasant Word Kids, a division of WinePress Publishing. Written by Elisa Vertuli and illustrated by myself, this book should be a comfort to all kids who have parents serving overseas in the military. I also designed the plush doll that goes along with the book. It's a great concept and a cute set that I hope might be marketed to stores on military bases nationwide.

ParaPup plush doll

One more Christmas card...

I should have started these back in July! Anyway, this is the last new one for this year. I have to work on Thanksgiving dinner for my whole extended family now!

Halloween to ... Christmas already!!

I'm working on Christmas cards already... actually, I should have started on them in July. Seems like Christmas comes faster and faster every year!

Halloween is coming!

See some of my Halloween cards for sale at:

www.GreetingCardUniverse.com/MarileesCardShoppe

What I'm working on...

A new story by a self-publisher about a stuffed mouse sent to a US soldier in Afghanistan for Christmas. Here's a first sketch of one of the illustrations.

New promo art

Here's the new image I'm sending out on my fall promo postcards...

New Book!

I just received copies of my latest book published by Sterling: "Animal Friends", a Hide and Seek Puzzle Book. These are fun scenes of different pets, farm animals, and wild animals, with all kinds of objects hidden throughout.

My favorite puzzle: the Slithering Snakes one, because I used my daughter Laura and her pet snake, Phil, as models!

And finished!

Cover art from Daisy's Fall Festival, available January 2011 through Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO Publishing Group. (http://www.abdopublishing.com/)

What I'm Working On

More sketches from the "Growing Up Daisy" series, available January 2011 through Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO Group. This book: Daisy's Fall Festival - fun to work on!

What I'm Working On

Some more sketches from the "Growing Up Daisy" series I'm working on, available January 2011 through Magic Wagon, a division of the ABDO group.

First tries at oil pastel

A few weeks ago I took an Oil Pastel workshop with Maureen McKee at the DuPage Art League. I'm looking for a new creative outlet, something completely different from my usual pencil/pen/ink/watercolor illustration... something to force me to loosen up. Well, it IS completely different! Just figuring out how color and value work is completely different. I have a lot to learn and I'm going to have to keep working with it, but here's one early attempt.

Saturday afternoon in Caribou Coffee...

...an interesting-looking older guy.

New portfolio sample

A portfolio peice I've been working on... actually, the cover art from my unpublished picture book, "Becka's Birthday Balloon".

Sketching at Herrick Lake again...

New art

Inside illustration from "The Best Mother's Day Ever", published by Kane Press.

What I'm working on...

A new series for ABDO Publishing: "Growing Up Daisy", about a ten year old Latin girl named Daisy Martinez, her family and friends. This is a sketch from "Daisy's Summer Essay", the first book.

New Book

Also, just in time for Mother's Day, here's the lastest book I've illustrated for Kane Press: "The Best Mother's Day Ever", a very funny and clever story written by Eleanor May.

Mother's Day

Just in time for Mother's Day, I posted a new card on Greeting Card Universe. (http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com) Brings back memories!

Old Art

Sorting through some old art, I came across a poster I did years ago... This is a printed sample from the publisher. Unfortunately, they "photoshopped" it on me - squeezed it hoizontally to fit. It doesn't look too bad, but the art is more elongated than it was originally drawn. Fortunately, I haven't had such problems since... knock on wood.

Dragons are hot right now

A concept for Valentine's Day...

Another recent greeting card

Back to greeting cards...

... and back to Christmas. (It will be here again before we know it!)

Finished Art

... but I always like my sketches better.

What I'm Working On...

New Art

A finished art sample for a new book dummy I'm working on...

Back to Greeting Cards

Well, again, it's been a while since my last post... I was swamped trying to finish up that big Hidden Picture Book for Sterling - quite a job. But now I'm back to generating more work for myself - and that means back to coming up with greeting card concepts to submit. This is one for a juvenile birthday card.

Looking back

The new year is always a good time to sort out old art. I came across these concept sketches, done over 20 years ago, for a company that produced tops for candy containers. I always keep all my old sketches - never throw anything out! You never know when you might need them again. I'm thinking I'll recyle some of these characters and reuse them for greeting cards or puzzles.